Smart Agency Masterclass with Jason Swenk: Podcast for Digital Marketing Agencies

What does it take to be truly remarkable? Do you struggle with imposter syndrome? Even uber-successful entrepreneurs like Guy Kawasaki have had those moments. Transitioning from corporate giants like Apple, Inc. to crafting a legacy of remarkability, he has devoted the latter part of his career to unraveling the essence of extraordinary achievements and the secrets of remarkable personalities. Learn more from Guy Kawasaki’s reflections on navigating the dichotomy of being undervalued and overvalued throughout his career, his unwavering commitment to paying it forward, and his enduring quest to craft a legacy that transcends generations. Guy Kawasaki is a world-known marketer, author, speaker, and podcaster whose career has lately focused on empowering and inspiring people to reach their full potential. His expertise spans innovation, entrepreneurship, and social media, and he has worked with esteemed clients such as Apple, Nike, Audi, Google, and Microsoft. Currently serving as the Chief Evangelist at Canva, he is fervently committed to helping people become extraordinary through his latest book. Learn about his fascinating life story and insights on career progression and personal growth. In this episode, we’ll discuss: What is an evangelist and how does it relate to marketing? Overcoming self-doubt and hidden benefits of imposter syndrome. Guy’s advice on growing a successful marketing agency. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. The Evolution of Success: an Entrepreneur’s Career in Thirds Throughout his career, Guy has experienced the spectrum of financial success, from feeling undervalued in the early stages to being pleasantly surprised by the substantial offers he received later on. Now, he views his career path in thirds. For the first third of his career, he felt underpaid for his accomplishments. However, in the second third of his life, he found himself being offered significant sums of money for his work. He knew how much he wanted but was surprised to see people were willing to pay that sum. Now, in the final third of his life, he is financially stable and focused on giving back. Looking back on his journey, he reflects on the importance of not having everything handed to him as a way to build character and resilience. He had to work hard, prove himself, and continually strive for more to reach the level of success he has achieved, something for which he is now thankful. With such an interesting and successful career, Guy now aims to leave a legacy of empowering others, which he actively pursues through his podcast and writing, solidifying his commitment to positively impacting people's lives. Chief Evangelism Officer: Spreading the Word on Innovation Guy is currently the Chief Evangelist at Canva, a position he previously held at Apple as well. According to the definition of evangelism, this means he is dedicated to spreading the good news about products that can benefit others, emphasizing their value in enhancing creativity, productivity, and communication. To him, evangelism goes beyond traditional sales tactics because it’s about genuinely believing in the value of what you are promoting and wanting to share that value with others. It is about making a positive impact on the lives of others by introducing them to something that can improve their quality of life. Whether it is through promoting a product that enhances creativity or sharing a personal success story, spreading the good news can have a ripple effect, encouraging others to pursue their own goals and dreams. This is why being an evangelist is very close to his heart and something that influences the rest of the work he does. Overcoming Self-Doubt and Finding the Hidden Benefit of Imposter Syndrome Thinking back on his career, Guy reflects on the things that held him back at times and finds that most people are held back by their mindset. You can have people in your life who don’t believe in you and, as much as it sucks it’s also a relatively easy thing to ignore as long as you believe in yourself. However, if you don’t believe in yourself, then that’s a real problem. In his experience, this kind of mentality can slow your progress, as it did for him back when he was writing his first book. Filled with self-doubt, he wondered if he had what it took to publish a book. Thankfully, he was able to overcome this by realizing that he didn't need external validation or permission to pursue his passion. It’s a thinking he carries with him and advises anyone to adopt, whether they wish to write a book, make a movie, or try anything new. Doubts about one's capabilities often stem from imposter syndrome, a common feeling of inadequacy experienced in new or challenging situations. However, Guy asserts that imposter syndrome can signify awareness and humility, catalyzing growth, rather than a barrier to success. He contrasts this with entitlement syndrome, emphasizing that while imposter syndrome can be overcome and lead to personal development, entitlement is counterproductive to growth. Guy’s Advice on Growing a Successful Marketing Agency The most impactful companies in history are those that continually revisit their customers' preferences and adapt to industry innovations. They go back and ask what it is their customers most enjoy about the product they offer and adapt using new technologies. According to Guy, Kodak could have realized they were in the preserving memories business instead of the chemicals and film business and pivoted to adapt to that new technology. Likewise, successful agencies must keep ‘working backward’ and never lose sight of what it is clients want and how they can help them. Moreover, the best agencies are the ones that can solve the biggest problems the fastest. For instance, agencies that integrate AI into their services and embrace new technologies outperform their competitors. This forward-thinking approach ensures agencies remain relevant and capable of addressing clients' most pressing challenges. The Paradox of Remarkability and the True Path to a Remarkable Career In his latest book, Think Remarkable, Guy delivers a practical and sometimes radical discussion on how to transform your life and make a difference. It is an extension of the work he has done on his podcast Remarkable People, where he has interviewed the likes of Jane Goodall and Marc Benioff. Through his conversations with high achievers, he shares valuable insights on how to become remarkable. First off, as counterintuitive as it may sound, Guy’s #1 advice to creating a remarkable career is not striving for remarkability. To him, the real way to be remarkable is by striving to make a difference. People like Jane Goodall didn’t stop to think how she could get people to think she was remarkable. She just went ahead and did remarkable things. The natural outcome of adopting this mindset is that you don’t need to position yourself as a visionary; people just conclude that you are. In today's rapidly changing world, where technology and artificial intelligence are transforming industries and job markets, the importance of making a difference becomes even more crucial. So how can agencies be in the game long enough to make a difference and find success? From his experience in tech, Guy’s advice is to keep throwing stuff at the wall and be ready to highlight your success. “One thing Silicon Valley is very good at doing is declaring victory and hiding defeat”, he says jokingly. He acknowledges that navigating the path to success in business is often humbling and emphasizes the importance of perseverance and resilience. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Have you considered the potential for growth through a strategic acquisition? How do you anticipate the agency owner's role evolving during an acquisition process? What steps can be taken to ensure a seamless integration once the deal is finalized? Our featured guest today has undergone a significant transformation, transitioning from white label to a more comprehensive service offering and shifting from project-based to retainer-based services. Now, she embarks on a new journey for her agency as she navigates a strategic acquisition. Tune in to hear about the evolution of her career and what she’s learned about setting the course for a smooth agency transition and post-acquisition planning. Leah Messina is the founder and CEO of Sinuate Media, a full-service digital marketing agency that works as equal parts data analytics, creative genius, and strategic mastermind for its clients. Leah recounts her transition from the entertainment industry to establishing her own agency in New Mexico, highlighting key milestones such as the shift to a retainer model and the expansion of services through a strategic acquisition. In this episode, we’ll discuss: The downside of the white label model. Shifting to a retainer model. Seeking to grow through a strategic acquisition. Post-acquisition planning and integration. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio From White Label to Reinvention: Adapting to Market Shifts Leah always wanted to have her own business and, after working in digital publishing and working at a small digital agency, she fell in love with this evolving industry and felt drawn to the emerging technology. Leah's agency opened for business in 2006 and initially operated as a white label agency, providing services to larger media agencies who would then resell them to clients. While this arrangement allowed her team to work on prestigious projects, it also relegated them to the background, handling the day-to-day marketing tasks and creative execution. The economic downturn revealed the drawbacks of the white label model, with clients delaying payments and seeking to internalize services. This shift led to a substantial loss of business, as white label clients accounted for approximately 70% of their revenue at the time. Determined to overcome this setback Leah thought about some of the requests they sometimes got from customers, and identified an opportunity to diversify their services. The shift was not easy, as it meant redefining the agency's business model and finding new ways to generate revenue. By embracing it, she showcased her willingness to embrace change and steer the agency towards a more sustainable and diverse future. Transitioning to a Retainer Pricing Model As she reevaluated her service offering, Leah also started thinking about the direction of the business and making strategic changes to adapt to the evolving needs of clients and the industry, which included a shift from project-based work to retainers. With projects, the focus was on delivering work efficiently and quickly, while retainers required building long-term relationships and serving as advisors to clients. This shift necessitated more integration with clients, being involved in early conversations, and offering solutions to operational issues that could impact marketing efforts. During this transition, Leah’s agency was able to keep some key clients who were in the process of launching new businesses, which was a definite win. Apart from that, attracting new clients and retaining existing ones demanded additional sales efforts, such as public speaking and marketing training. One of the primary challenges encountered in this shift to retainer-based work was persuading clients accustomed to giving orders to seek advice instead, which took positioning themselves as trusted advisors by showcasing their expertise. Additionally, Leah's team had to find a balance between providing valuable resources and not undermining the positions of marketing directors or CMOs. Charting a New Course for Growth with a Strategic Acquisition After two years of putting a heavy focus on the sales side of the business, Leah has been able to step away from the day-to-day operations and the role of project manager. Now she’s focusing on the business development side. Looking ahead, her plans for the agency include integrating AI into their work and expanding through acquisition, specifically a web development company to enhance their services and capabilities further. In terms of fit, Leah focused on cultural fit, niche expertise, profitability, and the retention of key personnel as the main features to ensure a smooth transition. She also looked for an agency with a good process that didn’t require immediate huge changes. This way, they could just get to work and optimize it over time. Right now, her mayor concern is how to integrate the teams and manage client expectations. In some cases, this requires keeping the acquisition a secret from clients for a period during the transition. By maintaining continuity and gradually introducing changes, businesses can mitigate potential concerns and ensure a positive experience for all parties involved. Post-Acquisition Planning and Navigating Integration During the acquisition process, Leah has learned the importance of good documentation and having a solid set of books and proper records when considering buying a company. Without accurate and comprehensive documentation, it becomes challenging to justify the acquisition and make informed decisions about the business's financial health and potential for growth. Agency owners can run into a few gotchas once the past owners leave and the hard part starts with the integration so it’s important to ensure the sellers are coming from a place of transparency and accuracy in financial reporting. Finally, being very conscious of the need for ongoing business development and strategic planning post-acquisition, Leah is now thinking about developing new retainer opportunities. This will involve taking a fresh look at the industry after the acquisition and finding new opportunities to establish a business that drives recurring revenue and complements its existing services. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Irwin Hau, successful agency owner, discusses empowering teams and shedding the superhero mentality to unlock agency potential. Topics include rethinking agency roles, the Lion Framework, and seizing opportunities for growth. Learn how to avoid becoming a bottleneck in agency growth by delegating tasks strategically and finding balance between progress and rest.

Julie Williamson, a specialist in leadership alignment, discusses achieving authentic understanding of agency goals. She emphasizes the need for clear goals, engaging conversations, and unified execution. Topics include empowering team members, aligning goals with actions, and developing leaders as the company grows.

Darby Copenhaver, an agency growth expert, discusses the importance of accountability and seeking help for agency owners. Embracing change, consistency, and finding a supportive community are key factors in scaling an agency. The episode emphasizes the significance of showing up, accepting help, and making necessary changes for agency growth.

Geoffrey DeStefano shares insights on Red Bull's content strategy, agency leadership, and creating brand fandom. Topics include compelling brand stories, true connections for brand loyalty, and boosting agency performance. He also discusses transitioning from advertising to TV industry and working on popular shows like Friends.

David Baeza, an agency owner who worked with venture capitalists, shares insights on mastering client acquisition. Topics include creating multiple acquisition channels, charging based on tangible results, and focusing on growth. Learn how to diversify client acquisition channels for agency stability and growth.

Samantha Martin shares her journey from dancer to agency co-owner, focusing on strategic growth and shifting away from RFPs. Topics include cashflow constraints, relationship-building, and prioritizing strategic development.

Experienced entrepreneur Amy Littleton shares insights on building a seven-figure agency in a year, structuring for success, setting revenue goals, and exiting a business. She emphasizes the importance of relationships, leveraging LinkedIn, scaling revenue, building a reliable team, and planning for the future post-sale. The podcast explores reflections on career risks, priorities, and relationship building in the PR industry.

Guest Marlo Fogelman, an experienced agency owner, shares insights on staying relevant in the competitive industry. Topics include self-renewal, pivoting during the pandemic, evolution of her agency, importance of work-life balance, resilience in business, and charging for expertise over time in agency work.