Agency Blueprint

Do you find yourself often overlooking project management? Project management is at the core of your agency and the heart of your future; without it, you will not scale.   In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, we discuss the primary components of project management, how you should think about them, and how to make improvements. We also discuss the key functions of project management:...

How do you create systems and processes to allow for a full-service agency to scale? What does it take to set up a full-service agency in a way that it can function without the owner?  In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, I’m joined by Amy Foley, the co-founder at Inbound Back Office. She started her entrepreneurial journey in 2011 when she left her corporate job for more flexibility and...

How do you tap into your network and their network? How do you equip your network with the right information to bring you leads without making them feel obligated?  In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, I explain how to leverage your network with a smart non-sales pitch strategy. I explain how to approach your network and give them the opportunity to connect you with your ideal client with...

Do you know you’ll be set on sale success by selling based on value? After confidence, the second most important thing in a sale is value.   In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, I explain how to successfully sell based on value with three major strategies. I describe how to take your prospective clients through a third-party selling model, which allow them to see themselves in the po...

Do you believe in yourself enough to make a sale? Selling is a skill that gets better with time, and we all start at an awkward place. More than anything, making a sale requires confidence and an understanding of the value you’re delivering.   In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, we discuss the power of confidence and value as the best sales tactics. We share our initial experiences...

What have been your experiences in the industry lately? A lot has been happening in the industry in the current economic environment regarding longer sales cycles, greater price sensitivity, and client ghosting.   In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, I’m joined by Jody Sutter to share an update on the state of the industry. Jody is the owner of the Sutter company, a new business cons...

Change is constant; the industry is constantly shifting. Recently, there has been a migration from boutique to agency of record and back to boutique. How do you then leverage this change and capitalize on the opportunities available?   In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, I discuss why brands are migrating from agency of record to boutique and its impact on agency owners. I explain t...

How often does operational chaos show up in your agency, and how do you manage them? Operational chaos causes many issues for agency growth, scale, profit, and your mental well-being as the owner.  In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, we discuss operational chaos, how they affect the team and day-to-day, and how to manage them properly. We explain the four causes of operational chaos – se...

How do you grow and sell an agency at four times its original worth? It’s not easy to sell creative work or reposition a brand. Many changes must happen, from how you show up to how the creative team operates.  In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, I’m joined by Jane Bayler, an entrepreneur, investor, top 2.5% global podcaster, and brand and online marketer, who has built multiple business...

Is your offer something that your ideal client really wants to buy? Is your offer something that your ideal client really wants to buy? Is it useful and something they will invest in and pay the price you’re charging? If unsure, you may want to do some market research to validate your offer.   In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, I explain the questions to ask yourself about your off...

How do you process-orient to avoid project issues and quality decrease? Do you know that the only way to scale is to have a process? Having a centralized system in place is the only way to ensure you have an operational creative process.   In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, I’m joined by Juliana Marulanda, a business operation expert, speaker, and the founder of ScaleTime. She has...

What do you do with your current clients when niching down on your services or clients? Niching down your agency makes processes more efficient and effective and is a large part of your growth and transition.  In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, I discuss the impact of niching down on your existing clients and how to handle the shift. I also explain how to manage transitioning clients wh...

What does strategic partnership mean to you? Strategic partnership is where you and your partner have a shared goal to enhance each other’s aligned services and client experience. To have lasting partnerships that deliver value, you must have shared value with your partners.   In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, I’m joined by Dave Plunkett, a music, football-loving, and dad of three...

Are you utilizing AI to make your documentation and processes more efficient? With its ability to classify, regenerate, and label things in operations, AI is a great tool in helping you be more efficient and productive and hit your bottom line.   In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, I’m joined by Juliana Marulanda, a business operation expert, speaker, and the founder of ScaleTime. S...

How do you sell the research phase to clients who don’t see its value? How do you show them that research before launch makes sense for them? Skipping the research phase can lead to a painful outcome for both the agency and the client, which you want to avoid.    In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, we talk about the impact of the research phase and how to approach selling the i...

How do you shift your mindset from an individual contributor to a manager mindset? How do you split yourself into all the needed buckets for everyone to move the needle forward? As a manager, it’s important to understand what’s valuable to your team members and what you can do differently to help them to perform at their best.   In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, I’m joined by Ally...

Are you creating a rewarding culture vs just giving people what they want? While money is a great tactic for retaining talent, it’s important to create a culture of value that goes beyond money.   In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, I’m joined by Allyns Melendez, a CEO & Founder at HR Transformed, COO at a National Public Relations Firm, and a part-time Professor of Continuing E...

Have you dealt with a demanding client before? How did they impact you and your agency? Demanding clients can be exhausting and often leave you and your team frustrated.  In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, we discuss demanding clients and how to best manage them without ruining your relationship. We explain the importance of managing your expectations with clients and evaluating your cl...

Do you have the right billing model? Do you find it hard to navigate the conversation around pricing as an agency owner? There are factors you should consider when looking into a billing model, but ultimately, what needs to be true, no matter the billing method, is ensuring there’s enough gross margin for you to be set up for success.   In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, I’m joined...

What is the best way to bring in more revenue to your agency in the next 30-60 days? Have you tried reaching out to old prospects and clients to see where they stand now?   In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, I provide the best formula to reach out to closed lost prospects and generate revenue. I explain why reaching out is a working formula that will get you revenue in the door and...

What financial stage is your agency, and how are you managing the growth? Agency growth has four discreet stages that drive decisions: the create mode, build mode, grow mode, and big business stage.  In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, I’m joined by Ryan Watson, an experienced operations and finance leader for creative agencies and venture-funded startups. As a partner at Upsourced, he h...

Do you find yourself dealing with untimely projects and client incoordination? At the core of avoiding situations like these is proper communication.  In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, I share the types of stages to consider implementing in your processes to avoid client incoordination and untimely projects. I explain the importance of communicating client responsibilities and having i...

Have you considered revenue share and equity as ways to build passive income in your agency? Revenue share and equity are great ways to build alignment and accomplish wider goals with the client and your agency.   In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, I take you through examples of agencies who’ve embraced revenue share, profit share, and equity and how it worked for them. I explain h...

Different stages of growing an agency face different challenges. What sort of challenges are you facing at the stage of growth you’re in right now and how are you handling them? The effort and pressure that you experience at these stages are what allows you to find your way and success.   In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, I’m joined by Phil Case, President and Chief Client Officer...

Did you know you can have more negative long-term impact to your agency by failing to invest appropriately in your team and by failing to ensure you have the right people? The best thing you can do for your team to continue growing your business is ensuring they have all the resources they need to do their job.  In this episode of The Agency Blueprint, we discuss how to train a high performin...