Build a Better Agency Podcast

In a sharp contrast to the earlier pandemic years, many agency owners said that in 2023, they have the best teams they've ever had and want to find ways to keep them around. This is great news, and we want to help keep your agency dream team alive and thriving. To help in that journey, HR expert Barbara Mason joins me to share what agency owners and leaders can do to help make their employees feel like valued team members while staying true to the agency's mission and values. She is a fountain of knowledge — from interviewing best practices and why HR experts need to be a part of your business to how to create the agency culture you want while caring for your agency employees as whole people. She'll even share her top 3 secret interview questions she uses to get potential hires thinking about how they fit into the agency's mission and values. This episode is full of practical and common-sense tips that will hopefully get the gears going and help you keep your agency dream team alive and thriving in 2024 and beyond. A big thank you to our podcast's presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They're an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev, or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Two simple things that will help you keep your agency dream team happy Transparency goes a long way with agency employees, but know the limits What makes a healthy agency culture? How more introverted business owners can engage and connect with their employees How benefits packages have changed post-Covid Creating agency culture in a hybrid or fully remote environment The importance of knowing what you're hiring for and interviewing accordingly Motivating agency employees to be more engaged in the work HR's role in having a succession plan for the business Interview best practices for agency leadership Exercising radical candor in agency communications Employment trends to keep an eye on in 2024 The biggest mistake agency owners make with their people

The podcast explores the rise of video as a key business development tool for agencies in 2024, emphasizing the importance of video content creation for prospecting and client engagement. Topics include connecting with audiences through video, using personalized videos for sales success, maximizing video efficiency, and tracking important metrics to enhance sales performance.

Chris Kocek, agency insights expert and brainstorming facilitator, shares techniques for generating insights and inspiring action during brainstorming sessions. The podcast covers the definition and different types of agency insights, as well as their role in creating impactful campaigns. Kocek also discusses selling insights in the agency business and the significance of storytelling techniques. The chapter 'Brainstorming Insights and Creating Brain Food for Team Meetings' highlights the importance of allowing our brains to work their magic and providing brain food for team members.

Drew McLellan, an agency management expert, discusses why daily timesheets are crucial for agencies. Timesheets help detect and solve problems, improve operations, and highlight areas for growth and training. Owners can identify inefficiencies, while employees can secure job security and recognition. Tune in to learn why daily timesheets are a game-changer for agency success.

Expert in natural intelligence for leadership, Rosie Tomkins, discusses the concept of natural intelligence and its application in business leadership. She explores the importance of self-awareness, adaptability, and recognizing natural tendencies. Tomkins also delves into understanding different animal behaviors in leadership and the shift in energy and mindset of agency owners. This podcast provides valuable insights on tapping into our inner wisdom for effective leadership.

HR expert Vicky Brown shares insights on hiring and managing talent in the new era of work. Topics discussed include remote work challenges, effective interviews, writing compelling job ads, and transitioning to hybrid and remote work. The importance of self-assessment, onboarding, and conducting a mid-year HR checkup is also highlighted.

Casey Meehan, an AI consulting powerhouse, discusses how agencies can become thought leaders and subject matter experts for their clients using AI tools. They explore the shift from traditional marketing to AI consulting, including AI-generated videos, cap cut tool, and creating long-form content. They also explain the process of using AI tools to generate and fact-check thought leadership blog posts, emphasizing the importance of credibility through third-party citations and expert promotion.

Content marketing strategy expert, Robert Rose, discusses the importance of strategy in content creation and the need for agencies to approach content marketing like a media company. He also explores how agencies can achieve growth by retaining and selling more to existing clients. The podcast delves into the significance of being a strategic partner and understanding AI, as well as the impact of AI on content creation and the potential of leveraging AI in content marketing strategies. Learn how to access Robert Rose's book and follow him on various platforms.

There's no other way to spin it — agency owners had it rough in 2023. And while we spent all year going over the struggles of agency ownership, one universal positive kept coming up with everyone. Your teams are better than ever, and you want to learn how to keep your agency employees happy, so they stick around. So this week, we're turning to some of our Agency Edge research to dive into what agency employees said are the key factors that keep them happy and willing to stick around for the long haul. While the assumption is that you're already fairly compensating them and creating a fair and inclusive workplace, there are some less obvious things that really matter to agency employees. They could even be the difference between a star player staying for 10 to 15 years instead of three or four. This episode will teach you the dos and don'ts of increasing employee retention and really going above and beyond to help your teams feel valued and cared for. It's got a lot of valuable tips and tricks, so if you're curious about how to keep your agency employees satisfied, don't miss out on this episode. For 30+ years, Drew McLellan has been in the advertising industry. He started his career at Y&R, worked in boutique-sized agencies, and then started his own (which he still owns and runs) agency in 1995. Additionally, Drew owns and leads the Agency Management Institute, which advises hundreds of small to mid-sized agencies on how to grow their agency and its profitability through agency owner peer groups, consulting, coaching, workshops and more. A big thank you to our podcast's presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They're an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev, or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here. In This Episode: Recognizing that not every agency employee will want to stick around forever, and it's not personal The one thing you should not do to earn employee loyalty Why offering equity or partnership in the company is almost always a bad idea What agency employees actually want from agency owners Setting quarterly growth goals for employees Creating space to truly get to know your people beyond work Rewarding employees for their effort fairly, but not equally Getting agency employees involved in deciding their own perks for excellent work Simply ask your employees what will make them stay Get personal and thoughtful with your praise

It's easy to get caught up in the chaos of day-to-day agency life. We all have a million things on our to-do lists, and they just keep growing. But part of being a successful agency owner is being present and open to what's right in front of you. Doug Fleener knows all about what it means to run a business intentionally. With history as a business owner and a rock bottom moment that led him into recovery, he's had to learn some truths about life the hard way. But from that, he has developed some core principles to help business and agency owners live more intentionally. His six core principles can help anyone start their day on the right foot to make incremental but powerful life changes. All it takes is one day to wake up and decide to make positive changes, and if you take anything away from this episode, it's that intentional actions create intentional results. This episode is packed with action items that are not only simple concepts but also easy to implement. I have no doubt that Doug will leave you feeling inspired and ready to start 2024 with a fresh set of eyes and a renewed inspiration to take intentional action toward making your year great. A big thank you to our podcast's presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They're an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev, or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Learning to live in the day and making each day a little better Taking responsibility of yourself to make positive change Intentional actions create intentional results Practicing relentless simplicity in life and business Thinking of 3 things you can improve each day Micro habits that feed greater improvements Helping others to help yourself Mastering the ability to be present Having more intentionality throughout your day Implementing the 6 core principles and applying them to your business