The Innovative Agency

Intro Today's episode is more about clients than it is about agency owners. Our guest, Daniel Fernandez, shares his understanding of what clients value and how agency owners can keep them around for longer. His strategy hinges on retaining clients by systematizing a roadmap to their success. In doing so, you give them the opportunity to be active in the process of strengthening your agency-client relationship. What you will learn in this episode: How to create a definite pathway that ensures success for your clients. The value of systematizing your processes, rather than relying on instinct. How to make clients more enthusiastic to continue working with you. What you can do to get clients to raise their concerns sooner, rather than later. How to decrease complaints and increase client retention. The benefits of increasing the number of times you speak face-to-face with clients. Bio Daniel is the founder and CEO of AMZclever.com, a full-service agency that manages and grows brands on Amazon and Walmart since 2015. He has worked with several 7, 8, 9-figure brands; public companies; and product startups on launching and expanding in the Amazon and Walmart platforms, as well as taking many of them internationally. Daniel spent some years living in China; he has spoken at several industry-leading conferences in US, Canada, China, Netherlands, Hong Kong; and is a frequent contributor to different publications in the Amazon and e-commerce space. Currently resides in Florida, where he leads his global team and enjoys the sunny weather. Resources: Website: https://www.amzclever.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielfernandezamazon/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMZcleverAgency Twitter: https://twitter.com/danielamzclever Instagram: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amzclever/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYbzTlGWW_XUa1y90THJCPQ

Sometimes, people look at others in their space as competition. But the most successful leaders of business often recognize that collaboration and networking with others can push their business forward faster than if they were to try to tackle everything independently. In today's episode of The Innovative Agency podcast, my guest is Rob Kischuk, a builder of more than just software products. His adept skills and leadership qualities have allowed him to build companies, teams, partnerships, and relationships. He started Bellwood Labs because he saw the disconnection between a business's problems, its objectives, and the software product. He has been recognized in Atlanta's "Top 40 Under 40" and has helped startups with successful exits. He's also comfortable with the podcasting world too, as host of a podcast about agency owners and leaders. What you will learn in this episode: How a developer and agency leader thinks about building a product and establishing a niche of specialty and competency Learning the benefits of being willing to network, connect, and talk with other agencies to refer work to one another. Tips for working in an agile and scrum mindset to build something and anticipate challenges in the process Product development lifecycle challenges and how they interact with agency ownership Bio Rob Kischuk is a builder of more than just software products - he's a builder of companies and teams, as well as partnerships and relationships. Ever since he learned how to code, Rob's fascination with transforming ideas into action has enabled him to create great software products that empower people to do the work that matters most to them. Throughout Rob's career, he's always strived to be an invested partner - not an order taker. He started Bellwood Labs because he saw the disconnection between a business' problems, its objectives, and the software product. From helping startups like Proficient Systems and Air2Web achieve successful exits, to driving digital transformation for enterprise-level companies like Chick-fil-A, Delta Airlines, PGi, and more, Rob's caring and collaborative approach has been at the center of it all. In addition to serving on the board of the Atlanta Interactive Marketing Association (AIMA), Rob has been recognized time and time again as a key figure in Atlanta's vibrant business community. Rob has been named to Atlanta's Top "40 under 40," and he has also been a finalist in TIE Atlanta's "Top Up-and-Coming Entrepreneur." Outside of work, you can find Rob slipping into sporting events, exploring Atlanta's foodie scene, or volunteering at Cumberland Community Church. Rob holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, as well as an MBA from Georgia State University. Resources: Website: https://www.bellwood.io/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bellwood-labs/?viewAsMember=true Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BellwoodLabs

Does your agency provide something unique and valuable that only you can offer? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, we are joined by the founder of BitMoto, Matthew Strunk. Matthew, along with cofounder Devin Peterson, created BitMoto to help car dealerships with digital marketing, a function that many dealerships struggle with, especially when BitMoto first started out in 2015. What you will learn in this episode: How Matthew and BitMoto anticipated a niche that was underserved, and how they developed a process to enter into it The value of leveraging your IP to provide incentives to clients. The process of creating, evolving, and improving proprietary software as a revenue generator Advantages of considering worldwide development strategy and the cost-savings that can come with that How the development of a product can allow your business to generate revenue, and also set you up for success in an exit strategy Bio Founder & CEO Matthew Strunk started BitMoto in April 2015 with long-time friend Devin Peterson. Matthew had worked in the automotive space for over a decade, serving as a sales consultant, internet manager, internet director, and sales manager during his career. It became clear that the majority of car dealerships didn't truly understand digital marketing beyond the fact that it was something they had to do. They needed a trusted solution to help them gain market share and be more efficient with their ad spend. And so, BitMoto was born. BitMoto created a software solution to help dealerships create copy and ads for their digital marketing by simply entering their deals and pricing information, and then auto-generating copy for their marketing. Their proprietary software continued to evolve and allowed them to become leaders within the automotive industry niche. Resources: Website:https://www.bitmoto.com/ Website: https://www.strunkmedia.com Website: https://www.autosigma.com LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/bitmoto/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strunkmediagroup Twitter:https://twitter.com/bitmotomktg Twitter: https://twitter.com/strunkmedia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StrunkMediaGroup/

Would a white-label partnership be beneficial to your agency? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, we are joined by the founder of Conduit Digital Media, Tim Burke. Tim helps successful agencies scale through white-label partnerships. During our conversation, he shares how white-label partnerships can help improve the performance and communication of your agency. What you will learn in this episode: The signs that agency owners should look for when deciding if it's the right time to form white-label relationships What an agency owner should expect from a white-label partnership How communication influences the performance of a white-label relationship Should white-label partners be client-facing for your agency What should agencies do to receive client data from white-label partners to prep for meetings Should agencies be transparent with clients about using a white-label partner Bio Tim Burke has run media sales organizations in television, cable, and radio. His last position before starting Traffic Builders/Conduit Digital was as the Director of Sales for Comcast in the New York DMA. Tim worked as a national advertising sales consultant for Jim Doyle & Associates during two different tours and started an advertising sales consultancy, Burke Advertising & Marketing. Tim has consulted with media sales teams and local businesses in over 95 US markets and has industry insight that helps him to maximize the opportunity for his clients. Conduit Digital Media is built on the experience of over thirty years in media management and the education that comes from working hands-on with literally thousands of businesses. Tim brings a client-first marketing mindset and old-school values like hard work and integrity to this new media company. Resources: Website: conduitdigital.us/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timburkesalesconsulting Twitter: https://twitter.com/MediaConsultUSA

Should you be using LinkedIn ads to grow your agency? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, we are joined by the founder of B2Linked, AJ Wilcox. AJ is a LinkedIn ads pro who has managed over $150 million in spend on the platform. During our conversation, he shares his insights on how to create high-converting ad campaigns for your agency. What you will learn in this episode: How to determine if investing in LinkedIn advertising is the right platform for your agency Why LinkedIn is great at developing high-quality client personas Why people spending less time on LinkedIn vs Facebook is better for marketers What is the primary challenge with running authentic LinkedIn ads How to develop more of a connection with your audience as a business account What expectations should agencies have when starting LinkedIn advertising When should an agency prioritize organic vs paid strategy on LinkedIn Why LinkedIn is the easiest network for your content to go viral What types of content should agencies use in LinkedIn ads and why What are the biggest mishaps that people make with their LinkedIn ads Bio AJ Wilcox is a LinkedIn Ads pro who founded B2Linked.com, a LinkedIn Ads-specific ad agency, in 2014. He's managed over $150M in spend on the platform, they're official LinkedIn partners, he's the host of the LinkedIn Ads Show podcast, and has managed 5 of the world's top 10 LinkedIn Ads accounts. He's ginger and a triathlete. He lives in Utah, has 4 adorable kids, and his company car is a wicked-fast go-kart. Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilcoxaj/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/B2Linked The LinkedIn Ads Show Podcast: https://b2linked.com/podcast/

Could your agency be doing more to retain clients? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, we are joined by the founder of DOT & Company, Taylor McMaster. She and her team help digital marketing agencies keep their clients happy—and keep agency owners focused on what they do best—with full-service client account management (CAM) services. During our conversation, she shares her insights on hiring the best account manager for your agency. What you will learn in this episode: How to gauge how many account managers your agency needs Why hiring an account manager is crucial for client retention and agency growth When is the right time for an agency to hire their first account manager How to set your account management team to be successful in their roles What skills an account manager needs to have that are non-negotiable Bio Taylor McMaster is the founder of DOT & Company where she and her team help digital marketing agencies keep their clients happy—and keep agency owners focused on what they do best—with full-service client account management (CAM) services. Taylor leads a team of Client Account Managers at DOT & Company, training the CAMs to work with different agencies. To date, they have helped dozens of digital marketing agencies free up their time to prioritize the money-makers in their businesses, while the DOT & Co. team ensures their client experience is smooth like butter. She is also the host of The Happy Clients podcast, where she interviews top names in the industry, diving deep into what makes clients happy in the agency world. Resources: Website: www.dotandcompany.co Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dotandcompany LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylormcmaster/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/CompanyDot

Can artificial intelligence (AI) help your agency grow? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, we are joined by the founder of Agency Growth Secrets, Josh Harris. Josh helps companies stop wasting money on customer acquisition using artificial intelligence to optimize marketing campaigns. During our conversation, he shares his insights on how to integrate AI into your agency for growth. What you will learn in this episode: How integrating artificial intelligence (AI) can help your agency's growth What are the common objections to implementing AI and how have they changed in recent years What is the difference between a trend and a fad, and why it's important to learn to spot them in your industry Why efficiency and effectiveness are the most important requirements of technology How can agencies begin to implement AI into their lead generation and sales processes What are the two most important categories that agency owners should prioritize for AI Bio Josh Harris developed an entrepreneurial spirit at a young age. Growing up in Illinois, he found himself creating businesses to help his neighborhood. He quickly learned that your paycheck doesn't have to be directly tied to a set number of hours worked. Instead, he discovered that money is tied to your personal productivity. This caused the marketing mogul to face the internet head-on. He wanted to be the man in charge and the web would be his path to opportunity. Josh created a marketing and website business that saw some success, but not enough. He desired a better life without the money woes he was so familiar with. After struggling to scale his business, and enacting the help of a mentor, he finally honed in on a successful approach to business growth. His marketing and website company grew rapidly, and Josh soon sought other ventures. In 2014, Josh founded Agency Growth Secrets, an advanced data-targeting company that uses artificial intelligence to optimize marketing campaigns. Through technology and machine learning, AGS allows companies to pinpoint individuals who are ready to purchase. This saves the companies from money wasted on customer acquisition. Resources: Website: https://joshuaharris.co/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/joshuaaharris Twitter:https://twitter.com/joshharrislife LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agency-training/ https://aisales.systems/ai-vsl

How does culture impact the growth of your agency? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, we are joined by the founder of Austin Amplifies, Doug Austin. Doug is a growth consultant who helps agencies of all types and sizes grow and thrive. During our conversation, he shares his insights on the intersection of culture and growth within agencies. What you will learn in this episode: How do growth and culture complement each other within agencies What are the two most important factors in creating a safe work environment How a growth culture helps to avoid losing your "A-Player" employees How agency owners can maintain culture and talent development in a hybrid or virtual working world Why agencies should conduct a third-party audit to help foster growth and culture Bio Doug Austin is the founder of Austin Amplifies - a business growth consultancy that helps agencies of all types and sizes grow and thrive. Doug spent a career in the advertising agency world working for some of the country's best independent shops from NYC to Dallas to Missouri. Today, Doug spends his time coaching agency owners and their teams on how to create a culture of growth and position themselves to win. Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-austin-b978915/ Book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Permission-Win-Douglas-V-Austin-ebook/dp/B08ZKN9H21/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3BCNKGKC626ER&keywords=permission+to+win&qid=1649711363&sprefix=permission+to+win+%2Caps%2C229&sr=8-2

Does your agency have recurring revenue? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, we are joined by the founder and CEO of uGurus, Brent Weaver. Brent is on a mission to help 10,000 digital agency owners achieve freedom in business and life by helping them own their market. During our conversation, he shares his insights on building an agency with recurring revenue streams. What you will learn in this episode: Why it's important for agencies to have recurring revenue How financing differs from recurring revenue in agencies How to determine what services are great -- and which ones are not great -- for recurring revenue Why customer development interviews are crucial for determining your pricing What should agency owners consider when developing service packages Why agencies can begin to offer fewer services at higher prices over time Bio Brent is on a mission to help 10,000 digital agency owners achieve freedom in business and life by helping them own their market. Brent is the founder and CEO of uGurus, a business training, and education company dedicated to this mission. He also hosts one of the leading podcasts in the business niche—The Digital Agency Show and is the author of Get Rich in the Deep End: Commit to Your Niche, Own Your Market, and Audaciously Scale. Resources: Website: ugurus.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ugurusweb Twitter: https://twitter.com/u_gurus LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ugurus

Are you searching for more ways to keep money in your agency? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, we are joined again by CPA, Chris Hervochon. Chris provides outsourced accounting and tax preparation for small businesses and individuals. During our conversation, he shares insights on avoiding scope creep and updating your agency's pricing model. What you will learn in this episode: Two ways that agency owners can avoid scope creep How after-action reviews can help make sense of time and scope of projects Why a subscription-based pricing model is the best option for agencies What is the difference between scope creep and margin bleed How to address pricing changes during our current market Bio Chris Hervochon, CPA, CVA is the sole proprietor of his CPA firm. Chris Hervochon provides outsourced accounting and tax preparation for small businesses and individuals. Before starting his own CPA firm, Chris spent ten years between forensic accounting and corporate accounting and finance. He has been featured in publications such as the AICPA Certificates Wall of Fame, Accounting Today, AMEX Open Forum, LendingTree, the IAMCEO podcast, the Success Defined podcast, CMS Wire, CEO Blog Nation and WINSAVVY for his industry knowledge and accounting expertise. Resources: Websites: https://www.betterwaycpa.com/recent-press/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BetterWayCPA/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterwaycpa/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ChrisHervochon/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/betterwaycpa/_created/