Small But Mighty Agency: How to Grow Your Agency

What does a successful pivot into new services look like for an agency? It’s not always smooth sailing! In our latest episode, we chat with Ted Lau about how he identified the need for a more profitable and stable service niche during a difficult business partner break-up.  By prioritizing client feedback, Ted transitioned his business from a creative services provider to a lead-generation digital...

Your account managers are key to client retention.  Excellent client account management leads to happy clients, and when clients are happy, they don’t churn.  My first role inside agencies was in Account Management, and I know what it takes to be a great account manager and lead account managers because I lived it for years.  When you walk in the shoes, you know the size of those shoes.  My guest...

If the thought of a 4 day work week has crossed your mind, my guess is that you’ve gone back and forth thinking about it.  Implementing a four-day workweek takes thought and consideration – so in today’s episode of the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast –  I bring along a few friends who have implemented four-day work weeks.  You’ll get four different perspectives and four unique insights on this wee...

To niche or not to niche? It’s a very relevant question to agency owners.  As I started to think that the topic of niching was overdone, I started to see a pattern in conversations with agency owners pop up.  Standing out is challenging because agencies compete for general attention instead of being specific.  So, instead of creating better opportunities for niche clients to find you, you end up c...

How do you know if a referral network is right for you?  Imagine having a network that’s not just another mastermind or course but a community focused on helping you grow through strategic collaborations and consistent referrals.  Picture this: curated connections, referral pods, and collaboration events tailored to extend your reach and grow your business.  At Agency Together, we’ve created a pur...

Want more referrals and clients for your agency?  Getting consistent referrals doesn't have to be a mystery.  If you’ve been following our “How to Get More Referrals” series, you’re already on the path to leveraging a referral strategy that brings in consistent clients.  Referrals aren’t just about asking for business—they're about creating a culture and ecosystem that naturally encourag...

How effectively are you leveraging referrals to get more clients?  Hubspot Sales Trend Report emphasized the importance of referrals, especially when buyers are more cautious about spending money.  Referrals are the top way to receive high-quality leads and shorten the sales cycle because it’s worth more in trust than a cold lead or sales rep. In part two of this mini-series on how to get more ref...

he podcast, I’ll share:  Five different types of referrals your business can leverage  Actionable insights on optimizing your referral process Breakfree from the challenges of generating more referrals effectively  Where to begin?  Start with the first episode, where we explore why top agencies thrive with referral programs and why yours should too. Don't miss out on transforming how you thin...

Are you feeling overly involved in the day-to-day tasks of your business?  If removing yourself from certain day-to-day processes or tasks isn’t getting easier, you might have overlooked some key processes.  In this episode, we share the concept of “invisible work.” Invisible work is the critical yet often overlooked processes that you might be handling because you don’t know how to get it off you...

Do you find yourself stepping back into the day-to-day of your business?  You’re not alone.  What if I told you that you might be creating more work for yourself by inserting yourself back into projects and that there is a better way?  I get it. You’re an agency owner who fears that standards won’t be met without your direct involvement, clients will be unhappy, and relationships will deteriorate....

How does the desire for quick success cloud long-term strategic thinking?  It can appear as shiny distractions or band-aide approaches instead of dealing with the root cause.  Why does this happen? It's a case of not seeing the forest from the trees because you’re standing among the trees.  Ultimately, it makes your to-do list longer and your life harder as you go one step forward and two ste...

Is it a great idea or a shiny distraction for your business? How do you decide?”  I’ve seen business owners go all in on distractions at the expense of what is working in the business and derail their team because the shiny object syndrome is real.  The one thing that entrepreneurs don’t lack is ideas and the tendency to be quick starts.  Raise your hand if that’s you.  New ideas can bring creativ...

Have you struggled with letting go of client work and trusting your team to deliver?  You might feel – even with processes – that your team can’t deliver at the level you want. It’s not unusual for agency owners to struggle with sharing their specialized knowledge with their team.   The struggle is made more difficult when you don’t know or don’t solve the root of the issue. This misunderstanding...

What strategies are working for agencies that are leaders in their niche?  ☝️It’s one thing to say that the riches are in the niches, but what are agencies that thrive in their niches doing differently than their counterparts?  For one thing – they’re not scattering their efforts; niche agencies use laser focus to their advantage.  Even if you specialize in an industry or sector, you still need to...

What niches have the most opportunities for agencies right now?  Yes, the riches are still in the niches.  In other words, growth is most pronounced in specialization, not generalization, but not all niches are equal in this economy.  Some niches are ripe with untapped opportunities for agency owners to carve out and tailor their expertise.   So, what exactly are these lucrative niches?  In this e...

What moves should you make on LinkedIn to attract clients effectively this year?  With the platform constantly evolving, understanding the dos and don’ts of LinkedIn can feel like a puzzle.  In this episode, you’ll hear from a LinkedIn Marketing Agency Owner on how to make LinkedIn work for you. We dive into what’s working for content creation and engagement and explore how to avoid mistakes users...

What is the approach that has helped me build a track record for tripling growth for agency owners?  Let’s start with what it’s not – it’s not about quick fixes or one-size-fits-all solutions.  It's about a strategic system that has taken me years to distill into a lens (like a magnifying glass) you can use today. Like many experts, I had the expert’s curse, which means it's hard for me...

What separates high-performing agencies from the rest?  It's more than just having a great product or service.  The secret lies in this asset: unlocking your team's potential and, by extension, your agency.  A high-performing agency has healthy profit margins, retains phenomenal talent, has streamlined operations and enhanced brand reputation. I've seen firsthand how growing your pe...

What if the very skills that have made you successful might now be the ones you need to reassess and unlearn to become an effective leader? We've seen it firsthand with our clients – the satisfaction that comes from executing tasks with precision, solving problems swiftly, and managing time like a pro.  But what happens when those very skills, which once propelled your business or career forw...

Do you need a strategy to elevate team members to leadership roles within your agency? How can you support your team in acquiring leadership skills and resilience beyond what you can teach them personally? If one or both questions resonate, this series is for you.  Developing your rising leaders in your agency is required if you want to build a scalable business.  I've walked the path from be...

What data do you need to look at in your agency to optimize profitability? In this episode, we examine the relationship between operations and finance in an agency and examine metrics that matter for profitability.  You don’t need to be a CFO or COO to benefit from this episode; you just need to be curious about what metrics to track.  You’ll gain a fundamental understanding in this episode of Wha...

How can agencies navigate growth with more ease in 2024?  I work closely with seven-figure agency owners, and I have the opportunity to see overarching trends and patterns.  I know we have heightened noise, and it’s harder to break through.  I know with the economic changes,  buying decisions require more trust than ever.  It isn’t negative; it just requires new ways of approaching your business ...

What is the most important system in your business? Your answer may vary depending on your stage of business.  If your business has a team, the most important systems aren’t just about “doing” the work.  Highly valuable systems empower your team to be problem solvers and make continuous improvements. When you nurture a team of critical thinkers, you can be assured they are solving challenges that...

Do you believe that motivation is key to success?  What if I said it’s not?  Because, let's be real, motivation is fickle. It comes and it goes.  You won't get far if your actions depend on your feelings and you constantly wait for motivation.  Even the seven-figure business owners I work with don’t always feel motivated.  Rather than waiting, It's all about setting up a system that...

How do these 5 hidden biases lead to slow growth or no growth?  As a coach and consultant, I get the privilege of looking beneath the surface of other people’s decision-making processes.  And one or more of these five hidden biases can appear when you make strategic business decisions.  Hidden biases sabotage sound decision-making. It creates havoc when they stay hidden.  In this episode, I’ll unc...