Build a Better Agency Podcast

Drew McLellan, an agency management expert, discusses why daily timesheets are crucial for agencies. Timesheets help detect and solve problems, improve operations, and highlight areas for growth and training. Owners can identify inefficiencies, while employees can secure job security and recognition. Tune in to learn why daily timesheets are a game-changer for agency success.

Expert in natural intelligence for leadership, Rosie Tomkins, discusses the concept of natural intelligence and its application in business leadership. She explores the importance of self-awareness, adaptability, and recognizing natural tendencies. Tomkins also delves into understanding different animal behaviors in leadership and the shift in energy and mindset of agency owners. This podcast provides valuable insights on tapping into our inner wisdom for effective leadership.

HR expert Vicky Brown shares insights on hiring and managing talent in the new era of work. Topics discussed include remote work challenges, effective interviews, writing compelling job ads, and transitioning to hybrid and remote work. The importance of self-assessment, onboarding, and conducting a mid-year HR checkup is also highlighted.

Casey Meehan, an AI consulting powerhouse, discusses how agencies can become thought leaders and subject matter experts for their clients using AI tools. They explore the shift from traditional marketing to AI consulting, including AI-generated videos, cap cut tool, and creating long-form content. They also explain the process of using AI tools to generate and fact-check thought leadership blog posts, emphasizing the importance of credibility through third-party citations and expert promotion.

Content marketing strategy expert, Robert Rose, discusses the importance of strategy in content creation and the need for agencies to approach content marketing like a media company. He also explores how agencies can achieve growth by retaining and selling more to existing clients. The podcast delves into the significance of being a strategic partner and understanding AI, as well as the impact of AI on content creation and the potential of leveraging AI in content marketing strategies. Learn how to access Robert Rose's book and follow him on various platforms.

There’s no other way to spin it — agency owners had it rough in 2023. And while we spent all year going over the struggles of agency ownership, one universal positive kept coming up with everyone. Your teams are better than ever, and you want to learn how to keep your agency employees happy, so they stick around. So this week, we’re turning to some of our Agency Edge research to dive into what agency employees said are the key factors that keep them happy and willing to stick around for the long haul. While the assumption is that you’re already fairly compensating them and creating a fair and inclusive workplace, there are some less obvious things that really matter to agency employees. They could even be the difference between a star player staying for 10 to 15 years instead of three or four. This episode will teach you the dos and don’ts of increasing employee retention and really going above and beyond to help your teams feel valued and cared for. It’s got a lot of valuable tips and tricks, so if you’re curious about how to keep your agency employees satisfied, don’t miss out on this episode. For 30+ years, Drew McLellan has been in the advertising industry. He started his career at Y&R, worked in boutique-sized agencies, and then started his own (which he still owns and runs) agency in 1995. Additionally, Drew owns and leads the Agency Management Institute, which advises hundreds of small to mid-sized agencies on how to grow their agency and its profitability through agency owner peer groups, consulting, coaching, workshops and more. A big thank you to our podcast’s presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They’re an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev, or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here. In This Episode: Recognizing that not every agency employee will want to stick around forever, and it’s not personal The one thing you should not do to earn employee loyalty Why offering equity or partnership in the company is almost always a bad idea What agency employees actually want from agency owners Setting quarterly growth goals for employees Creating space to truly get to know your people beyond work Rewarding employees for their effort fairly, but not equally Getting agency employees involved in deciding their own perks for excellent work Simply ask your employees what will make them stay Get personal and thoughtful with your praise

It’s easy to get caught up in the chaos of day-to-day agency life. We all have a million things on our to-do lists, and they just keep growing. But part of being a successful agency owner is being present and open to what’s right in front of you.   Doug Fleener knows all about what it means to run a business intentionally. With history as a business owner and a rock bottom moment that led him into recovery, he’s had to learn some truths about life the hard way. But from that, he has developed some core principles to help business and agency owners live more intentionally. His six core principles can help anyone start their day on the right foot to make incremental but powerful life changes. All it takes is one day to wake up and decide to make positive changes, and if you take anything away from this episode, it’s that intentional actions create intentional results. This episode is packed with action items that are not only simple concepts but also easy to implement. I have no doubt that Doug will leave you feeling inspired and ready to start 2024 with a fresh set of eyes and a renewed inspiration to take intentional action toward making your year great. A big thank you to our podcast’s presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They’re an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev, or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Learning to live in the day and making each day a little better Taking responsibility of yourself to make positive change Intentional actions create intentional results Practicing relentless simplicity in life and business Thinking of 3 things you can improve each day Micro habits that feed greater improvements Helping others to help yourself Mastering the ability to be present Having more intentionality throughout your day Implementing the 6 core principles and applying them to your business

Remote and hybrid work environments are here to stay. While some agencies have successfully returned to the office full-time, and some may have never even left, many agencies are still struggling to crack the code on hybrid work without upsetting their employees.   It’s a difficult balance, but it has become ever-important as these demands begin cementing into our work culture. And if you’re working with creatives, the conversation around a hybrid workplace has probably been even louder. So this week, we’re joined by Felice Ekelman and Julie Kantor, authors of Thrive With a Hybrid Workplace: Step-by-step Guidance From the Experts, to teach us how to approach these conversations and transitions from a legal and psychological point-of-view. We all know that as agency owners, there’s nothing more expensive or as valuable as our employees, and we just want them to be happy working with us. So tune in to learn how to have these conversations and set expectations around hybrid work environments so we can all have a better agency together. A big thank you to our podcast’s presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They’re an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev, or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here. What You Will Learn in This Episode: The making of the Thrive With a Hybrid Workplace book The shifts and trends of hybrid and remote work post-covid Creating a balance in a hybrid work environment The challenges for agency leaders in creating a collaborative hybrid work environment and maintaining communication What type of training agency leaders need to build a thriving hybrid work culture How to develop productivity benchmarks without the ability to observe in person Getting agency leaders out of the fear mindset and setting appropriate boundaries with agency employees

Agencies are under more pressure than ever to be innovative. While it used to be easier to solve your clients’ problems and wow them with a great solution, these days, it’s much harder to do that with the bar constantly moving. This is why it’s essential to develop an innovation strategy.   Wouldn’t it be nice to bring a lofty, innovative idea to a client and have them be over the moon and excited to be a part of the process? With the right innovation strategy, that dream can be a reality. An innovation strategy can help your team jumpstart the creative and problem-solving process while leaving room for co-creation and collaboration with your clients. This streamlines the creative process and takes the pressure off you and your team to have all the answers while you search for the solutions to their problems. Tune in to learn how your agency can become problem-solving and innovation experts by asking the right questions, enacting decisive decision-making, and building out a creative workflow. A big thank you to our podcast’s presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They’re an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev, or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here. What You Will Learn in This Episode: The hardest part of innovation Collaboration is key for driving innovation Boiling down the “how” of problem-solving and innovation Creating an upstream methodology — the question-asking stage Getting a client to buy into an innovative idea The importance of collaboration and outside input for an innovation strategy The landmines to be aware of in the upstream production stages Workshopping ideas to produce quicker outcomes

Lee McKnight Jr., agency owner, discusses the challenges faced by agencies in 2023, including lower-budget prospects and dried-up client referrals. He shares insights on how to dial in your biz dev strategy for a more successful 2024. Topics include AI in agency operations, hiring considerations, and building a realistic business development strategy.