The Innovative Agency

Can artificial intelligence (AI) help your agency grow? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, we are joined by the founder of Agency Growth Secrets, Josh Harris. Josh helps companies stop wasting money on customer acquisition using artificial intelligence to optimize marketing campaigns. During our conversation, he shares his insights on how to integrate AI into your agency for growth. What you will learn in this episode: How integrating artificial intelligence (AI) can help your agency's growth What are the common objections to implementing AI and how have they changed in recent years What is the difference between a trend and a fad, and why it's important to learn to spot them in your industry Why efficiency and effectiveness are the most important requirements of technology How can agencies begin to implement AI into their lead generation and sales processes What are the two most important categories that agency owners should prioritize for AI Bio Josh Harris developed an entrepreneurial spirit at a young age. Growing up in Illinois, he found himself creating businesses to help his neighborhood. He quickly learned that your paycheck doesn't have to be directly tied to a set number of hours worked. Instead, he discovered that money is tied to your personal productivity. This caused the marketing mogul to face the internet head-on. He wanted to be the man in charge and the web would be his path to opportunity. Josh created a marketing and website business that saw some success, but not enough. He desired a better life without the money woes he was so familiar with. After struggling to scale his business, and enacting the help of a mentor, he finally honed in on a successful approach to business growth. His marketing and website company grew rapidly, and Josh soon sought other ventures. In 2014, Josh founded Agency Growth Secrets, an advanced data-targeting company that uses artificial intelligence to optimize marketing campaigns. Through technology and machine learning, AGS allows companies to pinpoint individuals who are ready to purchase. This saves the companies from money wasted on customer acquisition. Resources: Website: https://joshuaharris.co/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/joshuaaharris Twitter:https://twitter.com/joshharrislife LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agency-training/ https://aisales.systems/ai-vsl

How does culture impact the growth of your agency? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, we are joined by the founder of Austin Amplifies, Doug Austin. Doug is a growth consultant who helps agencies of all types and sizes grow and thrive. During our conversation, he shares his insights on the intersection of culture and growth within agencies. What you will learn in this episode: How do growth and culture complement each other within agencies What are the two most important factors in creating a safe work environment How a growth culture helps to avoid losing your "A-Player" employees How agency owners can maintain culture and talent development in a hybrid or virtual working world Why agencies should conduct a third-party audit to help foster growth and culture Bio Doug Austin is the founder of Austin Amplifies - a business growth consultancy that helps agencies of all types and sizes grow and thrive. Doug spent a career in the advertising agency world working for some of the country's best independent shops from NYC to Dallas to Missouri. Today, Doug spends his time coaching agency owners and their teams on how to create a culture of growth and position themselves to win. Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-austin-b978915/ Book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Permission-Win-Douglas-V-Austin-ebook/dp/B08ZKN9H21/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3BCNKGKC626ER&keywords=permission+to+win&qid=1649711363&sprefix=permission+to+win+%2Caps%2C229&sr=8-2

Does your agency have recurring revenue? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, we are joined by the founder and CEO of uGurus, Brent Weaver. Brent is on a mission to help 10,000 digital agency owners achieve freedom in business and life by helping them own their market. During our conversation, he shares his insights on building an agency with recurring revenue streams. What you will learn in this episode: Why it's important for agencies to have recurring revenue How financing differs from recurring revenue in agencies How to determine what services are great -- and which ones are not great -- for recurring revenue Why customer development interviews are crucial for determining your pricing What should agency owners consider when developing service packages Why agencies can begin to offer fewer services at higher prices over time Bio Brent is on a mission to help 10,000 digital agency owners achieve freedom in business and life by helping them own their market. Brent is the founder and CEO of uGurus, a business training, and education company dedicated to this mission. He also hosts one of the leading podcasts in the business niche—The Digital Agency Show and is the author of Get Rich in the Deep End: Commit to Your Niche, Own Your Market, and Audaciously Scale. Resources: Website: ugurus.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ugurusweb Twitter: https://twitter.com/u_gurus LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ugurus

Are you searching for more ways to keep money in your agency? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, we are joined again by CPA, Chris Hervochon. Chris provides outsourced accounting and tax preparation for small businesses and individuals. During our conversation, he shares insights on avoiding scope creep and updating your agency's pricing model. What you will learn in this episode: Two ways that agency owners can avoid scope creep How after-action reviews can help make sense of time and scope of projects Why a subscription-based pricing model is the best option for agencies What is the difference between scope creep and margin bleed How to address pricing changes during our current market Bio Chris Hervochon, CPA, CVA is the sole proprietor of his CPA firm. Chris Hervochon provides outsourced accounting and tax preparation for small businesses and individuals. Before starting his own CPA firm, Chris spent ten years between forensic accounting and corporate accounting and finance. He has been featured in publications such as the AICPA Certificates Wall of Fame, Accounting Today, AMEX Open Forum, LendingTree, the IAMCEO podcast, the Success Defined podcast, CMS Wire, CEO Blog Nation and WINSAVVY for his industry knowledge and accounting expertise. Resources: Websites: https://www.betterwaycpa.com/recent-press/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BetterWayCPA/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterwaycpa/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ChrisHervochon/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/betterwaycpa/_created/

Are you helping your clients achieve revenue growth? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, we are joined by the Founder of The Pedowitz Group, Jeff Pedowitz. Since 2007, Jeff and his team have helped over 1,400 companies engage customers, go digital, and grow revenue. During our conversation, he shares his unique model and insights for creating a better customer experience. What you will learn in this episode: How the customer journey has changed in recent years What is the loop model, and how can it be used to engage customers How does the funnel differ from the loop model, and why the funnel may not account for multiple buying stages Why marketers should prioritize storytelling and the customer experience What questions agencies should ask their clients that are often missed How can agencies conduct valuable customer research for themselves and clients How buying patterns have changed in the B2B industry, and how it impacts digital marketing What agency owners should do if they want to reconsider revenue growth Bio Jeff Pedowitz grew up working in the restaurant business and learned firsthand the value of good operations. He used to curse at the owners of the Greek diner for making him scrape out ketchup bottles, but it taught him the value of a dollar – and not to waste it. When his parents bought him a Commodore 64, he taught himself how to program and began a life-long love affair with software and technology. Jeff's parents were teachers who later transitioned into sales for World Book/Childcraft. They took him to their trade shows and corporate events, and he listened to Zig Zigler and Dennis Waitley in the car on the family's 8-track cassette. All those years, growing up in and around businesses instilled a passion for business. Now, every day he gets to live his passion, traveling the world to teach companies how to build better marketing organizations and drive repeatable, predictable, and scalable revenue. Jeff started The Pedowitz Group in 2007 and has been blessed with an amazing team that he calls family. Together, they have helped over 1,400 companies engage customers, go digital, and grow revenue. Resources: Website: pedowitzgroup.com Revenue Marketing Basics - https://rmu.pedowitzgroup.com/p/revenue-marketing-basics LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jeffpedowitz Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeffPedowitz

How can you continue to grow your agency after the pandemic? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, we are joined by Tim Kilroy. He has helped over 100 agencies drive dramatic growth results — like growing 8x in a year, or by 3x in 90 days. During our conversation, Tim discusses the challenges that agency owners are facing today and strategies for growth in all stages. What you will learn in this episode: Why growing and starting an agency was easier during the pandemic and how things have recently changed Why Tim believes that return on ad spend (ROAS) is a ridiculous metric What are inexperienced marketers and agency owners missing, and what insights do they need to bring to the table How agency work has transitioned from more technical work to more marketing and strategy work What are the differences in the growth strategy for emerging agencies vs established agencies What is the concept of "return of understanding" and why it's important for emerging agencies to niche down Why bigger agencies should prioritize learning how to create engaging management structures Why agency leaders should plan for their own exit, even if they don't plan on selling Bio "I help digital agencies (and digital agency owners) generate more revenue, more profit & more happiness without working a million hours, being 'sales-y' or doing anything else gross," Tim says of his business strategy. Tim has worked with over 100 agencies to help them solve problems ranging from "How do I get my 1st client?" to "How do we maximize our exit value?" Tim also focuses on driving dramatic growth by collaborating with agency owners and management teams. He has helped his clients do amazing things – like grow 8x in a year, or by 3x in 90 days. In addition, Tim has helped agencies create account management structures, and coached them through various situations, such as a founder moving to another opportunity. Resources: Websites: The Kilroy Report Podcast: https://www.thekilroyreport.com/ Consulting Offers: https://timkilroy.com/agency-growth-consulting/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agencygrowthcoach Twitter: https://twitter.com/timkilroy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timkilroy/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/agencygrowthcoach Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timkilroy_agencygrowth/

Have systems and processes been put on the backburner in your agency? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, we are joined by entrepreneur and self-proclaimed process nerd, Gray MacKenzie. In only nine years he's helped more than 2,400 digital agencies build more productive and profitable agency teams. During our conversation, Gray shares the most common operational issues, and how to begin implementing a more efficient project management framework. What you will learn in this episode: The most commonly encountered agency operational issues Why agencies need systems to accurately determine profitability What internal agency metrics do clients frequently ask for, and why a client would typically ask for agency metrics How agencies can improve their project management framework Why it's more efficient to build your processes within your project management tool How systems and processes can impact agency ROI and internal retention Where agencies should begin with selecting and implementing a project management tool Bio Gray MacKenzie from ZenPilot is a bona fide process nerd who has gone under the hood with 2400+ digital agencies over the past 9 years in search of the best way to build and lead healthier, more productive, and more profitable agency teams. Resources: Website: https://www.zenpilot.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZenPilotHQ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sgraymackenzie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graymackenzie How to Choose the Best Project Management Tool for Your Agency

Are you struggling to scale and sell in your agency? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, we are joined by CEO, Founder, and Author, Daniel Englander. He helps marketing agencies and B2B service companies accelerate their business growth. During our conversation, Daniel discusses the struggles that agencies face in their business development, as well as the most important tactics for building relationships and accelerating growth. What you will learn in this episode: Why it's important to prioritize building trust with connections and targets The most significant missed opportunity for business development in agencies How to be more proactive with relationship mapping in your agency Why reengagement over longer periods of time is crucial for winning clients How thought leadership interacts with, and aids in, business development and sales Why outbound marketing is the best option if you have limited time How writing and publishing a book can help to sell your professional services easier How to integrate your book to accelerate business growth for your agency Bio Dan Englander is the CEO and Founder of Sales Schema, a fractional new business team for marketing agencies and B2B service companies, and he hosts The Digital Agency Growth Podcast. He's the author of Relationship Sales At Scale and Mastering Account. Resources: Dan's Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XRD71P3 Website: https://workwith.salesschema.com/rsas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danenglander/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/sales-schema

Is your agency charging for more than just tangible deliverables? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, we are joined by Brand Strategist and Business Growth Accelerator, Karley Cunningham. She takes businesses from overcrowded, competitive spaces out into blue ocean territory where they can confidently stand out and thrive as brand leaders in their sector. During our conversation, Karley discusses the challenges that come from selling services and the benefits of collaborating on strategy. What you will learn in this episode: Why agencies are hesitant to charge separately for strategy How being seen solely as a creative can limit your ability to be seen as a strategic thinker How to help clients see the value in the process instead of just the deliverables What are the five value points that you explain to clients during the sales process How to shift your mindset into being brave enough to propose strategy as a stand-alone service What is the difference between a consultation and a strategy session Why working in stages or phases is beneficial to both the client and agency How to transition from work-for-hire to fee-for-strategy in your agency Bio Having built three successful businesses, Karley knows what it takes to start, develop and lead a company that delivers results. Her entrepreneurial success story is featured in the awarded book, The Widest Net by Pamela Slim. In addition, she's a sought-after mentor and speaker for national and international business organizations and the host of The Made Possible podcast. Believing deeply in the practice of givers gain, she is well-known and networked and rarely goes a day without making a referral or connection. As a former pro athlete, Karley is performance-driven. An avid mountain athlete, she is a two-time finisher of the BC Bike Race, a seven-day, 325 km mountain bike stage race, and is always looking out for her next trail running adventure. When not focusing on the business or expanding her network, she can be found somewhere in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest with her wife and dog in their 4x4. Resources: Website: www.bigboldbrand.com Free Brand Audit & Guide: https://www.bigboldbrand.com/surefireaudit/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karleycunningham/

Are you hoping things will change in your agency? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, guest Blake Mahon is the founder of media and creative powerhouse, Triarc. He helps leaders find dynamic solutions for rapid and sustainable growth. During our conversation, he shares how he developed core systems and client packages that allow his agency to continue on a path of rapid growth. What you will learn in this episode: Why it's important for the core of your systems and processes to be consistent throughout your agency When you should begin to include team members in new frameworks and systems How to build packages and products to meet individual client needs What are the advantages and disadvantages of working in yearly contracts Where to begin when pivoting and adapting to economic changes Why it's becoming more common for agencies to collaborate for the common good of a mutual client Bio Rapid and sustainable growth is Blake Mahon's true passion. Getting dynamic solutions into the hands of leaders is his calling. Empowering a team to do the above provides him with sustained gratification. As the founder of Triarc, a media & creative powerhouse, Blake has the unique privilege to indulge in all of the above. Triarc is a nimble and fast-paced startup that is set to disrupt the traditional agency model. Resources: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thinktriarc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/18260874/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/thinktriarc