Build a Better Agency Podcast

Sharon Toerek is an intellectual and property law attorney. Her national firm, Toerek Law, works with clients all over the country, devoting time to helping creative professionals protect, enforce and monetize their creative assets. Sharon consults with clients on legal issues surrounding copywriting, content protection, licensing of creative content, trademark and brand protection, and more. She is the former President of the American Ad Federation (AAF) Cleveland and serves on the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As) Legal Consultant panel. What you’ll learn about in this episode: The most common legal concerns agencies have The big misperceptions that get agencies into hot water How and why you need to structure agreements with freelancers and clients The Legal and Creative Agency Protection System The big legal issues that are holding agencies back Employees and social media: the policies you need to put in place with your employees to protect your agency Some things you can do at low to no cost to protect your agency legally Resources Sharon provides: Website: www.legalandcreative.com Website: www.agencylegalprotection.com Developed as a result of FAQ’s Sharon was receiving, Agency Legal Protection is a legal toolkit for marketing agencies. Ways to contact Sharon: Email: Sharon@legalandcreative.com Twitter: @SharonToerek We’re proud to announce that Hubspot is now the presenting sponsor of the Build A Better Agency podcast! Many thanks to them for their support!

Drew McLellan is the Top Dog at Agency Management Institute. He has also owned and operated his own agency over the last 20-years. And all through the year, he straddles the fence of working in his agency and working with 250+ small- to mid-size agencies in a variety of ways. AMI works with agency owners by: Leading agency owner peer groups Offering workshops for owners and their leadership teams Offering AE bootcamps Conducting individual agency owner coaching Doing on-site consulting Offering online courses in agency new business and account service Because he works with a lot of agencies every year — he has the unique opportunity to see the patterns and the habits (both good and bad) that happen over and over again. He has also written two books and been featured in The New York Times, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Fortune Small Business. The Wall Street Journal called his blog “One of 10 blogs every entrepreneur should read.” What you’ll learn about in this episode: How to know if you are spending too much time on client work Why your agency’s growth suffers when you spend your time on client work The specific areas where you should actually be spending your time Ways to contact Drew: Email: drew@agencymanagementinstitute.com We’re proud to announce that Hubspot is now the presenting sponsor of the Build A Better Agency podcast! Many thanks to them for their support!

Stephen Woessner is CEO of Predictive ROI and the host of the brilliant Onward Nation podcast. He is the author of two bestselling books, The Small Business Owner’s Handbook to Search Engine Optimization and Increase Online Sales Through Viral Social Networking. His digital marketing insights have been featured in SUCCESS, Forbes, Entrepreneur, The Washington Post, Inc. Magazine and more. His agency blends education in very transparent ways for clients. What you’ll learn about in this episode: How Stephen’s agency blends education into what they do for their clients How you can charge a premium fee while building trust and proving expertise What needs to be changed to fix the money draining mistakes that are sucking money out of your business Predictive ROI’s scorecard The modern agency ecosphere Data vs. traditional creative: how do you blend them? Why Predictive ROI had to completely rewrite their client contract agreement How their money-back guarantee has helped them retain clients longer Strategies to use to assert your intelligence to clients and earn them money How to combat the fear of criticism Ways to contact Stephen: Company Website: www.predictiveroi.com Podcast Website: www.onwardnation.com Email: stephen@predictiveroi.com Twitter: @StephenWoessner Books: The Small Business Owner's Handbook to Search Engine Optimization Increase Online Sales Through Viral Social Networking We’re proud to announce that Hubspot is now the presenting sponsor of the Build A Better Agency podcast! Many thanks to them for their support!

Peter Levitan builds successful brands, digital technologies, publishing and advertising environments, and highly effective marketing programs for Fortune 500 companies. He has 30 years of experience running Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Worldwide, his own Portland Agency, and as the CEO of two Internet start-ups. What you'll learn about in this episode: The major mistakes agencies make in regards to bringing on new business How to create distinction using your website and the reason most agency websites aren’t attractive to clients The ways agencies are doing sales wrong and what can be done about it Specialization vs. generalization: how to specialize and still have fun The kind of research Peter’s agency does that helps them look better than their competition Why you should stop using the term “full-service” if you want to position your agency against your competition They ways many agencies and agency owners are failing when it comes to their content Recommended books and resources: The Levitan Pitch. Buy This Book. Win More Pitches. Websites (not his): www.londonadvertising.com www.frankpr.com www.L2inc.com Books (not his): Seth Godin’s books Poke the Box All Marketers Are Liars We Are All Weird: The Rise of Tribes and the End of Normal Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? Ways to Contact Peter: Website: www.peterlevitan.com Email: peter@peterlevitan.com Twitter: @PeterLevitan We’re proud to announce that Hubspot is now the presenting sponsor of the Build A Better Agency podcast! Many thanks to them for their support!

Jason Falls is one of the most widely read and respected voices in digital marketing and social media industries today. He leads digital strategy for Elasticity and he also shares his no-nonsense ideas regularly on his own website, www.jasonfalls.com. He is the author of some great books, including “No Bullshit Social Media” and “The Rebel’s Guide to Email Marketing.” What you’ll learn about in this episode: Why social cannot be an upsell The benefits of putting your pride aside, admitting you can’t do everything, and partnering your agency up with other agencies Why you need to be truly honest with yourself about what your agency’s strengths and weaknesses are How to protect your agency when partnering with other agencies How millennials are changing the entire landscape of our world and what we need to do to adapt The action steps you can take to start partnering up with the right agencies Recommended books and resources: No Bullshit Social Media The Rebel’s Guide to Email Marketing Website: www.jasonfalls.com Twitter: @jasonfalls Website: www.goelastic.com We’re proud to announce that Hubspot is now the presenting sponsor of the Build A Better Agency podcast! Many thanks to them for their support!

Scott is an international recognized leader in digital communications, digital transformation, social media, and marketing. He is the principal of Scott Monty Strategies where he counsels brands and agencies on strategy, executive communications, influencer management, customer experience, and digital innovations. He has extensive experience in communications and marketing agencies, including a client base of IBM Healthcare and Life Sciences, Coca-Cola, American Airlines, T-Mobile, GE Software, and more. He has also authored the widely acclaimed Week in Digital newsletter at ScottMonty.com and is the executive editor and co-host of the Sherlock Holmes website and podcast “I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere. What you’ll learn about in this episode: What Scott learned about agency/client relationships while working at Ford The qualities in agencies that clients want to keep around The things agencies tend to do that get on clients’ nerves How Scott sells his consulting services by having a side career giving speeches Why understanding humans on a deep level is an important strategy to work on “The Week In Digital”: Scott’s weekly newsletter Scott’s great strategy for getting to the core of ideas Ways to Contact Scott: Company Website: www.ScottMonty.com Sherlock Holmes site/podcast: http://www.ihearofsherlock.com Email: scott@scottmonty.com Twitter: @ScottMonty We’re proud to announce that Hubspot is now the presenting sponsor of the Build A Better Agency podcast! Many thanks to them for their support!