Shows / Build a Better Agency Podcast
Build a Better Agency Podcast
Scale and grow your agency with better clients, invested employees, and a stronger bottom line, with Drew McLellan.
Episodes
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 448: Defining your agency niche to go from a generalist to a specialist with Tyler Samani-Sprunk
Agency owners like to think they can do it all, but the real gold is in finding and defining your agency niche. To demonstrate, I spoke to Tyler Samani-Sprunk…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 447: Proving ROI to clients with AI tools with Jonathon Reilly
Clients increasingly want to know exactly what they're getting in return for their dollars spent with agencies. This data can be tricky to compile, let alone…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 446: Methodologies for agency owners to navigate HR issues with Allyns Melendez
As agency owners, we all want to be different. We don't want to be the boss who is a stickler for punctuality or to feel like we're micromanaging our…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 445: Why agency owners should start online communities with Drew McLellan
Online communities are quickly becoming one of the most powerful biz dev tools out there, but there's etiquette to starting and maintaining one. It's not for…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 444: What behavioral economics tells us about how people connect with brands with Kristian Alomá, PhD
Everybody has a story they're trying to tell, and brands play a massive role in people's stories, whether they realize it or not. Most of the time, the stories…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 443: The do's and don'ts of networking at trade shows, workshops, and conferences with Dave Delaney
In-person networking is still a big deal. After a brief Covid hiatus, trade shows, conferences, and workshops are back and bigger than ever. So, if you or your…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 442: Lead gen and lead magnets are your ticket to consistent sales with Jay Feldman
After a tough sales year in 2023, many of you have been looking for the next thing to consistently fill your sales pipeline with new prospects. With sales…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 441: Finding the right project management software for your team with Alane Boyd
We've all been here before — your agency grows, and your day-to-day is getting a little too chaotic for comfort. Each team member has their own way of doing…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 440: The who, what, where, and why of creating online communities with Drew McLellan
Humans are hardwired to belong, and the desire to be a part of something bigger than ourselves is in our blood. Whether we connect over shared values, a…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 439: Standing out against the noise with personalized client outreach with Dan Englander
Sales cycles are elongated, but that doesn't mean agencies can't still win new clients. If we change how we think about and approach prospecting, we can up our…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 438: How HR helps you build and grow your agency dream team with Barbara Mason
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…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 437: The #1 business development tool of 2024 with Violet Rainwater
Video budgets are up in 2024, which means the demand for video content from clients will be high this year. For agencies, it also indicates that we must start…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 436: Getting insightful about agency insights for better brainstorming with Chris Kocek
What exactly makes an insight versus just an observation? What are the different types out there? How the heck do we uncover them? This week, we're getting…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 435: Why daily timesheets are an agency's best friend with Drew McLellan
If there's one word that will send any agency owner or employee running for the hills, it's timesheets. Although one of the most universally disliked words in…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 434: Getting in touch with your natural intelligence for leadership with Rosie Tomkins
You've probably heard of IQ, EQ, or even SQ (spiritual intelligence), but have you heard of NQ? For those new to the term, it's natural intelligence, or our…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 433: An HR expert's perspective on hiring and managing talent with Vicky Brown
It's clear we can't keep hiring and managing talent as we used to. Back in the days of the pandemic, and then The Great Resignation right after that, we were…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 432:Helping agencies become AI consulting powerhouses with Casey Meehan
This year, agencies are in for many industry changes — and fast. We've been scratching the surface a little with AI ever since ChatGPT first dropped, but even…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 430: What agency employees said will make them stick around longer with Drew McLellan
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…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 429:Core principles to help agency owners own their day with intentionality with Doug Fleener
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…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 428: How to create a productive hybrid work environment with Felice Ekelman and Julie Kantor
Remote and hybrid work environments are here to stay. While some agencies have successfully returned to the office full-time, and some may have never even…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 427: Building an innovation strategy to co-create ideas with your clients with Atif Rafiq
Agencies are under more pressure than ever to be innovative. While it used to be easier to solve your clients' problems and wow them with a great solution…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 426: Dialing in your biz dev strategy for 2024 with Lee McKnight Jr.
It's no secret that 2023 has been a rough year for most agency owners. Between the elongated sales cycles, shrinking prospect budgets, and the need to…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 425: The agency owner's game plan for 2024 with Drew McLellan
2023 is quickly coming to a close, so it's time for agency owners to start thinking about the year ahead to come up with their 2024 game plan. With holiday…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 424:The key to winning over right-fit clients in any economy with Jason Swenk
Finding right-fit clients, especially in a slow economy, is always a frustrating task. For the past year or so, agency owners have been expressing more and…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 423: How to ask like an auctioneer when making negotiations with Dia Bondi
We've all lowballed ourselves when going into negotiations. Whether it was for a raise, a proposal to a new client, a request to be a keynote speaker or a…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 422: Optimizing agency operations with 90-minute business 'sabbaticals' with Alyson Caffrey
Usually, a sabbatical is for people who need time to rest and recharge. But did you know that sabbaticals are important for your agency operations, too? This…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 421: Improving systems and processes to complete projects in 2 weeks with Michelle LaBrosse
Productivity means profitability. One of the key ways to boost your productivity is to hone in on your systems and processes to get things done faster and more…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 420: Setting realistic budget and growth goals for 2024 with Drew McLellan
Many agency owners want to see 20% growth (or more) year over year while staying profitable. This goal isn't entirely unrealistic, but the bigger you get, the…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 419: Decoupling from the day-to-day grind as an agency owner with Lien De Pau
One of the most common questions we still receive is about how to decouple yourself from the day-to-day grind of agency life and finally get to focus on being…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 418: Redesigning agency culture in a new remote and hybrid world with Gustavo Razzetti
Shifting agency culture has been a huge point of contention for many agency owners since the beginning of the pandemic. For some, it's brought a lot of…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 417: The art of perfecting presentations for agency employees with Michael Weiss
No matter how experienced you are, everyone gets nervous before getting up in front of a room full of people to speak. The adrenaline starts pumping, and you…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 416: Teaching AEs how to grow your existing client base with Mark Riggs
With new client acquisition at an all-time low, it's more important than ever to focus on growing your existing client base. In fact, 60 to 70 percent of your…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 415: Getting the most out of an M&A as a buyer or seller with Drew and Danyel McLellan
There's more M&A activity amongst agencies than ever before. As agency owners get older and running the business becomes more stressful, many owners are…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 414: 9 traits that will make your agency known for its best-of-class service with Susan Quinn
Does your agency have what it takes to provide best-in-class service to your clients? According to Susan Quinn's research, there are 9 traits that an agency…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 413: The "why" mindset strategy for better agency communication with Linda Perry
Do you know the "why" behind the work you do? If not, it might be time to find out. Understanding the motivation behind why we show up and feel connected to…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 412: Speed is the fast pass to client happiness with Jay Baer
When you think about how you do business, do you find that you're purposefully taking longer to respond to inquiries because you don't want a client to believe…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 411: Knowing when it's time to bring a COO onto the leadership team with Carolyn Lodge
As your agency grows, your leadership team must grow alongside it. You'll notice as your team gets bigger, the day-to-day operations become more complicated…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 409: The how-to guide for getting started in thought leadership and public speaking with Katy Boos
One of the most powerful new business tools to establish credibility as an agency is right at our fingertips. Finding speaking opportunities at conferences…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 410: Tracking metrics to boost biz dev and client satisfaction with Drew McLellan
Lately, agency owners and leaders have been hitting their heads against a biz dev brick wall. With increased sales cycles, difficulty getting clients to start…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 408: The power of in-person networking and client-agency relationships with Hank Blank
In-person networking and relationship building are not dead. For agencies, it remains one of the most important methods of building your client base. And…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 407: Facilitating change and navigating change fatigue with agency employees with Jenny Magic
The workforce has changed forever, which has brought change fatigue along with it. This means how we navigate problem-solving and facilitate change amongst our…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 406: The peaks and pitfalls of AI innovation with Paul Roetzer
AI has been at the top of everyone's minds this year, particularly with the birth of ChatGPT in November 2022. We're currently in a renaissance where AI…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 405: The four pillars of healthy agency culture with Drew McLellan
The idea of agency culture has been on my mind a lot lately, especially now that we're all settling into new post-covid workplace structures. Without as much…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 404: Weaving values, missions, and goals into agency culture with Chad Kearns
Agency culture has encountered a massive shift post-pandemic. With hybrid and remote work more common than ever, weaving our missions, goals, values, and…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 403: Calculating lifetime customer value using data-driven metrics with Valentin Radu
With the elongated sales cycles we have all seen throughout 2023, knowing your lifetime customer value is more important than ever. It's essential not only for…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 402: The ROI of making your existing clients happier with Susan Baier
It's that time of year again — we're evaluating the 2023 Agency Edge Research study, where we polled people who hire agencies about what they expect from…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 401: Weaving creative innovation into agency best practices with Carla Johnson
Part of being an agency means that you solve problems for a living. Clients come to you with a problem, and it's up to you and your team to figure out the…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 400: The top agency trends to be aware of for 2023 with Drew and Danyel McLellan
It's that time of year again — we're going over the top agency trends we're noticing so far in 2023 and going into 2024. A lot has changed since the last time…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 399: Reducing liability for agency owners, one data protection policy at a time with Hans Skillrud
Keeping up with data protection and privacy laws is exhausting. Nearly every month, new legislation is being introduced state by state to help keep users' data…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 398: The ins and outs of data analytics for agency leaders with Jim Sterne
Marketing today is not absolute. It's experimental, iterative, and ever-changing. And with that comes many challenges that we have to overcome and adapt to as…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 397: The legal impact of AI-generated content on your agency with Sharon Toerek
AI-generated content is rapidly finding its way into professional spaces and changing the way we work forever. This fact is especially important for creative…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 396: Ending the cycle of fear-based pricing with Casey Brown
We all want to get paid what we're worth. But it's more than likely that we're downplaying our agency's value because we're too worried about pricing ourselves…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 395: Mapping out an ideal day for agency owners with Drew McLellan
This week, I'm covering an important topic I haven't covered on a solocast before — agency owner work balance. Often, agency owners get pulled into too much of…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 394: How podcasting is shaping future advertising habits with Tom Webster
Podcasts, radio, and TV are all similar mediums with a broad reach across the US. But over the years, younger audiences have moved away from radio and TV in…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 393: An accidental agency owner's guide to scaling your business effectively with Herb Cogliano
Many of us didn't initially set out to become agency owners when we first started working in the business we're in now. It sort of happened accidentally, and…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 392: The CRAVE approach to successful agency leadership with Dr. Amin Sanaia
How you lead your business is critical to its success. People are the most important assets in our agencies, and without them, we can't deliver our best work…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 391: How sales prospects want to be sold to with Jeremy Miner
So many of us hate selling or feeling like we are "being sold to" because it has the old reputation of being manipulative, exploitative, and too pushy. Thanks…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 390: The AMI membership FAQ for agency owners and leaders with Drew McLellan
This week, I'm using this episode to talk about some questions I get asked a lot, and that is what we offer in AMI memberships. Many of you want to know what…
- Build a Better Agency Podcast
EP 389: Infusing innovative ideas into your agency operations with Stan Phelps
You need innovative ideas to stand out and be ahead of the curve. We often get caught up in the chaos of day-to-day agency operations and retreat into the…