If you’re invisible online, you’re losing clients before they even know you exist. In today’s competitive market, your digital presence is your storefront. In this episode, Agency Consultant & Executive Coach Karl Sakas of Sakas & Company explains why being invisible online is costing you clients and what you can do to fix it. He shares practical strategies on leadership, delegation, and long-term planning that help you attract more clients and strengthen your agency. Key takeaw...

You don’t need more hands—you need better tools. For service-based small business owners, AI can lift the burden of repetitive tasks, helping your team do more of what moves the needle In this episode of The Creative Agency Success Show, we sit down with Ed Krystosik, Co-Founder of RAC Projects AI, to unpack the real-world strategies for integrating AI into small businesses. From streamlining workflows to navigating compliance risks, Ed shares how AI can support your people, sharpen yo...

Creative Agency Success Show (Episode 144): “A maturity model isn't a report card, it's about understanding where your decision-making capabilities are.” - Jamie Nau In this episode of The Creative Agency Success Show, Jamie Nau and Jody Grunden pull back the curtain on how small business owners can move from just getting by to truly thriving. They’ve spent the last eight months crafting a maturity model designed to help you assess where your business stands in five key areas: cash manageme...

Episode Title: Mastering the Art of Agency Growth: Lessons from Brad Ferris Episode Summary: In this episode of "The Creative Agency Success Show," hosts engage with Brad Farris from Anchor Advisors, a seasoned expert with over 20 years in the marketing and creative agency space. The discussion centers on scaling agency businesses, highlighting the importance of strategic hiring, financial planning, and maintaining cash reserves. Brad shares insights on the differences between consulting and ...

Episode Title: 2024 Year in Review Episode Notes: In our year end wrap up: Jody, Brett, Tom, Hannah, and Jamie share favorite moments from the show, podcasting resolutions and holiday gift wishes. the hosts reflect on personal anecdotes and provide their aspirations for the upcoming year. They also introduce a new behind-the-scenes team member. "It’s super common for us to go into a conference and have someone say, "Hey, I love that podcast you’re on." It’s really cool, and we really enjoy it...

Episode Title: Riding the Entrepreneurial Rollercoaster: Insights from Tom Conlon Episode Summary: In this episode, the hosts engage with Tom Conlon, founder of North Street Creative, to discuss his entrepreneurial journey and the cyclical nature of business. Tom shares insights on the challenges of running a creative agency, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and timely decision-making. He recounts the impact of economic cycles on business operations and the significance of maintaini...

“The good thing about retargeting is that most of the sales don't actually come from people clicking on the ad. They come from people seeing the ad and then either Googling the company or typing in the URL in the browser.” – Zaid Ammari The finer details of this episode: Marketing strategies focused on paid advertising and retargeting.The significance of understanding data analytics in marketing.Explanation of retargeting and its psychological impact on consumers.Common mistakes b...

“We try to help the sellers understand what the buyer's long-term vision is, what changes they expect to make, and over what period of time, because all of these things have implications on the business but also on emotions.” – Jonathan Baker The finer details of this episode: Overview of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the creative agency sector.Importance of preparation for agency owners considering M&A.Insights on valuation factors influencing agency sales.Discussion on th...

“It's never too early to start planning because you never know when that end is going to be. Operate with optimism. There's a lot of activity that's really unprecedented in the industry right now, and I think for the years ahead, it's going to be very good for agency owners who build really solid, predictable, nice operating practices.” – Phil Daniels The finer details of this episode: Overview of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the agency sector.Insights on exit readiness ...

In this special episode of The Creative Agency Success Show, four speakers with Halloween-themed personas—Jamie Nightmare, Hannah Hexed Hood, Adam Haunted Hale, and Joey Killing Kenny—engage in a lively draft-style discussion about their favorite Halloween movies. Jamie, the enthusiastic host, sets the stage and outlines the draft rules. Hannah humorously admits her limited horror movie experience, while Adam and Joey share their deep knowledge and personal anecdotes. The conversation is fill...

”When I think about sales, it's really nurturing relationships and manufacturing opportunities. That is your job all day, every day.” - Adam Kurzawa The finer details of this episode: Insights on business development strategies for creative agencies.Emphasis on nurturing existing client relationships for agency growth.Discussion on effective outreach efforts and relationship-building in sales.Importance of hiring for business development roles, focusing on soft skills and industry knowledge....

“Having a strong forecasting process really should make it easier to eliminate things—like knowing if the seventh project is really one of the top seven things we need to do to hit our goals.” – Tom Wadelton “When you build a budget, you're creating a plan for the next year, and then things happen. No one really expects a pandemic to happen, but things do happen. The question is, how do you adjust?” – Jamie Nau The finer details of this episode: Importance of dynamic forecasting...

Importance of podcasting for business ownersEnhancing visibility and credibility through podcast appearancesNetworking opportunities provided by podcastingRole of podcast guest booking agencies in facilitating appearancesContent repurposing strategies for maximizing podcast impactOvercoming imposter syndrome in podcastingEngaging team members in podcasting for brand representationProcess of working with a podcast guest booking agencyPersonal anecdotes and experiences related to travel and con...

“If you sit down and really make sure that your profile resonates and is truly you, it feels good, and you smile. Ultimately, you become a person who doesn't have to look for a job. Jobs find you. You become a person whose phone rings because there are opportunities, because people know you, remember you, have worked with you, and they want to work with you again.” —Donna Serdula The finer details of this episode: Importance of personal branding on LinkedInShift in perception of the pl...

"Alignment is going in the same direction, fighting for the same things, and looking at the same big picture together.” – Rachel Gertz The finer details of this episode: ● Importance of project management and operations in digital agencies and creative studios ● Challenges in project management and the need for alignment between sales and project management ● Solutions to improve commun...

“Standing out is great, but conversion is crucial.” – Jason Swenk It’s hard to build a business if you don’t invest in systems.” – Jason Swenk The finer details of this episode: Analysis and insights on building a strong email listSales cycle and close percentageUnique marketing strategiesImportance of systems in building a successful businessConcept of "land and expand"Effectiveness of email marketing campaignsProviding quick financial statements with industry comparisonImportan...

“As you're building your business, you're building your agency, you're going to realize that there's some prospects that are just not right. You have to go through that Vegas buffet and get sick and food poisoning because you overate and you ate a lot of the bad shit and you tell yourself, ‘I'm not going to eat those raw craw legs anymore.’” -Jason Swenk The finer details of this episode: Jason Swenk's journey from agency owner to consultant and mastermind leaderImportance of knowing t...

“After almost 20 years of doing that nonstop, I started to lose myself a little bit. I started to wonder, is this what I want to do for the next chapter of my life? Is there something else out there for me? When I looked around in corporate America, what I realized and what I saw was that there were a lot of people like me. I really wanted to get off autopilot. I felt like nobody in my life was getting the best part of me.” – Traci Barrett The finer details of this episode:...

Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletterDigital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success, is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc Timestamps: The podcasting journey (00:00:14) Jamie recounts the evolution of the podcast, from its humble beginnings to its c...

“Shifting from advocacy to inquiry is really important, and I think most leaders today are probably advocacy heavy because it's the model that we see most.” – J. Scott The finer details of this episode: Importance of leading the way in marketing and working with clientsTransforming high-potential individuals into high-functioning teamsRationalizing tasks and initiatives to align with customer satisfaction, team member satisfaction, and profitabilityChange management and involving stake...