Smart Agency Masterclass Podcast with Jason Swenk
Bi-weekly interviews, strategy, and advice for building your marketing agency the smart way.
The popular agency podcast has just turned 10 years old and covers everything from starting a successful agency to selling your agency.
#1 Agency Leadership Podcast. Check Out Our Past Guests.
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Seth Godin
Best selling Author of Purple Cow, This is Marketing, Linchpin, Permission Marketing
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Guy Kawasaki
Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist of Canva and former Apple chief evangelist
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Gino Wickman
The creator of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and author of Traction.
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Mike Michaelowicz
Best-selling author of Profit First and Clock Work
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Neil Patel
Founder of CrazyEgg, Kissmetrics, and other multimillion dollar companies
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Joey Coleman
Recognized for his expertise in customer retention & enhancing client loyalty
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Amy Porterfield
Renowned online marketing expert and educator
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Pat Flynn
The leaders in the podcast space
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Jay Baer
Best Selling author of Talk Triggers, Hug Your Haters, and one of the best speakers
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Todd Herman
Coach to Elite pro athletes, leaders, and public figures
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Dan Martell
Author of Buy Back Your Time. Influential coach in SaaS startups.
Boosting Agency Efficiency with the Help of AI Integration with Manish Dudharejia | Ep #768
Are you integrating AI in your agency processes in the most effective ways? What sort of opportunities are you missing by not integrating AI into your agency’s systems and processes? There’s no going back from AI, so you might as well embrace it as it continues to evolve the ever changing agency landscape.
While many agencies have begun incorporating AI tools, numerous opportunities remain unexplored, and the technology's full potential is still emerging. Today's featured guest brings unique insights as an agency owner who has fully embraced AI's transformative power. Through his continuous study and practical implementation of AI solutions, he has gained valuable perspectives on how this technology is fundamentally altering agency operations—from team structures to client expectations. Tune in for practical insights for agency leaders looking to harness AI's potential while adapting to the evolving demands of the digital marketplace.
#1 Thing an Effective Head of Operations Does for an Agency CEO with Jhana Li | Ep #765
Have you hit the limit of the growth you can single-handedly bring to your agency? What steps are you taking to ensure you continue to be your organization's MVP? For many founders, reaching this ceiling signals the need to bring on a skilled operator who can help eliminate low-value tasks from their schedule. Today's featured guest specializes in operations hiring and has developed a systematic approach to identifying and delegating tasks that consume CEOs' time and energy.
Have you hit the limit of the growth you can single-handedly bring to your agency? What steps are you taking to ensure you continue to be your organization's MVP? For many agency owners, reaching hitting a glass ceiling on growth signals the need to bring on a skilled operator to help eliminate low-value tasks from their schedule.
Today's featured guest specializes in operations hiring and has developed a systematic approach to identifying and delegating low value tasks that consume CEOs' time and energy. As an expert in operational efficiency, she trains operators to create effective processes that free founders to focus on strategic growth. She shares her secret to a great hiring funnel, what results to expect from an operator’s first 90 days in your agency, and the #1 thing an operator does for their agency founder. Learn actionable insights on breaking through operational bottlenecks and building a strong operational foundation through strategic hiring and training.
Hiring an Agency COO and Balancing the CEO-COO Dynamic with Brittany Filori | Ep #762
Do you need to get yourself out of agency operations so you can work ON the agency rather than in it? Are you stuck in processes and fulfillment when you should be looking at growth? It might be time to hire for the role of COO to ensure your agency's success. A Chief Operating Officer plays a pivotal role in an agency's development, significantly reducing the CEO's operational burden. However, timing is crucial – agencies should carefully consider their growth stage before initiating the search for a COO, and thoroughly understand the position's complexities to ensure an ideal match.
Breaking Through Slow Growth to PROPEL YOUR AGENCY with Curtis Hays | Ep #740
Are you frustrated by slow growth? Does client churn keep you from really propelling ahead? Do you put off crucial decisions because you’re afraid of making the wrong choice? Today’s guest’s successful track record wasn’t enough to make him confident in his decisions on hiring or the stress of client turnover. A shift in focus helped him see consistency and adaptability are the key to agency growth. Learn about how he kept going and the strategy that helped him get through decision paralysis. He also shares the content marketing approach that transformed his agency's pipeline and helped them grow.
Clarity as the Catalyst for New Momentum and Agency Growth with Ed East | Ep #739
Have you ever felt like abandoning your agency? Overwhelmed or insecure about the direction the agency is headed? If so, you're not alone. At some point, we all face moments of doubt and struggle to keep momentum. Today’s guest is an agency owner who built his business over the past ten years. He recently experienced a downturn that led him to question whether he still enjoyed the work. It was a solid business plan and clear vision that helped him get the agency back on track. Learn more about why he needed clarity and communication to get his confidence back and what excites him about the new developments of generative AI and how it’s changing advertising.
Ed East is the founder of influencer marketing agency Billion Dollar Boy. He shares his journey into the agency world, creating a database connecting blogs with brands and agencies. Ed also discusses the low point that made him question his commitment to the agency, the realization that helped him rebuild his confidence, and the new tech that is already revolutionizing advertising and brand-audience connections.
In this episode, we’ll discuss:
How clarity builds new momentum for agency growth.
Leveraging generative AI to elevate the creative process.
How agencies can use creator advertising.
Leveraging AI to Create a HIGH IMPACT Foot-in-the-Door Offer with Abraham Bree | Ep #731
Are you currently utilizing AI or fear it will replace digital agencies? Most agency owners fall into one of these two categories. However, those open to exploring this technology's potential and maintaining a sense of curiosity will lead the way in innovation. Today’s featured guest lost some clients who opted for in-house ChatGPT services over his agency's offering.
Instead of staying fearful of losing all his clients to this technology, he was prompted to explore how AI could be leveraged to enhance his services. Through experimentation, he created what has become a very effective foot-in-the-door to showcase good results with very little investment. Tune in to discover valuable lessons about creativity, collaboration, and the evolution of marketing strategies.
3 IMPACTFUL STRATEGIES for Long Term, Sustainable Agency Growth with Seth Odell | Ep #730
How can you grow your agency’s client list beyond referral clients? Would you sacrifice price or length of contracts in order to attract new business? Today’s featured guest has successfully established his agency by prioritizing higher prices and maintaining a clear vision of his offerings. He emphasizes the importance of being selective with the opportunities that arise. He shares the challenges and strategies involved in growing his agency, as well as how he prioritized long-term relationships over new business.
Should You Productize Agency Services? Navigating the Risks and Rewards with Matthew McIver | Ep #722
Have you clearly defined your service offering to the extent that you can productize it? Or do you prefer to customize your approach for each client’s needs? Which strategy aligns better with your agency's objectives and overall success? Today's featured guest transitioned from providing highly customized services, which impacted his team's ability to meet deadlines and adhere to budgets. He has since adopted a productized model and is currently exploring how to effectively present differentiated pricing tiers. Join us as we delve into invaluable insights on launching and scaling a creative agency, optimizing your service offerings, and gracefully managing a co-founder's exit.
Staying Versatile and Adaptable in Uncertain Times with Amy Jackson | Ep# 714
Are you considering narrowing your focus in the near future, or do you prefer to retain the flexibility to take advantage of growth opportunities in specific sectors? Our featured guest today opts for diversification and maintaining her agency’s agility to capitalize on the expansion of emerging sectors. Gain insights into her journey of building a PR agency, her strategies for solidifying its growth, and the ongoing learning curve inherent in the agency's evolution.
When Is the Right Time to Use Acquisition as a Strategy for Rapid Growth? with Manish Dudharejia | Ep# 713
What advantages does an acquisition offer compared to organic growth? Our featured guest today will discuss his ongoing acquisition process, outlining his reasoning behind this move, sharing why this felt like the perfect moment for an acquisition, and how he kept his peace of mind during this time-consuming process.
About the Show
The popular agency podcast has been around since 2014 and covers everything from starting a successful agency to selling your agency. What makes this podcast a must-listen is Swenk’s background as the founder and CEO of an agency for over a decade. Swenk brings his own experience to the table, besides the expertise of his guests. He mostly covers topics that help growing agencies scale to the next level.
YOUR HOST
JASON SWENK
Smart Agency Masterclass
Jason is a family man who also happens to have created a couple big marketing agencies, helped thousands of agency owners, and had a big agency exit too.
