The Digital Agency Growth Podcast

In this episode of the Digital Agency Growth Podcast, I’m joined by Brock Murray, co-founder of seoplus+ , a digital marketing agency he launched back in 2012 that has grown into a 50+ person team serving clients across North America and beyond. Brock shares the arc of his journey, from launching his first web hosting business at 14, to building seoplus+ with his partner Eddie, to scaling through...

Most agencies live and die by referrals. But here’s the catch: They usually happen randomly. When you do ask for intros, it feels like giving people homework. And even if you’re consistent, it’s hard to know where the real opportunities actually are. In this solo episode, I share my journey from the “analog networking” days of wandering trade shows… to running hundreds of cold campaigns during the...

In this episode, I talk with @Audrey Kwan in the Small But Mighty Agency, to tackle one of the most misunderstood growth levers in agency land: referrals. Together, they unpack how trust is the new currency in a cold-lead-saturated market—and how smart agencies are building systems around referrals, not just hoping they happen. ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 – Why cold outreach is failing and trust is everyth...

In this episode of the Digital Agency Growth Podcast, I’m joined by Eric Baum, founder and CEO of Blue Leads—one of the top HubSpot Solutions Partners globally. Eric shares the full arc of his journey, from accidentally starting an agency after hacking Yellow Pages spend for his plumbing business, to scaling a team of 40+, to building one of the most successful HubSpot implementations agencies in...

Proposals can make or break your agency’s Q4 pipeline. Too vague, and prospects don’t see the value. Too detailed, and they get stuck in analysis paralysis. In this episode, Dan is joined by Joe Ardeeser , founder of Smart Pricing Table, to talk about how agencies can strike the right balance, upsell strategically, and close deals faster as the year wraps up. Whether you’re facing slow proposals,...

As summer winds down, many agencies face the same problem: pipelines that dried up in July and August, and a mad dash to generate momentum before year-end. In this episode, Dan lays out a practical action plan for September outreach — how to reset your business development, stand out to brands, and build the right conversations that lead to Q4 results. This is from Dan’s conversation with Stephen...

In this episode, I sit down with Roger Nairn, CEO of JAR Podcast Solutions, to talk about how he’s grown a top-tier production agency working with brands like Amazon, Lululemon, Amex, and Cirque du Soleil. We get into the systems, sales strategies, and creative positioning that helped him go from “no name, no business plan” to building a client list most agencies dream about. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 –...

In this episode, I sat down with the Happy Clients Podcast to talk about what’s working in agency sales right now, without the cringe, without the outdated playbooks, and without turning you into a full-time cold caller. Most agencies can sell for their clients all day, but when it comes to their growth, things can get messy. I’ve spent the better part of a decade helping agencies stop relying on...

 In this episode, I sat down with Kristen Sweeney, the founder of Every Little Word — a boutique content and communications agency that’s laser-focused on helping complex B2B orgs share what they actually know in ways that actually work.  We got into the nitty-gritty of what it means to build trust with subject matter experts, why most B2B content is fundamentally broken, and how Kristen made a hu...

In this week´s episode Stewart Gandolf joins me to talk through what it actually takes to niche down, build a sustainable agency, and scale without losing your sanity or soul. Stewart’s been in the healthcare marketing game for over two decades, and his experience building Healthcare Success into one of the top firms in the space is loaded with tactical insight. We talk about the trap of project-b...

This solo episode is a deep dive into the unsexy but transformative groundwork that agency owners need to lay to build a reliable new business engine. Dan breaks down what really separates enterprise-level agencies from the ones stuck in "Cobbler’s Children" limbo — not just in terms of tactics, but in mindset, strategy, people, and execution. He shares hard-won lessons from years of run...

Most agencies never crack eight figures. Mark Orttung helped one grow to $130M—by breaking every "safe" rule. In this episode, we dive into what agency owners at the $1–5M mark can actually do to punch past the common growth ceilings. The most important shift? He stopped selling to job titles—and started selling to buyers with something to prove. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: Why agencies...

In this episode of the Digital Agency Growth podcast, I’m joined once again by agency advisor Karl Sakas. Karl breaks down the philosophy and practice behind his new book Calm the Chaos —a leadership guide for agency owners who want to scale smart, delegate more, and reclaim time. We also explore his writing process, the parallels between art collecting and running an agency, and how to think clea...

Today, I talk to Todd Gagne—tech founder, startup mentor, and the guy who accidentally dropped a viral bomb on Substack after a weekend rabbit hole about GLP-1 drugs. We talk about why these weight-loss medications might be as transformative as the air conditioner, what this means for advertising, and why the next few years could upend how we think about consumer behavior, even in B2B. ⏱️ Timestam...

Join Dan Englander and Jared Gibson, co-founder of Outworks, as they dive into the future of B2B marketing and explain why personal branding is the most powerful growth engine for CEOs and founders. Discover why cold outreach is no longer enough, how authentic LinkedIn content can drive long-term trust and authority, and how busy executives can make content creation part of their routine. Jared al...

In this solo episode, Dan shares an evolved perspective on outbound strategies for boutique agency owners. Reflecting on lessons from the "Right Words to the Right People" workshop and client campaigns since, this episode offers a practical, human-centered approach to outbound that respects your time and builds real pipeline—without sacrificing trust or burning bridges. ⏱️ Time-Stamped B...

Are your agency's services stuck in a tangle of complexity and custom work? In this episode, Dan Englander sits down with Chris DuBois—founder of Dynamic Agency OS and creator of the Snap Offer framework—to explore how agencies can simplify their offers, build authority, and grow through repetition, not reinvention. Chris shares how he went from infantry officer to agency CEO and ultimately t...

How do you grow a digital agency without getting stuck in feast-or-famine cycles or boxed in by a single niche? In this episode of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast , Dan Englander sits down with Erik J. Olson, CEO of Proxa and the force behind three specialized agencies under one umbrella. Erik walks us through his unconventional journey from civil engineering to coding in bookstores to building...

What separates the agencies that consistently get referrals from those that don’t? According to Audrey Kwan, it comes down to trust equity. In this conversation, Dan Englander talks with Audrey consultant, community builder, and founder of Agency Together about how agencies can get off the feast-or-famine sales rollercoaster by building strategic partnerships, clarifying their niche, and focusing...

In this episode, Dan Englander welcomes back Nick Petroski of Promethean Research for a high-signal, data-backed deep dive into the state of the digital agency industry in 2025. From agency size trends to the truth about AI integration, Nick reveals what the numbers really say. Watch our latest video training, How to Take Charge of Your Agency’s Future Revenue . During this training, you’ll learn...

What do you do when referrals dry up and the market gets shaky? In this solo episode, Dan Englander breaks down the key takeaways from his recent workshop: Implementing a Business Development System That Stands Up to Uncertainty. You’ll learn: Why reactive sales keeps you stuck in volatility How to shift to a proactive system that builds momentum The 3 mindset shifts every agency needs for consist...

We're bringing back one of our most valuable episodes  a conversation that’s just as relevant today as when it first aired.  The agency world has seen plenty of change in recent years. But with that change comes opportunity — for evolution, adaptation, and leadership. In this episode, Drew McLellan joins us to talk about the current state of the agency landscape in 2024, the importance of tho...

In a world of economic uncertainty, shrinking budgets, and longer sales cycles, how do smart agencies continue to grow?  Jon Tsourakis, Co-Founder of Oyova, reveals how embracing discomfort, staying authentic, and focusing on fundamentals can transform your agency’s performance even in the hardest times.  Watch our latest video training, How to Take Charge of Your Agency’s Future Revenue . During...

Are retainers the future of agency growth? In this episode, David Brecount — CEO and co-founder of US Digital Partners — returns to share how his agency survived and thrived over 23 years by doing the opposite of what most agencies chase: consistency over chaos, long-term strategy over shiny tactics, and relationships over quick wins. Watch our latest video training, How to Take Charge of Your Age...

In this special episode of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast, we’re featuring Dan Englander's recent guest appearance on the Revenue Rehab podcast with Brandi Starr. Watch our latest video training, How to Take Charge of Your Agency’s Future Revenue . During this training, you’ll learn how we get qualified appointments every week using tasteful and highly targeted email outreach. Dan, founder...