Trailblazer FM: WordPress without the drama

You've heard the phrase "fake it till you make it"? Many agencies take this and feel they have to project an image of a large, vibrant, successful and global business that is going places. Others in the agency space try to establish themselves as authorities whilst they are struggling with the very things they teach. Full show notes: https://agencytrailblazer.com/fake-it-till-you-make-it/

Back in the late 00s, my agency at the time was struggling through the global recession. Our model included print management which would leave us responsible for paying printers long before our clients paid their final invoices. Throw into the mix clients disappearing, staff cost, rent, rates etc and you can see how quickly debt can form in your business. Full show notes: https://agencytrailblazer...

In order to build influence, generate leads and grow our agencies need to build an audience. An audience is a group of people that are aware of you and whom consume your content. As you build your platform and attract your ideal customers (your audience) you will find you begin to generate leads to your services and sales to your products. Full show notes: https://agencytrailblazer.com/how-to-buil...

If you had to start your business from scratch, what would you do differently? What would you do again that worked? Having been in business you will have learned what works and what doesn't. These are valuable lessons that we can apply to an imaginary fresh start. Let's go on a journey of starting our business from scratch and see if there is anything from it you can use to make change in your bus...

I have burned out multiple times running my agencies. Why? Because I ignored the signs and kept pushing forward. I put deadlines, clients and my own pride before my health and mental well-being. Full show notes: https://agencytrailblazer.com/signs-you-should-slow-down-and-how-to-do-it

When a new lead comes into your agency it is important to ensure the client has everything in place they need for you to be able to help them. Not every client will be a right fit and it's better to discover this before a project kicks off than when it is too late. Cathy Wassell joins us to share her process for filtering through potential clients. Full show notes - https://agencytrailblazer.com/h...

There is a lot of advice out there from experts in the field. Whilst all have merit, there is something to be said for finding what works for you and pursuing it. Grant shares how he developed a way of growing his agency using partnerships and referrals. Instead of having to attend industry events, build a personal brand or attend multiple networking meetings, he found a system that worked for him...

As a teenager, I knew I wanted to be in business. My world was very small being the small UK town I live in so my game plan was to serve my local community as a web designer. Full show notes: https://agencytrailblazer.com/how-i-landed-my-first-client

I’ve been battling with my mental health many year. I’ve had a range of support including medication to keep me on track but things are still hard. Getting up in the morning is still an effort. A throw away comment from someone can still send me spiralling for days. Full show notes: https://agencytrailblazer.com/running-an-agency-with-depression

We are exposed to typography on a daily basis. From signs in the treat to our computer screens. Without type, we would be unable to consume information and to act upon it. It's everywhere and it's important we get it right for our business and for our clients. A hard to read landing page can negatively impact it's performance. No thought into accessibility could hold others back. Full show notes:...

The website is often seen as a checkbox on a long list of mundane and irrelevant marketing activities. It tends to become an online "calling card" with little to no thought on what it should actually do for the website owner. As agency owners we have an awesome opportunity to help build websites that help people achieve their objectives and we can do that from the wealth of experience we've had ge...

Avoiding misunderstandings and ensuring you get everything down during the discovery process can be a nightmare! To help facilitate productive discovery sessions, we developed a framework that we've used on countless projects to ensure we capture as much as possible without missing the important elements. Full show notes: https://agencytrailblazer.com/website-discovery-framework/

Considering taking on an intern? Meet Sam, former intern and mentor for interns at P&W a design agency based in London. Sam shares her journey, experiences and best practices when looking for an intern. She also shares with us her exciting project called "Tern Heads" a community that is revolutionising access to creative internships and junior employment. Full show notes: https://agencytrailbl...

We all have a personal brand, even if we don't fully understand what that is or what it looks like. Through networking, through attending events and through showing up online, I've developed a personal brand that attracts the right type of clients to the businesses I am a part of. For me it was accidental and as I try to become more intentional it made sense to connect with Nicole Osborne. Nicole...

Without being a part of a mastermind I would not be where I am today, nor would I have the clarity focus and drive to push onto where I am headed. There is immense power in a small group of people, meeting regularly and holding each other accountable that can transform a business. Full show notes: https://agencytrailblazer.com/how-to-create-a-peer-mastermind/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and...

When Jemma launched her VA business last year, she was not clear on who her ideal client would be. The first few months saw a range of clients and projects. These experiences and interactions highlighted the importance of niching to a particular client time and range of services. Full show notes: https://agencytrailblazer.com/attracting-the-ideal-client/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-o...

In 2012 my agency used multiple providers on multiple platforms. We'd created a support nightmare for ourselves and we knew we needed to change how we delivered our services. This podcast unpacks our journey into the cloud and the lessons learned along the way. Full show notes: https://agencytrailblazer.com/agency-in-the-cloud/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

During Agency Transformation Live 2020 , we interviewed Brad Morrison on how he developed his niche over time. Having started providing services within an industry that did not seem to be as commercially viable, his agency expanded into other sectors. They eventually landed upon the service niche of care plans. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A product or service is more often than not measured by the quality of support provided. The reputation of a company can be its downfall should it provide poor after care. Yet I think there are ways that we can improve the support we get from the products that are essential to our business by changing our own attitude towards seeking help. Full show notes: https://agencytrailblazer.com/getting-bet...

We are surrounded by negative messaging on the news and in social media. Global economies are being massively impacted by the pandemic, and as business owners, we may be feeling worried and concerned. I invited Nev Harris onto the show to share with us lessons we can learn from past economic crises. Full show notes: https://agencytrailblazer.com/the-covid-economy/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy...

Are you getting burned out on online meetings? Many agencies are seeing their meetings increase as clients and team members seek assurances and companionship. Whilst lockdown may have removed the travel burden, regular and unproductive meetings can continue to have a negative impact on your productivity, motivation and mental health. Full show notes: https://agencytrailblazer.com/productive-online...

During these uncertain times, income may be much reduced. I share how to manage your personal finances, make savings and enable your money to go further. We approach this both as a business owner and as an employee. Our audience are a wide mixture of agency owners and awesome staff members, therefore I'd like to cover all bases. Full show notes: https://agencytrailblazer.com/managing-your-personal...

No business has been untouched by the global pandemic of 2020. Some agency owners recognise a need in their business to pivot so they can add value to their customers, and weather these uncertain times. In this episode I will share a range of ideas to get you thinking on how you can pivot your offering. Full show notes: https://agencytrailblazer.com/ideas-for-pivoting-your-agency/ See acast.com/pr...

The world has changed within days, and you may be concerned about your business and the future of our industry. In this episode, I share with you how we are best positioned to help build the new digital community of tomorrow. Full show notes: https://agencytrailblazer.com/the-future-of-web-design/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In 2008 nearly the whole world fell into recession. Overnight we lost some of our biggest clients, and others drastically cut their investments with our agency. Fast forward to today. The global Pandemic is hitting the stock market, and it is predicted that another recession is round the corner for many nations. What can an agency do to survive and thrive during difficult times? In this episode I...