Agency Leadership Podcast

For years, agency advisors like Chip and Gini have implored agencies to be strategic and avoid being simple order takers. Owners were told that this shift was key to increasing profitability and client retention. But has it gone too far? In this episode, Chip and Gini examine whether agencies have hit 'peak strategy' as suggested recently by Blair Enns. They ask whether some agencies are overempha...

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the widespread apprehension about AI in the agency world, urging listeners to embrace the technology rather than fear it.   They emphasize that AI will not replace jobs but will change the nature of work, making tasks more efficient and allowing for more strategic focus. The conversation also explores how agency owners can leverage AI to create new service mo...

Are you finding biz dev harder in 2024 than you expected? In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the increased risk aversion and prolonged decision-making processes among clients and prospects in the agency industry, especially in light of economic uncertainties and the 2024 U.S. election. They emphasize the importance of agencies adapting by providing project-based work and suggest looking into u...

"If an employee is too critical to take vacation, your problem isn't the employee." In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the importance of ensuring that no one in an agency, including owners and key employees, is too indispensable to take time off. They explore the belief versus reality of being irreplaceable, and provide actionable strategies for agency owners to create processes allowing team...

Don't sugarcoat it when writing up a job description or interviewing potential new hires - painting a rosy picture that doesn't match reality will only cause you headaches down the road. In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the importance of being open and honest about work expectations at your agency, including hours, tasks, and working conditions. They emphasize the need for clear communicatio...

Gen Z employees tend to have a different (not worse!) approach to their jobs than the older generations do. Which means that as an owner, you need to evolve the way you communicate with and manage them. In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss those differences and the importance of effective communication and feedback in managing and leading. They highlight the need for two-way feedback and setting...

It must be nice to own an agency because then you're earning the big bucks, right?   Many agency employees complain that clients pay so much more than they are making, so the owner must be reaping a huge profit.   It makes it easy to think that setting out on your own and working for clients directly is the right answer.   In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the realities of quitting your job t...

Hiring seasoned professionals sounds like it will solve a lot of headaches you have as an agency owner. But will it?   In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the importance of balancing senior and junior hires in agencies, highlighting the pros and cons of primarily staffing with senior level talent.   They emphasize the need for clear expectations, relevant experience, and the importance of under...

Chip and Gini discuss recent updates from the federal government affecting agency owners, including a ban on non-compete agreements and changes to salary thresholds for overtime exempt employees.   It emphasizes the importance of compliance, working with professional advisors, and making necessary adjustments to HR policies.

You trust your team, right? In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the importance of agency owners letting go of micromanaging, trusting their team, and focusing on building a scalable business. They emphasize the need for owners to delegate tasks and avoid being bottlenecks.   They also touch on the challenges and benefits of transitioning from being deeply involved in all aspects of the business...

Chip and Gini discuss the intricacies of fractional leadership roles within clients. They share their experiences and provide advice on managing relationships, setting clear boundaries, handling administrative tasks, and positioning oneself accurately in these roles.

Start-up clients may not have the funds to pay you, but still need service, so why not consider receiving equity as payment?   In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the potential pitfalls of that approach. They caution against exotic payment schemes such as equity or pay for performance, emphasizing the risks and complexities involved.   They also highlight the importance of legal and tax conside...

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the fear of hiring employees, the implications of using contractors, the financial considerations, and the benefits of having employees. They emphasize the need to align hiring decisions with long-term business goals and not to be afraid of hiring employees when it makes sense financially.

Employee complaints? Accountable only to yourself? Trying to create a work culture? Welcome to agency ownership!   In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the challenges and frustrations of owning an agency, emphasizing the importance of seeking accountability and support, and reflecting on one's own role in addressing issues.   The discussion also includes reflections on past experiences and lesso...

How do you deal with clients who ask for different payment terms than the ones your agency offers?   In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the importance of setting clear expectations from the start and being proactive in following up on overdue invoices. They offer different approaches and creative strategies for handling payment terms with clients.

Are you and your agency team spending too much time writing proposals, creating capabilities decks, and building brand personas?  It may seem productive, but clients value results - and so should you. In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss how to get your agency's time under control and offer advice on managing business development and project management to avoid the unnecessary and focus on real...

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the recent wave of layoffs in the media industry and its implications for PR agencies.   They explore the challenges of securing earned media in a landscape with fewer journalists and offer insights on evolving strategies to effectively reach target audiences through alternative channels.   Emphasizing the importance of setting realistic client expectations a...

A lot of agencies have told Chip and Gini that 2023 was a bad year for them. Fellow agency adviser Karl Sakas posted on LinkedIn that he has been asked if it was bad for everyone.   In this episode, Chip and Gini share their perspectives — along with things that positioned some agencies for success in what many experienced as a down year.   Whether you had a good or bad year, there are lessons to...

When Gini shared in a recent episode that her success has come from doing the same thing for 15 years, a listener pointed out that she has continued to evolve.   The two are not mutually exclusive. In fact, the best agencies usually combine the two.   Rather than chasing trends, successful agencies consistently produce excellent results for a well-defined set of clients.   At the same time, these...

The Wall Street Journal recently suggested that the era of digital agencies may be over. It's not that digital services are no longer required, but the label for agencies may no longer make sense.   In this episode, Chip and Gini talk about the need for agencies to find a sustainable focus and be cautious of riding the wave of the latest type of "hot" agency — including digital, social media, cann...

It's not uncommon to hear agency owners talk about wanting to target small businesses because there are so many of them and you can talk with the decision-maker more easily.   While it may be an appealing target, there are reasons to be cautious. There's a good chance that you will be dealing with the owner, which can help lead to a faster sale since they may treat it as an impulse purchase. On th...

It seems so alluring to be able to put a Fortune 500 logo on your agency's website. Many of us dream of the creative things that we can do for these household names.   Yet often these big brands end up being bad deals for small agencies. They are time-consuming to sell, difficult to service, and often subject to onerous contractual terms.   In this episode, Chip and Gini take a look at the appeal...

In this episode, Chip and Gini take a question from the SAGA Community on Slack about ways to motivate freelancers just as you do with employees.   The reality is that freelancers and employees aren't the same and contractors should treat your agency as a client and produce excellent results — just the same way you do for your own clients.   The real question ought to be how to engage freelancers...

It's easy for all of us to get stuck inside our own heads. Having someone we trust who can help to provide some independent insight and challenge our own beliefs can be very helpful.   In this episode, Chip and Gini talk about why it is important for agency owners to have someone outside of the business — a mentor, consultant, coach, friend, or even another agency owner — who can help to play that...

If you're anything like Chip and Gini, you have discovered employees doing work for clients that is outside of the scope of work you have agreed to.   There are many reasons for this behavior and this episode explores those as well as potential solutions.   Whether your team just wants to make clients happy, enjoys doing some work more than others, or simply isn't aware of the actual scope of work...