Most agency owners say their business grows through referrals. But when you ask what their referral system looks like things go quiet. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Referrals feel earned, but if they’re happening by chance, you’re leaving your growth to luck. In this episode of Small But Mighty Agency, we’re talking about how to stop waiting for referrals to “just happen” and start designing them through something I call your Strategic Partnership Squad. Here’s what w...

If trust still feels like an abstract concept in your business — something you earn, but not something you’ve designed — this episode is for you. We’re breaking down five specific ways smart agencies are turning trust into a system they can scale, not just a sentiment they hope for. When I look at the agencies that are landing clients faster, keeping them longer, and growing with more ease, they all have one thing in common: They’ve transformed trust from a soft skill into a structural advant...

Raising prices when the market feels shaky? It sounds risky, right? I’ve been there. A few years ago, I was staring down one of the toughest decisions in our agency. Costs were rising. Salaries were climbing. And the market felt anything but stable. The easy move would have been to freeze prices and hope things worked out. But that would have put the entire business at risk. So we raised prices. And clients said yes. Not because it was comfortable, but because we leaned on a few key levers th...

If you’ve ever tried to build systems in your agency, this episode is going to blow your mind in the best way. Because what if the real problem isn’t the tools you’re using or the fact that you “just need to make time” for it? What if the reason systems don’t stick... is because you’re the wrong person to be building them? This week, I’m joined by David Jenyns, entrepreneur, author of Systemology and his brand new book Systems Champion. We dig into the uncomfortable truth about why systems fa...

From one-off brand shoots to a seven-figure agency on a subscription model, here’s how it happened. What if brand shoots weren’t just one-off projects, but the foundation of a scalable business model? In this episode, you’ll hear how one agency transformed brand shoots into a subscription-based system and built a seven-figure agency along the way. By creating a model where clients receive fresh, strategic visuals quarter after quarter, anywhere in the world, they’ve proven that creativity and...

If you’re tired of feeling like growth only happens through more visibility, more cold outreach, and chasing leads, this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air. I sat down with Dan Englander, founder of Sales Schema and author of Relationship Sales at Scale, to talk about how agency owners can grow through collaborative, trust-based relationships instead of transactional tactics. Both of us work in the agency space and believe that trust drives sustainable growth, but we approach it fro...

If you’re stuck between “too busy to stay small” and “not structured enough to scale,” this episode is built for you. Everyone talks about growing to seven figures but no one warns you about what happens in the messy middle between solo and sustainable. In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency podcast, I sit down with Carly Moir, Founder and CEO of White Canvas Design, to unpack what the messy middle of agency growth really looks like — and what it takes to move through it with intentio...

Specializing is scary. But focusing on one high-growth niche can take your agency to multiple seven figures without working harder. If committing to one niche feels risky, Erica’s story will show you what’s possible on the other side. This week, I’m joined by Erica Hakonson, CEO of Maven Collective Marketing, an agency that went all in on one niche: Microsoft Partners. And here’s the wild thing… Once they declared that focus, clients didn’t hesitate, they started saying: “How have we no...

A lot of agency owners want deeper community but quietly assume it doesn’t really exist. They’ve been in rooms where everyone’s guarded. Where conversations stay surface-level. Where “collaboration” is just a buzzword. That quiet belief—“it would be nice, but that kind of network probably isn’t out there”—can keep you stuck, going it alone. But I’ve seen what happens when the right people show up. And that’s exactly what this episode explores. In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency po...

You probably don’t need more leads. That might sound counterintuitive, especially when every sales post says the opposite. But what looks like a lead problem is usually something else: → A relationship problem → A misaligned positioning problem → A missing structure for managing trust You’ve got people in your orbit—clients, collaborators, past leads, curious followers. But if you’re not engaging those relationships intentionally? Your growth stays inconsistent. Your p...

Too many agency owners are building alone. But small doesn’t mean solo and solo isn’t sustainable. Small but mighty agencies weren’t built to go it alone. Yet so many agency owners are trying to do everything themselves: holding the vision, leading the team, delivering the work, and pushing for growth in a vacuum. That’s what “going solo” really looks like—juggling it all without strategic support, trusted peers, or collaborative momentum. And while it might feel efficient, it’s actually the ...

Being full-service almost broke her. Specializing gave her agency new life. For over 16 years, Arleigh Vasconcellos said yes. Yes to growth. Yes to more services. Yes to building a full-service agency that could handle it all. She grew her team, expanded her client base, and became known for delivering results across everything from PR to websites to events. But behind the scenes, she was on a treadmill she couldn’t get off. Burnout crept in. Boundaries blurred. And the joy that once fueled h...

Curious about adding a course to your agency model—but not sure if it’s worth it? As agency owners, we’re always looking for smarter ways to scale. Products. Templates. Digital assets. The idea is simple: take what you know, turn it into something scalable, and earn while you sleep. But here’s the nuance we don’t talk about enough: Courses don’t remove complexity. They shift it—from service delivery to audience building, funnel building, and volume marketing. That’s what I explored with Kwadw...

If you’ve ever wondered whether building your personal brand is worth the time or struggled to show up online in a way that feels real and strategic—this episode is for you. In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency, I sit down with Lauren Shirreffs, founder of Two Social and social media strategist to 250+ brands, to help you rethink how you show up online. Lauren’s personal brand has become a magnet for opportunities, and today, she’s sharing how you can build one that attracts r...

If you’re stuck in execution mode—constantly delivering but not getting paid for the strategic value you bring —it might be time to rethink how your agency is positioned. In this episode of Small But Mighty Agency, I’m joined by Sara Nay, CEO of Duct Tape Marketing, to talk about how agencies can shift from being seen as vendors to being valued as strategic partners who lead the marketing—not just execute it. We dig into what it really looks like to lead with strategy, how to price and packag...

Let’s talk about referrals—not as a bonus, but as a strategy. If you’ve been growing your agency through great work and word of mouth, but you’re starting to realize that waiting for referrals isn’t the same as designing for them… this episode is for you. Because the most successful Small But Mighty agencies don’t leave referrals to chance. They build referral-ready relationships and strategic partnerships—on purpose. Today, I’m breaking down what trust really looks like in action—and how cer...

When I helped sell and exit a niche agency in the orthodontic space, one thing became crystal clear: we didn’t grow by chasing everything. We grew by staying focused, building trust, and saying no to the wrong opportunities — even when it felt risky. It wasn’t loud, but it was strategic, and it worked. And that approach? It’s not just relevant — it’s exactly what works in today’s skeptical market. Clients are more cautious. Referral partners are more selective. And hustle-heavy growth tactics...

Presenting with confidence and clarity isn’t just about public speaking—it’s about winning more business. Whether you’re pitching to a potential client or leading a workshop, your ability to deliver a compelling presentation can make or break the deal. In this episode, Laurie-Ann Murabito, an award-winning professional speaker, shares how agencies can craft client presentations that captivate, establish authority, and drive results. She breaks down a simple yet powerful presentation fra...

If you've ever caught yourself thinking, “My team should just know what to do” or “Why can’t my team read my mind?”—this episode is for you. The truth is, unspoken expectations lead to missed deadlines, miscommunication, and frustration on all sides. But there’s a better way to make your expectations so crystal clear that your team knows exactly what needs to be done—without the guesswork? Today, I’m joined by Kendra Johnson, leadership development specialist and founder of The Venned Group t...

Transitioning from a creative doer to an agency owner is exciting—but it can also be overwhelming. Many creatives struggle with letting go of control, building a team, and shifting from doing the work to leading the business. If you feel stretched thin trying to manage everything, this episode is for you. Today, I’m joined by Kait Day, Founder of Nowadays Studio, who shares her journey from being a burned-out freelancer to leading a thriving five-person agency. She opens up about ...