The Agency Accelerator

Today's episode is all about my favourite tools and apps that have helped me run my business more efficiently and effectively.  I'll be sharing 16 productivity tool recommendations across various categories, including AI tools, podcast production, all-in-one tools, communication tools, video production, LinkedIn management, and planning and productivity.  These tools have been game-changers for me...

Welcome to episode 196 of The Agency Accelerator!  In today's episode, our host, Rob Da Costa, delves into the world of business operations with the operations expert, Jhana Li. As the founder of Spyglass Operations, Jhana has a wealth of knowledge and experience in scaling startups and optimising resources.  Together, Rob and Jhana explore the importance of identifying and closing gaps in operati...

Welcome to the latest episode of the Agency Accelerator podcast. Today we are delving into the challenges that agency owners face when it comes to letting go and stepping up in their businesses.  Drawing from his own experience of running an agency, Rob discusses the importance of delegation, the benefits it brings, and the mindset shifts required to make it successful. He shares practical tips an...

In this episode of The Agency Accelerator, host Rob Da Costa dives into the crucial question - What Agency Model is Right for you?  Joined by business and operations strategist, Jessica Lackey, they discuss the importance of reassessing one's role as a business owner and aligning personal and business visions. Jessica shares valuable insights on designing one's role, letting go of control, and shi...

In today's episode, we tackle a common problem faced by agency owners - being stuck in the day-to-day grind of client work.  As your agency grows, it's easy to get caught up in the tactical details and lose sight of the bigger picture. But fear not, Rob is here to share some valuable tips on how to delegate and elevate your role, so you can focus on strategic growth and innovative thinking.  Disco...

In today's episode, my guest, Skyler Reeves, the founder and CEO of Ardent Growth, challenges the conventional wisdom of why focusing solely on agency utilisation is the wrong metric. We delve into the concept of throughput and why it should take precedence over utilisation. Skyler shares valuable insights from applying this approach in his agency and the lessons learned. We also dig into the impo...

In today's episode, I'm going to share something really innovative and game-changing with all of you and something I have been working on, behind the scenes, all summer.  I recently created an AI version of myself, yep, meet AI Rob, (it’s actually called AgencyAssist).  Now, I know there's a lot of hype around AI these days, but trust me, this is different. It's not just about jumping on the bandw...

In this episode, we are diving into the topic of succession planning with guest Christine Nicolson.  We explore the importance of agency owners considering the future of their agency (way before any succession plan is enacted) and the steps they can take to ensure the plan is delivered. From evaluating daily tasks, determining business value, to strategies for selling an agency,  Rob and Christine...

Today we have a slightly different and more personal episode. Earlier this month, I had the incredible experience of climbing Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in England and Wales.  This challenging endeavour not only pushed me to my limits physically but also provided valuable insights and lessons applicable to running a business.  So in this episode, I'll share with you why I was there, the p...

In today's episode, we dive into the world of email marketing and how it can be a game-changer for your agency's growth. Rob shares five common mistakes that agencies make when it comes to their email marketing strategy, from not building their email lists organically to not segmenting their audience effectively.  Join me as I uncover these mistakes and discover the keys to generating leads and co...

In today's episode, Brian Gerstner, founder of White Label IQ, joins Rob to share his expertise on how marketing agencies can leverage outsourcing to enhance their capabilities and fuel growth. We delve into the pros and cons of outsourcing versus in-house hiring when is the right time to consider it, how agencies can find reliable partners and the systems required to make outsourcing work smoothl...

In today's episode, Rob dives deep into the over-servicing epidemic that plagues many agencies. We all want to please our clients, but at what cost?  Rob discusses the hidden costs of over-servicing, shares strategies for establishing better boundaries, and offers ideas on how to refocus on high-value work to accelerate agency growth.  Over-servicing can drain resources, lower margins, and create...

Welcome to Episode 185 of The Agency Accelerator, where we delve into the power of batching and how it can transform your agency.  If you often find yourself overwhelmed and jumping between tasks, feeling exhausted at the end of the day without a sense of accomplishment, then this episode is for you!  As agency entrepreneurs, we face constant context switching and interruptions, which hinders our...

In today's episode, my guest, Joe Ardeeser, from Smart Pricing Table, explores the art of writing a winning proposal. Joe will share his insights on what to do before agreeing to write a proposal, how to structure a proposal effectively, and how to make a great impression with your follow-up. We also discuss the importance of understanding your client's needs, the value of productising services, a...

Procrastination and perfectionism can hold agency leaders back from taking action and making progress. We often tell ourselves stories that our work isn’t good enough yet or that we need to know more before launching something new or completing a project. But these limiting beliefs keep us stuck.  The expression "progress over perfection" reminds us to focus on moving forward rather than endlessly...

In this episode of The Agency Accelerator, Rob is joined by guest Joel Klettke to discuss the hidden power of case studies in the sales process. Joel shares valuable insights on how customer stories can support your new business, the different formats to deploy them, and their importance in winning, upselling and retaining clients. We also delve into the value of creating compelling anonymous case...

Grab a pen and paper, because in today's episode, we're revealing the secrets behind creating high-converting lead magnets that attract and nurture new clients for your agency. You'll discover proven lead magnet strategies to capture emails, nurture leads, and grow your agency. We'll explore the anatomy of effective lead magnets—from irresistible titles to delivering quick value. You'll learn how...

Today we are diving into the struggles agency owners face when it comes to letting go and delegating responsibilities. Joined by special guest Rachel Gertz, co-founder of Louder Than Ten, we explore the typical growth journey and share common indicators that agency owners are ready to delegate.  From the importance of project managers to building a brand that is not defined by the owner, this epis...

In this week’s episode, we are digging into expanding your comfort zone and getting comfortable with discomfort for personal and professional growth. I discuss the four stages of learning and share strategies to expand your comfort zone.  Ultimately, the goal is to continually push beyond your limits and achieve sustainable growth in a manageable and incremental way. Beyond your comfort zone lies...

Welcome back to another episode of The Agency Accelerator! In this week's episode, our host, Rob Da Costa, sits down with the brilliant Alyson Caffrey, founder of Operations Agency. Together, they dive deep into the strategies and techniques that agency owners can implement to build a self-running agency, ensuring its success even when they take a much-needed sabbatical. Alyson shares her invaluab...

Welcome to The Agency Accelerator, the podcast that helps small to mid-sized marketing agencies grow in a profitable, sustainable, and enjoyable way. In today's episode, your host, Rob Da Costa, shares five essential strategies to avoid the feast or famine cycle that many agencies experience. If you're tired of the stress and uncertainty of fluctuating client loads and empty ‘order books’ then thi...

Welcome to a brand new episode of The Agency Accelerator, the podcast that is dedicated to helping agency owners build profitable, sustainable, and enjoyable businesses. In today's episode, titled "The Impact of AI on Agencies," our host, Rob Da Costa, sits down with Clodagh Higgins, an experienced digital agency director, consultant, and coach.  As experts who have worked with over 1,000 agencies...

Welcome back to another episode of The Agency Accelerator. Today we're diving into a topic that is all too familiar for many marketing agency owners - the burnout epidemic. As agency owners, we often find ourselves overwhelmed, exhausted, and struggling to manage our well-being amidst the demands of running a business. So in this episode, we're going to explore strategies to take charge of our wel...

In this episode of The Agency Accelerator, Ilia Markov from the time tracking management tool, Toggl, discusses the importance of time recording and how it will help agencies manage their capacity, productivity, and profitability. We explore how time tracking is not just about billing clients, but is also a way to analyse where time is going, identify areas for improvement, and optimise operations...

Everyone talks about the concepts of value-pricing and value-selling and it sounds really good in theory. But in reality, a lot of agencies don't know how to apply it or are too scared to start taking a value pricing approach. So they go back to their tried and tested ways of pricing on fixed project fees or selling on time. So in today’s podcast I want to give you five tips and strategies that yo...