

The Builders
Matt Levenhagen
"The Builders" Podcast is designed for those that are 'building' stuff on the web. Whether that's building a business, an agency, building teams, building products, services.. or building websites.. if it's related to building something, it's fair game.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 5, 2023 • 52min
Ricardo Boggs - Where Tech, Business, and Personal Growth Collide
Join us in episode 123 as we sit down with Ricardo Boggs, whose journey represents the fusion of technology, business, and personal growth. His story starts with a passion for technology, ignited in the era of .com and nurtured through hands-on experiences like building computers and software. Ricardo's interest in tech led him to an education in Management Information Systems, which acted as a launchpad to a diverse career that included a stint at CityBank.
What makes Ricardo's story unique is not just his technological prowess, but his understanding of business and his passion for personal development. His ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-techies and his communication between business and other departments have been key factors in his success. But beyond that, his intrinsic motivation and dedication to empowering people have led him to the Brave Thinking Institute, where he'll be transitioning into a speaking, teaching, coaching, and motivational role.
In this episode, Ricardo shares his insights about the importance of communication, the extrinsic and intrinsic motivators that drive a team, and how he's helping others find what truly drives them in their lives. Tune in for a conversation that dives deep into the nexus of tech, business, and personal growth. Don't forget to share, like, and subscribe!

May 30, 2023 • 48min
Kavin Patel - Mastering Conversion Optimization and White Labeling
Join me in this insightful episode of our podcast where I had the pleasure of hosting Kavin Patel, a seasoned entrepreneur and the co-founder of Convrrt. Kavin shares his journey from his early hustling days to building a successful SaaS company focused on conversion optimization.
We delve into the world of white labeling, discussing its potential and why more companies are choosing to focus on their core competencies and partner with others. Kavin also shares his thoughts on the impact of AI in the industry, and how Convrrt is leveraging it to help businesses convert visitors into leads, and leads into customers.
We also touch on the challenges of bootstrapping a business, the importance of setting processes early on, and the future of Convrrt. This episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone interested in SaaS, conversion optimization, and entrepreneurship. Tune in!

May 22, 2023 • 45min
Angela Mulrooney: Mastering Authenticity in the World of Personal Branding
In this enriching episode, we journey with Angela Mulrooney, an expert in mastering authenticity in personal branding. Angela, originally a dentist, found her true calling in helping others discover their unique voice and brand identity. Her transformative journey from babysitting riches, through dentistry, to becoming a personal branding maestro is as captivating as it is inspiring.
Angela's story is one of courage, resilience, and redefinition. She candidly shares how a career-altering injury led her to reassess her path and ultimately identify her true passion. This episode is rich with valuable insights, as Angela details her methodology for empowering clients to show up authentically and build a strong personal brand. She also provides a fascinating discussion about the nuances between social media platforms and how to use them effectively.
Join us as Angela imparts wisdom gained from her personal journey and shares a wealth of knowledge about personal branding, shedding light on the importance of authenticity and the power of being unapologetically yourself. Tune in to learn about the incredible transformation that can happen when we align our professional lives with our true selves.

May 15, 2023 • 60min
Completing the Transition: From Trello to ClickUp for Agency Project Management
Welcome back to another solo episode of our podcast, Episode 120 (Pt 2.. Listen to Part 1 for full context: Ep. 116). This time, I take you on an exciting journey of our transition from Trello to ClickUp for project management.
In this episode, I share the process, challenges, and insights we gained while transitioning our team from Trello to ClickUp. This move was a significant one for us. The decision wasn't made lightly, but the benefits it brought to our team are undeniable. Learn about how we trained our team members, tackled initial obstacles, and how we hit the ground running.
Find out why we made the switch, how we kept our team updated, and the importance of being ahead of your clients' needs. Understand how we're managing the continuing transition of our documentation from Confluence to ClickUp, and why the move is well worth the effort. I also share my thoughts on how project management tools need to scale as your business grows.
Join me on this tech journey, exploring the world of project management, and stay tuned for more exciting conversations in upcoming episodes.

May 8, 2023 • 38min
Building Strong Agency Partnerships for Long-term Success
In Episode 119 of my solo podcast, I dive into the importance of building strong relationships with agency partners and clients in the digital marketing and web design industry. I share my experiences of how focusing on relationships rather than just getting projects done has had a significant impact on my business growth and revenue consistency.
I discuss how building relationships leads to accountability, mutual respect, and a strong bond that goes beyond just completing projects. By investing in these connections, you can become an integral part of each other's businesses and visions, leading to more consistent work and long-term success.
So, whether you're an agency owner, digital marketer, or web designer, join me in this episode as I share valuable insights from the trenches on how to establish and maintain meaningful relationships with partners and clients. Let's work together, grow together, and experience some amazing things in our businesses!

May 1, 2023 • 1h 2min
AJ Saunders - His Pivotal Moment: ‘Learning by Doing’ Leads to a Focus on eCommerce Clients
In this episode of The Builders Podcast, we dive into the inspiring journey of AJ, a successful eCommerce marketing consultant. From his early days creating courses and helping companies with content development, KPIs, and analytics, to finding his true calling in eCommerce, AJ shares valuable insights and experiences that have shaped his approach to marketing and strategy.
Learn about AJ's "Ah-ha moment" that changed his perspective, the challenges he faced working with coaches and real estate agents, and how he discovered his niche in eCommerce. With guidance from experts like Christina Hooper, AJ has developed a solid marketing strategy and a unique approach to multi-touch point marketing that keeps him top-of-mind for his target audience.
Tune in to hear about AJ's desire to scale his business and achieve his dream of living in Monaco, as well as the importance of having a solid strategy and playing the long game for success. Don't miss this episode packed with valuable lessons and actionable tips for finding your own path in the world of eCommerce marketing.

Apr 24, 2023 • 44min
A Baseline for Growth: Continuous Marketing & Site Enhancements for Your Business
Hi, I'm Matt Levenhagen, and in Episode 117 of my podcast, we dive deep into the importance of ongoing marketing and website improvement efforts for any business! I'll be sharing my own experiences and examples of how my agency, Unified Web Design, LLC, has been continuously improving our websites and marketing strategies.
Throughout this episode, we'll discuss the benefits of continuous improvement, how it helps with client acquisition and retention, and its role in keeping our agency moving forward. We'll also explore our current marketing strategies, focusing on digital agency partnerships, custom design/dev work, and targeting insurance agencies. I'll share my experience with social media marketing and networking for referrals and visibility, and our efforts in other areas.
As we delve into the importance of a strong online presence, I'll explain how our five websites have played a critical role in promoting our business and establishing credibility; and what our work and roadmap looks like to continuously improve them. I talk about a series of recent updates to ALL our sites to improve or expand content.
Join me in this episode to learn more about maximizing your business’s growth through marketing and site improvement insights. Share your own experiences or questions on the topic, and let's continue the conversation!

Apr 17, 2023 • 45min
Switching Project Management Tools: Navigating the Transition in Your Agency
In Episode 116 of our podcast, I (Matt Levenhagen) take you on a journey through the process of considering a switch from Trello to ClickUp as the project management tool for my growing agency. With a larger team and multiple roles to manage, I discuss the importance of finding the right tool to streamline operations and improve overall efficiency.
Throughout the episode, I share the key steps I follow when evaluating and transitioning to a new project management system: identifying the problem, researching and evaluating potential solutions, involving the team in the decision-making process, and planning for a smooth transition. I also emphasize the importance of being prepared to revert to the previous tool if the new one doesn't live up to expectations.
Whether you're facing a similar decision or simply interested in improving your agency's project management, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice from my personal experience. Stay tuned for a potential follow-up episode where I will share the outcome of my decision and any lessons learned along the way.

Apr 10, 2023 • 35min
The Art of Custom Web Design: Our Unique Approach & Process (and Why Go Custom?)
In this podcast episode, I dive deep into the world of custom web design and discuss the 'why' behind choosing a custom approach. As the owner of a web design agency, I share my unique approach and process for creating custom websites without starting from scratch.
Discover how my team and I use a mix of boilerplates, third-party features, and our in-house tools to deliver the perfect balance of customization and efficiency.
Learn about the importance of better branding, the freedom of designing without limitations, and how to avoid potential pitfalls when working with custom web design.
Plus, get insights into our tiered process and how we leverage the power of WordPress to create almost any custom feature. Join me for a comprehensive look into the exciting world of custom web design!

Apr 3, 2023 • 1h 4min
AI-Powered Q&A: Matt Answers Questions About Web Design, SEO & More
Welcome to a special episode of The Builders Podcast! I asked my audience on social media to submit their burning questions on digital marketing, web design, SEO, and more. However, I took an interesting twist: since no one actually submitted any questions (everyone must know everything already, haha!), I turned to ChatGPT to generate 10 engaging questions from various digital marketing personas.
In this episode, I dive into a wide range of topics, including the secret to finding and retaining top talent, handling the balance between customization and scalability, managing and prioritizing client projects, and the benefits of custom WordPress sites over platforms like Wix. Moreover, I discuss SEO best practices, building strategic partnerships, keeping up with web design trends, and determining pricing structures for design services.
The uniqueness of this episode lies in the AI-generated questions and the valuable insights shared in response. If you enjoy this episode, let me know, and I might create more like this! Whether you're a fellow agency owner, a web design enthusiast, or a small business owner looking to revamp your website, you'll find valuable takeaways and advice that can help guide you on your digital marketing journey. So, tune in for some great AI-powered insights and don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind episode!


