The Innovative Agency

Intro Today on the Innovative Agency Podcast we welcome Steve Mudd from Talentless AI. He shares his insights on how AI can be adopted by marketing agencies, setting the stage for a conversation about the risks and benefits of this evolving technology and how agency owners can navigate them. He also talks about the content creation tools offered by Talentless AI and their scalable and adaptable business model. What you will learn in this episode: The impact of synthetic media on the modern agency landscape. How to set effective guardrails for synthetic media production. The necessity of authenticity in the marketing space. How to leverage AI in creative industries. The potential challenges and opportunities presented by leveraging AI. Bio Steve Mudd is the Founder and CEO of Talentless AI, a new Austin-based creative agency that uses real and artificial intelligence to deliver provocative content with synthetic media. He's also currently the host of AIAF, a next-gen creative podcast featuring artificial conversations about real intelligence. Steve has a long history as an IT storyteller, he most recently ran strategic messaging and content marketing for NetApp and previously worked for Ogilvy on brands such as IBM, Lenovo, Level 3 Communications, and Iron Mountain. He was also the host of the popular Ogilvy Podcast. Resources: Website: http://www.talentless.ai/ LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevemudd/ LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talentless-ai/

Intro Today we're joined by Jim Scott, CEO and Co-Founder of Mono, an award-winning agency in Minneapolis. The conversation explores agency culture as well as Mono's accomplishments and the hard work that led to their recognition in the industry. Through this episode, expect to learn how to leverage business partnership, scale your agency's culture, and truly have an impact. What you will learn in this episode: How agencies are uniquely positioned to move culture and commerce forward. The importance of setting clear expectations with clients and employees. The value of establishing boundaries within an agency. How to develop impactful initiatives for BIPOC communities. How to position your agency to have an impact within its community. Bio Jim Scott has established MONO as a nationally recognized agency known for punching above its weight while earning Small Agency of the Year recognitions from Ad Age and the 4As five times. Having seen the inside workings of some of the most admired brands in the world— Apple, Google, PepsiCo, Harley-Davidson, and Target—he leverages a breadth of industry experience to help the curated list of clients navigate the toughest business challenges. Along with growing and managing the agency, Jim is deeply involved in leading MONO's clients through the reinvention of tired advertising models. Jim is also passionate about giving back to the industry and was instrumental in creating MONO's Brand-In-Residence Accelerator Program, designed to help diverse entrepreneurs in the Minneapolis/St.Paul area scale their businesses. Resources: Website: https://mono-1.com/ LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimscott3/ Linkedin Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mono/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MONOadagency/

Intro In this episode, Jhana Li discusses the importance of efficient operations for marketing agencies. She highlights how effective operations can be a competitive advantage and shares insights from her experiences working with small to midsize agencies. Jhana emphasizes the fact that operations should not be seen as a burden or a hindrance, but rather as a way to enhance agility and scale. Tune in to learn how to optimize your agency's operations for greater profitability and success. What you will learn in this episode: How profitability is directly tied to operational workflow. How to integrate artificial intelligence in agency operations. The importance of leveraging artificial intelligence in agency leadership. How to manage the shifting priorities of agency team members. Which technologies are impacting agency operations in 2024. Bio Jhana Li first became COO for a 7-figure agency while making her way through North & South America. Later, as COO & Head Operations Coach at Agency Lab, she coached hundreds of companies scaling towards 7 & 8-figures. After seeing countless founders stall out & trap themselves without the proper Operations, Jhana decided to start her own company, Spyglass Ops. Through Operations consulting, recruitment, and training, Spyglass Ops empowers founders to simultaneously scale their businesses while regaining their personal freedom. Resources: Website: https://spyglassops.com/ LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhana-li/ LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spyglass-ops/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejhanali

Intro In this episode, Tory shares her perspective as a woman in the industry and how she felt disconnected from the traditional advice given to entrepreneurs. She challenges the notion that success is only achieved through sacrificing oneself and emphasizes the importance of finding fulfillment along the way. What you will learn in this episode: The dangers of burnout. The role of effective communication and transparency in client relationships. How to attract top talent by being flexible. The core aspect of running a service-based bus. The importance of hiring individuals with specific skill sets for remote work. The value of hiring individuals who possess empathy, care, and passion for their work. Bio Tory Gray is a digital marketing consultant who helps businesses scale through user-generated content strategy. She leverages data to master strategic SEO and digital consumer intelligence for long-term success, effective market research, and growth. In a highly dynamic and sometimes ambiguous industry, Tory brings a refreshing combination of SEO knowledge and a growth-minded perspective rooted in kindness, compassion, and proven results. Before starting The Gray Dot Company, Tory has spent over 13 years engaged in SEO and growth strategy, serving product and marketing roles for both in-house startups and reputable agencies. Resources: Website: https://thegray.company/ Linkedin Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/torygray/ LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/graydotco/

Joe Koufman, a marketing matchmaker and founder of Setup, shares his expertise on the critical elements of successful client-agency relationships. He emphasizes the vital role of chemistry and empathy in building connections, alongside the need for agencies to clearly define their ideal clients. Joe discusses how agencies should approach new business opportunities with desire and insight, advocating for a brave, challenger mindset that encourages creativity and pushes boundaries. Tune in for practical strategies that can enhance agency growth and client collaboration.

Intro In this episode of The Innovative Agency, Kurt Uhlir discusses how agency leaders and owners can get unstuck and propel their businesses toward the next phase of growth. Kurt shares his insights on the role of leaders in motivating their teams and emphasizes the impact that individual agency leaders can have on the overall success of their organizations. What you will learn in this episode: The critical impact of leadership styles on agency growth. The value of servant leadership. How to create a safe environment and culture within an agency. How to identify long-term goals for your teams. Common blindspots that hold agency businesses back. The importance of documenting standard operating procedures. Bio Kurt Uhlir is a globally recognized marketer, operator, and speaker. He's built and run businesses from start-up to over $500M annual revenue, assembled teams across six continents, been part of the small team leading an IPO ($880M), and participated in dozens of acquisitions. He was at the front lines creating several of the marketing channels we all use today, including social media management, influencer marketing, and location-based marketing. In recent years, he has focused on helping individual business owners and marketing agencies, with a heavy focus on real estate. Resources: Website: https://kurtuhlir.com/ LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtuhlir/ LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/expworldholdings/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShowcaseIDX/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/KurtUhlir

Jacob Beckley, EVP of Technology, Product, and Innovation at Fusion 92, discusses the importance of cultivating a culture of innovation in agencies. Topics include thinking broadly about innovation, the value of diverse thinking, scaling team participation, taking calculated risks, and monetizing innovation practices.

David DeMuth, CEO of Doner Partners Network, discusses how agencies can remain relevant in today's landscape. Topics include expressing expertise for smaller agencies, collaboration within agency networks, evaluating opportunities, and navigating smooth collaborations. Also, they explore areas of focus for the upcoming year: investing in AI and data analytics, building production capability, and nurturing client relationships.

Intro Today we're speaking with Darian Kovacs, the Founder of Jelly Marketing, a certified Vancouver based SEO company. We discuss the importance of leveraging your agency's knowledge to create new revenue streams. Darian shares his experience of starting Jelly Academy, a platform that offers courses and training based on their expertise. Tune in to learn how to turn what you know into a profitable opportunity for your agency. What you will learn in this episode: How to shift toward an abundance mindset in your agency operations. Some of the best ways to monetize training solutions. Why it is important to collaborate with educational institutions. How to properly teach agency skills to talent. How to leverage in-house marketers to optimize success. The value of engaging in community impact programs. Bio Darian Kovacs is the Indigenous Founder of B-Corp certified Vancouver based SEO company Jelly Digital Marketing & PR & digital marketing course Jelly Academy. He brings 15 years of marketing experience and a passion for education, and creativity. He is the host of the podcast Marketing News Canada. Darian specializes in mixing PR with digital marketing and has worked with numerous internationally renowned brands on developing and executing their digital marketing and PR strategies. Darian lives in Fort Langley, BC with his wife and four children and likes to mountain bike, watercolor and read in his free time. Resources: Website: https://jellymarketing.ca/ LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariankovacs/ LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jelly-marketing/

Intro We're joined by Jason Zotara from Ten26 Media to discuss the impact of agency work through the lens of social impact and sustainability. We explore the creative ideas that agencies bring to their clients and how it goes beyond just metrics, changing the economic picture and culture. This conversation highlights the importance of focusing on work that has a positive ripple effect in the world. What you will learn in this episode: The value of working with purpose-driven organizations. How to screen potential clients to understand their impact. The importance of purpose-driven, sustainable businesses. How to leverage cause-based marketing. How to shift your mindset when running your business. Bio Jason Zotara is the Founder of Ten26 Media and has over 20 years of experience in the marketing industry. Jason is changing the way businesses connect with their target audiences and achieve unprecedented growth through Ten26 Media's trademarked catchphrase, "Advertise with Purpose". Through collaborating with and elevating brands and companies that share a similar affinity for creating positive effects in the world, Jason and his team have been able to exponentially increase advertising success for their clients, enabling long-term relationships that result in meaningful change. Resources: Website: https://www.ten26media.com/ LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonjzotara/ LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ten26media/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ten26media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ten26Media Get in Touch: https://www.ten26media.com/contact/