Social Pulse Podcast: Agency Edition

Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast: How One Agency CEO Transformed Employee Retention

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 12:27:00 +0000

Every agency owner knows the feeling – you've invested countless hours training a talented team member, only to watch them walk out the door six months later. Then, clients start to question why they're working with their third account manager this year. The cycle of hiring, training, and losing people doesn't just drain your bank account – it crushes morale and makes sustainable growth feel impossible. When turnover becomes your agency's defining feature, something fundamental is broken. But what if your culture problem is actually your biggest opportunity?

Today we're joined by Joe Giovannoli, founder and CEO of 9Sail, a New Jersey search marketing agency specializing in SEO and PPC for law firms and construction companies. Since founding 9Sail in 2015, Joe has transformed his agency from struggling with high turnover to building a values-driven workplace where transparency, accountability, and data-driven expertise aren't just slogans – they're competitive advantages. Joe's journey from facing constant retention challenges to creating a culture that both clients and employees won't leave offers valuable lessons for any agency owner feeling stuck in the revolving door syndrome.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Joe Giovannoli about:

⭐ How focusing on culture creates a measurable competitive advantage that directly impacts client retention and agency profitability.

⭐ Practical ways to implement values like transparency and accountability that transform employee experience and reduce turnover.

⭐ Specific systems for properly assessing bandwidth needs and setting clear expectations that prevent burnout while maintaining high performance.

Learn more about Joe Giovannoli

Connect with Joe Giovannoli on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

9Sail
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
How to Structure Your Agency to Win Using EOS
Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business
Culture Index
Dana Corporation
Ford
Chrysler
GM

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/culture-eats-strategy-for-breakfast-how-one-agency-ceo-transformed-employee-retention

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.
Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How AdParlor Turned Market Challenges Into Strategic Advantage

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 13:05:00 +0000

Are you struggling to differentiate your agency in an increasingly competitive market? When established strategies stop working and larger competitors seem to win all the best clients, do you stick with what you know or make a bold pivot? For agency owners, recognizing when to transform your business model isn't just about survival—it's about turning market challenges into a genuine strategic advantage.

Today, we're joined by Kristina Coughlin, General Manager of AdParlor, who led her agency through a remarkable transformation from traditional paid media to creator-led marketing. With 16 years of experience scaling 7- and 8-figure marketing programs for startups and Fortune 100 companies alike, Kristina brings practical insights on executing strategic pivots that drive both client results and agency growth.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Kristina Coughlin about:

⭐ Market Sensitivity: The importance of actively monitoring industry trends and competitive landscapes to identify when a strategic pivot is necessary before it becomes urgent.

⭐ Transformation Leadership: Practical insights for leading an agency through a significant business model transformation while maintaining team cohesion and client confidence.

⭐ Strategic Differentiation: How identifying emerging trends (like creator-led marketing) can help agencies escape commoditization and establish distinctive value propositions that drive both client results and agency growth.

Learn more about Kristina Coughlin

Connect with Kristina Coughlin on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

AdParlor
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Fluent
Best Buy
The Social Listening Goldmine: How Smart Brands Mine Conversations for Revenue

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/how-adparlor-turned-market-challenges-into-strategic-advantage

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Control Paradox: Why Letting Go Grows Your Agency Faster

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Fri, 5 Sep 2025 12:58:00 +0000

Every agency owner knows the feeling – that pit in your stomach when you hand off an important client project to a team member. What if they miss something crucial? What if the client isn't happy? What if this reflects poorly on the reputation you've worked years to build? So you hover, you revise, you redo work that was perfectly fine, and you convince yourself that "it's just easier if I do it myself." But here's the brutal truth: this need for control isn't protecting your agency – it's strangling it. When you're the bottleneck for every decision, every deliverable, and every client interaction, you're not running an agency; you're running an expensive freelance operation with overhead.

That's where our guest today comes in to help. Amy Rosenberg is the president of Veracity, a marketing and PR agency she founded in 2008, and she's been recognized as a "Top Woman in PR" by PR News. Amy learned PR from the ground up – working her way from intern to management before starting her own firm – so she understands both sides of this equation intimately. She's the author of two award-winning books including "A Practical Guide to Public Relations for Businesses, Nonprofits and PR Leaders," and more importantly for our conversation today, she's mastered the art of building a team she can trust with her reputation and her clients' success.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Amy Rosenberg about:

⭐ Control is the enemy of scale – Agency owners must recognize that their need to personally touch every project creates an artificial ceiling on growth and team development.

⭐ Trust is built through systems, not hope – Successful delegation requires establishing clear processes, quality checkpoints, and communication frameworks before letting go of direct oversight.

⭐ The right team changes everything – Hiring people who genuinely care about quality and client success makes the transition from control to trust not just possible, but profitable.

Learn more about Amy Rosenberg

Connect with Amy Rosenberg on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Veracity
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Use code PODCAST, or this link, on Amy's Shopify page to get $5 off the print version of A Practical Guide to Public Relations. Even with shipping fees, your total is still less than the Amazon price — and buying direct supports an indie author and small business.
Amy Rosenberg Named One of PR News’ “Top Women in PR”
A Practical Guide to Public Relations for Businesses, Nonprofits and PR Leaders: Including: SEO, AI, Content Marketing, Social Media & Thought Leadership
The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
Upwork
Google Docs
Stephen King
Gong
Muck Rack
New York Times
Fiverr
Connect with Paschal James if you’re looking for an experienced VA (podcast support, digital tasks, and more)

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/the-control-paradox-why-letting-go-grows-your-agency-faster

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Brutal Truth About Leaving Your Job to Start an Agency (What I Wish Someone Had Told Me)

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 12:53:00 +0000

Making the leap from a stable full-time job to starting your own marketing agency sounds like the ultimate dream – being your own boss, setting your own rates, choosing your clients. But here's what most people don't talk about: the transition is brutal, and agency life is nothing like having a job. The sleepless nights wondering if you'll make payroll, the feast-or-famine cycle that becomes your new normal, the crushing weight of being responsible for everything from client delivery to keeping the lights on. One day, you're celebrating landing a dream client, the next you're dealing with scope creep that's eating your profit margins alive. The mental shift from employee to entrepreneur isn't just challenging – it's a complete rewiring of how you think about work, money, and success.

Today's guest knows this reality all too well. Jeff Tormey is the founder of SEO Guru Atlanta, LLC and Bariatric Audience, where he's built a thriving digital marketing agency specializing in SEO and lead generation for the bariatric surgery industry. But his journey to agency ownership wasn't the smooth success story you might expect. Jeff made the bold decision to leave his secure full-time position to strike out on his own, and he's here to share the unfiltered truth about what that transition really looks like – the good, the bad, and everything they don't tell you in the entrepreneurship books.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Jeff Tormey about:

⭐ The Financial Reality Check - Understanding the true financial implications of leaving steady employment, including the feast-or-famine cycle and how to prepare for income uncertainty.

⭐ The Mental Game of Agency Ownership - Strategies for managing the psychological shift from employee to entrepreneur and dealing with the isolation and pressure that comes with being responsible for everything.

⭐ Building Systems vs. Creating a Job - Practical approaches to structuring your agency from day one to ensure you're building a scalable business rather than just an expensive position for yourself.

Learn more about Jeff Tormey

Connect with Jeff Tormey on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

SEO Guru Atlanta, LLC
Bariatric Audience
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Andrew Davis
Monday
Teamwork
Teams

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/the-brutal-truth-about-leaving-your-job-to-start-an-agency-what-i-wish-someone-had-told-me

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Multi-Industry Advantage: Scaling Your Agency Through Strategic Expansion

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Thu, 7 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Many agency owners find themselves trapped in a single industry niche, constantly fighting for the same clients and struggling to break through growth plateaus. You've developed expertise in one vertical, but the market is getting saturated, competition is driving down prices, and you're vulnerable to industry-specific downturns. What if expanding into multiple industries could be the key to sustainable growth? Is diversification the answer to building a more resilient agency, or will it just dilute your focus and reputation?

Today, we're joined by David Neff, founder and president of Neff, an award-winning full-service advertising and public relations agency. With over 35 years of experience, David has transformed his agency from a local player into a regional and national powerhouse serving the real estate, restaurant, hospitality, and retail industries. His strategic approach to expansion across multiple sectors offers a blueprint for agencies looking to scale beyond their original niche.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked David Neff about:

⭐ Practical strategies for identifying and entering new industries that complement your agency's existing strengths and expertise.

⭐ Organizational approaches to managing multi-industry expertise without diluting your brand or overwhelming your team.

⭐ How to leverage cross-industry knowledge to create unique competitive advantages and deliver superior client outcomes.

Learn more about David Neff

Connect with David Neff on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Neff
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
AT&T
Philadelphia Inquirer
GoPuff
Starbucks

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/the-multi-industry-advantage-scaling-your-agency-through-strategic-expansion

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From MySpace to AI - Building an Agency That Thrives Through Transformation

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Running a marketing agency today means constantly adapting to a never-ending stream of platform changes, algorithm updates, and emerging technologies. Just when you've mastered Facebook Ads, suddenly TikTok demands attention. You finally understand SEO, then Google changes everything overnight. Each pivot requires new skills, different team members, and updated client strategies—all while maintaining profitability and keeping clients happy with results. The pressure to stay relevant while delivering ROI has never been more intense.

Today, we're fortunate to have Darwin Liu, Founder and CEO of X Agency, a digital marketing firm that has not just survived but thrived through 15+ years of industry transformation. Darwin leads a powerful team of growth hackers, engineers, writers, and storytellers dedicated to driving profitability for their clients. His agency culture emphasizes excellence, curiosity, and integrity—qualities that have helped X Agency navigate the evolution from early social platforms to today's AI revolution while consistently delivering results.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Darwin Liu about:

⭐ A framework for evaluating industry changes and determining which require immediate adaptation versus which can be monitored or ignored.

⭐ Practical strategies for managing the financial aspects of agency transformation while maintaining profitability through transitional periods.

⭐ Insights on building a flexible, adaptable team structure that can pivot quickly as digital marketing continues to evolve.

Learn more about Darwin Liu

Connect with Darwin Liu on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

X Agency
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Warrior Forums
Cambridge Analytica
ClickUp
Zoom
Connected TV
Netflix
Hulus
HBO Max
Mountain
GA4
Pearson Correlation
Moores Law
Clubhouse
AI for Business, Marketing & Sales: The AI Hat Podcast
Gemini

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/from-myspace-to-ai-building-an-agency-that-thrives-through-transformation

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Building Your Agency Machine: How to Scale from 10 to 100 Clients Without Breaking

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 04:01:00 +0000

Does your agency feel like it's held together with duct tape and prayer? Every new client brings both excitement and dread as you wonder how your team will manage yet another account. Your processes - if you can call them that - are stretched thin, and what worked for 10 clients is crumbling under the weight of 20, 30, or more. The constant juggling act leaves you exhausted, your team stressed, and your growth potential limited.

Today's guest knows exactly how to transform that chaos into a well-oiled machine. Haydn Fleming, CMO of 2POINT Agency and Managing Partner of their Dallas branch, has built systems that successfully manage hundreds of client programs simultaneously. As someone who's plugged into countless marketing programs at any given time, Haydn brings practical, proven strategies for creating sustainable systems that scale. He's here to share how you can build an agency machine that runs smoothly whether you're handling 10 clients or 100.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Haydn Fleming about:

⭐ The critical systems and processes needed to scale an agency from 10 to 100 clients

⭐ Practical strategies for automating routine tasks while maintaining service quality

⭐ How to identify and fix process breakpoints before they become critical issues

Learn more about Haydn Fleming

Connect with Haydn Fleming on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

2POINT
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Claude
Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork
Dan Sullivan
How to Structure Your Agency to Win Using EOS
ChatGPT
Perplexity,
Gemini Gets Personal, Proactive, and Powerful
Loom Video
Icon.me
Motion
Capcut
Facebook ad library
Ad Spy
Meta
Zapier
Google Drive
SEM Rush
Ahref
Slack

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/building-your-agency-machine-how-to-scale-from-10-to-100-clients-without-breaking

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Search in the Age of AI: Website Strategies That Still Win Clients Results

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Every agency owner today is confronting a new reality: AI has fundamentally altered how search engines evaluate and rank websites. What worked yesterday suddenly seems outdated, leaving many scrambling to understand new rules while clients demand the same level of performance. The ground beneath our feet is shifting rapidly, with algorithm updates, AI-generated content flooding the internet, and traditional SEO metrics being redefined. Many agency owners feel like they're playing a game where the rules keep changing without notice, risking client retention and struggling to articulate their value proposition in this new landscape.

Today we welcome Joshua Jacoby, owner of My Favorite Web Designs, a Mesa-based digital marketing agency that's successfully guided over 200 local clients through evolving search landscapes. Joshua brings a unique perspective having transformed his agency through personal adversity—surviving COVID, overcoming significant injuries, and shifting from technical practitioner to strategic innovator. His expertise in SEO and web design, combined with his adaptability in crisis, positions him perfectly to help us navigate the AI revolution reshaping search.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Joshua Jacoby about:

⭐ Practical website design principles that remain effective despite AI's growing influence on search algorithms

⭐ Content strategy adaptations that help agency clients maintain visibility in AI-powered search results

⭐ Future-proofing techniques that help agencies demonstrate continued value as search continues to evolve

Learn more about Joshua Jacoby

Connect with Joshua Jacoby on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/search-in-the-age-of-ai-website-strategies-that-still-win-clients-results

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Stop Being the Hero: Why Great Agency Leaders Don't Need All the Answers

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 17:13:00 +0000

Every agency owner has been there – staying up late to fix that client emergency, jumping in to handle the important tasks because "no one can do it quite like you can," and feeling the weight of needing to have all the answers. It's exhausting, unsustainable, and secretly undermining your agency's potential. If you're caught in this cycle of being the agency hero, constantly swooping in to save the day, you might be the biggest obstacle to your own growth.

Today's guest knows this challenge intimately. Igor Avidon, founder and CEO of Avidon Marketing Group, has built a thriving agency by doing the opposite of what many agency owners do – he stopped trying to be the hero. Instead of having all the answers, he's created a culture where his team leads, innovates, and drives results. His approach to leadership and agency growth has transformed not just his business, but the way his clients view what's possible with their marketing.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Igor Avidon about:

⭐ The counter-intuitive truth that stepping back and empowering your team leads to better client outcomes and agency growth

⭐ Practical strategies for transitioning from tactical expert to strategic leader

⭐ How to build a culture of distributed leadership while maintaining quality and consistency

Learn more about Igor Avidon

Connect with Igor Avidon on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Avidon Marketing Group
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
How to Structure Your Agency to Win Using EOS
Trello
Google Chat
Google Suites

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/stop-being-the-hero-why-great-agency-leaders-dont-need-all-the-answers

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Building Predictable Client Success With 90-Day Marketing Sprints

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 27 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Managing multiple client campaigns feels like juggling chainsaws while riding a unicycle. Your team is drowning in tasks, metrics are all over the place, and just when you think you've got one client's success figured out, another starts slipping. Every agency owner knows this pain - the constant pressure to deliver consistent results across different channels, the endless status updates, and the gnawing feeling that there must be a better way to run things.

Today we're joined by a true innovator in agency operations - Hal Smith, founder of H Street Digital and the architect behind a game-changing 90-day sprint system that's revolutionizing how agencies deliver results. Having managed over $100 million in advertising campaigns for everyone from startups to Fortune 50 companies, Hal has mastered the art of turning complex marketing chaos into predictable success. He's here to share exactly how he's transformed traditionally messy processes like media buying, creative testing, and attribution into a systematic approach that's changing the game for agencies everywhere.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Hal Smith about:

⭐ A structured 90-day sprint system can transform chaotic agency operations into predictable, scalable success.

⭐ Proper framework implementation leads to better client retention through improved communication and consistent results.

⭐ Systematic approaches to media buying and creative testing can be broken down into manageable, repeatable processes that drive predictable outcomes.

Learn more about Hal Smith

Connect with Hal Smith on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

H Street Digital
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business
The EOS MODEL®
How to Structure Your Agency to Win Using EOS
The Eisenhower Matrix: How to prioritize your to-do list
MoSCoW method
Lean Startup
Notion
Triple Whale
North Beam
Fairing
Replo
Shoplift
Ninety

Show Notes & Transcript: http://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/build-predictable-client-success-with-90-day-marketing-sprints

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Learning on the Fly: How One Agency Owner Turned Trial and Error into Triumph

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 13 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Every agency owner starts somewhere, but what happens when that "somewhere" is completely from scratch? Without formal training, industry connections, or a proven playbook to follow? The journey of building a marketing agency can feel overwhelming enough when you know what you're doing - but imagine taking that leap while learning everything as you go.

Today's guest knows this journey intimately. Alan Thompson, founder and CEO of Stingray Branding, built his agency from the ground up starting in 2008, learning every lesson the hard way - and turning those lessons into a formula for success. With three generations of small business owners in his family and service in both the U.S. Army and Air Force Reserves, Alan brought a unique perspective to agency ownership, proving that sometimes the best education comes from real-world experience.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Alan Thompson about:

⭐ Practical strategies for building credibility and delivering results while still learning the ropes

⭐ Essential systems and processes that help self-taught agency owners maintain quality and consistency

⭐ How to turn learning experiences and mistakes into valuable assets for agency growth

Learn more about Alan Thompson

Connect with Alan Thompson on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Stingray Branding
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Microsoft FrontPage
Adobe Dreamweaver
Craigslist
Drupal
WordPress
Microsoft OneNote
Scribe

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/learning-on-the-fly-how-one-agency-owner-turned-trial-and-error-into-triumph

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Speaking Their Language: How to Demonstrate Social Media ROI to Every Decision Maker

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 14:36:00 +0000

We've all been there - that awkward meeting where a client looks you dead in the eyes and asks, "So what exactly am I getting for all this social media spend? " Your stomach drops as you scramble to explain engagement rates to someone who just wants to know about sales. It's like trying to pay your rent with Monopoly money - the value is clear to you, but they're just not buying it.

Today, we're cutting through that confusion with Scott Emalfarb, founder and CEO of Fresh Content Society, social media whisperer, and ROI translator extraordinaire. This is the guy who turned a desperate tweet from a struggling deli into a 1,500% sales increase during the pandemic. Scott has cracked the code on speaking the language of social media value to everyone from skeptical CEOs to hungry CMOs to overwhelmed social managers. He doesn't just get results - he makes sure everyone in the room understands exactly why those results matter.

So, whether you're tired of blank stares during client presentations or just want to sleep better knowing you can defend your social strategy to anyone with a budget, today's episode is your new secret weapon.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Scott Emalfarb about:

⭐ Stakeholder-specific communication is essential: Learn how to tailor your social media ROI messaging to address the specific concerns and priorities of different decision-makers, from CEOs focused on bottom-line impact to social media managers needing tactical validation.

⭐ Effective ROI frameworks translate technical metrics into business outcomes: Discover how to build communication systems that connect platform-specific metrics to the business outcomes that matter most to clients across all levels of their organization.

⭐ ROI communication is an ongoing process, not a one-time report: Understand how to implement consistent value-demonstration touchpoints throughout the client relationship to build trust and demonstrate long-term impact beyond individual campaigns.

Learn more about Scott Emalfarb

Connect with Scott Emalfarb on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Fresh Content Society
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
The desperate tweet
Manny's Deli
How to Turn a Crisis Into a Growth Opportunity
Chili's
TikTok and fast-food rivalry fuel Chili's sales as parent Brinker says turnaround is taking hold
Adam Mosseri
ChatGPT
Gemini
Mark Schaefer
Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/how-to-demonstrate-social-media-roi-to-every-decision-maker

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Inbound Ceiling: Breaking Through with Strategic Partnerships & Outbound Tactics

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 23:00:00 +0000

Remember when posting great content was all it took to keep your agency's pipeline full? Yeah, those days are fading faster than your client's enthusiasm for another Instagram algorithm change. If you've been scratching your head wondering why your brilliant blogs and perfectly optimized website aren't bringing in leads like they used to, you're not alone. Welcome to the 'inbound ceiling' – that frustrating plateau where your content machine keeps churning, but the leads have slowed to a trickle.

The truth is, standing out through content alone has become about as easy as explaining TikTok to your grandparents. But before you throw your content calendar out the window, today's guest has cracked the code on breaking through this ceiling. Jason Yormark built Socialistics into a seven-figure social media agency by zigging when others zagged, and he's literally wrote the book on it – his best-seller 'Anti Agency' has become the rebel's guidebook to building a thriving agency business. As a Forbes-recognized social media influencer, Jason's not just talking about theory – he's in the trenches every day, navigating the same challenges you are, and he's figured out how to complement inbound with strategic partnerships and outbound tactics that actually work without making you feel like that pushy salesperson we all love to hate.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Jason Yormark about:

⭐ Recognizing the Inbound Plateau: Listeners will learn the early warning signs that indicate their inbound strategy is hitting diminishing returns and understand the market forces creating this phenomenon across the agency landscape.

⭐ Strategic Partnership Framework: Audience members will gain a practical approach to identifying, vetting, and structuring agency partnerships that complement their existing business model without compromising quality or brand positioning.

⭐ Balanced Resource Allocation: Agency owners will take away a framework for effectively distributing limited resources across inbound, outbound, and partnership initiatives to create a more resilient and predictable lead generation engine.

Learn more about Jason Yormark

Connect with Jason Yormark on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Socialistics
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Jasonyormark.com
Anti-Agency: A Realistic Path to a $1,000,000 Business
Clutch
Mid Journey
Imagines
Shutterstock
Reveal
Crossbeam
HubSpot
Salesforce
Jenn Herman, the world's best Instagram blogger

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/oops-im-an-agency-owner/

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oops, I'm an Agency Owner! Turning Unintentional Beginnings into Unstoppable Success

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 23:00:00 +0000

Have you found yourself running a business you never expected—or even intended—to start? Maybe you were providing freelance services and things simply grew beyond what you planned, or perhaps an opportunity unexpectedly fell into your lap, and you ran with it. Suddenly, you're not merely an entrepreneur; you're an agency owner facing a set of challenges and expectations you hadn't anticipated.

Stepping into the role of an accidental agency owner comes with its unique difficulties. There's no strategic runway, no meticulously drawn blueprint, often just a realization of “Oops, I own an agency now… what do I do next?” How do you evolve from an individual specialist to the leader of an expanding team? How can you manage growth when you hadn't envisioned scaling in the first place? More importantly, how can you turn these accidental beginnings into sustainable success?

If you've ever found yourself or currently find yourself in these shoes, you're not alone—and today's guest understands your situation better than anyone. Mickey Mellen didn't set out to start a thriving digital agency, yet today, he's not only successfully at the helm of GreenMellen Media but also a respected thought leader, community contributor, and expert at leveraging strategic frameworks for growth. Mickey is going to share his inspiring story with us—the real-life journey of accidental agency ownership—and reveal the frameworks, processes, and approach he used to turn a surprise start into unstoppable success.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Mickey Mellen about:

⭐ Learn from Mickey's journey, recognizing how unintentional beginnings can blossom into intentional growth by being open to new frameworks and proactive learning.

⭐ Understand practical frameworks like Traction/EOS, why they're helpful for agency owners facing scales they didn't initially plan for, and how they've changed the trajectory of GreenMellen.

⭐ Empathy and coaching emerge as powerful elements—not just as nice additions but as deeply strategic tools—in building lasting client relationships and guiding agency decisions.

Learn more about Mickey Mellen

Connect with Mickey Mellen on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

GreenMellen
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Green Mellen Media
Ali Green
EOS
Traction
Rocket Fuel
The 12 Week Year
How to Structure Your Agency to Win Using EOS
Emeric Ernoult
Ninety
Blumer CPAs
ClickUp
WordCamps: A WordPress Conference
Notion
Google Workspace
QuickBooks
Drupal Developer
Podcast: Stacking Knowledge by Mickey Mellen
2 Bobs Podcast
Blair Ennz
David C. Baker
Seth Godin
Gary Vaynerchuk's
Day Trading Attention
Mickmel.com

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/oops-im-an-agency-owner

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Four-Post Framework: How Less Content Delivers More Results for Your Agency

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 23:00:00 +0000

Is your agency drowning in content creation? You're not alone. Across the marketing landscape, agencies are caught in an exhausting cycle of churning out endless social media posts for their clients, believing that more content equals better results.

But what if everything we've been taught about social media frequency is wrong?

What if you could actually deliver better results for your clients while creating less content? What if you could transform your agency's approach to social media management, increase client satisfaction, and reduce team burnout all at the same time?

That's exactly what our guest today has mastered. Katie Brinkley is a social media trailblazer with over 20 years of digital marketing expertise. As the founder of Next Step Social Communications, she's developed a revolutionary approach that's changing how agencies think about social media management. Her "Awareness to Action: Four-Post Social Media Strategy" has helped countless businesses achieve better results with less effort. Katie is also a dynamic speaker, podcast host, and author who's known for her charismatic energy and practical, results-driven approach.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Katie Brinkley about:

⭐ A strategic framework for delivering better client results with less content creation

⭐ Practical steps for transitioning clients to a more efficient social media strategy

⭐ How to position your agency as a strategic partner rather than just a content creator

Learn more about Katie Brinkley

Connect with Katie Brinkley on LinkedIn
Connect with Katie Brinkley on Facebook
Connect with Katie Brinkley on Instagram

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/how-less-content-delivers-more-results-for-your-agency

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Legacy to Leading Edge: Transforming Your Agency for Today's Market

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Mon, 3 Mar 2025 23:00:00 +0000

Marketing agencies are facing unprecedented pressure to evolve. The methods and strategies that built successful agencies in previous decades aren't necessarily the ones that will carry them forward. Technology is advancing at breakneck speed, client expectations are constantly shifting, and the very nature of marketing itself seems to change with each passing quarter. For agency owners who have inherited or acquired established firms, this creates a unique challenge: How do you honor and preserve what made the agency successful while simultaneously transforming it for today's market?

Many agency leaders find themselves caught between maintaining stable, long-term client relationships and implementing necessary changes to stay competitive. They worry about alienating loyal clients or losing valuable team members while trying to modernize their operations. The question keeps them up at night: How do you update your agency's services, processes, and culture without destroying the foundation that made it successful in the first place?

That's exactly what our guest today has been tackling head-on. Jordan Buning is the President of ddm marketing + communications, a full-service marketing agency in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Under his leadership, ddm has successfully navigated the transition from traditional marketing approaches to modern, digital-first strategies while maintaining their core values and client relationships. Today, he'll share his insights on how to execute this delicate balancing act and position your agency for future success.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Jordan Buning about:

⭐ A framework for evaluating which legacy elements of your agency to preserve and which to update

⭐ Practical strategies for managing change while maintaining team morale and client confidence

⭐ How to implement modern practices and technologies without losing the human touch that built your agency's reputation

Learn more about Jordan Buning

Connect with Jordan Buning on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/transforming-your-agency-for-todays-market

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

AI in Content Marketing: From Inspiration to Execution

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 23:00:00 +0000

Are you curious about how artificial intelligence can revolutionize your content marketing efforts?

Imagine having tools that not only inspire creative ideas but also streamline your entire content creation process, ensuring high-quality output every time. In a world where creativity and efficiency often seem at odds, AI bridges the gap, marrying innovation with productivity.

But how exactly does AI work in the realm of content marketing?

Today, we’re joined by Kristin Tynski, an expert who seamlessly integrates AI into the fabric of her content marketing, SEO, and PR strategies. As the co-founder and Senior VP of Creative at Fractl, Kristin has harnessed AI to turn data into compelling content, automate mundane tasks, and ultimately drive remarkable results. Join us as we delve into the practicalities and potentials of AI in content creation, from the initial spark of inspiration to final execution.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Kristin Tynski about:

⭐ AI as a Creative Catalyst: Understanding how AI tools can spark new content ideas and streamline creative processes.

⭐ Efficiency and Effectiveness: Learning how AI enhances both the efficiency and effectiveness of content marketing efforts.

⭐ Balancing Act: Practical advice on balancing AI capabilities with human creativity to produce authentic and engaging content.

Learn more about Kristin Tynski

Connect with Kristin Tynski on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Fractl
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
AI Hat Podcast
Claude
Magai
Canva
Salesforce
Gemini's Deep Research
ChatGPT
Llama
Kristin Tynski's GitHub
Cursor is an IDE
AI and Copyright: What Marketers Need to Know. Mike Allton Ft. Mitch Jackson
Dead Internet Theory

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/how-ai-can-make-a-huge-difference-in-content-marketing-for-agencies

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How AI Is Transforming Podcast Outreach: From Paid Posts to Perfect Partnerships

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Mon, 3 Feb 2025 23:00:00 +0000

Agency owners are struggling to get their clients booked on the right podcasts. Traditional outreach methods are time-consuming, inefficient, and often lead to rejection after rejection. Hours are wasted researching shows, crafting individual pitches, and following up, only to see minimal results.

Even worse, when agencies do land podcast appearances for their clients, they're often on shows that aren't truly aligned with their expertise or audience. The conversations feel forced, the content falls flat, and the ROI just isn't there. Meanwhile, clients are growing frustrated with the lack of meaningful exposure, and agency resources continue to be drained on an approach that's clearly broken.

But what if AI could transform your podcast outreach strategy? What if you could match your clients with their perfect podcast partners in a fraction of the time, while actually increasing your success rate? That's exactly what we're exploring today with our guest, Kara Wood.

Kara is a digital marketing powerhouse who has founded and scaled two successful agencies. She's particularly known for her innovative work in regulated industries like healthcare, where she's pioneered the use of AI to revolutionize how agencies approach podcast outreach and media partnerships. As someone who's spent over two decades at the forefront of digital marketing transformation, Kara brings a unique perspective on how agencies can leverage technology to create more authentic, profitable connections for their clients.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Kara Wood about:

⭐ Understanding why traditional paid media strategies are becoming less effective and how podcast partnerships offer a more authentic alternative

⭐ Practical insights on implementing AI tools for podcast outreach while maintaining personalization and authenticity

⭐ Strategic framework for measuring success and ROI when transitioning from paid media to podcast partnerships

Learn more about Kara Wood

Connect with Kara Wood on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Charle
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
ChatGPT
PodPitch
Emeric Ernoult
Calendly

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/ai-is-transforming-podcast-outreach

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Evolution or Extinction: How Smart Agencies Navigate Change to Stay Relevant

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 23:00:00 +0000

Every agency owner knows the feeling: that nagging suspicion that what worked yesterday won't be enough tomorrow. Maybe it's the rise of AI threatening traditional service models, or clients demanding services you don't yet offer, or watching competitors pivot while you're still perfecting your current approach. The pressure to evolve is constant, but the path forward isn't always clear.

The stakes are incredibly high. Make the wrong change at the wrong time, and you risk destabilizing your entire business. Move too slowly, and you might wake up one day to find your services have become commoditized or obsolete. How do you know when to pivot? How do you maintain momentum while transforming your business? And how do you keep your team and clients confident through major transitions?

Today's guest has mastered this delicate balance. Carol Morgan, founder and president of Denim Marketing, is a recognized pioneer in agency evolution. She's successfully navigated multiple industry transformations, including two major agency rebrands, the Great Recession, and countless technological shifts. As the author of multiple books on social media marketing and a leader within the National Association of Home Builders, Carol has consistently turned market challenges into competitive advantages.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Carol Morgan about:

⭐ Practical framework for identifying when and how to evolve your agency, including specific indicators that signal the need for change

⭐ Proven strategies for maintaining business stability while implementing significant transformations

⭐ Action steps for building an adaptable agency culture that can thrive amid constant industry evolution

Learn more about Carol Morgan

Connect with Carol Morgan on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Denim Marketing
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
National Association of Home Builders
Bluesky
Atlanta Real Estate Forum
Clubhouse

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/evolution-or-extinction-how-smart-agencies-navigate-change-to-stay-relevant

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Hidden Power of Platform Partnerships: A Marketing Agency Growth Story

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Mon, 6 Jan 2025 23:00:00 +0000

Running a marketing agency is challenging enough - finding clients, delivering results, managing teams - but what if there was a way to differentiate your agency while simultaneously creating more predictable revenue? Many agency owners find themselves stuck in the feast or famine cycle, constantly chasing new clients while trying to keep existing ones happy. The traditional agency model can feel like you're always starting from scratch, having to prove your worth with each new prospect.

But what if there was a way to instantly establish credibility, create recurring revenue, and position your agency as a true strategic partner rather than just another service provider? What if you could leverage an established platform's reputation and resources to grow your own agency? That's exactly what some forward-thinking agencies are doing through strategic platform partnerships.

Today's guest knows this journey firsthand. Ali Schwanke is the founder of Simple Strat, a growth marketing agency that has successfully leveraged platform partnerships, particularly with HubSpot, to build a thriving agency. Ali has not only transformed her own agency through this strategy but has helped countless other businesses implement and optimize their marketing technology stacks. She's here to pull back the curtain on how platform partnerships can be a game-changer for agency growth.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Ali Schwanke about:

⭐ Understanding how platform partnerships can create new revenue streams and differentiate your agency in a crowded market.

⭐ Learning the strategic advantages of becoming an implementation partner and how it can lead to longer-term client relationships.

⭐ Discovering the practical steps and considerations for building a successful partnership strategy that drives agency growth.

Learn more about Ali Schwanke

Connect with Ali Schwanke on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

SimpleStrat
Alischwanke.com
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
HubSpot Partner
Tyler Samani-Sprunk
HubSpot Hacks
How Do You Grow Your Network When You’re One of Thousands of Agencies? [Podcast & Recap]
MailChimp
Constant Contact
Zoho
Salesforce
Accenture
Boston Consulting
SimpleStrat Channel
Breeze AI
Clearbit
HubSpot Buyer Intent
Agorapulse: Threads Publishing Update
Lucid Chart
Google Sheets
Airtable
LinkedIn
Phantom Buster
Dripify
ChatGPT
Claude
Adobe Suite
Canva
Post Nitro
Descript
StreamYard
Salesforce Einstein

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/the-hidden-power-of-platform-partnerships-a-marketing-agency-growth-story

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mi

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Challenge of Transitioning From Client to Agency

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 16:15:00 +0000

Agency owners are entrepreneurs and more often than not, start their marketing agency because they see an area where they can improve and do better. Sometimes that’s from within a different agency, and sometimes that’s from within a brand that was using agencies.

But going from being the client of an agency to actually owning and growing an agency of your own is challenging.

Where do you start? What are some of the unique challenges, and how can you overcome them?

That’s what David Mink is here to help us with.

As the CEO of Avalaunch Media, a full-service marketing agency, David leads a team of talented and passionate professionals and fractional CMO's who help clients achieve their online marketing goals. With over 11 years of experience in this role and over 14 years in the industry, he has developed a deep understanding of the ever-changing digital landscape and the best strategies to optimize performance and results.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked David Mink about:

⭐ What is was like to go from an eCommerce brand to agency owner

⭐ Why launching a new agency was a challenge, and how he overcame it

⭐ When he finally achieved success, and what that looked like

Learn more about David Mink

Connect with David Mink on LinkedIn
Connect with David Mink on Twitter

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Avalaunch Media
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
SEO.com
OrangeSoda.com
Internet Marketing, Inc

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/the-challenge-of-transitioning-from-client-to-agency

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Social Media Success: Navigating Challenges for Women Entrepreneurs

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:30:00 +0000

Social media can be a powerful tool for businesses, but women entrepreneurs often face unique challenges in leveraging its full potential.

From building authentic connections to turning engagement into profit, navigating these hurdles requires strategic planning and innovative approaches.

Today, we're thrilled to have Christine Morton with us, a former TV news and business journal reporter and the founder of Morton Marketing 417 LLC. Christine specializes in creating connection-driven content strategies that transform social media posts into profitable ventures. With her extensive background in journalism, storytelling, and strategic content marketing, Christine has helped businesses nationwide achieve incredible success on social media.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Christine Morton about:

⭐ Overcoming Social Media Challenges: Understanding the unique hurdles women entrepreneurs face and strategies to navigate them.

⭐ Creating Connection-Driven Content: Insights into building authentic relationships through storytelling and strategic content.

⭐ Turning Engagement into Profit: Learning how to convert social media engagement into tangible business outcomes.

Learn more about Christine Morton

Connect with Christine Morton on LinkedIn
Connect with Christine Morton on Instagram

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Morton Marketing 417
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Think Like a TV Network: Elevating B2B Social Media Ft. Jay Baer
Mackenzie
Kim Garst
CapCut
Scarlett Johansson
The Persuasion Paradox: Why Pain-Based Marketing Fails and What to Do Instead Ft. Tamsin Webster

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/social-media-success-for-women-entrepreneurs

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Growing Strong: Balancing Expansion and Company Culture

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +0000

What happens to a marketing agency’s company culture when you suddenly add 100 new employees? How do you keep that same, strong sense of who you are as a brand even when you’re acquiring another existing brand and all of their employee’s existing ideas of culture?

Expanding a company through acquisitions is a terrific growth strategy, but also presents a unique set of challenges, particularly when it comes to maintaining the core company culture that has contributed to its success. Balancing rapid growth with the preservation of company culture is no small feat, but it’s crucial for sustaining employee morale and retention.

Today, we’re joined by Jeff Mason from Power Digital Marketing, a company known for its impressive 91%+ employee retention rate despite undergoing five acquisitions in the past five years. Jeff will share how Power Digital has managed to integrate new teams, maintain its unique culture, and continue thriving as it grows. If you’re looking to expand your business without sacrificing the culture that makes it special, this episode is for you.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Jeff Mason about:

⭐ Effective Culture Preservation Strategies: Understanding the strategies and practices that help maintain company culture during rapid growth and acquisitions.

⭐ Leadership and Communication: Insights into the critical roles of leadership and communication in integrating new teams while preserving core values.

⭐ Measuring Success: Learning how to measure the success of culture and integration efforts to ensure long-term employee retention and morale.

Learn more about Jeff Mason

Connect with Jeff Mason on LinkedIn
Connect with Power Digital Marketing on LinkedIn
Connect with Power Digital Marketing on Instagram

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Power Digital Marketing
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Grayson
Dana Corporation
15 five

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/growing-strong-balancing-expansion-and-company-culture

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to M

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Monetizing Knowledge: How Agencies Can Create Passive Income

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 22:22:00 +0000

Agencies are built on the expertise and knowledge of their teams, but what if there was a way to turn that expertise into a source of passive income?

In an industry where economic ups and downs are inevitable, having a steady stream of revenue from intellectual property can be a game changer.

Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Gini Dietrich, the author of the Spin Sucks book, blog, and podcast. Gini is here to share her insights on how agencies can leverage their intellectual property to create structured processes that generate passive income. We'll explore the steps necessary to transform agency knowledge into monetizable assets, and how these strategies can provide financial stability during tough times. If you're looking to create new revenue streams and future-proof your agency, this episode is for you.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Gini Dietrich about:

⭐ Initial Steps to Monetization: Understanding the first steps an agency should take to transform its expertise into structured, monetizable processes.

⭐ Strategic Development: Learning how to identify valuable areas of expertise and develop effective IP-based products or services.

⭐ Marketing and Impact Measurement: Insights into marketing these products to the right audience and tracking their success and profitability.

Learn more about Gini Dietrich

Connect with Gini Dietrich on LinkedIn
Connect with Gini Dietrich on Twitter

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/agency-edition/monetizing-knowledge-how-agencies-can-create-passive-income

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Small Agency, Big Results: The Impact of Early Engagement

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 16:02:00 +0000

Competing with big national agencies is tough, especially when you’re a small or regional player. But what if the secret to success lies in engaging with clients early and offering specialized services? That's exactly what our guests today have mastered.

Joining us are Bob Case and Tim Trull from LAVIDGE, an agency that’s made waves by turning small beginnings into big wins. Bob, the Chief Creative Officer and Co-President has been with LAVIDGE since 2000 and was named the first 'Creative Director of the Year' by the Phoenix Ad Club. Tim, the Chief Strategy Officer, brings over 30 years of experience to the table, crafting strategic plans that have propelled agency clients to national prominence.

Today, Bob and Tim will share how early engagement and specialization have become their competitive edge. They’ll dive into their strategies, success stories, and the lessons they've learned along the way. If you're running a smaller agency and wondering how to stand out against the big guys, this episode is for you.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Bob and Tim about:

⭐ Engagement Strategies: Understanding the importance and impact of engaging with clients early and how to make the most of these opportunities.

⭐ Specialization and Differentiation: Insights into how specializing in specific services or industries can set a small agency apart from larger competitors.

⭐ Maintaining Relationships: Learning how to build and maintain strong client relationships even as clients grow and potentially move on.

Learn more about Bob Case

Connect with Bob Case on LinkedIn
Connect with Bob Case on Instagram

Learn more about Tim Trull

Connect with Tim Trull on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

LAVIDGE
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Phoenix Ad Club
Massage Envy
McDonald
Rodney Dangerfield
United Rentals
Republic Services
RSC Equipment Rentals
Droga5
Salesforce
HubSpot
Our Martech Show
Partnership Unpacked

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/small-agency-big-results-the-impact-of-early-engagement

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Beyond the Playbook: Crafting Unique Strategies for Each Client

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 1 Oct 2024 04:00:00 +0000

In a world where many agencies rely on a standard framework or playbook for every client, it’s refreshing to find a consultancy that starts from scratch, building bespoke strategies that truly meet the unique needs of their clients. How do they achieve this level of customization, and why does it matter?

Today, we are joined by Zontee Hou, a leading marketing consultant and head of Convince & Convert. Zontee’s consultancy is renowned for creating impactful, tailor-made strategies that fit the diverse and ever-evolving needs of their clients. We’ll dive into how she and her team at Convince & Convert approach this intricate process, the challenges of hiring the right talent, and how they ensure their strategies are actionable and effective within their clients’ organizations. If you’re looking to move beyond generic playbooks and craft strategies that drive real results, this episode is for you.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Zontee Hou about:

⭐ Creating Custom Strategies: Understanding the process and importance of developing unique strategies tailored to each client’s needs.

⭐ Strategic Hiring: Insights into hiring and retaining talent skilled in both strategic thinking and effective communication.

⭐ Data-Driven Personalization: The role of data in crafting personalized strategies and ensuring they are actionable and impactful.

Learn more about Zontee Hou

Connect with Zontee Hou on LinkedIn
Connect with Zontee Hou on X

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Convince & Convert
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Jay Baer
Tequila
Social Pulse Community On Facebook
Agency Summit By Agorapulse
LT (formerly LaneTerralever)
Visit California
Caesars Entertainment
P. F. Chang
Hilton
Sam's Club
Walmart
Social Pros
City College of New York
Columbia University.
An ebook: Data-Driven Personalization: How to Use Consumer Insights to Generate Customer Loyalty
Target
Amazon
Netflix

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/beyond-the-playbook-crafting-unique-strategies-for-each-client

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Overcoming Complacency: How Challenges Can Drive Innovation

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 20:56:00 +0000

What happens when your agency hits a rough patch and complacency sets in?

How do you even know if you or your team is being complacent in how they approach or grow the business?

It's a situation many leaders dread, yet it’s a potential turning point for innovation and growth. Today, we’re diving into a transformative story where tough times spurred dramatic changes and led to a culture of innovation.

Our guest is Grant McKinstrie, the Digital Position. At the beginning of the year, his agency faced significant challenges that revealed a level of complacency he couldn't ignore. Instead of succumbing to the pressure, Grant and his team rallied together, revamped their processes, and reignited their innovation spark. In just a few transformative months, they achieved more than they had in the previous half-year. Grant is here to share how they turned obstacles into opportunities for growth and pushed their agency to new heights.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Grant McKinstrie about:

⭐ Recognizing and Addressing Complacency: Understanding how to identify complacency within an agency and take proactive steps to combat it.

⭐ Implementing Innovation: Practical advice on facilitating team-wide brainstorming and process improvement sessions.

⭐ Leadership and Motivation: Insights into the role of leadership in guiding a team through transformative changes and fostering a culture of innovation.

Learn more about Grant McKinstrie

Connect with Grant McKinstrie on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Digital Position
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Monday Boards
Google Sheets
Episode with Matt Heinz of Heinz Marketing: How to Structure Your Agency to Win Using EOS

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/overcoming-complacency

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mik

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Building a Dream Team: Effective Delegation Strategies

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 3 Sep 2024 20:59:00 +0000

Are you stuck in the never-ending cycle of trying to do everything yourself in your agency?

It's a common trap for many entrepreneurs, especially when scaling up. But how do you move from being a one-person show to building a dream team that can take your agency to new heights?

Today, we are thrilled to have Kateryna Quinn, a Forbes-featured entrepreneur and the founder of aStash Web Design & Marketing, join us. Kateryna has faced and conquered the challenges of expanding her team, developing robust business processes, and shifting from managing all tasks herself to delegating effectively. If increasing your team's efficiency and mastering the art of delegation is your goal, Kateryna's journey will provide you with the practical insights you need.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Kateryna Quinn about:

⭐ Effective Delegation Techniques: Understanding the essential strategies for delegating tasks and ensuring accountability within a team.

⭐ Team Building Insights: Learning how to find the right people, keep them motivated, and align them with the agency’s vision and goals.

⭐ Operational Efficiency: Discovering the benefits of documenting workflows and utilizing the right tools to streamline agency operations.

Learn more about Kateryna Quinn

Connect with Kateryna Quinn on LinkedIn
Connect with Kateryna Quinn on X

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

aStash Web Design & Marketing
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
aStash Web Design & Marketing Facebook Page
aStash Web Design & Marketing IG Page
Kateryna Quinn Forbes-feature
Clickup
Asana
Loom videos
J29 Creative
An Episode with Kayla Fotta
An Episode with Joe Nyahay

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/building-a-dream-team-effective-delegation-strategies

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Breaking Free: Lessons Learned Transitioning from Corporate to Entrepreneur

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 16:04:00 +0000

Have you ever felt the urge to break free from the corporate grind and start your own venture?

The leap from a secure corporate job to the uncertain world of entrepreneurship is daunting, filled with risks and unknowns.

Joe Nyahay did just that, leaving behind a stable corporate career to build his own agency—a move that could have gone either way, but in just six months, it proved to be a resounding success.

Today, Joe, the founder of LFG Business Group, joins us to unpack the lessons he learned from this dramatic transition. From overcoming initial fears of financial instability to crafting a successful digital marketing strategy and leveraging workflow automation, Joe’s journey is a treasure trove of insights for aspiring entrepreneurs. If you are contemplating making a similar leap or simply want to learn from Joe’s experience, this episode is for you.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Joe Nyahay about:

⭐ Overcoming Initial Fears: Insights and strategies on how to manage the fear and uncertainty of leaving a stable job to start a business.

⭐ Building a Successful Business Framework: Understanding the importance of a strong digital funnel and workflow automation in driving business growth and efficiency.

⭐ Personal and Professional Growth: Lessons on personal development and business acumen gained from transitioning to entrepreneurship.

Learn more about Joe Nyahay

Connect with Joe Nyahay on LinkedIn
Connect with Joe Nyahay on Instagram

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

LFG Business Group
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Alex Hormozi
Gary Vaynerchuk
Dan Martell
Kent Billingsley
A Book: Entrepreneur Millionaire
A Book: How to Win Friends and Influence People
Social Pulse Facebook Community

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/breaking-free-lessons-learned-transitioning-from-corporate-to-entrepreneur

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Self-Care and Scaling: Balancing Both For A Successful Agency

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 6 Aug 2024 09:27:00 +0000

Are you feeling the relentless pressure of scaling your agency while striving to maintain a semblance of work-life balance?

I mean, when was the last time you took a vacation day?

It’s a challenge that many entrepreneurs face, and often, the pursuit of growth can come at the expense of personal well-being. But what if maintaining self-care could be a strategic advantage in achieving sustainable growth?

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Kayla Fotta, an expert in digital marketing and the brain behind Par Excellence Marketing. Kayla has mastered the art of balancing business growth with self-care, ensuring that both her agency and her personal life thrive. She has developed effective self-care routines and organizational strategies that not only prevent burnout but also fuel her agency's success. Join us as Kayla shares her journey, practical tips, and the powerful mantra that keeps her focused and driven.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Kayla Fotta about:

⭐ Effective Self-Care Strategies: Understanding specific routines and habits that help maintain personal well-being while managing a growing agency.

⭐ Organizational Techniques: Learning practical organizational strategies that reduce stress and improve workflow efficiency.

⭐ Holistic Growth: Insights into how taking care of oneself and giving back can contribute to business success and personal fulfillment.

Learn more about Kayla Fotta

Connect with Kayla Fotta on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Par Excellence Marketing
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Notion
The powerful essay by Shaan Puri
The episode with Matt Heinz from Heinz Marketing in which he talked about the EOS framework
The episode with Karl Sakas on hiring and how to deal with toxic employees

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/self-care-and-scaling-balancing-both-for-a-successful-agency

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Consistency Formula: How to Achieve Steady Digital Marketing Success

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 16:26:00 +0000

Are you frustrated with the rollercoaster results of your digital marketing efforts?

One month you’re soaring, the next you’re scrambling to explain the downturn. Achieving consistent results can seem like an elusive goal, compounded by factors outside your control. But is there a science to sustaining steady success in digital marketing?

Today, we’re unpacking that very puzzle with Juntae DeLane, a digital marketing strategist and founder of Digital DeLane. Juntae has engineered a formula for achieving consistent and reliable digital marketing outcomes, harnessing the power of data to maintain a steady trajectory. If you’re ready to move from inconsistent results to consistent success, Juntae is here to reveal the roadmap. Let’s dive into the science behind digital marketing consistency.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Juntae DeLane about:

⭐ Data-Driven Insights: Understanding the critical metrics and data points essential for maintaining consistent digital marketing performance.

⭐ Navigating Variables: Learning strategies to handle external factors and unforeseen variables that can disrupt consistency.

⭐ Actionable Steps for Steady Success: Practical steps and techniques listeners can implement to achieve more reliable and steady results in their digital marketing efforts.

Learn more about Juntae DeLane

Connect with Juntae DeLane on LinkedIn
Connect with Juntae DeLane on X

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Digital Delane
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Agorapulse social ROI feature

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/the-consistency-formula-how-to-achieve-steady-digital-marketing-success

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Positioning for Impact: How to Dominate Your B2B SaaS Niche

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 9 Jul 2024 09:30:00 +0000

Are you finding it increasingly difficult to stand out in your agency’s niche? Despite all your efforts, does it feel like you're just one among many, struggling to get noticed and capture that crucial market share? It's a common predicament many in the sector face, where stellar services alone don't cut through the noise.

Why do some seem to effortlessly command attention and pull ahead in the race, while others falter? What do they know that you might be missing? Today, we're going to uncover those secrets.

Joining us is Garrett Mehrguth, a strategist with a proven track record in not just participating, but dominating the market. As the CEO of Directive, Garrett has led his team and clients to remarkable success through intelligent, strategic positioning. Prepare to uncover the tactics that could revolutionize your approach and help you claim the market share you deserve.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Garrett Mehrguth about:

⭐ Understanding Your Market: Learning the importance of deep market research and accurate ICP identification to effectively position your agency.

⭐ Strategic Adaptability: How ongoing analysis and adaptation can help your agency stay relevant and competitive in a changing market.

⭐ Tangible Strategies: Practical steps and strategies discussed by Garrett that listeners can implement to see real results in their market positioning efforts.

Learn more about Garrett Mehrguth

Connect with Garrett Mehrguth on LinkedIn
Connect with Garrett Mehrguth on X

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Directive
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Calendly
AWS
Outreach

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/positioning-for-impact-how-to-dominate-your-b2b-saas-niche

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How Handle Conflict & Misalignment Among Agency Partners

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 2 Jul 2024 12:22:00 +0000

When an agency owner wants to make an important decision on behalf of the agency, such as what services to offer, or even whether to sell the business, it’s their decision to make.

But if you have one or more partners, now you have to reach a consensus. And if you don’t have alignment among all partners, coming to agreement on anything will be hard, and potentially detrimental to the success of the agency and the partners themselves.

How can you identify these kinds of issues before they arise, and if you’re already in conflict with your partners, what should your next steps be?

That’s what Karl Heasman is here to help us with.

Karl spent 25 years in the agency business, successfully exited despite having partner challenges of his own, and has since gone on to coach and mentor dozens of other agency owners and partners going through similar situations. He works with ambitious digital, marketing, and communications agencies, typically between $500k and $5m in revenue, to help them achieve their goals. Whether that be helping them navigate through a rapid period of growth, kickstarting the business after flatlining for years or preparing for a more successful exit. He’s an invaluable partner to help other agency owners tackle their growth challenges.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Karl Heasman about:

⭐ Why partner alignment within an agency is critical

⭐ How to start building alignment between partners

⭐ What to watch out for to identify conflict potential

Learn more about Karl Heasman

Connect with Karl Heasman on LinkedIn
Connect with Karl Heasman on Twitter

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Greycott Consultancy
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/how-to-handle-conflict-and-misalignment-among-agency-partners

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Scaling Your Agency From 15 to 150+ People

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 13:30:00 +0000

Whenever we talk with our marketing agency clients and audience, they share that their number one challenge is growing and scaling their agency. Not only is the task itself hard - figuring out what services to offer and market, how to adjust pricing to grow and attract new clients, and how to increase headcount accordingly - there are so many variables that affect agencies such as leadership, regionality, geography and more, ensuring that your solution to growing your agency has to be unique.

But that doesn’t mean you have to invent it wholesale. This podcast is designed to talk to and learn from other agency owners so that we can apply those ideas to our own businesses, in this case: How have other agencies dealt with managing fully remote teams? Or maintaining culture or quality across teams, from the moment of onboarding on?

That’s what Zach Boyette is here to help us with.

Zach is the Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Galactic Fed, a growth marketing agency that - over just six years - he’s built into a powerhouse with 150 employees across 25 countries, driving hundreds of millions in revenue for over 600 clients. He is a growth hacker, software developer, Stanford MBA and ex-Google employee with deep expertise across the full spectrum of digital marketing. Zach is a proud digital nomad who travels the world full-time, rarely spending more than a month in a given time zone.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Zach Boyette about:

⭐ How to assess & hire winning talent in a virtual setting

⭐ How to establish & foster a supportive company culture

⭐ How to build & maintain productive work processes

Learn more about Zach Boyette

Connect with Zach Boyette on LinkedIn
Connect with Zach Boyette on Instagram

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Galactic Fed
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Episode with Ann Popolizio
Irina Papuc
Michelle Case
Episode with Matt Heinz
Slack
ClickUp
Google Docs

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/scaling-your-agency-from-15-to-150-people

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How Retail Marketing - and Digital Agencies - Changed After The Pandemic

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 10:13:00 +0000

One of the topics we talked about on Social Pulse Podcast: Hospitality Edition, with Tyler Anderson, was how the pandemic completely disrupted the hospitality industry, and how his agency adapted.

But what about retail and e-commerce? What impact did a total, global lockdown have on those industries, and how have agencies adapted since?

That’s what Kristina Kleymenova and Myriam Kader are here to help us with.

These brilliant ladies have launched their own creative marketing boutique, helping brands to elevate their presence and create engaging content that leaves a lasting impression. Kristina is a creative producer who got her start on the set of the Netflix original "War Machine", starring Brad Pitt, and led her to film a reality TV show for beauty mogul Huda Kattan. She then joined Huda Beauty to lead content production. Myriam is a strategic marketing specialist with a decade of experience in the beauty and fashion industry. Working together at Huda Beauty, these two helped the brand navigate the challenges of the pandemic, turning that challenging situation into an opportunity for growth, and then did what all successful entrepreneurs do - they saw a need in the market for their skills and experience and launched their own agency together.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Kristina Kleymenova and Myriam Kader about:

⭐ How retail and e-commerce shopping, and marketing, changed during the pandemic

⭐ What lessons they learned and took with them into building an agency

⭐ Why agencies and businesses need to watch emerging trends

Learn more about Kristina Kleymenova

Connect with Kristina Kleymenova on LinkedIn
Connect with Kristina Kleymenova on Instagram

Learn more about Myriam Kader

Connect with Myriam Kader on LinkedIn
Connect with Myriam Kader on Twitter

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Creative Baboon
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Tyler Anderson
Netflix original War Machine
Brad Pitt
Huda Khattab
Huda Beauty
HubSpot's podcast's interview with Gary Vaynerchuk
Simon Sinek
Simon Sinek's Quote "Start with why"
EEE event
Paul Roetzer
Martech Podcast episode: SEO for TikTok

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/how-retail-marketing-and-digital-agencies-changed-after-the-pandemic

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Structuring Your Agency to Win Using EOS

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 13:03:00 +0000

Think back to when you first started your agency.

You’d discovered in yourself a real passion and talent for helping other businesses with their marketing and found success with client after client.

But then you also discovered the realities of running a business: team meetings, net terms, hiring and firing, and managing employees.

Suddenly you’re questioning whether to back to being a solo consultant, right? If your training and education was in anything other than business, how do you structure your agency to function as an effective business, and set you and your team up for success?

That’s what Matt Heinz is here to help us with.

Matt’s career focuses on consistently delivering measurable results with greater sales, revenue growth, product success and customer loyalty. He founded Heinz Marketing over 15 years ago and brought tremendous experience in sales and marketing to the business, but recognized early on he needed to bring in people, and systems, to help him tackle the business aspects of running an agency, and that’s when he discovered EOS - the Entrepreneurial Operating System - which offers businesses a framework on which to structure goals, measurements, and meetings.

With that structure in place, Matt and Heinz Marketing has helped organizations such as Amazon, Seagate, Morgan Stanley, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and many others create predictable, repeatable sales & marketing engines to fuel growth.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Matt Heinz about:

⭐ Why having a structure like EOS is critical

⭐ How agencies can implement EOS

⭐ What challenges and opportunities such a framework brings

Learn more about Matt Heinz

Connect with Matt Heinz on LinkedIn
Connect with Matt Heinz on X

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Heinz Marketing Inc
3 Keys to Building an Agency That Lasts w/ Matt Heinz, Teamwork Interview
Ninety.io
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Woodward
Bernstein
EO
Logan Lyles
Teamwork
Verne Harnish
Mastering the Rockefeller Habit
The E Myth by Michael Gerber
Maria Geokezas
Marketo
Salesforce
Outreach
Lead IQ
Slack
Sendoso

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/entrepreneurial-operating-system-for-agencies

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Fully Remote Agency: Challenges & Opportunities

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 4 Jun 2024 08:37:00 +0000

Whether you’ve intended to build a fully remote agency, or that’s your goal, managing remote employees has it’s own challenges and opportunities.

To say nothing of being remote yourself as an agency owner.

How do you line up clients?

How do you ensure communication within your team?

How do you even juggle time and time zones?

That’s what Anne Popolizio is here to help us with.

Anne is the owner of the digital marketing agency Social Squib, a fully remote digital marketing agency. Her goal was to not only build a remote agency, but to be a geographically independent agency owner herself, which she’s accomplished. She has been doing social media for businesses since 2010 and knows how to leverage their social media following into clients. And she’s obsessed with analytics so that clients can measure the results of their efforts.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Anne Popolizio about:

⭐ What the unique challenges and opportunities are as a remote agency

⭐ How she’s developed solutions for those challenges

⭐ What it means to be geographically independent and the lifestyle that affords

Learn more about Anne Popolizio

Connect with Anne Popolizio on LinkedIn
Connect with Anne Popolizio on X

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Social Squib
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Emeri
Emeric
Social Media Marketing World
Marketing Profs
Kim Garst
Slack
Airtable
Asana
Evernote
Looker Studio
Google Drive
Canva
iMovie
Adobe Express
Opus Clip

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/the-fully-remote-agency-challenges-and-opportunities

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Agency Owner’s Dilemma: How To Replicate Themselves

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 28 May 2024 13:55:00 +0000

Does this sound familiar?

You, and perhaps a partner, started your agency years ago because you discovered you had a real talent and passion for helping your business clients with certain aspects of their marketing. You brought on one client, then another, and before you knew it you had a full-blown agency up and running.

But as you’ve hired more staff and brought on more clients, your workload has only increased. And you’re just as involved in the day-to-day of your operations as you were on day one, leaving little time to think strategically about your agency.

How do you train others to handle more of what you’ve been doing, and what processes can you set up to help?

That’s what Jessika Phillips is here to help us with.

Known as the Queen of Relationship Marketing, Jessika is on a mission to redefine corporate America and create something she wanted to be part of. Jessika founded NOW Marketing Group in 2010 with only a laptop and a vision to give people with heart an upper hand. Her agency was recognized as an Inc. Best places to work 2022, is a Forbes-recognized Agency Partner, partners with Facebook, Google, Agorapulse, and is a certified inbound partner with Hubspot.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Jessika Phillips about:

⭐ Why agency owners need to replicate themselves

⭐ What processes and initiatives to put in place

⭐ How to get started today so that your agency is positioned well for tomorrow

Learn more about Jessika Phillips

Connect with Jessika Phillips on LinkedIn
Connect with Jessika Phillips on X

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

NOW Marketing Group
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Inc. Best Places to Work 2022,
the E-Myth
Martech show Episode with Jim Williams, CMO of UpTempo

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/the-agency-owners-dilemma-how-to-replicate-themselves

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When To Pivot Your Marketing Agency: Finding The Right Focus For You

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 21 May 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Every agency runs into periods of time that are a struggle.

Revenue is down.

Customers are churning.

Pipeline has all but dried up.

Owners faced with these situations have three options: keep going, quit, or change direction.

The challenge is knowing which option is the best for you. Staying the course or charting a new path can each bring it’s own successes and challenges, so it’s a good idea to talk to folks who have been there.

That’s what Selim Maalouf is here to help us with.

Selim hosts and produces 2 podcasts - The Manufacturing Marketing Show as well as Sprockets & Gears. He's also a HubSpot Technical Consultant and HubSpot Solutions provider. Interestingly, his career started as an Industrial Design Engineer in Lebanon but when he moved to the States, he quickly pivoted into marketing and has been helping industrial companies communicate with and attract the right audiences ever since.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Selim Maalouf about:

⭐ When agencies should consider a pivot

⭐ What key considerations to keep in mind

⭐ How to achieve success with a new agency model

Learn more about Selim Maalouf

Connect with Selim Maalouf on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Conveying Your Message
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
The Manufacturing Marketing Show
Sprockets and Gears Podcast
HubSpot
Oracle
SAP
Dana Corporation
StreamYard
Stoney Creek
Teamwork.com
ClickUp
Surfe
Google Workspace Suite
Slack
StreamYard
Riverside
Premiere Pro

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/when-to-pivot-your-marketing-agency-finding-the-right-focus

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Scaling From Side-Hustle Start-up to Full Time Suite

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 14 May 2024 12:33:00 +0000

If you’re thinking about taking your marketing agency and consulting services from part-time to full-time, or have done just that in the past few years, there are many challenges.

Maintaining cash flow. Building a team for the first time. Acquiring new clients. Balancing new team members, clients, and tech… to say nothing of trying to maintain work-life balance.

How are we supposed to manage it all?

That’s what Rachael Mattice is here to help us with.

Rachael is the founder of RM Creative Services and the host of the “Big Vocalist Energy” podcast where she helps amplify the names and author the stories of impactful brands and artists. With over 12 years of strategic content experience backed by data, she tunes in and tunes up the brand’s identity traits until they are show-stoppers. As a music maven, entrepreneur, and content creator, it’s her life’s purpose to shine a spotlight on the bold and provide her clients with the tools needed to succeed.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Rachael Mattice about:

⭐ What inspired her to start her own marketing agency

⭐ Why it's a challenge going from side hustle to full-time owner

⭐ How new agency owners can navigate these challenges

Learn more about Rachael Mattice

Connect with Rachael Mattice on LinkedIn
Connect with Rachael Mattice on Instagram

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

RM Creative Services
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Big Vocalist Energy Podcast
Purdue University
Stony Creek
Social Pulse Podcast Retail Edition
Jenn Herman
Social Media Examiner
Social Media Today
Threads

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/scaling-from-side-hustle-start-up-to-full-time-suite

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

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The Anti-Agency Agency: Consider This Non-Traditional Model

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 7 May 2024 11:40:00 +0000

One of the reasons so many agencies close within 3 years is that the owners simply burn out from the incredibly overwhelming workload.

Late nights trying to hit deadlines.

Long meetings in the morning with clients who are “always” right.

And a constant churn of clients who weren’t a good fit.

What if there was a different way… maybe even a better way, to structure your agency and approach working with clients?

If the traditional agency model is broken, how should we approach doing great marketing for clients?

That’s what Chuck Hester is here to help us with.

Chuck Hester is a nationally renowned marketing trainer and speaker who helps businesses get the most out of their digital channels. He is the co-founder of A Purpose Partnership, a contrarian marketing and business consulting firm that works with its clients in all things marketing - from public relations to web development to corporate social responsibility.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Chuck Hester about:

⭐ Why the traditional agency model is broken for so many

⭐ How he set about to build a new agency model

⭐ Where his agency, and his clients, are now seeing the benefits

Learn more about Chuck Hester

Connect with Chuck Hester on LinkedIn
Connect with Chuck Hester on Twitter

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

A Purpose Partnership
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Adam Sinkus
Brands Constellations
Steven Silverman
Slack
Zoom
StreamYard
ChatGPT
Ann Handley
MarketingProfs B2BForum
apurposepartnership.com

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/the-anti-agency-agency-consider-this-non-traditional-model

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How Agencies Can Diversify Income And Avoid Cash Flow Issues

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 11:08:00 +0000

We all know that when we were just starting and had a single client for our new agency, that was a perilous position. And even later, when we added more clients, many of us still found ourselves with just one or two clients who were bringing in the majority of the revenue. If ever they left, our agency would be in a world of hurt.

Along the same lines, having just a single source of revenue keeps our income and our livelihood at risk. Offering different kinds of services or establishing other sources of revenue sounds like a good idea, but it’s harder than you think!

How do you figure out which income streams to pursue? How do you balance it or find options that can complement each other?

That’s what Phil Pallen is here to help us with.

As a brand strategist, Phil has advised hundreds of brands from over 30 countries, including a Shark on Shark Tank, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, politicians, and some of the most important names in entertainment. His non-conventional approach to digital marketing and talent for social media has built him a global audience, and he frequently appears as an expert contributor in media outlets around the world, including CNN, Access Hollywood, and The Daily Mail.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Phil Pallen about:

⭐ Why income diversification is critical today

⭐ What income streams worked for him, and which ones didn’t

⭐ How to approach new revenue streams for your agency

Learn more about Phil Pallen

Connect with Phil Pallen on Instagram
Connect with Phil Pallen on Twitter

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

PhilPallen.co
Phil’s upcoming book: http://philp.al/ai-sm
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
J29 Creative
Uscreen
Adobe Express
Brand24
Google Alerts
Sessions (An alternative to Zoom)
ChatGPT
AnyWord
Adobe Firefly
Adobe Stock
Gary Vee
Daymond John

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/how-agencies-can-diversify-income-and-avoid-cash-flow-issues

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Finding the Seam: How Agencies Can Thrive and Not Just Survive AI's Coming Wave

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 15:09:00 +0000

AI is sweeping the world, interjecting generative questions and large language doubt into the future of our businesses and marketing agencies.

There’s no doubt that there’s opportunity: AI will contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. Yet at the same time, nearly 82% of digital marketers think content writers’ jobs are at risk because of AI.

How should we use AI? How should we talk about it with clients? How different will our agencies look in the years to come?

That’s what Christopher Carr is here to help us with.

Chris launched his agency in his spare time in 2001 and quickly grew it into a comprehensive digital marketing agency that now specializes in helping clients in the Healthcare, Orthopedics, Manufacturing, SaaS, and Cyber security fields see explosive growth through a proven marketing system. With roughly 50 team members, Farotech has also formed strategic partnerships with Hubspot, Wistia, and Google, while Chris has embraced Artificial Intelligence. He has a Certification in Applied Generative AI from MIT and speaks to companies nationwide through a presentation called AI Today: The State of AI, Where it is at, Where it is going, and How Your Business Can Be Prepared.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Chris about:

⭐ The Challenge of AI for Agencies, and

⭐ The Opportunity of AI for Agencies

⭐ The Impact of AI on Social Media

Learn more about Christopher Carr

Connect with Christopher Carr on LinkedIn
Connect with Christopher Carr on Twitter

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Farotech
AI Statistics
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/how-agencies-can-survive-ai

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Spend Less Time Yet Make More Money Leading Your Agency

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 15:52:00 +0000

When was the last time you took a vacation?

If you’re trying to recall what year that was, there’s a problem. Too many agency owners today are so embroiled in the day-to-day operations of their business that they can’t take time off, can’t focus on providing the necessary direction for the business, and aren’t even paying themselves what they deserve.

How do we make changes to ourselves and to our agencies to solve this?

That’s what Karl Sakas is here to help us with.

Karl helps digital agency owners ‘Work Less’ and ‘Earn More’... while rewarding their best employees. Drawing on his background in agency operations, Karl has personally advised hundreds of agencies on every inhabited continent. An international speaker, he is the author of three books—including "Work Less, Earn More"—and more than 400 articles on agency management.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Karl Sakas about:

⭐ The challenge marketing agency owners face when trying to grow & scale their business

⭐ What steps agency owners should take to Work Less, Earn More

⭐ How leaders can position themselves effectively within the agency

Learn more about Karl Sakas

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo
Sakas & Company
Book: Work Less, Earn More: How to Escape the Daily Grind of Agency Ownership
Article: Before you restructure your agency, consider the major options
Article: Why delegation is so hard (and what to do about it)
Article: Are you and your team ready for delegation?
Article: How to delegate client-facing work
Article: Improve team communications via the 3A’s
Article: How to lay the groundwork for “promotion from within”
Article: What if you realize you have a “reluctant employee”?
Training: Manager Tools - Effective Manager Conference
Training: LifeLabs Learning
Training: Grinnell Leadership - Leadership JumpStart

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/social-pulse-podcast-agency-karl-sakas

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What Does A Modern Agency Look Like Now

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 9 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gone are the days of Mad Men advertising agencies - and the attitudes that went along with them. Today, marketing agencies have and continue to evolve in how they’re structured, how they operate, and how they communicate.

Brands are looking for disrupters, anti-agencies, bold thinkers with new ways of conducting business and providing value.

What are these new approaches? And if we’re leading a more traditional agency, how and what should we be considering changing?

That’s what Troy Sandidge is here to help us with.

He is the Strategy Hacker®, a renowned growth marketing strategist, global speaker, award-winning podcaster, and author. With a career spanning over 15 years, he has developed a reputation for creating sustainable, scalable, and profitable strategies that drive significant business growth generating over $175 million in client revenue and successfully launching over 35 brands worldwide. Troy's expertise in integrating psychology, sociology, and behavior science with demand generation, go-to-market initiatives, and brand development has resulted in transformative growth pathways for a wide range of brands.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Troy Sandidge about:

⭐ How the agency landscape has changed and why old models are outdated

⭐ What areas agency owners need to invest more time and attention

⭐ Why bringing DEIBA to the fore is essential, and how to approach that

Learn more about Troy Sandidge

Connect with Troy Sandidge on LinkedIn
Connect with Troy Sandidge on Twitter

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Season Three Media
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/social-pulse-podcast-ep-5/

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Overcoming Impostor Syndrome and Knowing Your Own Value as an Agency Owner

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 2 Apr 2024 11:30:00 +0000

It’s not uncommon for business owners to routinely have to grapple with their demons… challenges like impostor syndrome which sit between us and our better angels.

That’s never more true than with people like influencers and marketing agency owners who live and work in circles where their colleagues and counterparts are highly visible.

How do we truly know our own worth, both as a person and as an agency? How do we deal with impostor syndrome in an industry filled with larger than life personalities to compete with?

That’s what George B. Thomas is here to help us with.

George helps companies streamline and grow by using the right HubSpot CRM, marketing, sales, service, operations, and CMS tools. He is a vault of valuable information, tactics, and strategies with a record-breaking thirty-five plus HubSpot Academy certifications. George's true passion is being a catalyst for growth and helping others be inspired, educated, and willing to work hard to achieve unlimited success!

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked George B. Thomas about:

⭐ The struggle agency owners face with imposter syndrome

⭐ How important it is to identify our own potential and value

⭐ Why this is a challenge for agency owners, and how to overcome it

Learn more about George B. Thomas

Connect with George B. Thomas on LinkedIn
Connect with George B. Thomas on Twitter

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Sidekick Strategies
HubSpot
Beyond Your Default Podcast
Marcus Sheridan, Pat Flynn, Brooke Sellas
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/social-pulse-podcast-ep-4/

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How To Build An Agency That Lasts

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 2 Apr 2024 11:20:00 +0000

As a marketing agency owner, I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know when I say that growing and scaling an agency is hard.

Honestly, it’s harder than you think for many. The top three cited challenges reported by agency owners were, number one, acquiring new customers, followed by time constraints and cash flow. And as any business in any industry will tell you, if you’re struggling to bring in new clients and keep a positive cash flow, you simply cannot grow and scale your business.

Which is why finding agencies that have been around for over a decade is both a surprise and an opportunity. How did they manage to grow and achieve such longevity? How are they approaching marketing and agency management differently?

That’s what Brooke Sellas is here to help us with.

Brooke is not only shaping the future of digital marketing one conversation at a time but has also earned her stripes as an award-winning industry leader, recognized Braze as a Top 100 CMA Influencer & Strategist in 2024. As CEO of B Squared Media, an agency over twelve years old, Brooke has crafted an approach that stands out, pioneering 'social care' solutions for heavyweights like Brother International, Endless Pools, and BCU. She’s one of my oldest and dearest friends in the marketing community, and hosts an agency podcast of her own for Social Media Examiner.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton talked to Brooke Sellas about:

⭐ Why her agency has grown and thrived for over a decade

⭐ What her early challenges were and how she overcame them

⭐ How other agencies can adopt these approaches and win

Learn more about Brooke Sellas

Connect with Brooke Sellas on LinkedIn
Connect with Brooke Sellas on Twitter

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

B Squared Media
Marketing Agency Show
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/social-pulse-podcast-episode-3/

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How Do You Grow Your Network When You’re One Of 45,000 Marketing Agencies?

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 2 Apr 2024 11:10:00 +0000

There are over 45,000 digital marketing agencies in the world, not counting all of the solopreneurs who work as agencies but aren’t officially registered as such.

Developing services, hiring staff, and differentiating ourselves in our sales & marketing to prospects are all challenges. Along the same lines, it can be incredibly difficult to build and grow our networks. Particularly when we’re building agencies within competitive ecosystems such as HubSpot or Salesforce,

How has the agency Aptitude 8 tackled this challenge?

That’s what Christopher Barnett is here to talk to us about.

Christopher is the Vice President of Revenue at Aptitude 8 and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role, driving growth and maximizing profitability for his organization. He’s a passionate advocate for the HubSpot community, and is deeply committed to giving back to his own community and making a positive impact on the world around him. As an exited founder, he has firsthand experience navigating the complexities of startups and scaling businesses, allowing him to provide invaluable insights and leadership to his team.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Christopher Barnett about:

⭐ Why building a network can be so challenging

⭐ How to build genuine relationships

⭐ Why taking a multi-channel approach is critical

Learn more about Christopher Barnett

Connect with Christopher Barnett on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Aptitude 8
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/social-pulse-weekly-episode-2/

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Challenge of Becoming an Insider CEO of a Marketing Agency

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Tue, 2 Apr 2024 11:00:00 +0000

A statistic shared by Harvard Business Review suggested that within three years, only 50% of venture founders would still be leading their companies as CEO. And as the years go by, more and more founders transition to other roles and projects, leaving vacancies that must be filled.

But stepping into the shoes of the company founder is a daunting task, to say the least. And while you’d think tapping an insider CEO - someone who potentially has been trained and groomed for years to take over, would be smooth sailing. In fact, their challenges are often of the same scope, if slightly different, than someone coming in from outside.

What are some of those challenges, and what should agencies and executives preparing to transition be mindful of?

That’s what Megan Bowen is here to help us with.

Megan Bowen has spent 20 years working in B2B tech startups leading customer success, account management, sales, marketing and operations teams. Currently Megan is the CEO at Refine Labs, a Digital Marketing and Demand Generation Agency, after having worked there for years as the COO.

Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Megan Bowen about:

⭐ What it was like to become the CEO of an existing agency

⭐ Why such transitions can be challenging in any agency

⭐ How she overcame those challenges to become a successful agency CEO

Learn more about Megan Bowen

Connect with Megan Bowen on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Refine Labs
Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/social-pulse-weekly-agency-ep-1/

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Introducing Social Pulse Podcast: Agency Edition

mike.allton@agorapulse.com (Mike Allton) — Mon, 1 Apr 2024 20:38:00 +0000

Social Pulse Podcast: Agency Edition is your go-to guide to solving your biggest marketing agency challenges - authentically.

Join award-winning marketer Mike Allton as he peels back the curtain with marketing agency owners just like you, unveils the issues they've been struggling with the most, and explores how they've overcome those challenges. Each episode is an honest and frank look at what agencies go through - from churning clients to tackling tech - and ideas that you can apply to your own business.

Whether you're five months or five years in, Social Pulse Podcast: Agency Edition will help you expand your knowledge, address your challenges, and scale your agency in the years to come.

Ready to scale up? Then it's time to sign up. Subscribe today.

Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution trusted by over 3,000 agencies. Learn more at www.Agorapulse.com.

Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.