Small But Mighty Agency: Win clients and build better networks for marketing and consulting agencies
Audrey Joy Kwan | Agency Growth Strategist
If you want to grow an agency to seven figures and beyond without working more hours in your business, tune in. I know your time is valuable, so I keep it practical and help you work smarter, not harder, in every episode. I'm your host, Audrey Joy Kwan. I know what it takes to build an agency—including supporting an agency owner in selling and exiting, and consulting for 200-person agencies—because I've done it. My team and I have coached and consulted with over 150 agency owners and have been behind the scenes of multiple seven-figure agencies. All this to say, joi...
From Creative Doer to Agency Owner—Without Burning Out
Transitioning from a creative doer to an agency owner is exciting—but it can also be overwhelming. Many creatives struggle with letting go of control, building a team, and shifting from doing the work to leading the business. If you feel stretched thin trying to manage everything, this episode is for you.Today, I’m joined by Kait Day, Founder of Nowadays Studio, who shares her journey from being a burned-out freelancer to leading a thriving five-person agency. She opens up about the challenges o
Are VIP Days the Best-Kept Secret for Your Agency?
If you’ve ever had a prospect say, “I want to work with you, but I’m not ready for a full retainer,” you might be leaving money on the table. VIP days offer a high-impact way to deliver results quickly—without the commitment of a long-term engagement. But are they the right fit for your agency?In this episode, I sit down with Melissa Mitchell, founder of Wandermint Creative, a YouTube marketing and video coaching agency. Melissa has mastered the VIP day model and shares how she integrated it int
Trust Equity: Why Less Experience is Winning at Higher Prices
Trust-equity over track record? It's happening. Here's why...Did you know that 70% of the decision about your agency is made before you even showcase your results?Last week, I spoke with an agency owner who lost a pitch to a competitor charging 20% more - despite having less experience and a smaller track record.His response? "They somehow seemed like the safer choice."In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, we unpack why great work alone isn't winning business anymore and what's
How to Leverage 9 Overlooked Partnerships to Accelerate Your Agency’s Growth
Are You Missing Out On 9 Hidden Types of Agency Partnerships?Most agency owners know about basic referral partnerships. But what if I told you there are NINE different types of strategic partnerships that could transform your agency's growth? (And I bet you're only using one of them.)In this special episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on partnership strategies that are quietly generating results for agencies. These aren't your typical "let's trade referrals" arrangements – they're growth engin
3 Opportunities Agency Owners Can’t Ignore in 2025
What trends will shape the agency landscape in 2025?As we head into 2025, it’s clear the agency world isn’t slowing down—it’s evolving faster than ever. In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, I’m diving into three game-changing trends every agency owner needs to know to stay ahead and plan smart for the year ahead.Let’s be real: AI is everywhere right now, and unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably noticed its rapid rise. But here’s the thing—it’s not just about
Are You Hesitant to Niche? Let’s Talk About Why (and How to Overcome It)
Why are agency owners so hesitant to niche even when niching is hailed as the secret to agency success? Let’s be real—deciding to niche can feel daunting. Fear of losing clients, choosing the wrong niche, or limiting your creativity might be holding you back. In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency podcast, I’m breaking down the top reasons agency owners resist niching (as shared by a network of agency owner friends, colleagues and clients) and how to overcome those fears to build a thriv
Is Your Agency Missing Out on Referral-Ready Relationships?
How many of your network connections are sending you high-quality referrals? Take a moment to think about it.If your answer is "not enough," you’re not alone. Many agency owners believe that growing the size of their network is the key to getting more referrals. But here’s the truth—it’s not about how many people you know; it’s about how well you know them and, just as importantly, how well they know you.Today, we’re breaking down a big misconception in the agency world: the belief that a bigger
How to grow your agency without losing culture and connection
What’s the secret to building a high-caliber, close-knit team as your agency grows?Growing an agency isn’t just about increasing numbers; it’s about expanding in ways that keep your team engaged, connected, and performing at their best.In this episode, we dive into building a strong, scalable culture that keeps your team driven and purpose-focused.I’m joined by Victoria Gray, COO of Conversion Digital, a boutique agency that’s doubled in size under her leadership while maintaining a high-perform
Building a Work-Life Balanced Agency Without Sacrificing Productivity or Client Satisfaction
If you're wondering how to boost team morale and client satisfaction while giving your team the gift of time, this episode is for you. Revenue goals are important for agency owners, but so is achieving a sustainable work-life balance. And one concept that's been making waves in the agency space is the four-day workweek. While we've touched on this topic before, today, we’re getting into details with actionable insight you can put into practice even if you’re not fully ready for the four-day work
Stuck In a Plateau? How Repositioning Might Be the Answer
Has your agency hit a plateau? Maybe you're attracting the wrong clients or feeling like your services aren’t being valued as much as they should be. If this sounds familiar, it might be time to rethink your positioning.In this episode of Small But Mighty Agency, we’re diving into how repositioning your agency can help you:Break out of a growth plateauAttract bigger, higher-paying clients who truly value your expertiseGain clarity on your niche and stand out in a crowded marketBuild a reputation
Why Collaborative Ecosystems Are The Future of Small Agency Growth
Are you a small agency owner wondering how to really stand out?If you've been feeling the pressure of competition and questioning how to unlock new growth opportunities, you're in the right place. In today's episode, I’m unpacking a strategy to transform how you approach growth. The future of small agencies is in building networks, not silos. Specialization and collaborative ecosystems are already opening doors to new opportunities that many small agencies might have thought were out of reach. T
How AI Helped One Agency Double Productivity – Here’s How
What if you could cut your task from hours to minutes—wouldn’t that change how your agency operates?Imagine if what took you 14 hours now takes you 2 hours, or what took you 4 hours now takes 35 minutes?For Matt Rouse, co-owner of Hook SEO, those numbers reflect the reality of how AI is raising his agency's productivity. In this episode, Matt shares how AI has drastically increased productivity at his agency, helped him streamline operations, enhanced client services, and even developed new off
How to scale by franchising your agency (she did it, so can you)
Has the thought of franchising your business ever crossed your mind? Whether your answer is a “yes” or “no,” this episode will get you thinking about what is possible. If you want to leverage your business and explore new growth avenues, building a marketing franchise is an option.But as you might guess, it’s not just about having a great business idea—it’s about having proven systems and processes that can scale.So, what does it take to transform an agency into a successful franchise?In today’s
Why Claiming a Niche Helps You Get More Clients Without Stressful Marketing
What is the number one thing that stops agency owners from specializing in a niche?Fear. It’s the fear that niching down will result in fewer clients.But the reality is quite the opposite. I see niche agencies thrive every day, and their success stories speak volumes about the power of specialization.In today’s episode, Amanda Lee Smith shares the transformative process that led her to a niche and the defining moments that made her go all in. Her agency has worked with brands like Adidas, Arcyte
What’s Working in Marketing this Quarter to Drive Sales?
What’s working in marketing this quarter to drive sales? First, there is no one-size-fits-all to anything. Finding what works for your business is an exercise in understanding your ideal buyers, but the opportunity to see and hear what works for others can help you optimize or streamline what works for you. That’s why we’ve invited three friends who are marketing specialists in their specific niches to share what is working for them and their clients. You’ll hear three powerful insights that are
4 Keys for Successfully Introducing New Services
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 marketing agency. He leaned into four keys for growing the agency and navigating the pivot:Aligning ma
How to Optimize Account Management for Better Client Retention
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 today, Taylor McMaster, has done exactly that, too. Today, she owns a fractional Account Management agen
4 Perspectives On a 4-Day Work Week for Your Agency
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 week's episode.This summer, we’re doing something different on the podcast by bringing you a few a-s
5 Advantages Niche Agency Owners Are Capitalizing On Today
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 chasing and convincing clients – it takes much more work. In this week's podcast episode, I explore
How to know if a referral network is right for you?
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 purposeful community where the intent is crystal clear: generating strategic collaborations and referrals
How To Get More Consistent Referrals for Your Agency
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 encourages and rewards the sharing of opportunities. Remember, 84% of B2B decision-makers start the buying proc
4 Key Referral Channels: Are You Using Them to Get More Clients
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 referrals, I unpack the top four referral sources every agency owner should know and include in their mark
5 Powerful Reasons Top Agencies Have Referral Programs (and why you need one)
he podcast, I’ll share: Five different types of referrals your business can leverage Actionable insights on optimizing your referral processBreakfree 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 think about referrals.Show LinksConnect with Audrey on Linkedin Join the Agency Together waitlistI’m opening t
Escape the Daily Grind in Your Agency: Key Processes You’re Overlooking
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 your plate. Your invisible work wastes valuable time and keeps you working in your business instead of on
How to Empower Your Team and Let Go So You Don’t Burnout? [Case study]
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. It’s a common bottleneck, and in this episode, we’ll explore how to effectively stop jumping back in a
Is the Pursuit of Quick Success Obscuring Your Strategic Vision? Here's How to Tell
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 steps back.How can you tell if your pursuit of quick success obscures your strategic vision?Sometimes, it&
How to Prevent Shiny Distractions from Derailing Your Business Growth
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 creativity and innovation and diversify opportunities – one hundred percent. But shiny distractions, such as ne
How to transfer niche knowledge to your team so you can scale
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 leads to reliance on ineffective, "quick-fix" solutions. I often hear agency owners express t
How are successful niche agencies thinking and doing differently in the current economy?
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 maximize what sets you apart, especially when niches are competitive and the economy is changing. Whet
What Are The Top Niches for Agency Success in The Current Economy?
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 episode, I merge valuable insights from my work with niche-specific agencies and conversations with agency
How to attract new clients on LinkedIn in 2024
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 commonly make on Linkedin. Whether LinkedIn has been your playground for a while or you’re just dippin
How I created a track record of tripling growth for agencies with this strategic system
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 to step outside my brain to see how to distill my complex knowledge into more straightforward, more acc
The “Big 3” Pillars Agency Owners Need to Build a High-Performing Agency
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 people – not just your directors– leads to more profits and efficiencies. The framework I'm sharing i
5 Key Things Doers Have To Unlearn to Succeed as Leaders
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 forward, become obstacles to growth? As you aim to build a scalable business or lead an agency beyond day-
How to grow the leaders that move your agency forward so you don’t burn out?
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 being an account coordinator to being an agency leader and helping agency owners scale and even exit the b
Marcel Petitpas: The metrics that matter for profitability
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 ofWhat might be missing in your profit and loss statements, The importance of the delivery margin metric to p
Predictions: What is Required for Agency Success in 2024?
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 I also know that the need for done-for-you services (agency services) isn’t shrinking. The more complicat
How a project debriefing system helps make better teams
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 help you grow your business without you being there. That’s why post-project debriefs are powerful. A po
4 Habits for Thriving When Motivation Wavers
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 works when motivation takes a backseat.Let’s get that system set up for you today. In this episode, I sh
5 Hidden Biases That Lead to Slow Growth or No Growth
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 uncover 5 hidden biases. Plus, I share examples of how these 5 hidden biases can impact your decision-makin
12 Steps to Make Better Decisions in Your Business This Year
Facing a decision and not sure which way to turn? The nature of being an entrepreneur is to make decisions; some decisions are quick, and others carry more risk and uncertainty.That’s why it’s an investment in yourself to check your intuitive decision-making process with a recipe for making better decisions. This 12-step process has helped me support an agency owner in selling and exiting his business and serve as a strategic thought partner to multiple six- and seven-figure agency owners. In t
5 Pillars that Anchored Business Growth in 2023
Want to know the 5 pillars that anchored business growth this year? In our annual year-end review, we drill down to five learnings that will inform the steps for next year and share how you can take each one to level up in 2024.⭐Purpose⭐Retention⭐Micro-Shifts⭐Leadership⭐Real-Life ConnectionsYou’ll hear how the pillars anchored the growth of my business and the growth of the agencies I coach, consult and support.So, let’s unwrap the year and grow better together. Tune in. Build a Mighty Pod Model
4 Leadership Styles to Get You Out of the One-Size-Fits-All Approach
Are You Just Delegating or Truly Leading? If you've ever faced disappointment despite 'clear' instructions or felt like your leadership approach isn't resonating – I’ve been there too. Leadership is more than the oversimplified mantra of "just delegate.”There is much more to growing a business with a team than "just delegate.”Delegating is one style of leadership out of four styles. I’ve been doing leadership for 15 years, and I know relying on a one-size-fits-all a
3 Communication Challenges to Master for a High-Performing Team
Did you know it requires more than systems and processes to get you out of client delivery, increase efficiency and scale your business? In today’s episode, I’m sharing why systems are merely a starting point and not the finish line because the crucial factor often overlooked is leadership.Leadership is how you create a scaleable business where people hold one another accountable, encouraging a bottom-up approach to accountability. The engine that makes leadership work, in other words, the heart
Bonus Replay: 4 Lessons that Grew My Business by 30%
How did I land the emcee role for one of Canada’s largest TEDx? Great question. Here’s the secret.At the end of last year, I took a CEO day for myself — no distractions, no meetings, no laptop—just me and my notebook. I identified four lessons that grew my business.I’m replaying the episode for you all because if there was a secret to my year, it was knowing how to focus. Getting to host TEDX and having room to say yes was made possible by taking the lessons from last year into 2023. I used to g
5 Ways to Position Your Agency as First Choice
Want to be the agency that clients think of in your niche? 👏Yes. Are you strategically positioned to attract more clients? Find out in this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency podcast. I’m focusing on what it takes to have powerful positioning in your business. Positioning isn’t just about standing out – it’s about being strategically positioned in the minds of your clients. Here’s a peek at what we’ll cover Five ways to elevate your positioning Insights into a compelling narrative that reso
Ameet Khabra: How to know if your business stands out or blends in?
How do you challenge the norms in your niche? For example, do most businesses in your niche say they provide excellent customer service? And you find yourself saying something similar. If that’s you, it’s time to break free of the sameness and make a bigger impact. And if it’s not you, you can’t lose by exploring better positioning. I share two questions in this episode to help you explore better positioning. And find out how our guest answers the questions to make her mark as an agency owner. S
How avoiding the comparison trap will reshape your 2024 strategy?
Have you ever felt the weight of comparing your journey to someone else's? You know, that irresistible urge to measure your progress against others, especially in this last quarter of the year. We've all been there, and today, I have insights to share on the comparison trap, drawing from lessons learned during my Master's Degree and the wise words of an Olympic Gold Medalist professor. Tune in if you're ready to navigate through distractions and pave a faster path to success
How the Curse of Expertise is Holding You Back
What if I told you that your expertise can get in the way of growing your business? It sounds counterintuitive, but it's a real barrier. The phenomenon is called the curse of the expert. It can play out in different ways on your journey from being a solo service-based business owner to an agency owner. But wait, isn't being an expert advantageous? When that expertise becomes a barrier to training your team or scaling your business, it's more of a curse than a blessing.In this epis
How do I set boundaries without worrying balls will get dropped?
Are you protecting your time effectively?Last month, I found myself in the emergency room of a hospital, and it got me thinking about the parallels between better boundaries in an emergency room and in a business. Not every challenge in a business, just like not every trip to the ER, is a life or death situation. The right boundaries help you prioritize what truly matters and let go of being the bottleneck.In this episode, I share how to set better boundaries so you can serve your clients better
How to transform processes into profits
How do you transform processes into profits? If you want a higher ticket offering in your service-based business, tune in. You’re listening to the last episode of a series to help you break down a strategic system in your business called your intellectual property so that you can build a profitable business without burning out. Intellectual property drives results and helps your team deliver for your clients in your service-based business, and it’s a powerful tool for marketing and positioning
Creating more revenue-generating opportunities with a strategic service delivery structure
Are you ready to discover what can separate your service offerings from the pack? We're digging into the art of crafting a repeatable structure for your service delivery and what makes it possible to transfer your knowledge to others. In this episode, strategic service delivery structure isn’t just about the mechanics of intellectual property.There’s more. Understand how it's about making your mark and creating a legacy that stands the test of time.Let me explain in this week's e
How to avoid a major trap that keeps you stuck as the bottleneck in your business
Do you know how to steer clear of the A to Z thinking trap?"It’s a major pitfall that keeps service-based business owners trapped as the bottleneck of their business. In this episode, we’ll give you step-by-step actions to avoid the trap or, if you're in it, how to get out - so you can grow your business and do it with a lean team. Show LinksPart 1: Ep 67: How can intellectual property transform your service-based business?Part 2: Ep 68: Leverage these two foundations to break free fr
Leverage these two foundations to break free from being a bottleneck
Are you looking to take your business to the next level without becoming the bottleneck? If that sounds like you, tune in. In this series, I'm bringing you short, power-packed episodes that reveal valuable insights on developing your money-making intellectual property so you can grow a business without being the bottleneck. Today, we're diving into part two of the series, where I'll be sharing two foundational elements that make intellectual property development easier for consult
How can Intellectual Property transform your service-based business?
Have you ever wondered how to find and develop your money-making intellectual property in your service-based business? Maybe you think you don’t have intellectual property, or you find yourself doing the work in your business but struggling to unlock the method to your expertise. In this five-part series on the podcast, we’re deep diving into how to find and develop your money-making intellectual property.In this series, we're going to hit three goals: Identify foundations that make develop
Navigating the Messy Middle to Build Your Agency
What is the messy middle?The messy middle is the transformation phase, where you get out of client delivery and grow your business with a lean team. If you’re a marketer, consultant or creative who turned your skill and expertise into a service-based business, odds are you started your business for more opportunities and freedom.As you scale your business from just you to three, five or twenty, you unknowingly (or knowingly) hold onto freelancer and solopreneur habits that no longer serve your
Jon Morris: From seven to eight figures - the power of financial forecasting
How can agency owners leverage financial forecasting and modelling to better inform strategic planning and drive growth? Lean in as we talk to an agency owner whose secret to scaling from seven to eight figures is mastering financial forecasting. You might be at the stage of business where you’re doing this with minimal support, or you might have a fractional or even full-time Chief Financial Officer. Either way, this episode will get your gears turning on how to improve decision-making and all
Chaos is holding you back from growing your business - here's why
Are you scaling chaos in your service-based business? If you started your business as a marketer, consultant or creative and have grown from a solopreneur to having a team, you may have some solopreneur habits holding you back.And if you've been following my journey, you already know that structure, roles, and processes are the secret sauce for keeping chaos at bay. But here's the twist: that's just one side of the story. As you transition from solopreneur to CEO, you need a whole
The Hidden Cost of DIY versus Delegation
What's the hidden cost of not building your team in your business? It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that doing everything yourself is the best option, but the truth is, it can lead to burnout and regret down the line. As a coach and consultant, I've seen firsthand how entrepreneurs can take on a lot, but we all have a breaking point. So, what can you do to avoid falling into over-commitment and over the cliff of burnout? Invest in getting client delivery off your plate.
Haley Dagan: How to overcome the challenge of letting go to build a team
Have you hit a wall in your business, struggling to grow from solopreneur to a lean team that can give you back more time? You’re not alone; it's a common struggle. Building a team for your service business goes beyond hiring people; it's about creating an effective organizational structure, developing processes, improving communication, and stepping into leadership. Today we’re exploring a challenge that shows up at many different stages of business growth. It's the challenge of
Rebecca Bartlett: Overcoming the fears and self-doubt of growing an agency
Are you ready to take your business to the next level but feeling held back by fears and doubts? Join us for an inspiring episode where we explore the topic of cultivating courage as an entrepreneur. Hint: courage isn’t always about doing more; it can be about doing less. We discuss the not-so-obvious blocks that can hinder your growth and provide insights to overcome them. Discover the power of breaking free from generational conditioning and family expectations, evolving your identity, and rec
Is The Agency Model The Best Path For You?
Attention all creatives, consultants, and marketers!Is the agency model the best path for scaling your service business?In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, I tackle this question and share my insights on the agency model drawing from nine years of hands-on experience building and coaching multiple six and seven-figure agency owners. I discuss the right time to consider the agency model, the difference between being self-employed and a business owner, and the self-employment t
CXD Studio: How they turn clients into preferred partners and create a sustainable business
Do your clients see you as a partner or a vendor? What is the difference, and why does it matter?My guests today reached their first annual $500K in revenue by prioritizing setting themselves up as a partner to their clients and establishing a strategic relationship that is long term. If you’re in a vendor relationship, it's transactional, and your clients contact you when a transaction is needed. In a partner relationship, you have a deeper connection, including insights into the organizat
Erica Norris: 4 strategic activities that doubled her revenue and increased client retention
How to double your revenue and increase client retention in your business? It takes more than just getting more clients. Consider how the business can be sustainable when you want to double your revenue. You need to build internal capacity in your business. Nobody wants a rollercoaster service business when the churn rate is high, one month, you’re feasting, and the following month you’re fasting. While marketing and sales are essential, sustainability and scalability require strategic considera
Erika Montgomery: When to change, pivot or develop new offers in your business?
Is now the right time to change, pivot or develop a new offer in your business?As business owners, we can’t be tone death to what's happening in the market and the economy – both are different than just two years ago. What might have been working two years ago in your niche is rapidly changing, requiring you to make potentially big decisions. Today, we have a timely discussion from an entrepreneur of 18 years who has been named Best Female Marketing and PR CEO of the Year (USA) by Global 1
Suzie Bao: Racial representation in mentorship matters for business growth
What’s one of the best ways to grow faster and avoid painful mistakes? That’s an easy one for me: getting a mentor. As a business owner, having mentors helped me gain experiences not shared in books found on bookshelves; I’ve benefited from a better understanding of their wins and mistakes. But mentorship isn’t just for a business owner; it's also for your team and helping them reach their highest potential. Today, we’re talking about diversity, equity and inclusion in marketing and marketi
Katie Jefcoat: 5 ingredients for happiness “soup”
Do you believe in planning for more happiness and joy in your business? If you’re like me, you got your planning done in December, or maybe, January is the month you start planning.I don’t know a business owner who isn’t doing some sort of planning right now.Whether you do it at the end of the year or the beginning of the year, there’s no wrong or right time.But there is one thing many small business owners don’t do when they make strategic plans: you don’t actively plan for more happiness. That
4 lessons that grew my business by 30%
Here are the big four lessons I learned this year that helped me make money and grow my business by 30%. Each lesson is a way of thinking and being as we head into 2023, where the trend points towards buying decisions taking longer because people are more careful with spending.Hear why these lessons make me a better business owner with an even greater potential to accelerate growth in the new year: Welcome the fear of doing something new but keep it simple. Nurturing genuine relationships is mar
Jennifer Taback: How cultural intelligence makes her agency innovative
What is a significant advantage of a small agency?It’s the ability to stay in its lane and go deep into a niche. Today, we’re talking to an agency owner about her niche in cultural intelligence. Cultural intelligence is not just a hot topic but a much-needed one. Authentic representation matters because it empowers. I’m speaking from my own experience as an Asian-Canadian who grew up seeing very few, if, at all, Asians represented as business owners (except for the stereotypical laundry mat or c
Rebecca Teaff: Growing the team to cross seven figures
Can I tell you about a scenario I’ve encountered many times?I speak to service-based business owners who get stuck spending 9-5 every day in client meetings, and there’s no space for other things that need to happen.On the one hand, there’s plenty to celebrate because they have a fully booked service business. On the other hand, they are at capacity and the bottleneck in their business.They have a good team, but the challenge is that the team who got them here isn’t going to get them to the next
How to Handle Unclear Scopes (profitably) in a Service Business
A potential client comes to you with a project, and the scope (a.k.a objectives, requirements and outcomes) is unclear. It happens to all service providers, and it can drain time, money, and your team It can distract you from scaling what works well in your business. The challenge is that unclear scopes can come disguised as opportunities, especially if you’re unclear about your business vision and where you want to spend time and resources.Listen to this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency,
5 Pillars of a Productized Service That Help You Grow (even if you’re at capacity)
Let’s grow a complicated business that feels like a ball and chain. Said NOBODY. I’ve been there.I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done. It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business. Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of multiple six and seven-figure service
Why Productize Your Service? Do You Need It?
What makes a service business high ticket and sets you up to get paid like an expert? Here’s the thing to know, it’s not about doing more in your business; it's actually about doing less. Hear why productized services and the agency model support you to do less while providing exponential value to your clients and how it gets you out of being the bottleneck in your service business (hint: it has something to do with your intellectual property and how the agency model has changed.) -Episode
Success: How to get more time freedom in your service business and make money (even on vacation) with Justin Salters
Do you want more time to work on the business rather than in it?When Justin reached out to me for help, he was the bottleneck in his business. His service delivery processes lived in his head, so he spent his day-to-day implementing services, managing clients, and providing client strategy. He was doing it all with little time to focus on real business growth. It wasn’t sustainable, and he didn't have the time and freedom he craved. We made changes that supported him to streamline his busin
Jenny Smith: How transparency helps this multiple 7-figure agency owner have an engaged team
What is the greatest asset for a multiple seven-figure agency?After ten years as the CEO of her agency and another 12 years before that working as a creative director – thats’ 22 years - Jenny Smith knows her team is the greatest asset. In this episode, Jenny shares how transparency about her agency's profit and losses helped her team understand the financial basics and raise the level of trust, ultimately leading to committed and engaged team members.If you want to hear how transparency an
Ray Wang: How this SEO strategist made consistent $10K months by keeping it simple
If you’re a consultant or marketer who hasn’t hit consistent $10K months yet, this episode demonstrates its possible by keeping it simple. It requires effort, of course, but you don’t need to make it complicated. It's all about being persistent. Why are we talking about consistent $10K months on the podcast today? It’s the launchpad to growing a service business with a team. $10K months unlock more cash flow to do things like getting more support in your business. It opens your mind to make
Afton Brazzoni: Lessons learned from her first 5 hires while transitioning from solopreneur to agency
So what’s stopping you from getting more help? You might be thinking it seems like a risk to make another hire. What comes first? Is it getting the new hire or the new clients? It’s the age-old chicken or egg question. While every scenario has different considerations on who to hire and in what capacity, one thing holds, don’t wait till you’re overwhelmed to hire. If your business is not growing consistently, it might be that you’re still too much day-to-day, working in the business, rather than
Amanda Nelson: The rollercoaster ride to making $500K year in her agency
You’ve reached capacity, now what? Building your business requires different priorities, decisions and leadership at different stages of growth. When you hit capacity, you need to put the brakes on and focus on building internal capacity. Internal capacity is processes and team members who can help you serve your clients and grow your business. Ignore internal capacity building for too long, and you can break your business. Hear how this agency owner focused on marketing and sales to get to $500
Cara McColman: How to build a better team with personality assessments
How can you inspire your team to greater heights? The short answer is to be a more effective leader who knows how to inspire the best in people. But what motivates one person doesn’t always inspire the next. That’s why personality assessments can help inform better leadership. We explore how personality assessments help you hire better, become a better leader and support you to reach your business goals faster. In this episode of the Small but Mighty Agency Podcast: When to use personality asses
John Vuong: Leaving the 9 to 5 to Build a 7-figure Marketing Agency
Do you know an opportunity when you see one, and more importantly, are you willing to take that risk? Saying ‘yes’ led this service-based business owner from a 9 - 5 job to a seven-figure business. There’s a saying in entrepreneurship: “you’ve got to jump off the cliff and build your wings on the way down.” Today’s guest did precisely that – with no experience in marketing, he quit his job to launch a marketing agency. His journey to a seven-figure business isn’t an overnight success story; mos
Dianne McKay: Lessons learned from buying a marketing agency
What inspires someone to buy an existing marketing business? Meet Diane. After selling her successful first business, she decided to return to work by purchasing a marketing agency. Diane shares her decision-making process and what she would do differently if she were to do it again. Plus, hear the strategies she uses to become the go-to agency in her county and the marketing activities to get more clients. Tune into this episode to explore: What motivated her to buy an established agency?How di
Nanci Corrigan: Having the courage to pivot your business
What pivots do you need to make in a business as it grows? All businesses will at some point make a pivot - it's a strategic move that you take to ensure that your business remains viable and profitable. In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency podcast, meet Nanci, she is an entrepreneur of 25 years; she’s owned and operated an agency and has gone through multiple pivots, including her most recent one, where she pivoted her niche. Tune in to hear how she made the strategic decision to
Allie LeFevere: Humor is the most underrated competitive advantage in marketing
When you think of a niche for your business, you might naturally consider a specific industry or market. But a niche isn’t always an industry; it can be a service you offer. Case in point, meet Allie LeFevere, the co-owner of Obedient Agency.Their niche is humor, and they help grow brands that make people laugh. In this episode, we explore the creative process to generate humour-driven marketing and how this agency owner protects the greatest asset of creativity while on the path to building a s
Kait Dinunzio: Leadership and growing her consultancy into an agency with apprentices
If there’s one constant in owning a business, it’s getting comfortable with change. As business owners, we need resilience in the face of change, whether changing business models, shifting marketing strategies, or building a team. Change isn’t just about us, “the business owner”; it affects the people in our business. Leaders effectively managing their teams in an ever-changing environment is vital to business success. Today on the podcast, we explore best practices for change management and cha
Taralyn Carver: Solopreneur to agency owner in 10 months
Is it easier to start an agency when you’ve worked for agencies most of your career? The answer isn’t a straightforward yes or no. Running an agency requires more than just doing the work of servicing clients; it requires building a profitable and sustainable business. Taralyn and her partner went from solopreneur to an agency owner in 10 months with 23 clients and quickly grew to a team of six people. In this episode, we explore the different thinking required to go from working in the busines
Kiirsten May: The fastest way to $500K in sales
What is the fastest way to $500K in a service-based business? Today’s guest shares how she and her business partner scaled to $500K in sales in their first year without using complicated marketing strategies or being on every platform to market their business. Growth for this agency owner has also meant steadily growing a team and leaning into processes that have helped them grow to multiple seven figures Join me to hear how this agency owner earned half a million in her first year and how she a
Taylor McMaster: Mastering client management
The one thing you need to have a sustainable agency? Happy Clients. Great client management can mean the difference between a happy client who stays for the long term or a frustrated client who churns. And we know that it costs a lot more to find a new client than to retain one. Nobody understands this better than our guest, Taylor McMaster, who owns an agency that provides fractional client account managers to seven-figure agencies. So what’s the secret to having consistent rockstar client acco
Guillermo Chan: Growing a multiple six-figure agency in two years using Upwork
This small but mighty agency owner used the Upwork platform to grow his animation agency to multiple six figures in under two years. Going from solopreneur to a team of nine, Guillermo Chan went from a 9 - 5 job to building the business of his dreams, where he gets to do what he loves and make an impact on the lives of others. In this episode of the podcast: Using Upwork to grow a service-based business to high multiple six figures Immigrating to a new country, taking risks and following his pas
More first-year multiple six-figure service businesses than ever before?
How are creatives, consultants, and marketers making multiple six figures thriving in an increasingly crowded marketplace?The great resignation left a door wide open for more businesses to consider working with freelancers, contractors and boutique agencies because employees were leaving like never before, which created demand in the marketplace. On the other side of that same coin, the pool of writers, designers, and animators either freelancing or starting their agencies widened, creating a sa
Why you’re the Bottleneck in your Business
Are you stuck in your business feeling like client work is dependent on just you, and you worry it will all go down the tank when you stop working? If you don’t know how to change that – or maybe you do, but it hasn’t turned out how you thought it would? Tune in to discover: Why do some business owners remain the bottleneck even after getting systems and processes in place?Where do you start when documenting systems and processes and get it done without overwhelmThe method to get processes in yo
Todd Anthony: Nurturing zone of genius to build a better agency
What makes a creative agency excel past its competition?Nurturing and protecting the creative spirit in the team. The creative spirit is the secret sauce for an agency to do outstanding creative work. Some call it “strategic magic” or “zone of genius.” I like to think of it as the art that makes their craft possible. Let me explain The craft is the production, it's 80% of the work, but the creativity, the strategy, the zone of genius is the 20% that makes the 80% excellent. That 20% is the
Doug Darling: How processes set this seven-figure video agency up for premium pricing
When this seven-figure agency owner surveyed 50 of his clients about what they valued when working with a small agency, the response was a surprise. It wasn’t the price and it wasn’t even quality. The top three things the clients of this seven-figure agency want to see from an agency are experience, communication and processes. Yes, processes. Processes are like guardrails. By definition, a guardrail is a barrier placed along the edge of something such as a staircase to keep you from falling off
Nick Dank: Solving communication challenges to grow his agency
Is it worth the time to cross-train your team? Even the most talented people in your team can’t succeed if your entire team follows their own processes, and communication is a mess. Cross-training leads to better communication, and communication leads to a business that is less dependent on you. In this episode of the podcast, we’re exploring how this agency owner hires the right people, streamlines communication and cross-trains his team so that he can spend more time in creativity instead of p
Going from Solopreneur to Agency Owner?
These four concepts are how I’ve helped grow agencies to multiple six figures and beyond. I’ve supported an agency owner to grow, sell and exit his business, doubled the gross revenue of clients with small but mighty agencies and helped owners have more time off. To kick off 2022 on the podcast, here are the concepts that always show up. If you’re bumping up against capacity in your business, you can’t miss concept number one. Concept number one is the pillar to bringing in other people to do th
Kara Hoholik: How she leads an agency on part-time hours
Is it possible to run an efficient agency with eight part-time contractors while working part-time? For this CEO mom, the answer is yes. Although this may not be a way of running a business for everyone, Kara demonstrates that how you choose to operate your business can 100% fit your priorities. Kara’s priorities are her three kids and her mission to employ young moms by providing as much flexibility as possible in her business. In this episode, you’ll hear how she makes it all work and how smal
Kyle Doran: Redefining roles in his agency for less busy work and more value
What does it mean to streamline a business for growth? At its core, it means simplifying or eliminating unnecessary work-related tasks to make running the business easier. While eliminating things may sound simple, streamlining a business can involve hard decisions. In this episode, we connect with Kyle who streamlined his business by restructuring his remote team. In the case of this small business, restructuring involved removing one job role and as a result, navigating changing scopes of work
Amisha Shrimanker: Landing Big Name Dream Clients
Today, we explore how Amisha Shrimanker started an online copywriting agency three years ago and has since worked with some prominent names in the industry.Amisha shares the juicy details of her strategies that have landed her dream clients.Together on the podcast, we explore:Her cold pitching strategy, the one she uses to get on dream podcasts and work with dream clientsHow she leverages results into case studies to amplify her competitive advantageHow she uses project debriefs not only to serv
Lisa Genovese: Applying the 80/20 rule to catapult her business to a seven-figure agency
What is the fastest way to grow a service-based business to seven figures? Not a trick question 🙂It’s to help your clients get results faster. Meet Lisa Genovese, five years into building her marketing agency, Lisa discovered the 20% of activities driving results for her clients and decided to go all-in on the service offering,In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency, we dig into the 80/20 rule that helped Lisa catapult her business to a seven-figure agency and why getting support to disc
Jon Allison: Growing Your Business with Collaborative Partner Networks
How do you build a collaborative partner network that actually works and can help you grow your business?In this week’s Small But Mighty Agency podcast, we connect with Jon Allison, the owner of a Branding Studio with a track record of using authentic relationship marketing to grow his business and deliver exceptional work. What’s impressive is that 70% of the work Jon currently does in his business involves his collaborative partners. Together we explore: Growing a business with collaborative p
Avoiding Shiny Object Syndrome in Your Business
Focus is a superpower. But distractions are everywhere. You’re short on time, and you want to grow your business with less overwhelm.How do you steer clear of shiny opportunities and ideas that are vampires to your time and energy?How do you make better strategic decisions? I rarely share about how I arrived at my mission and my why. That’s because, for the longest time, I didn’t know how to share something so personal. My deep connection to my mission and why (I started my business) keeps me fo
Julie Wang: How to Inspire and Attract Gen Z talent
How do you engage and inspire younger generations in your service-based business? Today we’re exploring Generation Z, the most entrepreneurial generation of our time. Generation Z is disrupting the traditional ways of entering the workforce by choosing entrepreneurship over being an employee. In this episode, I speak with Julie Wang on embracing being a Generation Z agency-owner and her insights on employing her Generation. On this episode of Small But Mighty Agency: Why being a Gen Z agency-own
Trevor Longino: From Freelancer to Agency Owner in Six Months
Are you a marketer, consultant, or creative who started your business with a specialized skill? You have steady revenue, a solid client base, and work coming in. It’s more than you can handle by yourself, but you’re saying yes to everything. You’re working 24/7, and it isn’t the life you dreamed of as a business owner. If that’s you, you’re not alone.in this episode of the Small But Might Agency, we explore Trevor’s trajectory from:Transitioning from freelancer to an agency over a course of 6 mo
Joel Sellentine: Finding a North Star & Growing a Seven Figure Agency in Four Years
What does it take to grow an agency from 0 to 7 figures in four years? The first thing I noticed about Joel, founder of KARMA jack is his joy and zest for life.He has an uncanny ability to make conversations about almost any topic lighthearted yet packed with insights. In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency, Joel shares how he grew his agency to 7 figures in four years, and that includes: Finding a north star in his business and creating a business with more meaning How to keep the authe
Brittany Berger: How to Break Free from Hustle Culture and Find Your Own Productivity Rhythm
What if the traditional rules of productivity and work are broken because they are outdated? Meet Brittany Berger, she’s on a unique mission to help neurodivergent individuals work smarter, not harder, whether a business owner or not. Brittany believes that the traditional rules of productivity and work that people learn are inaccessible for many. She speaks candidly about her neurodivergent brain and how she has leveraged it in her business to be more productive and focused. In this episode of
Mooren Bofill: How inclusion matters and what this forward-thinking agency is doing to create industry change.
How does diversity drive progress and creativity in marketing agencies? And why will agencies who don’t address the call to action on diversity and inclusion get left behind? In this Small But Mighty Agency episode, I connected with Mooren Bofill, Partner of 123West, an award-winning agency, to explore the topic of diversity and inclusion and what Morren is doing to champion initiatives that are not just band-aide approaches. Tune in to gain insights on:Why diversity and inclusion make an agency
Don't Let These 2 Fears Get In The Way of Growing Your Business with a Great Team
What are some of the biggest fears business owners I work with having about building a team?It’s normal to have fears, it doesn’t make you less likely to have an effective team but understanding how these fears track and what’s true instead will help any business owner become a better leader and grow a more profitable business whether you have a team of one or many. In this solo episode of the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast ▪️Discover the two ways of thinking that self-sabotage business own
Kate Strathmann: How to create more freedom and flexibility for the team to thrive inside and outside of the business.
Lots of companies and corporations say they are people first but are they?Talk is easy. Alignment of business decisions to the principles and values of people first isn’t that simple. Meet Kate Strathmann; she thinks of her business as an incubator for building a company that gives her team the freedom and flexibility they need. In her bookkeeping agency and consultancy practice, Kate makes decisions in alignment with the actions and values of the cooperative economy where her goal is not to max
Andréa Jones: How she leveled up her services and raised her retainer rates by 30%
Raising your rates?Andréa Jones is the CEO of Online Drea a social media marketing agency that brings in between $70K - $80K per month with high ticket retainers. But that wasn’t always the case.Listen to how Andréa transitioned from a $500 retainer service by leveling up her offer and then raising her retainers that now range between $2500 to $5000 per month. Join us in this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency to explore: ▪️When is the right time to raise your rate? ▪️How to raise
Rita Barry: How to grow a multiple 7 figure agency with more ease
When you think of having a multiple seven-figure marketing agency, you might also think to reach this revenue marker; you need to serve many clients or have a big team.Think again. Rita Barry of Rita Barry & Co. has built a digital marketing agency that serves 15 clients with a team of 7 people and makes multiple seven figures. Rita keeps things simple by focusing on one core service. In this special episode, get an inside peek at: ▪️ How offering fewer services has led to more revenue and w
Michael Tighe: How to avoid $60K in mistakes when growing your team
Have you hired somebody into your business before and felt burned because it didn’t work out? Michael did, and it cost him $60,ooo. In this episode, we explore the hiring and leadership insights gained from the costly mistake and how the mistake he made 6 years ago informs his approach to hiring and building his team today.On this episode of Small But Mighty Agency: How to avoid making $60,000 in hiring mistakes The leadership skills that are necessary for team building Creating KPI’s to help t
Karen Seymour: How this social media strategist is going from solopreneur to CEO
If you’re a service-based solopreneur bumping up against capacity, what might feel scary but necessary is to de-prioritize business-building activities like marketing and visibility for business-stabilizing activities like systems, process improvements, and building your team. If onboarding two more clients in your business with the current structure you have now creates anxiety about servicing them with excellence, it's time to look at your operations and team. Karen Seymour was a solopren
Jelly Marketing & PR: How systems, processes and partnership helps this agency serve over 80 clients
While partnership in a business isn’t for everyone, it has its benefits. Darian Kovacs started his agency from a storage closet in the start-up days and now has a thriving agency of 80 clients. Jelly Digital Marketing and PR who serves clients like La-Z-Boy and Splash Down Waterpark went from an agency of one owner -- Darian Kovacs -- and towards his vision of an agency owned by a team by bringing in business partner, Sarah Clark. In this special episode we speak with Darian and Sarah about what
Jenn Ennis: How great advice on pricing your services plus one confidence-boosting project can change your business
Having a full service agency was not a business that Jenn Ennis planned for when she started offering graphic design services as a freelancer back in 2014. Jenn credits a series of small pivotal moments in her journey adding up to the business she has now.In this episode we explore the small but mighty moments, including a lesson in pricing that set her up for success, and how one project can change your confidence and the trajectory of your business. Jenn is the proud wife of an actor, and mom
4 Things Holding Your Business Back from Having a Self Managing Team
Do you feel like delegation is a struggle and you have a hard time trusting the people you’ve hired, BUT you still have hope that you can build a team that doesn’t rely on you to function?When that happens, you know you will regain time freedom and bandwidth. Yes, it's possible.Tune into this episode to hear the four things that might be holding you back from having a self managing team On this episode of Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, you willRecognize the hazards of the self employment
Conner Galway: How this Leader of the Year is building his business in an uncontested market place and why scaling isn’t the focus.
How is this Leader of the Year named by Marketing News Canada making the competition irrelevant? While most people know that consultant-type businesses don’t scale, this marketing agency owner isn’t too concerned with scaling right now, instead he’s focusing on what he calls building a defensible model. In other words, he would rather be in an uncontested marketplace solving a unique challenge for his clients than compete in a crowded one solving the same problems as everybody else. He’s carved
Shannon DeSouza: How a micro-agency is building the business to avoid the self employment trap
If you can set yourself up to avoid the Self Employment Trap of owning an agency in the first few years of business, the result is a business that sets you up for more time freedom. What’s the Self Employment Trap? It’s when you the business owner become the chief of everything by day juggling all the responsibilities and firefighter by night fixing all the problems, and feeling like you don’t have a team that you can trust. Meet Shannon, she is a consultant turned agency-owner. We explore why s
Christine Pilkington: How this mom-blog evolved into a CMO for hire business
Making a pivot in business can be extreme or it can be very natural. Hear how Christine pivoted her mom blog to provide services that her advertisers didn’t know they needed until she naturally connected them to her digital marketing service-offerings.And then faced with an opportunity to change a competitive environment. Christine shares why she evolved her service offerings again to offer CMO for hire services. PLUS if you’ve ever thought about bringing your significant other into your team,
Allison Davis: How to spot opportunities for bigger plays in sales conversations
How do service based business owners miss opportunities for bigger plays in sales calls? You’ve been there and I’ve been there. It happens when the stakes are high and your nerves get the best of you. That’s why we’re talking about sales calls today and how to spot opportunities to close bigger deals with two ways of thinking. Hint: my favorite is: “peeling an onion”. Allison Davis is a sales trainer and coach. With nearly 20 years of sales experience, Allison's contributions have elevated
Joel Klettke: How this copywriting consultant uncovered a new opportunity to serve fast-growing B2Bs and pivoted into an agency with a scale-able niche
Discover why identifying the missing processes for other businesses is an opportunity that service-based business owners can miss and how Joel invested his time to build a delivery process that set him and his team up as the go to experts in an uncontended niche. Joel Klettke is the Founder of Case Study Buddy a specialized team who help B2B brands capture, share and cash in on customer success stories. He is also a sought after conversion copywriter for SaaS and B2B, having served clients like
Lindsay O’Donnell: How overcoming mindset blocks to hiring helped this agency owner break the ceiling on her sales goals
If you have a sales ceiling that you keep bumping up against and can’t seem to bust through? Or maybe you’re navigating the complexities of an efficient small team? Listen in on this candid conversation about mindset blocks and team wins and struggles with Lindsay O’Donnell. Lindsay O'Donnell is the founder and owner of Piquant Marketing, a Vancouver-based digital marketing agency that specializes in health food. After years of being an activist and bouncing around different industries, sh
Scot Keith: How cultivating a low overhead, high talent team set this business owner up to win Strategy Agency of The Year
Get an inside peek into how this Award-Winning Strategy Agency of The Year is doing things differently. With 37 people (and growing), his agency has no departments and instead uses a concept called casting, to bring the right people into the right creative projects. Hear how Scot and his team reduce the fear of failure and perfectionism paralysis by actively showing clients the quantity of ideas that failed to get to the quality ones. Scot Keith is the co-founder and CEO of 123w an idea and des
Trailer: Welcome to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast
If you’re a creative, consultant, or agency owner who wants to know what the rollercoaster ride really looks like to grow your business from one to many — — you’re in the right place. My guests and I pull back the curtains on the realities of growing and running agencies of different sizes and what it takes to build a team.And if you’re anything like me, you want more than the highlight reel, you want to learn from the mistakes of others so that you can stop short of the same mistakes.I'm y