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.
How CLARITY In Storytelling CONNECTS You to More Clients with Park Howell | Ep #732
Do you use storytelling to connect with prospects and clients? Many agency owners know how to share great stories but use them to talk about their agency capabilities. Instead, today’s guest says we should use stories to connect with potential clients, creating content that resonates and engages them. Today’s featured guest is a creator of powerful brand stories who helps his clients understand the value of starting with a strong story framework. He believes clarity beats creativity when it comes to standing out in today’s market. Tune in to learn about his transition from agency life to consulting, teaching, and speaking on the power of story.
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.
Rewarding OWNERSHIP MENTALITY: Building an Agency That Runs Without You with Tiffany Sauder | Ep #729
How can you step away from daily operations and embrace the role of the agency visionary? Is there a team member who could take over the things you don’t love doing? If so, how would you begin to prepare them for this transition? Today’s guests built a relationship with a key employee that most agency owners dream of when they think about delegating and reclaiming their time.
It took a lot of work, investing in growth, and trusting that someone who started as an employee could evolve into a partner in the agency, but they managed to do it in a way that has only benefitted the agency and the team. Join them for an engaging conversation filled with insights into delegating and slowly transitioning from being a hands-in agency owner to being the visionary and face of the agency.
Hire Slow & Fire Fast: Investing Time in Building Your Agency Team with Bryant Walker | Ep #728
Have you ever rushed your hiring process out of eagerness to fill a position and delegate responsibilities? Did you later regret the decision to hire fast? There is a reason they say hire slow, fire fast. Finding the right people to fill the roles on your growing team is an integral part of growing. In this interview, learn from one agency owner who takes immense pride in cultivating a core team that shares his vision. However, getting there has not been without its challenges. One of the most valuable lessons he learned is that hiring takes patience and a well-structured process. Check out this thoughtful discussion on the importance of having the right people in the right positions to ensure success and peace of mind as the agency expands.
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.
Mining Your CRM for Gold to Maximize Agency Growth with Wendy Lieber | Ep #726
What would you do to keep growing your business if you stopped getting new leads for ninety days? How would you guarantee increased business? How would you ensure continued success? Our guest today emphasizes the importance of revisiting your CRM as a vital tool for driving business expansion.
How Firing Toxic Clients Leads to Stronger Relationships with Susan Finch | Ep #725
Have you ever fired a client? If you could do so without fearing for your agency’s future, would you take that step today? Most agency owners have horror stories about toxic clients who created an unhealthy work environment for the team. Deciding to cut these professional ties can be particularly daunting, but will bring more benefits in the long run.
Gino Wickman on How 130 Days Off Boosts Business & Fulfills Your True Self | Ep #724
How often do you take time off simply to rest? Do you carve out moments to recharge and find stillness before the daily whirlwind begins? If you’re a successful entrepreneur who doesn’t prioritize rest, you may be heading toward burnout. Today’s featured guest is an entrepreneur who’s created several noted frameworks for business owners, empowering countless individuals to elevate their businesses.
Gino Wickman is an entrepreneur, content creator, and most notably the founder of Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). Through the years he’s noticed highly accomplished entrepreneurs tend to feel unfulfilled in what should be the highest point of their success. This happens when they forget the fundamental purpose behind building a successful business: to create a fulfilling life. In this episode, you will gain insights into achieving success while maintaining fulfillment in both your professional and personal life.
Tricks to Help Busy Agency Owners Remember Everything with Dave Farrow | Ep #723
Do you find it hard to remember the name of someone you just met? Do you struggle to recall the details of last week’s meeting? Busy agency owners are constantly juggling countless responsibilities which is overwhelming and leaving you feeling like you're losing your edge. But what if you could sharpen your mind and tackle daily challenges with confidence?
Today’s featured guest has transformed his remarkable journey as a record-holding memorization expert into a powerful business dedicated to helping entrepreneurs enhance their memory skills. By harnessing effective visualization techniques, he empowers individuals to project themselves into a future filled with success. In this episode, learn more about his inspiring story and insights on memorable marketing and memorization.
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.
