Technology Is Changing Faster Than Agencies Can Keep Up | Episode 205

Technology Is Changing Faster Than Agencies Can Keep Up | Episode 205

[Cold open [Jake’s $700 Caviar Mistake] ends at 13:45.] Technology is moving fast, but that doesn’t mean agency owners need to chase every new tool that shows up in their feed. In this episode, we talk about the pressure agencies feel to keep up with AI, automation, new ad platforms, and all the other tools everyone is suddenly yelling about. Some of it matters. A lot of it is just noise. The real question is not “what tool should we sell next?” It’s “what problem are we actually trying to solve?” We get into why chasing tools before defining the problem wastes time, creates bad offers, and makes agencies look more like hobbyists than operators. We also talk about where technology has actually helped us inside Evergrow, from call tracking to lead aggregation to niche ad platforms. The point is not to ignore new technology. The point is to use it when it helps clients get more leads, handle those leads better, and make smarter growth decisions. ----- RESOURCES: Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here: https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools ----- NEWSLETTER Want the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter! https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter ----- COMMUNITY Looking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD ----- CONTACT Got something to say? Send us a message: https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

Should Agencies Show Clients Everything? | Episode 204

[Cold open [A listener feeds Cody’s Panda Express addiction] ends at 9:02.] Giving clients total transparency into their leads sounds like a good idea until they start seeing the garbage that comes with the gold. When you open the black box of lead generation, clients often fixate on the junk instead of the lower lead costs. Moving up the funnel with services like LSAs naturally increases the volume of "trash" leads your agency has to manage. If a client isn't prepared for that reality, they will panic over a drop in impressions even when ROI is climbing. We’ve realized our job is to provide results, which often means acting as a barrier between the client and the noise. We are now using voice and text AI to filter out non-serious leads before they ever land on a client's desk. Protecting your client's time this way prevents them from fixating on the "garbage" that naturally comes with scaling. Transparency without education is just a recipe for client anxiety. You have to decide if you want to be a raw data provider or a partner who protects the client’s time. It’s unsexy work, but it’s the only way to scale your agency without losing your mind. ----- RESOURCES: Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here: https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools ----- NEWSLETTER Want the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter! https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter ----- COMMUNITY Looking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD ----- CONTACT Got something to say? Send us a message: https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

How to Get Clients with TikTok (ft. Cesar Gil w/ Symphony Advertising)

Cesar is back on the podcast this week to break down the unsexy reality of acquiring clients for his agency through organic social media. His current lead flow relies heavily on TikTok and high-intent searches from ChatGPT. Building this pipeline wasn't a quick win, as he spent around three years posting content before landing his first real lead. Instead of overproducing videos, he notes daily agency observations in Asana and films his thoughts directly on his phone. We also talk about dealing with negative comments and why defending your operational decisions online actually builds credibility with prospective clients. His content strategy eventually generated so much demand that he raised his baseline pricing to $1,250 just to intentionally slow down the volume. It is a solid reminder for the club that the most effective marketing strategies simply require patience and consistent execution. ----- MENTIONS IN THE EPISODE: Follow Cesar: Tiktok: @cesargil LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itscesargil/ Symphony Advertising: https://www.symphonyadvertising.com/ ----- RESOURCES: Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here: https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools ----- NEWSLETTER Want the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter! https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter ----- COMMUNITY Looking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD ----- CONTACT Got something to say? Send us a message: https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

How to Get Clients Using ABM (ft. AJ Doppke w/ Marketing Qubed) | Episode 202

[Cold open (People don't own fly swatters anymore) ends at 12:31.] This week, AJ Doppke joins us to talk about the unsexy reality of scaling an agency and why growing too fast can break your operations. AJ grew his gross profit by 70% in a single year. He openly admits it was a terrible experience. His operations struggled to keep pace with sales, forcing his small team to work uncomfortable overtime. Now, his agency focuses on forecasting revenue and building capacity before chasing new business. We dig into his strategy for acquiring these right-fit clients using account-based marketing. Instead of blasting automated cold emails, AJ curates a strict list of 100 ideal targets. He uses Gemini Pro to build the initial list. Then, he does the boring work of verifying contacts and building real relationships. This requires patience, but it builds a stable business for agency owners instead of a quick cash machine. ----- AJ Doppke with Marketing Qubed https://marketingqubed.com/ ----- RESOURCES: Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here: https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools ----- NEWSLETTER Want the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter! https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter ----- COMMUNITY Looking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD ----- CONTACT Got something to say? Send us a message: https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

How to Get Referral Clients on Autopilot (ft. Josh Kimmes w/ Bear North Digital) | Episode 201

Josh Kimmes is back on the podcast to talk about the boring, unsexy work of getting inbound leads without relying on an exhausting outbound sales machine. We break down exactly how his agency gets a steady flow of qualified prospects through highly specific industry service pages. Josh also walks us through his automated referral engine that triggers physical gifts and account credits when clients sign on. It is not about magic tricks, but building out systems that actually reward your clients for a job well done. Later in the episode, we get into the weeds on agency operations and the tech stack running behind the scenes. We discuss his onboarding flow that resets billing dates to buy time for delivery, and the reality of using AI and automation tools without falling for the hype. Building a legitimate operation takes time and heavy documentation. There are no shortcuts here, just agency owners sharing what works in the trenches. Give it a listen and see how you can apply these systems to your own agency.