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.

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From Startup to Sale: Free Yourself from Your Agency with Robert Royer | Ep #750
Selling Your Agency Jason Swenk Selling Your Agency Jason Swenk

From Startup to Sale: Free Yourself from Your Agency with Robert Royer | Ep #750

Are you caught in the challenging "no-man's land" of agency ownership—where growth meets gridlock? Despite years of management experience, today's guest discovered that running a digital agency demanded more than strategic acumen alone. His journey reveals the often-overlooked complexities of agency leadership that can transform an owner's dream into an operational maze.

Although he felt comfortable making the strategic decisions as a manager, as an owner he found himself pulled in countless directions. From juggling legal complications, financial decisions, and HR responsibilities—areas far removed from his core strengths and passion for marketing strategy. In the end, he recognized the only way through was setting up the right processes for the agency to grow without him and ultimate decided to sell. Tune in to learn about building a successful marketing agency and the principles that guide his approach to client service.

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Navigating Pricing Strategies & Acquisitions to Build a THRIVING AGENCY with James Pietruszynski | Ep #747

Navigating Pricing Strategies & Acquisitions to Build a THRIVING AGENCY with James Pietruszynski | Ep #747

Are you ready to elevate your pricing strategy and focus on quality over quantity? There are certain things that will only get easier with experience. Yet, all agency owners should be aware of how crucial it is to adapt your pricing model and client acquisition strategy to ensure long-term success. Today’s featured guest will share milestones that changed his agency’s growth path, the things that had to change along the way, and why continuous improvement and evolving capabilities are the best way to adapt to a changing market.

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To Sell or Not Sell? What Makes and Breaks an Agency Sale with Jonathan Baker | Ep #727
Selling Your Agency Jason Swenk Selling Your Agency Jason Swenk

To Sell or Not Sell? What Makes and Breaks an Agency Sale with Jonathan Baker | Ep #727

Do you want to sell your agency someday? Can you imagine a profitable sale and exit agency in the future? Do you feel an acquisition is the mark of business success? Selling your agency shows you’ve built a robust and profitable business, which is a noteworthy achievement. Today’s featured guest helps his clients get ready to find a perfect buyer and reach a deal that withstands the test of time. He’ll discuss why the common reasons to sell are not necessarily the best reasons as well as why undervaluing yourself could hurt your valuation. He also shares common deal killers and deal makers. He highlights the importance of considering personal fulfillment and financial objectives when deciding to sell an agency.

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Laying the Right Foundation for Eventually SELLING YOUR AGENCY with Ronik Patel | Ep #720
Selling Your Agency Jason Swenk Selling Your Agency Jason Swenk

Laying the Right Foundation for Eventually SELLING YOUR AGENCY with Ronik Patel | Ep #720

Are you thinking about an eventual exit from your agency? Curious about how to prepare for selling your agency down the road? Preparing for a potential sale well in advance can be beneficial, even if you ultimately decide to retain your business. Our guest had a clear vision of his goal: to grow his agency while waiting for an opportune moment to sell. He shares valuable lessons on how coaching accelerated his growth and why he wishes he had joined a mastermind group sooner to establish the necessary systems for a successful sale. He shares insights into building a thriving agency and navigating the industry with a strategic approach.

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Agency Acquisition Deal Structure: Tips for Buyers & Sellers with Nick Fraunfelder | Ep# 717
Selling Your Agency Jason Swenk Selling Your Agency Jason Swenk

Agency Acquisition Deal Structure: Tips for Buyers & Sellers with Nick Fraunfelder | Ep# 717

Are you planning to buy an agency as a growth strategy or sell your agency and need to get it in shape to attract buyers? Today’s guest wanted out of his career in venture capital and bought an agency, seeing them as cash flow machines. Looking back at that move and all the considerations it took, he offers valuable points for agency owners looking to either buy or sell in the near future and how to best handle that process.

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Navigating an Agency Acquisition for Rapid Growth with Leah Messina | Ep# 710
Selling Your Agency Jason Swenk Selling Your Agency Jason Swenk

Navigating an Agency Acquisition for Rapid Growth with Leah Messina | Ep# 710

How do you anticipate the agency owner's role evolving during an acquisition process? Our featured guest today has undergone a significant transformation, transitioning from white label to a more comprehensive service offering and shifting from project-based to retainer-based services. Now, she embarks on a new journey for her agency as she navigates a strategic acquisition.

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Waze Co-Founder, Uri Levine, Falling in Love With The Problem Not the Solution | Ep #691
Selling Your Agency Jason Swenk Selling Your Agency Jason Swenk

Waze Co-Founder, Uri Levine, Falling in Love With The Problem Not the Solution | Ep #691

What would you do if you sold your agency tomorrow? Are you clear enough on your purpose that you could keep on creating value? Today’s guest is the founder or a beloved app that changed the way people drive nowadays. He eventually sold that company but hasn’t stopped looking for ways to improve people’s lives through his startups. He’ll share what he’s learned from failure, why he was out of the company as soon as he sold, and why you should always look to understand users to create real value. Tune in to learn valuable insights into building successful startups.

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Building a ‘Sellable’ Agency By Branding Your Processes with John Warrillow | Ep #678
Selling Your Agency Jason Swenk Selling Your Agency Jason Swenk

Building a ‘Sellable’ Agency By Branding Your Processes with John Warrillow | Ep #678

Gary Vaynerchuk and Steve Jobs both became the face of their brand, but could this marketing strategy cost you when it’s time to sell your agency? How can you avoid becoming the brand to build a ‘sellable’ agency? Today’s guest is an entrepreneur who has successfully started and sold four businesses. He discusses the value of personal brands in relation to company success and delves into the challenges faced by service companies in building assets compared to tech or SaaS startups. Tune in to learn about common mistakes made by agency owners when considering selling their businesses and the pitfalls of an obsession with scale.

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Navigating the Highs and Lows of SELLING YOUR AGENCY with David Rodnitzky | Ep #661
Selling Your Agency Jason Swenk Selling Your Agency Jason Swenk

Navigating the Highs and Lows of SELLING YOUR AGENCY with David Rodnitzky | Ep #661

Are you getting ready to sell your agency? Are you looking into potential buyers? How will you protect your interests in an M&A process? Today’s guest has a lot of experience, and even a book, in this area having sold the same agency twice and coming out mostly unscathed from the initial failed deal. He’ll share some of the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of selling your agency and the challenges of managing a large agency team. Tune in to gain valuable insights on navigating the process of selling your agency.

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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.