Chats with Chip

Adam Graham, Founder of both Gray Matters and BD Matters, brings a wealth of agency business development expertise to the table in this episode of Chats with Chip.   When agency owners focus on sales, it tends to be because they are looking to quickly grow or rapidly replace lost revenue. Adam explains the importance of having a plan and a process in place instead of launching haphazardly into an...

In this second part of a two-part series, Zach Hyder explains what it has been like to transition from agency coach to president of the agency founded by Ward Hubbell. Zach and Ward explain how they transitioned from an advisory relationship to one in which Zach joined the firm to help lead the day-to-day operations and give Ward a chance to begin to phase out. There are also some interesting insi...

In this episode, Hubbell Communications founder Ward Hubbell talks about the agency he founded, and how he decided to approach the transition when he no longer wanted to manage the business day-to-day. Ward talks about how he was working with Zach Hyder as his agency business coach when it struck him that Zach would be the right fit to take over Hubbell. In this first episode of a two-part series,...

Manageable agency growth doesn't come from mass communication, but rather by developing real relationships with prospects. In this episode of Chats with Chip, Dan Englander of Sales Schema explains how agencies can develop these relationships at scale — even with limited resources. Dan has recently written a new book, Relationship Sales at Scale, that explains how to balance the right amount of au...

Agencies in the United States and elsewhere are faced with a challenging labor market that makes hiring for needed roles more difficult than ever. Finding the right talent at the right time is never easy, so what options do agencies have? In this episode of the Chats with Chip Podcast, Noel Andrews of JobRack explains how talent from Eastern Europe and other parts of the world can supplement your...

Most agency owners didn't go to school to learn about business management and financial reporting. For many, it is a necessary evil that comes along with being able to do the creative work that they enjoy. In this episode of Chats with Chip, Jon Morris of Ramsay Innovations shares his perspective as a former agency owner turned agency financial advisor. He explains the key reports that agencies sh...

Many agency employees find themselves feeling overworked today. A combination of a shortage of available talent coupled with increasing client demand can make for a difficult time getting projects done on-time and on-budget. Galen Low, co-founder of Digital Project Manager, joined Chip on this episode to talk about how agencies can improve their project management skills to improve the results tha...

When we last visited with Carl Smith, his Bureau of Digital was just beginning a substantial forced transformation. The world was shutting down, and as an events-focused business, the Bureau was facing tough times. Two years later, the Bureau of Digital has transformed itself, building a substantial membership base and producing a variety of virtual, hybrid, and in-person events for the agency com...

In this episode of Chats with Chip, Jessica Phillips, CEO/Founder of The Social Standard, and that agency's Chief Revenue Officer, Dylan Conroy, discuss their approach to growing the business. The conversation focuses on the journey from founding through the pandemic and into the future. Many agency owners think about having someone dedicated to business development in their small agency, but fewe...

In this episode of Chats with Chip, Shannyn Lee of Win Without Pitching joins to talk about how agencies can step up their business development game.   Agency owners don't need to be sales-y to generate new revenue, and Shannyn shares some of her best advice on finding the right prospects to work with you and your team.

Miles Everson of MBO Partners joins Chip Griffin of the Small Agency Growth Alliance (SAGA) to talk about the challenges that agencies are facing in this new era of work -- and how they can find success while mitigating risks.

Chris Hervochon, a CPA with extensive experience working with small agencies, shares his advice on how to manage your business more effectively by understanding and using your financial reports.

In this episode of Chats with Chip, Samantha Deeks of PRgloo talks about finding and reaching out to influencers and journalists who can help your agency's clients. Samantha explains why she founded PRgloo and looks at the journey they have taken. She also takes a look into the future — both of her product and the industry.

Annelise Worn joins Chip on this episode to talk about how she has built a business that meets her unique needs and allows her to maintain a passion for what she does. She took her agency and created a whole new source of revenue to complement the traditional business. Annelise takes you along on the path that she followed — and why she made the choices that she did. If you have ever thought about...

On this episode of Chats with Chip, he is joined by guest Chris Williams. The pair discuss time management and efficiency as they relate to running an agency. Concepts floated include bringing your clients in together and forming groups to work with them, and many other ideas from the Four Hour Workweek, written by Tim Ferris.

Chip and Jeremy discuss the agency partnership model and how it can be used as  a tool for growth. They go over the benefits of partnerships for smaller specialized agencies as a way to compete with agencies who are more full-service, as well as the positives that can come from building relationships with fellow agencies.

On this week's episode, Dan Englander of Sales Schema joins Chip to talk about approaches to business development that are working for agencies today. The pair discuss what's working, what has changed, and what lies ahead.

In this conversation, Anthony Blatner of Modern Media explains how agencies can use advertising on LinkedIn to grow their businesses. Anthony offers practical tips on how agencies should think about LinkedIn advertising from the perspective of building a pipeline of prospects and increasing revenue.

The Covid-19 crisis isn't just a bump in the road for PR and marketing agencies. If you're hoping to weather the storm and see a return to normal later this year, you're likely to be disappointed. At the same time, there are plenty of opportunities for agencies that look to innovate and adapt. Brad Farris of Anchor Advisors joins Chip to talk about what agencies should be doing right now. The pair...

Agency leaders and their employees have fresh worries during the Covid-19 crisis. In addition to the usual human resources challenges any business faces, agencies must deal with a new wave of concerns. In this conversation, HR consultant Patrick Rogan joined Chip Griffin to discuss how to handle a range of challenges, including: How to communicate with agency staff right now Handling furloughs, la...

While most agency leaders spend part of their week dealing with business development, that's what Lee McKnight Jr. and his team at RSW/US focus on all the time. Since he is out talking with and working for many PR and marketing agencies each week, he is in a great position to share how things look right now. The Covid-19 crisis has certainly shaken up the agency world, and Lee offers insights on h...

Part of being successful in business is being willing to ask for help. Nowadays, there are plenty of opportunities to get the insight and advice you need if you know where to look. With the wealth of options available, it can be difficult to figure out the difference between coaches, consultants, advisers, and others who might be able to lend a hand.  Ken Jacobs has a wealth of experience as both...

Writing lies at the heart of any public relations campaign. It takes real skill to effectively deliver the right messages in a compelling form. In this episode, Don Bates demystifies the key elements of the writing process and offers practical tips on how agencies can get the most out of their available talent. Don is particularly generous in sharing a variety of useful resources, including an in-...