Small But Mighty Agency: Win clients and build better networks for marketing and consulting agencies
If you want to grow an agency to seven figures and beyond without working more hours in your business, tune in. I know your time is valuable, so I keep it practical and help you work smarter, not harder, in every episode. I'm your host, Audrey Joy Kwan. I know what it takes to build an agency—including supporting an agency owner in selling and exiting, and consulting for 200-person agencies—because I've done it. My team and I have coached and consulted with over 150 agency owners and have been behind the scenes of multiple seven-figure agencies. All this to say, joi...
S1 E126 · Wed, April 30, 2025
The Smartest Move for Agency Owners Right Now Isn’t Services—It’s Strategy
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 package that value, and how to start getting paid for the thinking you’re already doing. Here’s what you’ll take away from the conversation: Why strategy is your agency’s biggest growth lever How to position strategic services so clients understand (and pay for) the value The signs it’s time to add Fractional CMO services to your model What to do if you're worried about falling into another time-for-money trap How to structure your team to scale strategy without burning out This conversation will help you build a business model rooted in long-term relationships, recurring revenue, and sustainable growth—all while keeping your execution services in play. Resources & Links: Explore Duct Tape Marketing: ducttapemarketing.com Connect with Sara Nay: Sara Nay on LinkedIn Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep126 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E125 · Wed, April 16, 2025
What Makes Small Agencies Easy to Refer (and Hard to Forget)
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 certain behaviors, often overlooked, are what turn casual connections into consistent opportunities. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why referrals are a strategy—not something to leave to luck The 8 real-world habits of referral-ready agency owners How clarity in your niche makes you more referable What real trust looks like in referral-ready relationships How strategic partnerships can grow your agency without cold outreach It’s not just a mindset—it’s a method. These habits make you easy to refer, easy to collaborate with, and easy to trust. And I’ll share real examples from inside Agency Together where agency owners are doing exactly this—building a system for generosity, connection, and strategic growth. Resources & Links: Agency Together – The referral-ready membership community for Small But Mighty agency owners, learn more here. Strategic Partnership Mixer – Join us at the next free Agency Together Strategic Partnership Mixer, RSVP here. Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. ANd I’ll See you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep125 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E124 · Wed, April 02, 2025
How Small Agencies Grow Without the Grind
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? They’re falling flat. What I’m seeing across the agencies I work with — and inside Agency Together — is a shift: 🚫 Less “do more.” ✅ More “do what matters” In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast , I’m breaking down five growth habits that help small agencies scale without the grind while still building serious momentum. Here’s what I cover: How saying no creates space for stronger positioning The most underused (and most profitable) part of your growth strategy Why your so-called “competitors” might be your best growth partners Content alone isn’t cutting it — here’s what to build instead The power of staying small, agile, and wildly efficient If staying relevant without selling your soul is your priority, this episode is for you Resources & Links: Get the Trust Equity Scorecard – My free tool to help you measure how well your agency is building trust at scale — and where to focus next to grow through retainment, referrals, partnerships, and positioning. Connect with me on LinkedIn Don’t forget the free Agency Together Newsletter and access our free mini-course on building Trust Equity to help you be a thought leader agency. Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. ANd I’ll See you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep124 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E123 · Wed, March 19, 2025
How to Stop Losing Clients to Bad Presentations
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 framework, highlights common pitfalls to avoid, and reveals how storytelling can transform your sales approach. Tune in to discover how to: ✔ Structure your presentations for maximum impact ✔ Avoid common mistakes that undermine your message ✔ Establish authority early so clients listen and trust you ✔ Keep your audience engaged (and not overwhelmed) ✔ Use storytelling to handle objections and convert prospects ✔ Build confidence in public speaking—even if you’re shy This episode is packed with actionable insights—perfect for agency owners looking to refine their presentation skills and close more deals with confidence! Get Laurie-Ann’s Free Guide: speakandstandout.com/guide Listen to Laurie-Ann’s Podcast: Be In Demand Podcast Resources & Links: Find me on LinkedIn Don’t forget the free Agency Together Newsletter and free mini-course today to grow your agency. Join hundreds of agency owners receiving insights about growing and leading a small but mighty agency. As a bonus, get our free mini-course on building a Trust Equity Ecosystem, so you're not chasing clients and commanding premium rates. Get the free newsletter and bonus free mini-course today. Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep123 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E122 · Wed, March 05, 2025
Stop Thinking Your Team Should Just Know—Set These Clear Expectations Instead
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 to noodle on one of my favourite topics, communication and leadership. We’re going to break down why unclear expectations hold teams back—and how to fix it. In this episode, we’re diving into: The biggest mistakes leaders make when setting expectations (and how to avoid them) How to create alignment so your team understands exactly what success looks like The difference between expectations and benchmarks—and why both matter Practical strategies to communicate expectations clearly and get your team fully bought in If you want to spend less time micromanaging and more time seeing your team thrive, you won’t want to miss this conversation. Let’s get into it! Connect with Kendra LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kendrajeanjohnson Website: vennedgroup.com Resources & Links: Find me on LinkedIn Don’t forget our free build your Trust Equity Ecosystem mini-course today to grow your agency. Join hundreds of agency owners receiving insights about growing and leading a small but mighty agency. As a bonus , get our free mini-course on building a Trust Equity Ecosystem, so you're not chasing clients and commanding premium rates. Get the free newsletter and bonus free mini-course today. Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep122 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E121 · Wed, February 19, 2025
From Creative Doer to Agency Owner—Without Burning Out
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 the challenges of hiring, delegating, and trusting her team—and how doing so has allowed her agency to grow without overworking herself. What you’ll learn in this episode: The real first step to transitioning from creative doer to agency leader The best way to decide what to delegate first and how to set up processes that make it easier. How perfectionism holds agency owners back—and how to shift your mindset to trust your team. Letting go of misaligned clients, improving team morale and making space to take on better-fit projects. The support system (and who’s in it) that’s helped her to lead better If you want to scale your agency without micromanaging, burnout, or bottlenecking your own growth, you won’t want to miss this conversation. Connect with Kait Day: Instagram: @nowadaystudios Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kait-day/ Resources & Links: Find me on LinkedIn Don’t forget the free Agency Together Newsletter and free mini-course today to grow your agency. Join hundreds of agency owners receiving insights about growing and leading a small but mighty agency. As a bonus , get our free mini-course on building a Trust Equity Ecosystem, so you're not chasing clients and commanding premium rates. Get the free newsletter and bonus free mini-course today. Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep121 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E120 · Wed, February 05, 2025
Are VIP Days the Best-Kept Secret for Your Agency?
If you’ve ever had a prospect say, “I want to work with you, but I’m not ready for a full retainer,” you might be leaving money on the table. VIP days offer a high-impact way to deliver results quickly—without the commitment of a long-term engagement. But are they the right fit for your agency? In this episode, I sit down with Melissa Mitchell, founder of Wandermint Creative, a YouTube marketing and video coaching agency. Melissa has mastered the VIP day model and shares how she integrated it into her agency to attract premium clients and increase revenue—without overcomplicating her business. She also reveals why she evolved her VIP days into VIP weeks and how it’s benefiting both her agency and her clients. Tune in to learn: What VIP days are and how they work in an agency setting The biggest benefits of adding VIP days to your service suite How VIP days fit into the client journey and support long-term revenue The unexpected challenges of offering VIP days—and how to overcome them Why Melissa transitioned from VIP days to VIP weeks for even greater results Key tips for pricing, structuring, and selling your VIP offer effectively If you’re looking for new ways to package your expertise, attract the right clients, and scale your agency without overcomplicating your operations, this episode is for you! Connect with Melissa Mitchell: Website: Wandermint Creative Instagram: @themelissamitchell YouTube: Wandermint Creative YouTube channel checklist freebie: https://wandermintcreative.com/youtubechecklist My new VIP Week offer: https://videogrowthplan.com/90-day-roadmap Resources & Links: Say hello on LinkedIn Don’t forget the free Agency Together Newsletter. Join hundreds of agency owners receiving insights about growing and leading a small – less than 50 people – mighty agency. Try the free newsletter . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep120 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E119 · Wed, January 22, 2025
Trust Equity: Why Less Experience is Winning at Higher Prices
Trust-equity over track record? It's happening. Here's why... Did you know that 70% of the decision about your agency is made before you even showcase your results? Last week, I spoke with an agency owner who lost a pitch to a competitor charging 20% more - despite having less experience and a smaller track record. His response? "They somehow seemed like the safer choice." In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, we unpack why great work alone isn't winning business anymore and what's really driving agency selection in today's market. Whether you've lost opportunities to less experienced agencies charging premium rates or you're the newer agency looking to command premium rates, you'll discover why trust equity matters more than your track record and years in business. This is a must-listen for any agency navigating today's shifted landscape. Key takeaways: What's really driving agency selection in 2025 and beyond How trust equity is becoming the great equalizer between established and newer agencies Why the traditional "prove your worth" approach is failing If you're tired of hearing, " Your work is fantastic, but…," this conversation is for you. Resources Mentioned: LinkedIn Guide: Build Your Go-To Agency: 4 High-Trust Systems for Market Leadership Connect: Say hello on LinkedIn Don’t forget the free Agency Together Newsletter. Join hundreds of agency owners receiving insights about growing and leading a small – less than 50 people – mighty agency. Try the free newsletter . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep119 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E118 · Wed, January 08, 2025
How to Leverage 9 Overlooked Partnerships to Accelerate Your Agency’s Growth
Are You Missing Out On 9 Hidden Types of Agency Partnerships? Most agency owners know about basic referral partnerships. But what if I told you there are NINE different types of strategic partnerships that could transform your agency's growth? (And I bet you're only using one of them.) In this special episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on partnership strategies that are quietly generating results for agencies. These aren't your typical "let's trade referrals" arrangements – they're growth engines that can accelerate your client acquisition. Warning: This episode might completely change how you think about growing your agency. You'll discover: The 9 partnership types most agencies don't even know exist Why traditional networking isn't enough anymore (and what to do instead) How to make your marketing and sales feel effortless through strategic partnerships The undercover partnership type that's transforming how agencies handle talent and scaling Plus, I'm sharing exactly how to implement each type of partnership, complete with real examples from agencies just like yours. If you want to put these strategies into action. Join us at the Strategic Partnership Mixer. RSVP at agencytogether.com/mixer-event . Stop leaving growth opportunities on the table. Let's transform your approach to partnerships! Resources Mentioned: Agency Together Community: agencytogether.com/ RSVP to the Strategic Partnership Mixer Event: agencytogether.com/mixer-event Connect With Audrey: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kwanaudrey/ Don’t forget the free Agency Together Newsletter. Join hundreds of agency owners receiving insights about growing and leading a small – less than 50 people – mighty agency. Try the free newsletter . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep118 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E117 · Wed, December 18, 2024
3 Opportunities Agency Owners Can’t Ignore in 2025
What trends will shape the agency landscape in 2025? As we head into 2025, it’s clear the agency world isn’t slowing down—it’s evolving faster than ever. In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast , I’m diving into three game-changing trends every agency owner needs to know to stay ahead and plan smart for the year ahead. Let’s be real: AI is everywhere right now, and unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably noticed its rapid rise. But here’s the thing—it’s not just about AI as a tool. The bigger story is how AI is reshaping human connections and changing how you market and build relationships. We’ll also look at two other key trends shaping 2025: how the misinformation economy is shaking up trust in the market and what the rise of fractional providers means for how agencies operate and innovate. Join me as I break down the opportunities: How AI impacts the growing demand for human connection in marketing What you need to navigate the misinformation economy with confidence The rise of fractional providers and how it’s changing the game for agencies Grab your coffee or tea, and let’s tackle these trends together. Resources Mentioned Episode 116: Are You Hesitant to Niche? Let’s Talk About Why (and How to Overcome It) Agency Together Strategic Partnership Mixer Join the Conversation Are you ready to navigate these trends? Join us at the next Agency Together Strategic Partnership Mixer . This is your chance to connect with like-minded agency owners, collaborate, and build referral-ready relationships that can transform your business in 2025. 🎟️ Register now at agencytogether.com/mixer-event If this episode resonated with you, share it with another agency owner navigating these shifts. Let’s tackle 2025 together and make it a year of meaningful growth and success! Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep11 7 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E116 · Wed, December 04, 2024
Are You Hesitant to Niche? Let’s Talk About Why (and How to Overcome It)
Why are agency owners so hesitant to niche even when niching is hailed as the secret to agency success? Let’s be real—deciding to niche can feel daunting. Fear of losing clients, choosing the wrong niche, or limiting your creativity might be holding you back. In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency podcast, I’m breaking down the top reasons agency owners resist niching (as shared by a network of agency owner friends, colleagues and clients) and how to overcome those fears to build a thriving, sustainable business. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why staying broad might feel safe but often holds your agency back The most common objections agency owners have about niching—and how to reframe them into opportunities for growth Real-life examples of how niching can amplify your opportunities, attract higher-value clients, and build long-term success Tips for starting small, testing your niche, and transitioning existing clients without disrupting your business Whether you’re already exploring a niche, niche-curious, or hesitant to take the plunge, this episode will give you the clarity, focus, and actionable tips you need to move forward confidently. Show Links Join the Agency Together Strategic Partnership Mixer to connect with other niche-curious agency owners and grow together. Subscribe to the Agency Together Newsletter for insights on building referral-ready networks and driving growth through collaboration. Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep116 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E115 · Wed, November 20, 2024
Is Your Agency Missing Out on Referral-Ready Relationships?
How many of your network connections are sending you high-quality referrals? Take a moment to think about it. If your answer is "not enough," you’re not alone. Many agency owners believe that growing the size of their network is the key to getting more referrals. But here’s the truth—it’s not about how many people you know; it’s about how well you know them and, just as importantly, how well they know you. Today, we’re breaking down a big misconception in the agency world: the belief that a bigger network equals better results. Spoiler alert—it doesn’t. What often gets overlooked is a huge opportunity: agency-to-agency referrals. But let’s address the common concern: Won’t we step on each other’s toes? If one agency gains a client, doesn’t another lose? Not at all. Collaboration, when done with the right intent, is far more powerful than competition. In this episode, I’m diving into: Why a large network isn’t the key to consistent, high-quality referrals. How to build deeper, trust-filled connections with other niche agencies. Actionable steps to create a referral-ready network that actually delivers results. Let’s rethink what it means to have a network that truly works for your agency! Show Links: Join the Agency Together Newsletter: https://audreyjoykwan.com/newsletter Explore Agency Together : https://audreyjoykwan.com/Agency-Together/ Connect with Audrey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwanaudrey/ Don’t forget the free Agency Together Newsletter. Join hundreds of agency owners receiving insights about growing and leading a small – less than 50 people – mighty agency. Try the free newsletter . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep115 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E114 · Wed, November 06, 2024
How to grow your agency without losing culture and connection
What’s the secret to building a high-caliber, close-knit team as your agency grows? Growing an agency isn’t just about increasing numbers; it’s about expanding in ways that keep your team engaged, connected, and performing at their best. In this episode, we dive into building a strong, scalable culture that keeps your team driven and purpose-focused. I’m joined by Victoria Gray, COO of Conversion Digital, a boutique agency that’s doubled in size under her leadership while maintaining a high-performing, purpose-driven vibe. We’ll cover: Three core principles that help keep a team connected, aligned, and motivated as you grow. A unique 'growth committee' model that connects employees with multiple leaders for mentorship, fostering shared purpose and top performance. And how to empower your team to make impactful decisions without constant oversight. If you’re looking to build a dynamic, motivated team, this episode is full of practical tips to help you grow while staying true to your agency’s core values. Let’s dive in." Show Links LinkedIn: Victoria Gray Conversion Digital: conversiondigital.ca Access our network designed for agency owners to get more consistent referrals, connections and collaborations. Agency Together can save you time and help you build a network that gets you the clients you want to work with. And don’t forget the free Agency Together Newsletter. Join hundreds of agency owners receiving insights about growing and leading a small – less than 50 people – mighty agency. Try the free newsletter . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep114 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E113 · Wed, October 23, 2024
Building a Work-Life Balanced Agency Without Sacrificing Productivity or Client Satisfaction
If you're wondering how to boost team morale and client satisfaction while giving your team the gift of time, this episode is for you. Revenue goals are important for agency owners, but so is achieving a sustainable work-life balance. And one concept that's been making waves in the agency space is the four-day workweek. While we've touched on this topic before, today, we’re getting into details with actionable insight you can put into practice even if you’re not fully ready for the four-day workweek. You’ll meet Teylor, who leads a thriving five-person agency that has fully embraced the four-day workweek for three years. So, even if having a shorter work week isn’t on your radar, this episode is jam-packed with ideas to help your business save time and have happier clients. Tune in to hear: The practical steps her agency took to transition from a traditional five-day work model to a four-day work week. How they scrapped busywork, leveraged automation, and improved productivity without sacrificing client relationships. The impact of the four-day work week on employee morale and client satisfaction and how it has strengthened relationships. How Teylor and her team handle urgent client requests and busy seasons without compromising their four-day structure. Why transparency with clients is key when implementing shorter work weeks—and what to communicate that leads to better client relationships Listen in as Teylor offers insights to building a work-life balanced agency without sacrificing productivity or client satisfaction. Show Links Book Recommendation: Shorter: Work Better, Smarter, and Less Tools Mentioned: Harvest, Basecamp LinkedIn: Teylor Schiefelbein Email: Teylor@ArmadaDigitalCo Access our network designed for agency owners to get more consistent referrals, connections and collaborations. Agency Together can save you time and help you build a network that gets you the clients you want to work with. And don’t forget the free Agency Together Newsletter. Join hundreds of agency owners receiving insights about growing and leading a small – less than 50 people – mighty agency. Try the free newsletter . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykw
S1 E112 · Wed, October 09, 2024
Stuck In a Plateau? How Repositioning Might Be the Answer
Has your agency hit a plateau? Maybe you're attracting the wrong clients or feeling like your services aren’t being valued as much as they should be. If this sounds familiar, it might be time to rethink your positioning. In this episode of Small But Mighty Agency , we’re diving into how repositioning your agency can help you: Break out of a growth plateau Attract bigger, higher-paying clients who truly value your expertise Gain clarity on your niche and stand out in a crowded market Build a reputation as a go-to expert in your industry Wondering if it’s time to reposition? I’ll walk you through the four key signs that indicate a shift is needed and share actionable steps to successfully reposition your agency and reignite growth. Key Takeaways: The benefits of repositioning and why it can transform your agency’s prospects Practical insights on how to realign your services and messaging to attract the clients you truly want How to shift your positioning to open doors to higher-value clients and more lucrative opportunities Let me know your thoughts after you listen—I’d love to hear from you! Show Links Access our network designed for agency owners to get more consistent referrals, connections and collaborations. Agency Together can save you time and help you build a network that gets you the clients you want to work with. And don’t forget the free Agency Together Newsletter. Join hundreds of agency owners receiving insights about growing and leading a small – less than 50 people – mighty agency. Try the free newsletter . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep112 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E111 · Wed, September 25, 2024
Why Collaborative Ecosystems Are The Future of Small Agency Growth
Are you a small agency owner wondering how to really stand out? If you've been feeling the pressure of competition and questioning how to unlock new growth opportunities, you're in the right place. In today's episode, I’m unpacking a strategy to transform how you approach growth. The future of small agencies is in building networks, not silos. Specialization and collaborative ecosystems are already opening doors to new opportunities that many small agencies might have thought were out of reach. That’s why in this episode, I’m sharing the answers to these three key questions: Why are small agencies better together How choosing collaboration over competition is not just a trend—it's the future. Why the old “competition” mindset is holding you back—and how to shift it for more success If you’re of the mindset that other agencies who offer the same services are your competition, it could be limiting your potential. So stick around because if you want smarter ways to grow and shape the success of your agency, this episode will point you in the right direction. Show Links If I may suggest a collaborative ecosystem, check out Agency Together – a referral network designed to help busy agency owners get more consistent referrals and connections without wasting time. Don’t Forget The Free Agency Together Newsletter. Join hundreds of agency owners receiving insights about growing and leading a small – less than 50 people – mighty agency. Try the free newsletter . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep111 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E110 · Wed, September 11, 2024
How AI Helped One Agency Double Productivity – Here’s How
What if you could cut your task from hours to minutes—wouldn’t that change how your agency operates? Imagine if what took you 14 hours now takes you 2 hours, or what took you 4 hours now takes 35 minutes? For Matt Rouse, co-owner of Hook SEO, those numbers reflect the reality of how AI is raising his agency's productivity. In this episode, Matt shares how AI has drastically increased productivity at his agency, helped him streamline operations, enhanced client services, and even developed new offerings. Here’s what you’ll learn: How this agency cut task times from hours to minutes using AI Discover the AI tools this agency uses to automate tasks, reduce costs, and deliver more value to clients. Find out how using AI helped this agency create a new service with lower costs and increased profitability. If you're wondering whether AI will take over jobs in the agency space, Matt answers with a resounding yes—but with a twist. Tune in to hear how AI has changed the way this agency works and gain practical insights on how your agency can harness AI to save time, improve quality, and remain competitive. Show Links Book: Will AI Take My Job? Website LinkedIn Digital Marketing Masters Podcast Hook SEO Get the Free Agency Together Newsletter. Join hundreds of agency owners receiving insights about growing and leading a small – less than 50 people – mighty agency. Try the free newsletter Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep110 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E109 · Wed, August 28, 2024
How to scale by franchising your agency (she did it, so can you)
Has the thought of franchising your business ever crossed your mind? Whether your answer is a “yes” or “no,” this episode will get you thinking about what is possible. If you want to leverage your business and explore new growth avenues, building a marketing franchise is an option. But as you might guess, it’s not just about having a great business idea—it’s about having proven systems and processes that can scale. So, what does it take to transform an agency into a successful franchise? In today’s episode, we sit down with Vivian Olodun, CEO of Flourish Media, who shares her journey from agency owner to franchisor. Here’s what you’ll learn: How she created a franchise that allows franchisees to customize their approach based on their unique strengths and market positioning The complexities of franchising and how she navigated them in record time How to create predictability without taking the human element out of the business Tune in today to hear how this agency owner is doing things differently and gain actionable insights into how to leverage your business better. Show Links Flourish Media Website Instagram Vivian's Instagram Get the Free Agency Together Newsletter. Join hundreds of agency owners receiving insights about growing and leading a small – less than 50 people – mighty agency. Try the free newsletter Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep109 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E108 · Wed, August 14, 2024
Why Claiming a Niche Helps You Get More Clients Without Stressful Marketing
What is the number one thing that stops agency owners from specializing in a niche? Fear. It’s the fear that niching down will result in fewer clients. But the reality is quite the opposite. I see niche agencies thrive every day, and their success stories speak volumes about the power of specialization. In today’s episode, Amanda Lee Smith shares the transformative process that led her to a niche and the defining moments that made her go all in. Her agency has worked with brands like Adidas, Arcyterx, Lululemon, and Allbirds because of their specialty in outdoor sports and activities. What sets her agency apart is its deep industry knowledge and its ability to partner with clients as true experts. Specializing has made working with dream clients not just possible but a reality. Of course, the decision to specialize isn't always straightforward; it requires introspection, experimentation, and a willingness to adapt. In this episode, Amanda shares key actions that helped her claim and thrive in her niche. Including: How to shape your brand and positioning for a specific niche. Tips on leveraging niche benefits to attract and work with dream clients. Knowing when to say "yes" and when to decline opportunities outside your niche. Standing out in marketing with creative strategies catered to her niche Tune into this episode to hear the transformative journey and gain actionable insights into claiming and thriving in your own niche. Show Links Monday Creative Website Instagram LinkedIn Get the Free Agency Together Newsletter. Join hundreds of agency owners receiving insights about growing and leading a small – less than 50 people – mighty agency. Try the free newsletter Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep108 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E107 · Wed, July 31, 2024
What’s Working in Marketing this Quarter to Drive Sales?
What’s working in marketing this quarter to drive sales? First, there is no one-size-fits-all to anything. Finding what works for your business is an exercise in understanding your ideal buyers, but the opportunity to see and hear what works for others can help you optimize or streamline what works for you. That’s why we’ve invited three friends who are marketing specialists in their specific niches to share what is working for them and their clients. You’ll hear three powerful insights that are generating results for each of these marketing specialists: Kim, a direct response copywriting expert, shares how she is using lazy, low-key techniques to build relationships and make marketing easier and more effective. Ashley, a launch strategist, emphasizes the need for more nurturing and shares one thing she is doing that can be connected to 30% of her sales. Melissa, a YouTube marketing strategist, highlights the impact of understanding your audience's real search habits and shares how she creates content that ideal clients actually search for. A common thread connecting each of these insights, despite their different areas of expertise, is the focus on increasing trust and building relationships. Tune in to this episode to see how the foundation of increasing trust and building relationships is being implemented across different businesses. You'll get actionable insights to enhance your marketing efforts and drive more sales. Show Links LinkedIn: Audrey Kwan Free Discovery Call for Agency Together Get the Free Agency Together Newsletter. Join hundreds of agency owners receiving insights about growing and leading a small – less than 50 people – mighty agency. Try the free newsletter Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep107 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E106 · Wed, July 17, 2024
4 Keys for Successfully Introducing New Services
What does a successful pivot into new services look like for an agency? It’s not always smooth sailing! In our latest episode, we chat with Ted Lau about how he identified the need for a more profitable and stable service niche during a difficult business partner break-up. By prioritizing client feedback, Ted transitioned his business from a creative services provider to a lead-generation digital marketing agency. He leaned into four keys for growing the agency and navigating the pivot: Aligning marketing strategies to macroeconomic trends Digging deep to understand client needs Leaning into open communication Shifting from fluff to measured results Tune into this episode to discover the whole story and learn actionable tips. Show Links: What Are The Top Niches for Agency Success in The Current Economy? You Know Ted YouTube Marketing News Canada Podcast Ballistic Arts Ted’s LinkedIn Get Your Agency Org Chart Cheatsheet to Build a Small But Mighty Agency Are you flying by the seat of your pants building your agency and want more order to chaos? Start here. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet for a look inside a Small But Mighty Agency structure that scales. Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep106 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E105 · Wed, July 03, 2024
How to Optimize Account Management for Better Client Retention
Your account managers are key to client retention. Excellent client account management leads to happy clients, and when clients are happy, they don’t churn. My first role inside agencies was in Account Management, and I know what it takes to be a great account manager and lead account managers because I lived it for years. When you walk in the shoes, you know the size of those shoes. My guest today, Taylor McMaster, has done exactly that, too. Today, she owns a fractional Account Management agency. In this latest episode of the Small But Mighty Agency podcast, we unpack the myth of the do-it-all account manager, Why? The expectation of the do-it-all account manager is often unrealistic and prevents your account managers from being effective at helping you retain clients. In this episode we’ll dive into: What it takes to be an excellent account manager Best practices for client retention, including the importance of proactive communication. Explore unrealistic expectations placed on account managers that keep them from fulfilling the core function of maintaining client relationships. Tune in as we share how to optimize your account management team to keep clients happy, reduce churn and improve retention. Show Links Get the free Agency Together Newsletter and Build a Small But Mighty Agency Join hundreds of agency owners receiving insights about growing and leading a small – less than 50 people – mighty agency. Get the free Agency Together Newsletter here. DOT & Company: dotandcompany.co Taylor’s LinkedIn Happy Clients Podcast Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep105 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E104 · Wed, June 19, 2024
4 Perspectives On a 4-Day Work Week for Your Agency
If the thought of a 4 day work week has crossed your mind, my guess is that you’ve gone back and forth thinking about it. Implementing a four-day workweek takes thought and consideration – so in today’s episode of the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast – I bring along a few friends who have implemented four-day work weeks. You’ll get four different perspectives and four unique insights on this week's episode. This summer, we’re doing something different on the podcast by bringing you a few a-sync episodes. A-sync episodes are not live interviews with our guests. Instead, I posed the same question to four people: Q: What insight or challenge have you encountered with a 4-day work week, and how do you address it in practice? Then, I asked each guest to record a clip under three minutes long and share their unique perspective. My goal for these a-sync episodes is to help you get “to-the-point answers.” Tune in as we get to the point of the 4-day work week. Show Links LinkedIn: Audrey Kwan Want more referrals, connections, and strategic collaborations to grow your agency? Agency Together is the only community and network specifically designed to help niche agencies strategically collaborate to get referrals. It doesn't have to be a dog-eat-dog world in which one Agency's gain is another's loss. We're here to change that, and help agencies grow together. If that resonates, apply today here: Agency Together Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep104 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E103 · Wed, June 05, 2024
5 Advantages Niche Agency Owners Are Capitalizing On Today
To niche or not to niche? It’s a very relevant question to agency owners. As I started to think that the topic of niching was overdone, I started to see a pattern in conversations with agency owners pop up. Standing out is challenging because agencies compete for general attention instead of being specific. So, instead of creating better opportunities for niche clients to find you, you end up chasing and convincing clients – it takes much more work. In this week's podcast episode, I explore the five key advantages niche agency owners are capitalizing on today. We’re examining what niche agency owners leverage in a noisy market to achieve substantial and sustainable growth. We’ll get into: If you’re a niche agency, are you taking advantage of these five benefits that make generating leads easier for niche agencies right now? If you’re hesitating to niche, do these hesitations resonate, and how do you rethink the hesitation? Tune in, and let's get started! Show Links Book a Consult Agency Together Access a curated referral network to help niche agency owners get more referrals with strategic collaborations. Do you want a network and community that helps you collaborate strategically to get more referrals? Start here 👉 Take a look at Agency Together and see if you're the right fit. Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep103 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E102 · Wed, May 29, 2024
How to know if a referral network is right for you?
How do you know if a referral network is right for you? Imagine having a network that’s not just another mastermind or course but a community focused on helping you grow through strategic collaborations and consistent referrals. Picture this: curated connections, referral pods, and collaboration events tailored to extend your reach and grow your business. At Agency Together, we’ve created a purposeful community where the intent is crystal clear: generating strategic collaborations and referrals to grow your agency. If you’re an agency with a niche, tune in. We’ll dive into: Why is a niche your best friend for making memorable referral-ask The untapped potential of strategic collaborations for agencies How to know if a referral network like Agency Together is your perfect match Don’t miss this episode. Learn how to stand out, get more clients in a referral network and leverage a referral community for maximum impact. Show Links Is Agency Together Right for You? Connect on LinkedIn Join a community where the intent is crystal clear: generating strategic collaborations and referrals to grow your agency without feeling the transactional ick factor. You should apply for Agency Together if want consistent referrals and collaborations opportunities to increase visibility for your brand and agency. Apply here . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep102 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E101 · Wed, May 22, 2024
How To Get More Consistent Referrals for Your Agency
Want more referrals and clients for your agency? Getting consistent referrals doesn't have to be a mystery. If you’ve been following our “How to Get More Referrals” series, you’re already on the path to leveraging a referral strategy that brings in consistent clients. Referrals aren’t just about asking for business—they're about creating a culture and ecosystem that naturally encourages and rewards the sharing of opportunities. Remember, 84% of B2B decision-makers start the buying process with a referral. This episode will help you reach those decision-makers by activating your referral channels. Learn the best practices for activating ⏭️existing clients, ⏭️strategic partnerships, and ⏭️associations to generate consistent referrals. Tune in now! Show Links Agency Together Part 1: 5 Powerful Reasons Why Top Agencies Have Referral Programs (and why you need one) Part 2: 4 Key Referral Channels: Are You Using Them to Get More Clients Want to grow your agency and get more clients with consistent referrals? Join me over at Agency Together. Agency Together is not just another networking community. You gain a curated referral network for agency owners who value getting more clients with strategic collaborations. I believe in helping each other grow; we are stronger together. Agency Together is not a program, course, or mastermind. We are a community focused on collaboration to get more referrals and grow your agency. To find out more and secure your spot, go to audreyjoykwan.com/agencytogether Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep101 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E100 · Wed, May 15, 2024
4 Key Referral Channels: Are You Using Them to Get More Clients
How effectively are you leveraging referrals to get more clients? Hubspot Sales Trend Report emphasized the importance of referrals, especially when buyers are more cautious about spending money. Referrals are the top way to receive high-quality leads and shorten the sales cycle because it’s worth more in trust than a cold lead or sales rep. In part two of this mini-series on how to get more referrals, I unpack the top four referral sources every agency owner should know and include in their marketing and sales plan. Knowing the different referral sources will help you build a better system for consistent referrals. Tune into this episode of the podcast to discover: What are 4 key referral channels to get more clients Why you need different referral channels to get consistent referrals How partnerships with non-competing agencies can be more profitable than taking on the work Show Links Get On The Agency Together Waitlist to Secure Your Spot Part 1: 5 Powerful Reasons Why Top Agencies Have Referral Programs (And Why You Need One) If you want a focused community to help you get consistent referrals without wasting time, lean in: I’m opening the waitlist to our community – Agency Together. Agency Together is not just another networking community. You gain a curated referral network for agency owners who value growing their bottom line with strategic collaboration. Join Agency Together to grow with strategic collaborations and consistent referrals. 👉 Get On The Waitlist to Secure Your Spot As a community, Agency Together will change your referral game; join the members who know that together, they can tap into more of the 84% of decision-makers who start their buying process with a referral. Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep100 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E99 · Wed, May 08, 2024
5 Powerful Reasons Top Agencies Have Referral Programs (and why you need one)
he podcast, I’ll share: Five different types of referrals your business can leverage Actionable insights on optimizing your referral process Breakfree from the challenges of generating more referrals effectively Where to begin? Start with the first episode, where we explore why top agencies thrive with referral programs and why yours should too. Don't miss out on transforming how you think about referrals. Show Links Connect with Audrey on Linkedin Join the Agency Together waitlist I’m opening the doors to a community that will help you get more referrals. Join our network of niche agency owners who value collaboration to grow their bottom lines together. Agency Together is a community and referral network that helps you grow your book of business through curated referral and collaboration pods. If you’re curious about how Agency Together will help you uncover the untapped potential of referrals, click here . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep99 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E98 · Wed, May 01, 2024
Escape the Daily Grind in Your Agency: Key Processes You’re Overlooking
Are you feeling overly involved in the day-to-day tasks of your business? If removing yourself from certain day-to-day processes or tasks isn’t getting easier, you might have overlooked some key processes. In this episode, we share the concept of “invisible work.” Invisible work is the critical yet often overlooked processes that you might be handling because you don’t know how to get it off your plate. Your invisible work wastes valuable time and keeps you working in your business instead of on your business. If you can’t fully articulate the invisible work, it stays invisible, holding you back from scaling your business. When you uncover the invisible work, you also gain a strategic advantage by revealing more of your intellectual property. ⭐Tune into this week’s podcast episode to: Get 5 questions that will help you uncover your invisible work Learn how invisible work keeps you stuck in the daily grind and how to get it off your plate Why invisible work is intellectual property and how capturing it increases the value of your business Show Links Book a discovery call Get Your Agency Org Chart Cheatsheet to Build a Small But Mighty Agency Are you flying by the seat of your pants building your agency and want more order to chaos? Start here. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet for a look inside a Small But Mighty Agency structure that scales. Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep98 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E97 · Wed, April 24, 2024
How to Empower Your Team and Let Go So You Don’t Burnout? [Case study]
Do you find yourself stepping back into the day-to-day of your business? You’re not alone. What if I told you that you might be creating more work for yourself by inserting yourself back into projects and that there is a better way? I get it. You’re an agency owner who fears that standards won’t be met without your direct involvement, clients will be unhappy, and relationships will deteriorate. It’s a common bottleneck, and in this episode, we’ll explore how to effectively stop jumping back in and let go with confidence so you don’t burnout. You’ll hear a compelling case study of an agency owner whose personal involvement became a major bottleneck and how I helped her break free. Stay tuned, and you’ll discover how to rethink and redefine your role so you can: Delegate with confidence without risking the quality of delivery Maintain and exceed the high standards your clients expect while the business grows Empower your team and free yourself from the daily grind. Show Links Book a discovery call Get Your Agency Org Chart Cheatsheet to Build a Small But Mighty Agency Are you flying by the seat of your pants building your agency and want more order to chaos? Start here. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet for a look inside a Small But Mighty Agency structure that scales. Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep97 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E96 · Wed, April 17, 2024
Is the Pursuit of Quick Success Obscuring Your Strategic Vision? Here's How to Tell
How does the desire for quick success cloud long-term strategic thinking? It can appear as shiny distractions or band-aide approaches instead of dealing with the root cause. Why does this happen? It's a case of not seeing the forest from the trees because you’re standing among the trees. Ultimately, it makes your to-do list longer and your life harder as you go one step forward and two steps back. How can you tell if your pursuit of quick success obscures your strategic vision? Sometimes, it's hard to see until it’s too late. In this episode, I help you see the signs so you can course-correct. Tune into this podcast episode to hear: The hard-to-see signs that you might be prioritizing shiny quick wins over sustainable growth. Four tangible effects of losing sight of your strategic vision so you can get in front of the challenge. Insights to maintain focus and ensure your growth isn't sidelined by short-term gains Show Links Build a Mighty Pod Model for your agency so that client work isn’t dependent on you to scale. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet here . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep96 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E95 · Wed, April 10, 2024
How to Prevent Shiny Distractions from Derailing Your Business Growth
Is it a great idea or a shiny distraction for your business? How do you decide?” I’ve seen business owners go all in on distractions at the expense of what is working in the business and derail their team because the shiny object syndrome is real. The one thing that entrepreneurs don’t lack is ideas and the tendency to be quick starts. Raise your hand if that’s you. New ideas can bring creativity and innovation and diversify opportunities – one hundred percent. But shiny distractions, such as new offers, services, and ideas, can threaten the foundation that has made your business successful if left unchecked. In this new series, I share how you can keep the shiny distractions from derailing your agency. Tune into this episode to get the number one guardrail you need to install in your business and three things not to overlook in your guardrail. Show Links Are you flying by the seat of your pants building your agency and want more order to chaos? Start here. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet for a look inside a Small But Mighty Agency structure that scales. Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep95 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E94 · Wed, April 03, 2024
How to transfer niche knowledge to your team so you can scale
Have you struggled with letting go of client work and trusting your team to deliver? You might feel – even with processes – that your team can’t deliver at the level you want. It’s not unusual for agency owners to struggle with sharing their specialized knowledge with their team. The struggle is made more difficult when you don’t know or don’t solve the root of the issue. This misunderstanding leads to reliance on ineffective, "quick-fix" solutions. I often hear agency owners express the challenge as “my team let me down" or "I find it hard to delegate client responsibilities,” but the root is the struggle to transfer your niche knowledge. It’s a bottleneck that stunts business growth, operational efficiency, and your ability to step into a role where you work on your business more than you work in your business. In this episode, I explore the nuanced challenge of niche knowledge transfer and provide three key strategies for knowledge transfer in an agency. Show Links Get Your Agency Org Chart Cheatsheet to Build a Small But Mighty Agency Are you flying by the seat of your pants building your agency and want more order to chaos? Start here. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet for a look inside a Small But Mighty Agency structure that scales. Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep94 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E93 · Wed, March 27, 2024
How are successful niche agencies thinking and doing differently in the current economy?
What strategies are working for agencies that are leaders in their niche? ☝️It’s one thing to say that the riches are in the niches, but what are agencies that thrive in their niches doing differently than their counterparts? For one thing – they’re not scattering their efforts; niche agencies use laser focus to their advantage. Even if you specialize in an industry or sector, you still need to maximize what sets you apart, especially when niches are competitive and the economy is changing. Whether you are a niche or generalized agency, in this episode, find out what leading niche-focused agency owners are doing to stand out. Tune in to hear the four strategies agency owners leading in their niche are paying close attention to right now. Show Links : What Are The Top Niches for Agency Success in The Current Economy? Build a Mighty Pod Model for your agency so that client work isn’t dependent on you to scale. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet here . Book a Consult Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep93 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E92 · Wed, March 20, 2024
What Are The Top Niches for Agency Success in The Current Economy?
What niches have the most opportunities for agencies right now? Yes, the riches are still in the niches. In other words, growth is most pronounced in specialization, not generalization, but not all niches are equal in this economy. Some niches are ripe with untapped opportunities for agency owners to carve out and tailor their expertise. So, what exactly are these lucrative niches? In this episode, I merge valuable insights from my work with niche-specific agencies and conversations with agency owners to share an emerging pattern for success in niches. Tune in to learn the three factors that make certain niches more lucrative than others right now. Show Links Book a Consult Build a Mighty Pod Model for your agency so that client work isn’t dependent on you to scale. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet here . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep92 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E91 · Wed, March 13, 2024
How to attract new clients on LinkedIn in 2024
What moves should you make on LinkedIn to attract clients effectively this year? With the platform constantly evolving, understanding the dos and don’ts of LinkedIn can feel like a puzzle. In this episode, you’ll hear from a LinkedIn Marketing Agency Owner on how to make LinkedIn work for you. We dive into what’s working for content creation and engagement and explore how to avoid mistakes users commonly make on Linkedin. Whether LinkedIn has been your playground for a while or you’re just dipping your toes in, this episode is packed with practical tips and tricks you won’t want to miss. So, let’s get into it and find out how to leverage LinkedIn to attract clients in 2024. Show Links Louisebrogan.com Louise’s Linkedin Linkedin with Louise YouTube Connect with me on LinkedIn Build a Mighty Pod Model for your agency so that client work isn’t dependent on you to scale. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet here . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep91 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E90 · Wed, March 06, 2024
How I created a track record of tripling growth for agencies with this strategic system
What is the approach that has helped me build a track record for tripling growth for agency owners? Let’s start with what it’s not – it’s not about quick fixes or one-size-fits-all solutions. It's about a strategic system that has taken me years to distill into a lens (like a magnifying glass) you can use today. Like many experts, I had the expert’s curse, which means it's hard for me to step outside my brain to see how to distill my complex knowledge into more straightforward, more accessible concepts for you to use without losing the depth. But a magical thing happened when I went from sharing words to turning it into a resource that shows you the connections. I bridged the gap so you can see the system as a whole and use it to identify patterns in your agency and get to the solutions faster. In this episode, get to know the strategic system that has helped me build a track record for tripling growth for agencies and learn how you can use it, too. Don’t miss this one. Show Notes: Part 3: The “Big 3” Pillars Agency Owners Need to Build a High-Performing Agency Build a Mighty Pod Model for your agency so that client work isn't dependent on you to scale. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet here . Book a consult Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep90 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E89 · Wed, February 28, 2024
The “Big 3” Pillars Agency Owners Need to Build a High-Performing Agency
What separates high-performing agencies from the rest? It's more than just having a great product or service. The secret lies in this asset: unlocking your team's potential and, by extension, your agency. A high-performing agency has healthy profit margins, retains phenomenal talent, has streamlined operations and enhanced brand reputation. I've seen firsthand how growing your people – not just your directors– leads to more profits and efficiencies. The framework I'm sharing is designed to guide you in unlocking your agency's potential to scale. In this episode, I’ll share the big three pillars for high-performing agencies and how to use the pillars to identify and address gaps in your agency. Tune in. Show Links Part 1: Hey Achievers Framework for Growing Agency Leaders Part 2: 5 Key Things Doers Have To Unlearn to Succeed as Leaders Build a Mighty Pod Model for your agency so that client work isn't dependent on you to scale. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet here . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep89 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E88 · Wed, February 21, 2024
5 Key Things Doers Have To Unlearn to Succeed as Leaders
What if the very skills that have made you successful might now be the ones you need to reassess and unlearn to become an effective leader? We've seen it firsthand with our clients – the satisfaction that comes from executing tasks with precision, solving problems swiftly, and managing time like a pro. But what happens when those very skills, which once propelled your business or career forward, become obstacles to growth? As you aim to build a scalable business or lead an agency beyond day-to-day operations, the real work begins not just in acquiring new skills but in letting go of the old ones. In this episode, let's look at how you and your team can transition from doer to leader faster by tapping into the 5 key things doers have to unlearn to succeed as leaders. Tune In. Show Links Hey Achievers Framework for Growing Agency Leaders How to Grow the Leaders That Move Your Agency Forward So You Don’t Burn Out Build a Mighty Pod Model for your agency so that client work isn't dependent on you to scale. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet here. Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep88 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E87 · Wed, February 14, 2024
How to grow the leaders that move your agency forward so you don’t burn out?
Do you need a strategy to elevate team members to leadership roles within your agency? How can you support your team in acquiring leadership skills and resilience beyond what you can teach them personally? If one or both questions resonate, this series is for you. Developing your rising leaders in your agency is required if you want to build a scalable business. I've walked the path from being an account coordinator to being an agency leader and helping agency owners scale and even exit the business. And I have a Master's in Communication focused on Organizational Development; I’ve walked the walk, and I know when agencies develop their leaders, they become scaled agencies. So follow along in our new series on how to grow the leaders that move your agency forward (so you don’t burn out). In part one today, learn our Hey Achievers Framework to empower your agency’s future leaders. Tune in. Show Links 4 Leadership Styles to Get You Out of the One-Size-Fits-All Approach: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep79/ Hey Achievers Framework: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-grow-leaders-move-your-agency-forward-so-you-dont-audrey-kwan-gpmfc/ Build a Mighty Pod Model for your agency so that client work isn't dependent on you to scale. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet here . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep87 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E86 · Wed, February 07, 2024
Marcel Petitpas: The metrics that matter for profitability
What data do you need to look at in your agency to optimize profitability? In this episode, we examine the relationship between operations and finance in an agency and examine metrics that matter for profitability. You don’t need to be a CFO or COO to benefit from this episode; you just need to be curious about what metrics to track. You’ll gain a fundamental understanding in this episode of What might be missing in your profit and loss statements, The importance of the delivery margin metric to profit Why time tracking, even if you don’t bill by the hour is smart The one thing people get wrong about utilization rates By the end of the episode, you’ll be able to identify areas for improvement to boost your profitability. Tune in. Show Links Parakeeto.com Agency Profitability Toolkit LinkedIn Build a Mighty Pod Model for your agency so that client work isn't dependent on you to scale. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet here . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep86 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E85 · Wed, January 31, 2024
Predictions: What is Required for Agency Success in 2024?
How can agencies navigate growth with more ease in 2024? I work closely with seven-figure agency owners, and I have the opportunity to see overarching trends and patterns. I know we have heightened noise, and it’s harder to break through. I know with the economic changes, buying decisions require more trust than ever. It isn’t negative; it just requires new ways of approaching your business I also know that the need for done-for-you services (agency services) isn’t shrinking. The more complicated things like marketing become, the more need there is for expertise And the ultimate desire for lean business means less full-time staff and more agency contracts. With all that said, what are the predictions for agency success in 2024? Tune in for the insights to help you grow. Show Links : Episode 76: 5 Ways to Position Your Agency as First Choice How to Make Better Decision in Your Business Part 1: 12-Step Framework I Use to Support Seven-Figure Agencies to Make Better Decisions Part 2: 5 Hidden Biases that Sabotage the Decision-making of Agency Owners Part 3: 4 Habits for Thriving When Motivation Wavers Part 4: How a project debriefing system helps make better teams Build a Mighty Pod Model for your agency so that client work isn’t dependent on you to scale. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet here . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep85 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E84 · Wed, January 24, 2024
How a project debriefing system helps make better teams
What is the most important system in your business? Your answer may vary depending on your stage of business. If your business has a team, the most important systems aren’t just about “doing” the work. Highly valuable systems empower your team to be problem solvers and make continuous improvements. When you nurture a team of critical thinkers, you can be assured they are solving challenges that help you grow your business without you being there. That’s why post-project debriefs are powerful. A post-project debrief is a system that supports building highly effective and innovative teams. The often-overlooked system can transform your decision-making process, show your team how to make better decisions, enhance efficiency, and help you build a better team. Tune In. Show Links Part 1: 12-Step Framework I Use to Support Seven-Figure Agencies to Make Better Decisions Part 2: 5 Hidden Biases that Sabotage the Decision-making of Agency Owners Part 3: 4 Habits for Thriving When Motivation Wavers Build a Mighty Pod Model for your agency so that client work isn't dependent on you to scale. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet here . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep84 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E83 · Wed, January 17, 2024
4 Habits for Thriving When Motivation Wavers
Do you believe that motivation is key to success? What if I said it’s not? Because, let's be real, motivation is fickle. It comes and it goes. You won't get far if your actions depend on your feelings and you constantly wait for motivation. Even the seven-figure business owners I work with don’t always feel motivated. Rather than waiting, It's all about setting up a system that works when motivation takes a backseat. Let’s get that system set up for you today. In this episode, I share the 4 habits you can set up now to keep moving forward when you don’t feel motivated. Show Links Part 1: 12 Steps to Make Better Decisions in Your Business This Year Part 2: 5 Hidden Biases That Lead to Slow Growth or No Growth Build a Mighty Pod Model for your agency so that client work isn't dependent on you to scale. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet here . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep83 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E82 · Wed, January 10, 2024
5 Hidden Biases That Lead to Slow Growth or No Growth
How do these 5 hidden biases lead to slow growth or no growth? As a coach and consultant, I get the privilege of looking beneath the surface of other people’s decision-making processes. And one or more of these five hidden biases can appear when you make strategic business decisions. Hidden biases sabotage sound decision-making. It creates havoc when they stay hidden. In this episode, I’ll uncover 5 hidden biases. Plus, I share examples of how these 5 hidden biases can impact your decision-making so you don’t fall into the trap unknowingly. Don’t let hidden biases unknowingly navigate your decisions. Tune In. Show Links Part 1: 12 Steps to Make Better Decisions in Your Business This Year Build a Mighty Pod Model for your agency so that client work isn’t dependent on you to scale. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet here . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep82 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E81 · Wed, January 03, 2024
12 Steps to Make Better Decisions in Your Business This Year
Facing a decision and not sure which way to turn? The nature of being an entrepreneur is to make decisions; some decisions are quick, and others carry more risk and uncertainty. That’s why it’s an investment in yourself to check your intuitive decision-making process with a recipe for making better decisions. This 12-step process has helped me support an agency owner in selling and exiting his business and serve as a strategic thought partner to multiple six- and seven-figure agency owners. In this episode, I'm sharing my go-to 12-step process for when intuition doesn't cut it for major decisions and your quick thinking needs a strategic boost. Get actionable steps for making better decisions to grow your business this year. Show Links Build a Mighty Pod Model for your agency so that client work isn't dependent on you to scale. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet here . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep81 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E80 · Wed, December 20, 2023
5 Pillars that Anchored Business Growth in 2023
Want to know the 5 pillars that anchored business growth this year? In our annual year-end review, we drill down to five learnings that will inform the steps for next year and share how you can take each one to level up in 2024. ⭐Purpose ⭐Retention ⭐Micro-Shifts ⭐Leadership ⭐Real-Life Connections You’ll hear how the pillars anchored the growth of my business and the growth of the agencies I coach, consult and support. So, let’s unwrap the year and grow better together. Tune in. Build a Mighty Pod Model for your agency so that client work isn't dependent on you to scale. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet here . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep80 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E79 · Wed, December 13, 2023
4 Leadership Styles to Get You Out of the One-Size-Fits-All Approach
Are You Just Delegating or Truly Leading? If you've ever faced disappointment despite 'clear' instructions or felt like your leadership approach isn't resonating – I’ve been there too. Leadership is more than the oversimplified mantra of "just delegate.” There is much more to growing a business with a team than "just delegate.” Delegating is one style of leadership out of four styles. I’ve been doing leadership for 15 years, and I know relying on a one-size-fits-all approach always falls short. In this episode, I dive into 4 leadership styles that go beyond the oversimplified mantra of delegation. I’m talking about adapting your style so that you can build a stronger, more resilient, and high-performing team. Knowing which style to use can make all the difference, whether you're a seasoned leader or stepping into a leadership role for the first time. Tune in to get the goods on going from a delegator to a dynamic leader who knows how to tap into your team's strengths. Show Links LinkedIn Blog Post: 4 Leadership Styles to Get You Out of the One-Size-Fits-All Approach Build a Mighty Pod Model for your agency so that client work isn't dependent on you to scale. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet here . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep79 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E78 · Wed, November 29, 2023
3 Communication Challenges to Master for a High-Performing Team
Did you know it requires more than systems and processes to get you out of client delivery, increase efficiency and scale your business? In today’s episode, I’m sharing why systems are merely a starting point and not the finish line because the crucial factor often overlooked is leadership. Leadership is how you create a scaleable business where people hold one another accountable, encouraging a bottom-up approach to accountability. The engine that makes leadership work, in other words, the heart of leadership, is communication. In this episode, we'll explore the three key communication challenges that leaders must excel at navigating to create a business that doesn’t require constant “top-down” management or accountability; instead, it creates “bottom-up” accountability. And I’ll reveal the ONE communication skill that can help you get there faster. Build a Mighty Pod Model for your agency so that client work isn't dependent on you to scale. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet here . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep78 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E77 · Wed, November 15, 2023
Bonus Replay: 4 Lessons that Grew My Business by 30%
How did I land the emcee role for one of Canada’s largest TEDx? Great question. Here’s the secret. At the end of last year, I took a CEO day for myself — no distractions, no meetings, no laptop—just me and my notebook. I identified four lessons that grew my business. I’m replaying the episode for you all because if there was a secret to my year, it was knowing how to focus. Getting to host TEDX and having room to say yes was made possible by taking the lessons from last year into 2023. I used to get so busy in the excitement of planning for the next year that I didn’t spend enough time reflecting and distilling my lessons. Last year was different, and it paid off. Tune in to hear the lessons — every year builds on the next, and I hope it gets you thinking about the lessons you will distill and carry into 2024 for easier growth. Show Links Build a Mighty Pod Model for your agency so that client work isn't dependent on you to scale. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet here Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep77 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E76 · Wed, November 01, 2023
5 Ways to Position Your Agency as First Choice
Want to be the agency that clients think of in your niche? 👏Yes. Are you strategically positioned to attract more clients? Find out in this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency podcast. I’m focusing on what it takes to have powerful positioning in your business. Positioning isn’t just about standing out – it’s about being strategically positioned in the minds of your clients. Here’s a peek at what we’ll cover Five ways to elevate your positioning Insights into a compelling narrative that resonates with ideal clients Actionable steps to ensure clients think of your agency first every time. Show Links: Build a Mighty Pod Model for your agency so that client work isn't dependent on you to scale. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet here . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep76 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E75 · Wed, October 18, 2023
Ameet Khabra: How to know if your business stands out or blends in?
How do you challenge the norms in your niche? For example, do most businesses in your niche say they provide excellent customer service? And you find yourself saying something similar. If that’s you, it’s time to break free of the sameness and make a bigger impact. And if it’s not you, you can’t lose by exploring better positioning. I share two questions in this episode to help you explore better positioning. And find out how our guest answers the questions to make her mark as an agency owner. Show Links Website: https://hopskipmedia.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adwordsgirl/ Build a Mighty Pod Model for your agency so that client work isn't dependent on you to scale. Get the Mighty Pod Model cheatsheet here . Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep75 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E74 · Wed, October 04, 2023
How avoiding the comparison trap will reshape your 2024 strategy?
Have you ever felt the weight of comparing your journey to someone else's? You know, that irresistible urge to measure your progress against others, especially in this last quarter of the year. We've all been there, and today, I have insights to share on the comparison trap, drawing from lessons learned during my Master's Degree and the wise words of an Olympic Gold Medalist professor. Tune in if you're ready to navigate through distractions and pave a faster path to success because this might change how you plan for 2024 and beyond. Show Links Book a strategy call Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep74 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E73 · Wed, September 20, 2023
How the Curse of Expertise is Holding You Back
What if I told you that your expertise can get in the way of growing your business? It sounds counterintuitive, but it's a real barrier. The phenomenon is called the curse of the expert. It can play out in different ways on your journey from being a solo service-based business owner to an agency owner. But wait, isn't being an expert advantageous? When that expertise becomes a barrier to training your team or scaling your business, it's more of a curse than a blessing. In this episode, I share how your expertise becomes a barrier to scaling your business and how you can overcome the 'curse.' Show Links Audrey Joy Kwan Stuck in the “it’s easier to do it myself” cycle? We’ve all been there. Get access to a free private audio event, all about breaking free from being the bottleneck in your business. If you’re a consulting, marketing or creative agency owner, this thoughtfully curated line-up is for you. Featuring 5 business leaders – you won’t find this line-up anywhere else – who have gone through different seasons when “just delegate” isn’t enough. Join me on the inside of this private audio event 👉 Breakfree from Being the Bottleneck Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep73 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E72 · Wed, September 06, 2023
How do I set boundaries without worrying balls will get dropped?
Are you protecting your time effectively? Last month, I found myself in the emergency room of a hospital, and it got me thinking about the parallels between better boundaries in an emergency room and in a business. Not every challenge in a business, just like not every trip to the ER, is a life or death situation. The right boundaries help you prioritize what truly matters and let go of being the bottleneck. In this episode, I share how to set better boundaries so you can serve your clients better and guard your time to grow your business. Show Links Breakfree from Being the Bottleneck Stuck in the “it’s easier to do it myself” cycle? We’ve all been there. Get access to a free private audio event, all about breaking free from being the bottleneck in your business. If you’re a consulting, marketing or creative agency owner, this thoughtfully curated line-up is for you. Featuring 5 business leaders – you won’t find this line-up anywhere else – who have gone through different seasons when “just delegate” isn’t enough. Join me on the inside of this private audio event 👉 Breakfree from Being the Bottleneck Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep72 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E71 · Wed, August 23, 2023
How to transform processes into profits
How do you transform processes into profits? If you want a higher ticket offering in your service-based business, tune in. You’re listening to the last episode of a series to help you break down a strategic system in your business called your intellectual property so that you can build a profitable business without burning out. Intellectual property drives results and helps your team deliver for your clients in your service-based business, and it’s a powerful tool for marketing and positioning when packaged and presented effectively. By leaning into this strategic system, you can reduce what feels like heavy lifting in your business. So tune in as I plug into transforming your processes into profits. Show Links: Part 1: Ep 67: How can intellectual property transform your service-based business? Part 2: Ep 68: Leverage these two foundations to break free from being a bottleneck Part 3: Ep 69: How to avoid a major trap that keeps you stuck as the bottleneck in your business Part 4: Ep 70: Creating more revenue-generating opportunities with a strategic service delivery structure Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep71 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E70 · Wed, August 09, 2023
Creating more revenue-generating opportunities with a strategic service delivery structure
Are you ready to discover what can separate your service offerings from the pack? We're digging into the art of crafting a repeatable structure for your service delivery and what makes it possible to transfer your knowledge to others. In this episode, strategic service delivery structure isn’t just about the mechanics of intellectual property. There’s more. Understand how it's about making your mark and creating a legacy that stands the test of time. Let me explain in this week's episode. _______ This episode is part four of our series on finding and developing intellectual property (IP) in your service business. Whether you want to enhance your competitive edge, create processes that liberate you from the nitty-gritty or craft a magnetic marketing presence, this series shows you the power of IP to make it happen. Show Links Delivery System Blueprint Part 1: Ep 67: How can intellectual property transform your service-based business? Part 2: Ep 68: Leverage these two foundations to break free from being a bottleneck Part 3: Ep 69: How to avoid a major trap that keeps you stuck as the bottleneck in your business You have a lot on your plate as a marketer, consultant or creative business owner. You want to grow your business but are bogged down with busy work that doesn't move the needle. I know because I help six and seven-figure service-based business owners (120 and counting) who are at capacity get out of being stuck in client delivery to scale. Having a clear delivery system that works for a lean team can help you break free from this cycle. Get your hands on our Delivery System Blueprint to help you step out of the busy work and into more of what you love. Download the FREE BLUEPRINT Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep70 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E69 · Wed, July 26, 2023
How to avoid a major trap that keeps you stuck as the bottleneck in your business
Do you know how to steer clear of the A to Z thinking trap?" It’s a major pitfall that keeps service-based business owners trapped as the bottleneck of their business. In this episode, we’ll give you step-by-step actions to avoid the trap or, if you're in it, how to get out - so you can grow your business and do it with a lean team. Show Links Part 1: Ep 67: How can intellectual property transform your service-based business? Part 2: Ep 68: Leverage these two foundations to break free from being a bottleneck You have a lot on your plate as a marketer, consultant or creative business owner. You want to grow your business but are bogged down with busy work that doesn't move the needle. I know because I help six and seven-figure service-based business owners (120 and counting) who are at capacity get out of being stuck in client delivery to scale. Having a clear delivery system that works for a lean team can help you break free from this cycle. Get your hands on our Delivery System Blueprint to help you step out of the busy work and into more of what you love. Download the FREE BLUEPRINT Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep69 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E68 · Wed, July 12, 2023
Leverage these two foundations to break free from being a bottleneck
Are you looking to take your business to the next level without becoming the bottleneck? If that sounds like you, tune in. In this series, I'm bringing you short, power-packed episodes that reveal valuable insights on developing your money-making intellectual property so you can grow a business without being the bottleneck. Today, we're diving into part two of the series, where I'll be sharing two foundational elements that make intellectual property development easier for consultants, marketers, and creatives. Plus, you'll get to hear how these foundations transformed a solopreneur's consulting business, allowing her to step away from client delivery. Exciting stuff, right? I couldn’t agree more! Tune in today. Show Links Part 1: How can intellectual property transform your service-based business? Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep68 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E67 · Wed, June 28, 2023
How can Intellectual Property transform your service-based business?
Have you ever wondered how to find and develop your money-making intellectual property in your service-based business? Maybe you think you don’t have intellectual property, or you find yourself doing the work in your business but struggling to unlock the method to your expertise. In this five-part series on the podcast, we’re deep diving into how to find and develop your money-making intellectual property. In this series, we're going to hit three goals: Identify foundations that make developing intellectual property easier Find "hard-to-see” intellectual property already in your business Discover how to structure your service delivery system for intellectual property Today’s episode is part one. I’ll help you set the stage and say “yes” to embracing the IP (Intellectual Property) in your service business and share why starting now is ideal. “Less is More” is how you scale a service-based business How do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now. You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!) things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there. I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done. It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business. Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmap Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep67 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E66 · Wed, June 14, 2023
Navigating the Messy Middle to Build Your Agency
What is the messy middle? The messy middle is the transformation phase, where you get out of client delivery and grow your business with a lean team. If you’re a marketer, consultant or creative who turned your skill and expertise into a service-based business, odds are you started your business for more opportunities and freedom. As you scale your business from just you to three, five or twenty, you unknowingly (or knowingly) hold onto freelancer and solopreneur habits that no longer serve your direction, and you end up overwhelmed. Welcome to the messy middle. Now what? If you think about it differently, the messy middle is a milestone because only some get to this transformation phase. To get through the messy middle, it's time to remove the freelancer or solopreneur hat and put on the agency owner hat. Tune in as we share the common habits that keep you stuck in the messy middle and how to navigate through this phase and come out stronger. Show Links Delivery system blueprint Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep66 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E65 · Wed, May 31, 2023
Jon Morris: From seven to eight figures - the power of financial forecasting
How can agency owners leverage financial forecasting and modelling to better inform strategic planning and drive growth? Lean in as we talk to an agency owner whose secret to scaling from seven to eight figures is mastering financial forecasting. You might be at the stage of business where you’re doing this with minimal support, or you might have a fractional or even full-time Chief Financial Officer. Either way, this episode will get your gears turning on how to improve decision-making and allocate resources more effectively. Show Links Website: https://ramsayinnovations.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonmorrisramsayinnovations/ “Less is More” is how you scale a service-based business How do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now. You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!) things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there. I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done. It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business. Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmap Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep65 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E64 · Wed, May 17, 2023
Chaos is holding you back from growing your business - here's why
Are you scaling chaos in your service-based business? If you started your business as a marketer, consultant or creative and have grown from a solopreneur to having a team, you may have some solopreneur habits holding you back. And if you've been following my journey, you already know that structure, roles, and processes are the secret sauce for keeping chaos at bay. But here's the twist: that's just one side of the story. As you transition from solopreneur to CEO, you need a whole new set of skills in your arsenal. In this episode, we share the solopreneur habits that might hold you back and the top three skills needed to go from solopreneur to CEO while reclaiming your time. Show Links Ep. 60: Is The Agency Model The Best Path For You? audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep60/ Ep. 50: 5 Pillars of a Productized Service That Help You Grow (even if you’re at capacity) audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep50/ Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep64 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E63 · Wed, May 03, 2023
The Hidden Cost of DIY versus Delegation
What's the hidden cost of not building your team in your business? It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that doing everything yourself is the best option, but the truth is, it can lead to burnout and regret down the line. As a coach and consultant, I've seen firsthand how entrepreneurs can take on a lot, but we all have a breaking point. So, what can you do to avoid falling into over-commitment and over the cliff of burnout? Invest in getting client delivery off your plate. But I know that most people only address pain when they're in pain. That's why it's easier to sell Advil than a vitamin. This episode is a vitamin episode about being proactive instead of reactive. If you're not experiencing growing pains in your business yet, lean in - this is your vitamin. And if you are experiencing growing pains, turn up the volume - this is your Advil. Don't wait until it's too late to make a change. Let's explore the hidden cost of inaction in your business and how to take action now to invest in your business's future. “Less is More” is how you scale a service-based business How do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now. You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!) things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there. I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done. It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business. Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmap Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep63 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E62 · Wed, April 19, 2023
Haley Dagan: How to overcome the challenge of letting go to build a team
Have you hit a wall in your business, struggling to grow from solopreneur to a lean team that can give you back more time? You’re not alone; it's a common struggle. Building a team for your service business goes beyond hiring people; it's about creating an effective organizational structure, developing processes, improving communication, and stepping into leadership. Today we’re exploring a challenge that shows up at many different stages of business growth. It's the challenge of learning to let go and give up some control so you can step into your leadership role. Our discussion on the podcast today shares valuable insights to help you overcome these obstacles, step into the CEO role and take your business from good to great. Show Links Website: https://thewrittenworldagency.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewrittenworld/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-dagan-3677ab39/ “Less is More” is how you scale a service-based business How do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now. You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!) things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there. I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done. It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business. Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmap Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep62 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E61 · Wed, April 05, 2023
Rebecca Bartlett: Overcoming the fears and self-doubt of growing an agency
Are you ready to take your business to the next level but feeling held back by fears and doubts? Join us for an inspiring episode where we explore the topic of cultivating courage as an entrepreneur. Hint: courage isn’t always about doing more; it can be about doing less. We discuss the not-so-obvious blocks that can hinder your growth and provide insights to overcome them. Discover the power of breaking free from generational conditioning and family expectations, evolving your identity, and recognizing your true self-worth. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this episode is about taking a new perspective – slowing down to grow – in today’s fast-paced business environment. Hear how this agency owner cultivated the courage to succeed. Show Links Website: bartlettbrands.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bartlett-brands/about/ Instagram: instagram.com/bartlettbrands/ “Less is More” is how you scale a service-based business How do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now. You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!) things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there. I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done. It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business. Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmap Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep61 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E60 · Wed, March 22, 2023
Is The Agency Model The Best Path For You?
Attention all creatives, consultants, and marketers! Is the agency model the best path for scaling your service business? In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, I tackle this question and share my insights on the agency model drawing from nine years of hands-on experience building and coaching multiple six and seven-figure agency owners. I discuss the right time to consider the agency model, the difference between being self-employed and a business owner, and the self-employment trap that many service providers fall into. Plus, you'll learn the importance of consciously choosing between self-employment or business ownership and building effective systems and processes for team delivery. Find out if the agency model is the right choice for your business. “Less is More” is how you scale a service-based business How do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now. You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!) things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there. I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done. It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business. Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmap Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep60 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E59 · Wed, March 08, 2023
CXD Studio: How they turn clients into preferred partners and create a sustainable business
Do your clients see you as a partner or a vendor? What is the difference, and why does it matter? My guests today reached their first annual $500K in revenue by prioritizing setting themselves up as a partner to their clients and establishing a strategic relationship that is long term. If you’re in a vendor relationship, it's transactional, and your clients contact you when a transaction is needed. In a partner relationship, you have a deeper connection, including insights into the organizations' processes, working styles and communication, leading to more trust and long-term clients. Hear how this duo prioritizes building partnerships with their clients and why they kept their full-time job until the agency hit $500k in annual revenue. Show Links Website: https://cxd.studio/ Katherine LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherineboyarsky/ Gabby LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielap93/ “Less is More” is how you scale a service-based business How do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now. You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!) things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there. I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done. It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business. Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmap Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep59 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E58 · Wed, February 22, 2023
Erica Norris: 4 strategic activities that doubled her revenue and increased client retention
How to double your revenue and increase client retention in your business? It takes more than just getting more clients. Consider how the business can be sustainable when you want to double your revenue. You need to build internal capacity in your business. Nobody wants a rollercoaster service business when the churn rate is high, one month, you’re feasting, and the following month you’re fasting. While marketing and sales are essential, sustainability and scalability require strategic considerations, including how your team operates and delivers your services. Today’s episode explores four strategic activities that helped this agency owner double her revenue and increase client retention – with sustainability as the actual measurement of success. Show Links Website: https://talkfastsocial.com/ Instagram: @talkfastsocial “Less is More” is how you scale a service-based business How do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now. You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!) things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there. I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done. It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business. Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmap Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep58 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E57 · Wed, February 08, 2023
Erika Montgomery: When to change, pivot or develop new offers in your business?
Is now the right time to change, pivot or develop a new offer in your business? As business owners, we can’t be tone death to what's happening in the market and the economy – both are different than just two years ago. What might have been working two years ago in your niche is rapidly changing, requiring you to make potentially big decisions. Today, we have a timely discussion from an entrepreneur of 18 years who has been named Best Female Marketing and PR CEO of the Year (USA) by Global 100. Listen to how she’s made some critical choices in her business, including insights from going through the 2008 recession and how she applies the lessons to her business today. Show Links threegirlsmedia.com: https://www.threegirlsmedia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikamontgomery/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erikataylormontgomery/ “Less is More” is how you scale a service-based business How do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now. You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!) things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there. I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done. It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business. Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmap Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep57 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E56 · Wed, January 25, 2023
Suzie Bao: Racial representation in mentorship matters for business growth
What’s one of the best ways to grow faster and avoid painful mistakes? That’s an easy one for me: getting a mentor. As a business owner, having mentors helped me gain experiences not shared in books found on bookshelves; I’ve benefited from a better understanding of their wins and mistakes. But mentorship isn’t just for a business owner; it's also for your team and helping them reach their highest potential. Today, we’re talking about diversity, equity and inclusion in marketing and marketing agencies and, more specifically, ethnic and racial representation in mentorship. A Harvard Business Review article titled Truth About Mentoring Minorities: Race Matters inspired this episode. It took me back to when I started my agency career and what I wished was more available. If mentorship is important to you, tune into this episode. Show Links Truth About Mentoring Minorities: Race Matters https://hbr.org/2001/04/race-matters Asians In Advertising: https://www.asiansinadvertising.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suziebao/ “Less is More” is how you scale a service-based business How do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now. You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!) things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there. I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done. It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business. Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmap Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep56 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis
S1 E55 · Wed, January 11, 2023
Katie Jefcoat: 5 ingredients for happiness “soup”
Do you believe in planning for more happiness and joy in your business? If you’re like me, you got your planning done in December, or maybe, January is the month you start planning. I don’t know a business owner who isn’t doing some sort of planning right now. Whether you do it at the end of the year or the beginning of the year, there’s no wrong or right time. But there is one thing many small business owners don’t do when they make strategic plans: you don’t actively plan for more happiness. That’s why in today’s episode, we talk about making happiness soup in 2023 and the five necessary ingredients to add to your plans for more joy. Show Links: Website: https://www.katiejefcoat.com/ Podcast: https://www.katiejefcoat.com/happiness “Less is More” is how you scale a service-based business How do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now. You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!) things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there. I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done. It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business. Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmap Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep55
S1 E54 · Wed, December 28, 2022
4 lessons that grew my business by 30%
Here are the big four lessons I learned this year that helped me make money and grow my business by 30%. Each lesson is a way of thinking and being as we head into 2023, where the trend points towards buying decisions taking longer because people are more careful with spending. Hear why these lessons make me a better business owner with an even greater potential to accelerate growth in the new year: Welcome the fear of doing something new but keep it simple. Nurturing genuine relationships is marketing, not vanity metrics. Find your pace, don’t race. You can achieve all the goals and still have mindset snafus. “Less is More” is how you scale a service-based business How do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now. You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!) things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there. I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done. It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business. Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmap Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep54/
S1 E53 · Wed, December 14, 2022
Jennifer Taback: How cultural intelligence makes her agency innovative
What is a significant advantage of a small agency? It’s the ability to stay in its lane and go deep into a niche. Today, we’re talking to an agency owner about her niche in cultural intelligence. Cultural intelligence is not just a hot topic but a much-needed one. Authentic representation matters because it empowers. I’m speaking from my own experience as an Asian-Canadian who grew up seeing very few, if, at all, Asians represented as business owners (except for the stereotypical laundry mat or corner store owner). Cultural intelligence supports responsible brands in learning the difference between authentic and inauthentic ways to have diverse representation. I’m all for the authentic; I hope you are too. If that’s you, tune into this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency to hear how cultural intelligence in indigenous communities connects this agency owner to big brands. Show Links Website: https://deplume.ca/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/design_de_plume/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/design-de-plume/ “Less is More” is how you scale a service-based business How do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now. You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!) things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there. I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done. It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business. Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmap Hey thanks for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one.
S1 E52 · Wed, November 30, 2022
Rebecca Teaff: Growing the team to cross seven figures
Can I tell you about a scenario I’ve encountered many times? I speak to service-based business owners who get stuck spending 9-5 every day in client meetings, and there’s no space for other things that need to happen. On the one hand, there’s plenty to celebrate because they have a fully booked service business. On the other hand, they are at capacity and the bottleneck in their business. They have a good team, but the challenge is that the team who got them here isn’t going to get them to the next season. Nothing puts that to the test than a burst of growth in your business because when that happens, it requires you to think differently about your leadership, culture and team structure. And different thinking doesn’t require you to work more in your business; you need to work less. Hear how this small business CEO changed her thinking and evolved her team so she could step into her CEO role and focus on crossing the seven-figure mark. Show Links Website: https://redstartcreative.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redstartcreative/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccateaff/ “Less is More” is how you scale a service-based business How do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now. You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!) things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there. I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done. It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business. Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmap Hey thanks for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one.
S1 E51 · Wed, November 16, 2022
How to Handle Unclear Scopes (profitably) in a Service Business
A potential client comes to you with a project, and the scope (a.k.a objectives, requirements and outcomes) is unclear. It happens to all service providers, and it can drain time, money, and your team It can distract you from scaling what works well in your business. The challenge is that unclear scopes can come disguised as opportunities, especially if you’re unclear about your business vision and where you want to spend time and resources. Listen to this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency, where we look at how to handle unclear scopes and the power of the discovery process. Show Links Productize Your Service Roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/resources Ep 50: 5 Pillars of a Productized Service That Help You Grow (even if you’re at capacity): https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep50 “Less is More” is how you scale a service-based business How do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now. You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!) things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there. I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done. It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business. Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmap Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll ese you on the next one.
S1 E50 · Wed, November 02, 2022
5 Pillars of a Productized Service That Help You Grow (even if you’re at capacity)
Let’s grow a complicated business that feels like a ball and chain. Said NOBODY. I’ve been there. I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done. It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business. Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of multiple six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Listen to this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency to get the 5 pillars of a productized service that can help you grow (even if you’re at capacity) Show Links EP. 49: Why A Productize Service Agency? Do You Need It Download the FREE Productize Your Service Roadmap Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one.
S1 E49 · Wed, October 19, 2022
Why Productize Your Service? Do You Need It?
What makes a service business high ticket and sets you up to get paid like an expert? Here’s the thing to know, it’s not about doing more in your business; it's actually about doing less. Hear why productized services and the agency model support you to do less while providing exponential value to your clients and how it gets you out of being the bottleneck in your service business (hint: it has something to do with your intellectual property and how the agency model has changed.) -Episode 48: Success: How to get more time freedom in your service business and make money (even on vacation) with Justin Salters -Case Studies: audreyjoykwan.com/case-studies Did you know that I have a coaching program called the Mighty Pod Model? You can get the Free Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/cheatsheet In the high touch program, we help our clients go from solopreneur to an agency model, so they gain more freedom by having a service business where client work isn't dependent on them to scale Maybe you started as a solopreneur with zero people in your business. Eventually, you bring in an assistant and contractors, but you continue to hold onto the strategy and direct communication with your clients. Before you know it, you’re at capacity. So, what happens if you want to grow bigger? Meet the Mighty Pod Model. The Mighty Pod Model isn’t just a business model. It's a high-touch coaching program that helps you go from solopreneur to agency owner with a profitable, streamlined and strategic roadmap. If you’re feeling like the bottleneck in your service business, download our FREE Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet: https://audreyjoykwan.com/cheatsheet Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one.
S1 E48 · Wed, October 05, 2022
Success: How to get more time freedom in your service business and make money (even on vacation) with Justin Salters
Do you want more time to work on the business rather than in it? When Justin reached out to me for help, he was the bottleneck in his business. His service delivery processes lived in his head, so he spent his day-to-day implementing services, managing clients, and providing client strategy. He was doing it all with little time to focus on real business growth. It wasn’t sustainable, and he didn't have the time and freedom he craved. We made changes that supported him to streamline his business, gain more freedom and take time off without worrying things would fall apart. Six months later, Justin shares what’s happened since working together and how he is now leading a scalable company that no longer rests only on his shoulders. He has a service business that can run without him and continues to make money even when he’s on vacation. Justin's journey through entrepreneurship will inspire you no matter where you are in your business. And suppose you want to get service delivery, client management and strategy off your plate. This episode just might give you the confidence to take the next step in that direction. In this episode, we’ll discuss Why focusing on streamlined service delivery processes earlier creates exponential growth How he stopped being a bottleneck in his business and gained more freedom How service delivery processes helped him transition from consultant to CEO How to have exponential growth without working more hours or compromising service delivery Show Links Website: heysalty.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/justinsalters/ Did you know that I have a coaching program called the Mighty Pod Model? You can get the Free Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/cheatsheet In the high touch program, we help our clients go from solopreneur to an agency model, so they gain more freedom by having a service business where client work isn't dependent on them to scale Maybe you started as a solopreneur with zero people in your business. Eventually, you bring in an assistant and contractors, but you continue to hold onto the strategy and direct communication with your clients. Before you know it, you’re at capacity. So, what happens if you want to grow bigger? Meet the Mighty Pod Model. The Mighty Pod Model isn’t just a business model. It's a high-touch coaching program that helps you go from solopreneur to agency owner with a profitable, streamlined and strategic
S1 E47 · Wed, September 21, 2022
Jenny Smith: How transparency helps this multiple 7-figure agency owner have an engaged team
What is the greatest asset for a multiple seven-figure agency? After ten years as the CEO of her agency and another 12 years before that working as a creative director – thats’ 22 years - Jenny Smith knows her team is the greatest asset. In this episode, Jenny shares how transparency about her agency's profit and losses helped her team understand the financial basics and raise the level of trust, ultimately leading to committed and engaged team members. If you want to hear how transparency and being imperfect helped her have a multiple 7 figure business, keep listening. On this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency: The power of being an imperfect What her previous agency life taught her about growing her team How to help your team feel part of something bigger What strengths does she lean into to lead a multiple 7-figure agency Breakthrough and break down moments of running her multiple 7-figure agency Show Links Website: https://rayagency.ca/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-smith-3631308/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rayagency/ Did you know that I have a coaching program called the Mighty Pod Model? You can get the Free Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/resources In the high touch program, we help our clients go from solopreneur to an agency model, so they gain more freedom by having a service business where client work isn't dependent on them to scale Maybe you started as a solopreneur with zero people in your business. Eventually, you bring in an assistant and contractors, but you continue to hold onto the strategy and direct communication with your clients. Before you know it, you’re at capacity. So, what happens if you want to grow bigger? Meet the Mighty Pod Model. The Mighty Pod Model isn’t just a business model. It's a high-touch coaching program that helps you go from solopreneur to agency owner with a profitable, streamlined and strategic roadmap. If you’re feeling like the bottleneck in your service business, download our FREE Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet: https://audreyjoykwan.com/resources Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one.
S1 E46 · Wed, September 07, 2022
Ray Wang: How this SEO strategist made consistent $10K months by keeping it simple
If you’re a consultant or marketer who hasn’t hit consistent $10K months yet, this episode demonstrates its possible by keeping it simple. It requires effort, of course, but you don’t need to make it complicated. It's all about being persistent. Why are we talking about consistent $10K months on the podcast today? It’s the launchpad to growing a service business with a team. $10K months unlock more cash flow to do things like getting more support in your business. It opens your mind to make consistent $20K, $30K and beyond months. Tune in to hear the organic methods that have led this strategist to consistent $10K months. Show Links Website: https://www.rwdigital.ca/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rw-digital-marketing/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digital.rw/ Did you know that I have a coaching program called the Mighty Pod Model? You can get the Free Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/resources In the high touch program, we help our clients go from solopreneur to an agency model, so they gain more freedom by having a service business where client work isn't dependent on them to scale Maybe you started as a solopreneur with zero people in your business. Eventually, you bring in an assistant and contractors, but you continue to hold onto the strategy and direct communication with your clients. Before you know it, you’re at capacity. So, what happens if you want to grow bigger? Meet the Mighty Pod Model. The Mighty Pod Model isn’t just a business model. It's a high-touch coaching program that helps you go from solopreneur to agency owner with a profitable, streamlined and strategic roadmap. If you’re feeling like the bottleneck in your service business, download our FREE Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet: https://audreyjoykwan.com/resources Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one.
S1 E45 · Wed, August 31, 2022
Afton Brazzoni: Lessons learned from her first 5 hires while transitioning from solopreneur to agency
So what’s stopping you from getting more help? You might be thinking it seems like a risk to make another hire. What comes first? Is it getting the new hire or the new clients? It’s the age-old chicken or egg question. While every scenario has different considerations on who to hire and in what capacity, one thing holds, don’t wait till you’re overwhelmed to hire. If your business is not growing consistently, it might be that you’re still too much day-to-day, working in the business, rather than on growing the business. Hear how this business owner went from side hustle to solopreneur and now an agency, during the pandemic, by making the right hires. Tune in to this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency for insights on: How to get comfortable with leading a team The journey from side-hustle to a six-person team When is the right time to start building a team Show Links Website: scribenational.ca LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/scribenational Instagram: @aftonbrazzoni Did you know that I have a coaching program called the Mighty Pod Model? You can get the Free Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/cheatsheet In the high touch program, we help our clients go from solopreneur to an agency model, so they gain more freedom by having a service business where client work isn't dependent on them to scale Maybe you started as a solopreneur with zero people in your business. Eventually, you bring in an assistant and contractors, but you continue to hold onto the strategy and direct communication with your clients. Before you know it, you’re at capacity. So, what happens if you want to grow bigger? Meet the Mighty Pod Model. The Mighty Pod Model isn’t just a business model. It's a high-touch coaching program that helps you go from solopreneur to agency owner with a profitable, streamlined and strategic roadmap. If you’re feeling like the bottleneck in your service business, download our FREE Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet: https://audreyjoykwan.com/cheatsheet Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll See you on the next one.
S1 E44 · Wed, August 17, 2022
Amanda Nelson: The rollercoaster ride to making $500K year in her agency
You’ve reached capacity, now what? Building your business requires different priorities, decisions and leadership at different stages of growth. When you hit capacity, you need to put the brakes on and focus on building internal capacity. Internal capacity is processes and team members who can help you serve your clients and grow your business. Ignore internal capacity building for too long, and you can break your business. Hear how this agency owner focused on marketing and sales to get to $500K, the mistakes she made that almost broke her business and how she’s moving forward to a million. In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency: Finding the right partner to grow the business Lessons learned from being at capacity When to pump the breaks in your business so that it doesn’t break What not to do again when experiencing a growth spurt Building an account management team Show Links Website: https://www.theartofb.ca/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theartofb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theartofb.ca/ Did you know that I have a coaching program called the Mighty Pod Model? You can get the Free Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/cheatsheet In the high touch program, we help our clients go from solopreneur to an agency model, so they gain more freedom by having a service business where client work isn't dependent on them to scale Maybe you started as a solopreneur with zero people in your business. Eventually, you bring in an assistant and contractors, but you continue to hold onto the strategy and direct communication with your clients. Before you know it, you’re at capacity. So, what happens if you want to grow bigger? Meet the Mighty Pod Model. The Mighty Pod Model isn’t just a business model. It's a high-touch coaching program that helps you go from solopreneur to agency owner with a profitable, streamlined and strategic roadmap. If you’re feeling like the bottleneck in your service business, download our FREE Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet: https://audreyjoykwan.com/cheatsheet Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll See you on the next one.
S1 E43 · Wed, August 03, 2022
Cara McColman: How to build a better team with personality assessments
How can you inspire your team to greater heights? The short answer is to be a more effective leader who knows how to inspire the best in people. But what motivates one person doesn’t always inspire the next. That’s why personality assessments can help inform better leadership. We explore how personality assessments help you hire better, become a better leader and support you to reach your business goals faster. In this episode of the Small but Mighty Agency Podcast: When to use personality assessment in the hiring process How personality assessments support retainment of talent Improving workplace culture and creating lasting change How to give your team a common language for improving communication Show Links Website: https://www.peoplecore.ca/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peoplecore/ Did you know that I have a coaching program called the Mighty Pod Model? You can get the Free Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/cheatsheet In the high touch program, we help our clients go from solopreneur to an agency model, so they gain more freedom by having a service business where client work isn't dependent on them to scale Maybe you started as a solopreneur with zero people in your business. Eventually, you bring in an assistant and contractors, but you continue to hold onto the strategy and direct communication with your clients. Before you know it, you’re at capacity. So, what happens if you want to grow bigger? Meet the Mighty Pod Model. The Mighty Pod Model isn’t just a business model. It's a high-touch coaching program that helps you go from solopreneur to agency owner with a profitable, streamlined and strategic roadmap. If you’re feeling like the bottleneck in your service business, download our FREE Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet: https://audreyjoykwan.com/cheatsheet Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one.
S1 E42 · Thu, July 21, 2022
John Vuong: Leaving the 9 to 5 to Build a 7-figure Marketing Agency
Do you know an opportunity when you see one, and more importantly, are you willing to take that risk? Saying ‘yes’ led this service-based business owner from a 9 - 5 job to a seven-figure business. There’s a saying in entrepreneurship: “you’ve got to jump off the cliff and build your wings on the way down.” Today’s guest did precisely that – with no experience in marketing, he quit his job to launch a marketing agency. His journey to a seven-figure business isn’t an overnight success story; most businesses are not; a success story is made up of time and work that goes unseen. Tune into this episode to learn: How he delivered a marketing service he had no idea how to deliver Starting a service niche business with zero experience The mistakes that helped him get to seven figures Why his zone of genius was both a gift and a hindrance to growth How he uses processes and systems to encourage learning and development in his team Show Links Website: https://www.localseosearch.ca/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-vuong-205b2917/ Did you know that I have a coaching program called the Mighty Pod Model? You can get the Free Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/cheatsheet In the high touch program, we help our clients go from solopreneur to an agency model, so they gain more freedom by having a service business where client work isn't dependent on them to scale Maybe you started as a solopreneur with zero people in your business. Eventually, you bring in an assistant and contractors, but you continue to hold onto the strategy and direct communication with your clients. Before you know it, you’re at capacity. So, what happens if you want to grow bigger? Meet the Mighty Pod Model. The Mighty Pod Model isn’t just a business model. It's a high-touch coaching program that helps you go from solopreneur to agency owner with a profitable, streamlined and strategic roadmap. If you’re feeling like the bottleneck in your service business, download our FREE Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet: https://audreyjoykwan.com/cheatsheet Recap the episode, give the listeners a call to action, tease the next episode Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one.
S1 E41 · Thu, July 07, 2022
Dianne McKay: Lessons learned from buying a marketing agency
What inspires someone to buy an existing marketing business? Meet Diane. After selling her successful first business, she decided to return to work by purchasing a marketing agency. Diane shares her decision-making process and what she would do differently if she were to do it again. Plus, hear the strategies she uses to become the go-to agency in her county and the marketing activities to get more clients. Tune into this episode to explore: What motivated her to buy an established agency? How did she transition from employee to owning an agency What would she do differently if she bought an agency again? The approach to building the reputation of her business as a go-to agency for her county How she inspires her team to stretch outside their comfort zones Show Links Mustang Mktg: https://www.mustangmktg.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mustang-marketing/ Did you know that I have a coaching program called the Mighty Pod Model? You can get the Free Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/resources In the high touch program, we help our clients go from solopreneur to an agency model, so they gain more freedom by having a service business where client work isn't dependent on them to scale Maybe you started as a solopreneur with zero people in your business. Eventually, you bring in an assistant and contractors, but you continue to hold onto the strategy and direct communication with your clients. Before you know it, you’re at capacity. So, what happens if you want to grow bigger? Meet the Mighty Pod Model. The Mighty Pod Model isn’t just a business model. It's a high-touch coaching program that helps you go from solopreneur to agency owner with a profitable, streamlined and strategic roadmap. If you’re feeling like the bottleneck in your service business, download our FREE Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet: https://audreyjoykwan.com/resources Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll See you on the next one.
S1 E40 · Thu, June 23, 2022
Nanci Corrigan: Having the courage to pivot your business
What pivots do you need to make in a business as it grows? All businesses will at some point make a pivot - it's a strategic move that you take to ensure that your business remains viable and profitable. In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency podcast, meet Nanci, she is an entrepreneur of 25 years; she’s owned and operated an agency and has gone through multiple pivots, including her most recent one, where she pivoted her niche. Tune in to hear how she made the strategic decision to narrow her niche and tap into her wisdom of wins and fails from leading teams for two decades. Show Links C3inc: https://c3inc.ca/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancicorrigan/ Did you know that I have a coaching program called the Mighty Pod Model? You can get the Free Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/resources In the high touch program, we help our clients go from solopreneur to an agency model, so they gain more freedom by having a service business where client work isn't dependent on them to scale Maybe you started as a solopreneur with zero people in your business. Eventually, you bring in an assistant and contractors, but you continue to hold onto the strategy and direct communication with your clients. Before you know it, you’re at capacity. So, what happens if you want to grow bigger? Meet the Mighty Pod Model. The Mighty Pod Model isn’t just a business model. It's a high-touch coaching program that helps you go from solopreneur to agency owner with a profitable, streamlined and strategic roadmap. If you’re feeling like the bottleneck in your service business, download our FREE Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet: https://audreyjoykwan.com/resources Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one.
S1 E39 · Thu, June 09, 2022
Allie LeFevere: Humor is the most underrated competitive advantage in marketing
When you think of a niche for your business, you might naturally consider a specific industry or market. But a niche isn’t always an industry; it can be a service you offer. Case in point, meet Allie LeFevere, the co-owner of Obedient Agency. Their niche is humor, and they help grow brands that make people laugh. In this episode, we explore the creative process to generate humour-driven marketing and how this agency owner protects the greatest asset of creativity while on the path to building a seven-figure business. Tune in to learn more about: The creative process to generate humour driven marketing How she creates space in her business to generate wildly creative ideas Why having a well-oiled machine helps her stay in the creative lane How her business partnership thrives despite differences Show Links –Obedient Agency: https://www.obedientagency.com/ –LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/obedient/ –Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/obedientagency/ Did you know that I have a coaching program called the Mighty Pod Model? You can get the Free Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/resources In the high touch program, we help our clients go from solopreneur to an agency model, so they gain more freedom by having a service business where client work isn't dependent on them to scale Maybe you started as a solopreneur with zero people in your business. Eventually, you bring in an assistant and contractors, but you continue to hold onto the strategy and direct communication with your clients. Before you know it, you’re at capacity. So, what happens if you want to grow bigger? Meet the Mighty Pod Model. The Mighty Pod Model isn’t just a business model. It's a high-touch coaching program that helps you go from solopreneur to agency owner with a profitable, streamlined and strategic roadmap. If you’re feeling like the bottleneck in your service business, download our FREE Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet: https://audreyjoykwan.com/resources Hey thank you for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll See you at the next one.
S1 E38 · Thu, May 26, 2022
Kait Dinunzio: Leadership and growing her consultancy into an agency with apprentices
If there’s one constant in owning a business, it’s getting comfortable with change. As business owners, we need resilience in the face of change, whether changing business models, shifting marketing strategies, or building a team. Change isn’t just about us, “the business owner”; it affects the people in our business. Leaders effectively managing their teams in an ever-changing environment is vital to business success. Today on the podcast, we explore best practices for change management and change leadership. And suppose you're wondering how to scale a consultancy. In that case, we explore how this change management consultant is growing into an agency by building up apprentices and confidently letting go of the client-facing role in her business. In this episode of Small But Mighty Agency: How do leaders manage their business in an ever-changing environment Why change leadership principles, not just change management is vital Growing her consultant into an agency through apprenticeship How she confidently let go of the client-facing role in her business Show Links -Helios Consulting: https://www.heliosconsulting.ca/ -Kait Dinunzio LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitdinunzio/ Did you know that I have a coaching program called the Mighty Pod Model? You can get the Free Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/resources In the high touch program, we help our clients go from solopreneur to an agency model, so they gain more freedom by having a service business where client work isn't dependent on them to scale Maybe you started as a solopreneur with zero people in your business. Eventually, you bring in an assistant and contractors, but you continue to hold onto the strategy and direct communication with your clients. Before you know it, you’re at capacity. So, what happens if you want to grow bigger? Meet the Mighty Pod Model. The Mighty Pod Model isn’t just a business model. It's a high-touch coaching program that helps you go from solopreneur to agency owner with a profitable, streamlined and strategic roadmap. If you’re feeling like the bottleneck in your service business, download our FREE Mighty Pod Model Cheat Sheet: https://audreyjoykwan.com/resources Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one.
S1 E37 · Thu, May 12, 2022
Taralyn Carver: Solopreneur to agency owner in 10 months
Is it easier to start an agency when you’ve worked for agencies most of your career? The answer isn’t a straightforward yes or no. Running an agency requires more than just doing the work of servicing clients; it requires building a profitable and sustainable business. Taralyn and her partner went from solopreneur to an agency owner in 10 months with 23 clients and quickly grew to a team of six people. In this episode, we explore the different thinking required to go from working in the business to ON the business, and we talk through how the things that got them here won’t get them where they want to go. Show Links Bold Lip: https://boldlip.ca/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taralyncarver/ Instagram: @boldlip.creative Grab Your FREE Mighty Pod Team Model This episode is brought to you by the Mighty Pod Model What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease If you want a multiple six-figure and beyond service business that won’t sink when you stop working? Build a Mighty Pod Model that scales and lead a team you love. I’ll show you how. Click this link to save yourself the time of figuring out a service model that creates more capacity in your business Now it’s time to build your Small But Mighty Agency Thanks for tuning into the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast! If you enjoyed today’s episode please subscribe and share it with a friend. Connect with me on Instagram , LinkedIn or visit my website
S1 E36 · Wed, April 27, 2022
Kiirsten May: The fastest way to $500K in sales
What is the fastest way to $500K in a service-based business? Today’s guest shares how she and her business partner scaled to $500K in sales in their first year without using complicated marketing strategies or being on every platform to market their business. Growth for this agency owner has also meant steadily growing a team and leaning into processes that have helped them grow to multiple seven figures Join me to hear how this agency owner earned half a million in her first year and how she and her partner scaled it to multiple seven figures in five years. Show Links UpHouse Inc: https://uphouseinc.com/ Kiirsten's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiirstenmay/ Get my signature COMPASS method inside our Team Growth Roadmap This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and frees up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my COMPASS method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Click this link to unlock the COMPASS Method Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E35 · Wed, April 13, 2022
Taylor McMaster: Mastering client management
The one thing you need to have a sustainable agency? Happy Clients. Great client management can mean the difference between a happy client who stays for the long term or a frustrated client who churns. And we know that it costs a lot more to find a new client than to retain one. Nobody understands this better than our guest, Taylor McMaster, who owns an agency that provides fractional client account managers to seven-figure agencies. So what’s the secret to having consistent rockstar client account managers who keep clients happy? It's all in stellar hiring and training processes. Tune into this episode to learn more about mastering client management. Show Links Dot and Company Website: https://www.dotandcompany.co/ Dot and Company Instagram: @dot_and_company Get my signature COMPASS method inside our Team Growth Roadmap This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and frees up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my COMPASS method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Click this link to unlock the COMPASS Method Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E34 · Wed, March 30, 2022
Guillermo Chan: Growing a multiple six-figure agency in two years using Upwork
This small but mighty agency owner used the Upwork platform to grow his animation agency to multiple six figures in under two years. Going from solopreneur to a team of nine, Guillermo Chan went from a 9 - 5 job to building the business of his dreams, where he gets to do what he loves and make an impact on the lives of others. In this episode of the podcast: Using Upwork to grow a service-based business to high multiple six figures Immigrating to a new country, taking risks and following his passion How the challenges of mental health inspired him to start his agency Show Links: Broken Pencil Studios Broken Pencil Instagram Get my signature COMPASS method inside our Team Growth Roadmap This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and frees up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my COMPASS method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Click this link to unlock the COMPASS Method Recap the episode, give the listeners a call to action, tease the next episode Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E33 · Thu, March 17, 2022
More first-year multiple six-figure service businesses than ever before?
How are creatives, consultants, and marketers making multiple six figures thriving in an increasingly crowded marketplace? The great resignation left a door wide open for more businesses to consider working with freelancers, contractors and boutique agencies because employees were leaving like never before, which created demand in the marketplace. On the other side of that same coin, the pool of writers, designers, and animators either freelancing or starting their agencies widened, creating a saturation of sameness. There is one common key business decision I see solopreneurs make to get out of the sea of sameness and reach multi- six figures in their service business. This key business decision helps them grow more quickly and profitably. In this episode, I share what I see contributes to the success of first-year multiple six-figure service businesses. Show Links Economic Innovation Group article on The Start-Up Surge Audrey Joy Kwan Get my signature COMPASS method inside our Team Growth Roadmap This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and frees up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my COMPASS method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Click this link to unlock the COMPASS Method Thanks for tuning into the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast! If you enjoyed today’s episode, head over to Apple Podcast to subscribe, rate, and leave your honest review. Connect with me on Instagram , LinkedIn or visit my website for even more detailed strategies, and be sure to share
S1 E32 · Wed, March 02, 2022
Why you’re the Bottleneck in your Business
Are you stuck in your business feeling like client work is dependent on just you, and you worry it will all go down the tank when you stop working? If you don’t know how to change that – or maybe you do, but it hasn’t turned out how you thought it would? Tune in to discover: Why do some business owners remain the bottleneck even after getting systems and processes in place? Where do you start when documenting systems and processes and get it done without overwhelm The method to get processes in your service business done in less time and with less stress Access our free productized service workflow to leverage our approach of one service and one system at a time. Which system to start with if you are at capacity and need to overcome revenue plateau Show Links Get the FREE Productized Service Workflow . Website LinkedIn Instagram support@audreyjoykwan.com Where To Start When Documenting Systems for Your Business? Here’s our approach to get it done in less time and with less stress. Curb the overwhelm that stops most business owners from creating the structure and control they need to grow the business with systems and processes. Most creatives, consultants and agency owners cherry-pick random systems to document and as a result, get buried in what feels like a never-ending list of processes that you just don't get done. To get it done in less time and less stress, start with one service. Download our free productized service workflow to identify the different systems in one service AND then choose one system at a time. I promise you, when you start with one service and then choose one system in that service, you'll get to leverage your processes to grow your business faster. USE THE FREE PRODUCTIZED SERVICE WORKFLOW TO GAIN MORE CLARITY TODAY Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E31 · Wed, February 16, 2022
Todd Anthony: Nurturing zone of genius to build a better agency
What makes a creative agency excel past its competition? Nurturing and protecting the creative spirit in the team. The creative spirit is the secret sauce for an agency to do outstanding creative work. Some call it “strategic magic” or “zone of genius.” I like to think of it as the art that makes their craft possible. Let me explain The craft is the production, it's 80% of the work, but the creativity, the strategy, the zone of genius is the 20% that makes the 80% excellent. That 20% is the art. We chat with a seasoned creative agency owner on how he nurtures creativity in his team, finds opportunities to help the team stay accountable and protects creativity from getting derailed by clients who don’t get the creative process. Tune into this episode to explore: How he inspires the creative spirit of his team in his creative agency What’s working for training and developing creative talent Identifying opportunities to transfer knowledge to his team The power of teaching clients how to work with his agency What is the difference between clients who treat your agency as a vendor versus clients who treat you like a partner and say yes to only the latter? Proactively educating clients to have a better partner relationship with their agency Show links Website: https://www.pinwheelcontent.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddanthony/ The Delicatessen : https://delicatessen.substack.com/ Get my signature COMPASS method inside our Team Growth Roadmap. This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease. Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team to support your clients and free up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my COMPASS method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Click this link to unlock the COMPASS Method. Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E30 · Wed, February 02, 2022
Doug Darling: How processes set this seven-figure video agency up for premium pricing
When this seven-figure agency owner surveyed 50 of his clients about what they valued when working with a small agency, the response was a surprise. It wasn’t the price and it wasn’t even quality. The top three things the clients of this seven-figure agency want to see from an agency are experience, communication and processes. Yes, processes. Processes are like guardrails. By definition, a guardrail is a barrier placed along the edge of something such as a staircase to keep you from falling off the stairs When your processes are guardrails and clients are educated on how your uniquely created guardrail supports them on the road to getting the results they want, your processes add a tremendous amount of value for your clients. In this episode of the podcast, tune in to explore How processes can set you up for premium pricing. Going from generalized marketing services to productized video and animation services Intentionally building a business with value-added processes How processes empower creatives to be more creative How educating clients on processes supports making more money Show Links Website: tripwiremedia.com LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/dougdarling Get my signature COMPASS method inside our Team Growth Roadmap This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and frees up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my COMPASS method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Click this link to unlock the COMPASS Method
S1 E29 · Wed, January 19, 2022
Nick Dank: Solving communication challenges to grow his agency
Is it worth the time to cross-train your team? Even the most talented people in your team can’t succeed if your entire team follows their own processes, and communication is a mess. Cross-training leads to better communication, and communication leads to a business that is less dependent on you. In this episode of the podcast, we’re exploring how this agency owner hires the right people, streamlines communication and cross-trains his team so that he can spend more time in creativity instead of project management. Including: How he took one opportunity in college (10 years ago) and turned freelancing into an agency Why solving communication challenges grows the business Cross-training team members is worth the time investment What is the T shape model, and how it guides his hiring process for right-fit team members? How he cross-trains his team to create more efficiency and less dependency on one person to know it all Changing his org structure and why he restructured his agency model Show Links Suits & Sandals Website: https://suits-sandals.com Work Association Podcast: Apple , Spotify , Google Nick’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickdank/ Get my signature COMPASS method inside our Team Growth Roadmap This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and frees up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my COMPASS method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Click this link to unlock the COMPASS Method Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E28 · Wed, January 05, 2022
Going from Solopreneur to Agency Owner?
These four concepts are how I’ve helped grow agencies to multiple six figures and beyond. I’ve supported an agency owner to grow, sell and exit his business, doubled the gross revenue of clients with small but mighty agencies and helped owners have more time off. To kick off 2022 on the podcast, here are the concepts that always show up. If you’re bumping up against capacity in your business, you can’t miss concept number one. Concept number one is the pillar to bringing in other people to do the work and free up your time in a service business. Maybe you’ve never thought about the agency model in this way – it can be small but mighty and sustainably grow your business to serve more clients, make more money and free up your time. Find out how we can work together to grow your service-based business, book a consult ( https://calendly.com/audreyjoykwan/consult ) Show Links About Audrey Joy Kwan: https://audreyjoykwan.com/about Connect with Audrey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwanaudrey/ Get my signature COMPASS method inside our Team Growth Roadmap This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and free up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my COMPASS method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Click this link to unlock the COMPASS Method Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E27 · Wed, December 22, 2021
Kara Hoholik: How she leads an agency on part-time hours
Is it possible to run an efficient agency with eight part-time contractors while working part-time? For this CEO mom, the answer is yes. Although this may not be a way of running a business for everyone, Kara demonstrates that how you choose to operate your business can 100% fit your priorities. Kara’s priorities are her three kids and her mission to employ young moms by providing as much flexibility as possible in her business. In this episode, you’ll hear how she makes it all work and how small but mighty agencies of today are changing. Including: What it looks like to run an agency part-time and have three young kids How she manages a team of 8 part-time contractors Why she chooses to stay with part-time contractors (for now) How to build a business that values the needs of young moms Thoughts on workplace improvements that can better support young moms Show Links LinkedIn ( linkedin.com/in/karahoholik ) Website ( https://socialforgood.co ) Instagram ( socialforgood.co ) Get my signature COMPASS method inside our Team Growth Roadmap This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and frees up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my COMPASS method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Click this link to unlock the COMPASS Method Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E26 · Wed, December 08, 2021
Kyle Doran: Redefining roles in his agency for less busy work and more value
What does it mean to streamline a business for growth? At its core, it means simplifying or eliminating unnecessary work-related tasks to make running the business easier. While eliminating things may sound simple, streamlining a business can involve hard decisions. In this episode, we connect with Kyle who streamlined his business by restructuring his remote team. In the case of this small business, restructuring involved removing one job role and as a result, navigating changing scopes of work for the rest of his team -- all the while maintaining their core value of relationship-focused servicing and a high-vibe team. Kyle shares his thought process behind the change, why it was necessary and the impact on his business. Together on the Small But Mighty Agency, we explore: Driving agency change and building a lean team Restructuring his team to better serve clients and be more effective Revising job functions and roles and empowering people to own the work Acknowledging leadership blindspots and growing from mistakes Why a coaching first principle in the business brings out the best in his team Using culture surveys to build a high vibe team and encourage retainment Show Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyledoranra/ Website: https://www.ramarketing.com/ Get my signature COMPASS method inside our Team Growth Roadmap This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and frees up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my COMPASS method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Click this link to unlock the COMPASS Method Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E25 · Wed, November 24, 2021
Amisha Shrimanker: Landing Big Name Dream Clients
Today, we explore how Amisha Shrimanker started an online copywriting agency three years ago and has since worked with some prominent names in the industry. Amisha shares the juicy details of her strategies that have landed her dream clients. Together on the podcast, we explore: Her cold pitching strategy, the one she uses to get on dream podcasts and work with dream clients How she leverages results into case studies to amplify her competitive advantage How she uses project debriefs not only to serve clients better but meet a need that naturally increases the lifetime value of the client Show Links Copy Crew Website: https://thecopycrew.com/ Copy Crew Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecopycrew/ See the AJK Case Studies: https://audreyjoykwan.com/case-studies Get my signature COMPASS method inside our Team Growth Roadmap This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and frees up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my COMPASS method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Click this link to unlock the COMPASS Method Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E24 · Wed, November 10, 2021
Lisa Genovese: Applying the 80/20 rule to catapult her business to a seven-figure agency
What is the fastest way to grow a service-based business to seven figures? Not a trick question 🙂 It’s to help your clients get results faster. Meet Lisa Genovese, five years into building her marketing agency, Lisa discovered the 20% of activities driving results for her clients and decided to go all-in on the service offering, In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency, we dig into the 80/20 rule that helped Lisa catapult her business to a seven-figure agency and why getting support to discover her 80/20 was a wise decision. Tune in to hear: How she identified a new revenue stream that became her agencies signature service Finding her stride as an agency owner at the five-year mark Going all-in on the 80/20 rule despite the doubt Why her agency won’t work with a client unless the client invests in the impact assessment offer and how she asks them to invests Trusting that the fastest path to success is to turn down clients that are the wrong fit Show Links Lisa Genovese LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamariegenovese/ Bottom Line Website: www.wearebottomline.com Women Presidents Organization: https://www.womenpresidentsorg.com/ Get my signature COMPASS method inside our Team Growth Roadmap This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and frees up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my COMPASS method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Click this link to unlock the COMPASS Method Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E23 · Wed, October 27, 2021
Jon Allison: Growing Your Business with Collaborative Partner Networks
How do you build a collaborative partner network that actually works and can help you grow your business? In this week’s Small But Mighty Agency podcast, we connect with Jon Allison, the owner of a Branding Studio with a track record of using authentic relationship marketing to grow his business and deliver exceptional work. What’s impressive is that 70% of the work Jon currently does in his business involves his collaborative partners. Together we explore: Growing a business with collaborative partners What makes a collaborative partner network successful? Why white-labeling doesn’t work in collaborative partner networks and what to do instead How to work effectively when sharing work with collaborative partners How value-match, not formality, is key Jon’s an open book about what makes his collaborative partner network effective, from size to budget transparency, values alignment, and all the things to look out for. Tune in if you want to spend less time doing busy work with relationship marketing and tap into how a collaborative partner network can work for you. Show Links: Backcountry Branding Website: https://backcountrybranding.ca/ Backcountry Branding LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonallison/ Get my signature COMPASS method inside our Team Growth Roadmap This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and frees up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my COMPASS method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Click this link to unlock the COMPASS Method Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E22 · Wed, October 13, 2021
Avoiding Shiny Object Syndrome in Your Business
Focus is a superpower. But distractions are everywhere. You’re short on time, and you want to grow your business with less overwhelm. How do you steer clear of shiny opportunities and ideas that are vampires to your time and energy? How do you make better strategic decisions? I rarely share about how I arrived at my mission and my why. That’s because, for the longest time, I didn’t know how to share something so personal. My deep connection to my mission and why (I started my business) keeps me focused when there are hard decisions to make. In this episode, I share with you how I use my deep connection to my mission and why (I started my business) to keep strategically focused and not only grow faster but grow with less overwhelm. Show Links Joel Sellentine: Finding a north star and growing a seven-figure agency in 4 years: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast-ep19/ Get my signature COMPASS method inside our Team Growth Roadmap This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and frees up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my COMPASS method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Click this link to unlock the COMPASS Method Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E21 · Wed, September 29, 2021
Julie Wang: How to Inspire and Attract Gen Z talent
How do you engage and inspire younger generations in your service-based business? Today we’re exploring Generation Z, the most entrepreneurial generation of our time. Generation Z is disrupting the traditional ways of entering the workforce by choosing entrepreneurship over being an employee. In this episode, I speak with Julie Wang on embracing being a Generation Z agency-owner and her insights on employing her Generation. On this episode of Small But Mighty Agency: Why being a Gen Z agency-owner is a unique value proposition Exploring the gap between job role expectations versus the reality of entry marketing roles for Gen Z Freelancing as the gateway to business ownership for young entrepreneurs and why most Gen Z’s are doing it Internal motivations and external factors that are shaping the ambitions of Gen Z What does Gen Z really want in a job? Show Links Tiny Planet Digital Website: https://tinyplanet.digital/ Tiny Planet Digital LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tiny-planet-digital/ Tiny Planet Digital Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinyplanet.digital/ This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and frees up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my COMPASS method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Unlock the COMPASS Method right here Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E20 · Wed, September 15, 2021
Trevor Longino: From Freelancer to Agency Owner in Six Months
Are you a marketer, consultant, or creative who started your business with a specialized skill? You have steady revenue, a solid client base, and work coming in. It’s more than you can handle by yourself, but you’re saying yes to everything. You’re working 24/7, and it isn’t the life you dreamed of as a business owner. If that’s you, you’re not alone. in this episode of the Small But Might Agency, we explore Trevor’s trajectory from: Transitioning from freelancer to an agency over a course of 6 months Going from broad services to specializing to grow his business faster Creating the runway to build his business by letting go of wrong-fit clients Using profit-share bonuses to incentivize entrepreneurial team members Show Links Trevor Longino Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevorlongino/ Trevor Longino Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrevorLongino Crowdtamers Blog: https://crowdtamers.com/blog/ Crowdtamers Website: https://crowdtamers.com/ This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and frees up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my C.O.M.P.A.S.S method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Unlock the C.O.M.P.A.S.S Method right here Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E19 · Wed, September 01, 2021
Joel Sellentine: Finding a North Star & Growing a Seven Figure Agency in Four Years
What does it take to grow an agency from 0 to 7 figures in four years? The first thing I noticed about Joel, founder of KARMA jack is his joy and zest for life. He has an uncanny ability to make conversations about almost any topic lighthearted yet packed with insights. In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency, Joel shares how he grew his agency to 7 figures in four years, and that includes: Finding a north star in his business and creating a business with more meaning How to keep the authenticity of giving back as company mission versus company marketing The value of investing in a team in his first year of business How he is leading a seven-figure marketing agency of 23 people The step-by-step morning routine that keeps him inspired Meet Joel Sellentine, after a successful career in fundraising and helping grow several businesses, Sellentine invested his leadership ability and marketing expertise into starting his own agency. Now leading an eclectic team of marketing experts, the data-driven agency has led a wide array of clients to incredible success. With a Bachelor of Arts in English from Oakland University, he started an internship program for Detroit area students and uses the driving force of one day giving away $1 million in scholarships. Show Links Traction by Gino Wickman: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8549192-traction The One Thing by Gary Keller: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16256798-the-one-thing Atomic Habits by James Clear: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40121378-atomic-habits Joel Sellentine LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelsellentine/ This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and frees up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my C.O.M.P.A.S.S method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Unlock the C.O.M.P.A.S.S Method right here Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iT
S1 E18 · Wed, August 18, 2021
Brittany Berger: How to Break Free from Hustle Culture and Find Your Own Productivity Rhythm
What if the traditional rules of productivity and work are broken because they are outdated? Meet Brittany Berger, she’s on a unique mission to help neurodivergent individuals work smarter, not harder, whether a business owner or not. Brittany believes that the traditional rules of productivity and work that people learn are inaccessible for many. She speaks candidly about her neurodivergent brain and how she has leveraged it in her business to be more productive and focused. In this episode of Small But Mighty Agency, we explore: How to recognize the point of diminishing returns where more work doesn’t pay off Building a business with Chronic Illness, ADH, and Autism Reducing content creation overwhelm by using a content remixing strategy Why posting one piece of content over and over again will work in your favor Brittany Berger is the founder of Work Brighter, a digital media company that helps productive people go beyond working smarter to a version of productivity that makes room for “unproductive” things like rest, self-care, and fun. Show Links Susan Cain, Author of Quiet Revolution: https://www.quietrev.com/author/susan-cain/ Work Brighter Website: https://workbrighter.co/ Work Brighter IG: https://www.instagram.com/workbrighter/ Brittany Berger Website: https://www.brittanyberger.com/ Brittany Berger IG : https://www.instagram.com/thatbberg/ This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and frees up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my C.O.M.P.A.S.S method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Unlock the C.O.M.P.A.S.S Method right here Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E17 · Wed, August 04, 2021
Mooren Bofill: How inclusion matters and what this forward-thinking agency is doing to create industry change.
How does diversity drive progress and creativity in marketing agencies? And why will agencies who don’t address the call to action on diversity and inclusion get left behind? In this Small But Mighty Agency episode, I connected with Mooren Bofill, Partner of 123West, an award-winning agency, to explore the topic of diversity and inclusion and what Morren is doing to champion initiatives that are not just band-aide approaches. Tune in to gain insights on: Why diversity and inclusion make an agency more creative and successful Learning to see ethnicity as a superpower to creative work in an agency When doing the same things go un-noticed how does it impact diversity and inclusion How an award-winning agency is innovating to create more opportunities for people in underprivileged backgrounds to advertising We also get to talking about what it was like to work in agencies as a young woman of Asian ethnicity. Yes, that was like 15 years ago. We both speak candidly about our upbringings, struggling to find our voice and learning to see our ethnicity as the superpower. Join us in this vital conversation about re-thinking the impact of diversity and inclusion to help you build a better business. Show Links 123 West: https://123w.ca/ Morren's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mobofill/ This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and frees up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my C.O.M.P.A.S.S method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Unlock the C.O.M.P.A.S.S Method right here Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E16 · Wed, July 21, 2021
Don't Let These 2 Fears Get In The Way of Growing Your Business with a Great Team
What are some of the biggest fears business owners I work with having about building a team? It’s normal to have fears, it doesn’t make you less likely to have an effective team but understanding how these fears track and what’s true instead will help any business owner become a better leader and grow a more profitable business whether you have a team of one or many. In this solo episode of the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast ▪️Discover the two ways of thinking that self-sabotage business owners from having effective teams. ▪️Uncover how these fears track in reality and what's true instead. ▪️Why business owners don’t know that they are micro-managing ▪️How to have uncomfortable conversations with someone who isn’t keeping commitments ▪️Get clear on the three-pillar foundation you need so that you don’t self-sabotage ▪️How can a roadmap help you grow your business with a team more confidently? Show Links Audrey Joy Kwan https://www.audreyjoykwan.com/ This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and frees up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my C.O.M.P.A.S.S method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Unlock the C.O.M.P.A.S.S Method right here Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E15 · Wed, July 07, 2021
Kate Strathmann: How to create more freedom and flexibility for the team to thrive inside and outside of the business.
Lots of companies and corporations say they are people first but are they? Talk is easy. Alignment of business decisions to the principles and values of people first isn’t that simple. Meet Kate Strathmann; she thinks of her business as an incubator for building a company that gives her team the freedom and flexibility they need. In her bookkeeping agency and consultancy practice, Kate makes decisions in alignment with the actions and values of the cooperative economy where her goal is not to maximize profits for her gain and instead have a business created to meet the human needs of her team. On this episode of Small But Mighty Agency: ▪️What does it mean to build a counterculture business that isn’t centered around the primary purpose of profitability for the owner or the founder(s)? ▪️How she uses a matrix of compensation to create a system for her team to have more freedom and flexibility ▪️How she prioritizes quality work over the amount of time spent at work and how that inspires her team for excellence ▪️One untraditional action in her hiring process that helps her find the right fit for her culture Kate Strathmann is a multi-disciplinary business owner and a rebellious spirit. She is the owner and director of Wanderwell, a consulting and bookkeeping practice that grows thriving small businesses while investigating new models for being in business. Wanderwell integrates financial expertise with an empathic, vision-forward approach, and leads with the belief that businesses can help create a more just world that centers people, community, and the environment. Show Links Wandererwell Consulting: https://wanderwellconsulting.com/ Wanderwell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_wanderwell_/ Kate Strathmann LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katestrath/ This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and frees up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my C.O.M.P.A.S.S method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Unlock the C.O.M.P.A.S.S Method right here Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, i
S1 E14 · Wed, June 23, 2021
Andréa Jones: How she leveled up her services and raised her retainer rates by 30%
Raising your rates? Andréa Jones is the CEO of Online Drea a social media marketing agency that brings in between $70K - $80K per month with high ticket retainers. But that wasn’t always the case. Listen to how Andréa transitioned from a $500 retainer service by leveling up her offer and then raising her retainers that now range between $2500 to $5000 per month. Join us in this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency to explore: ▪️When is the right time to raise your rate? ▪️How to raise your rates and communicate your new rates to legacy clients ▪️Why losing clients isn’t a bad thing when growing a business ▪️The marketing activities that tripled her revenue ▪️When is the right time to create a course and membership when you have an agency Andréa Jones has built an online business committed to empowering businesses to utilize the power of social media in a positive and impactful way, without being overwhelmed and drained by it. With over 7 years experience in the game, Andréa hosts the acclaimed podcast Savvy Social Podcast, leads a team providing done-for-you service inside of her marketing agency that was named a Top Digital Marketing Agency in 2021, and serves over 200 students in her membership Savvy Social School. Show Links Andréa ’s video on How To Organize Social Media Content using Airtable: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fw9vCKj_Do Website: https://onlinedrea.com IG: https://instagram.com/onlinedrea FB: https://facebook.com/onlinedrea LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/onlinedrea This episode is brought to you by the FREE TEAM GROWTH ROADMAP What if you didn’t spend all day, every day, in the weeds of running your business? More flexibility. More freedom. Less overwhelm. You’d scale your business with more ease Gain clarity on the strategic systems and leadership actions to create a self-managing team that can support your clients and frees up your time. My free Team Growth Roadmap will give you my C.O.M.P.A.S.S method to get you out of the weeds of running your business and help you build a small but mighty team that gives you more freedom and flexibility. Unlock the C.O.M.P.A.S.S Method right here Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E13 · Wed, June 16, 2021
Rita Barry: How to grow a multiple 7 figure agency with more ease
When you think of having a multiple seven-figure marketing agency, you might also think to reach this revenue marker; you need to serve many clients or have a big team. Think again. Rita Barry of Rita Barry & Co. has built a digital marketing agency that serves 15 clients with a team of 7 people and makes multiple seven figures. Rita keeps things simple by focusing on one core service. In this special episode, get an inside peek at: ▪️ How offering fewer services has led to more revenue and when to let go of a service offering. ▪️ What people tend to misunderstand about marketing metrics ▪️ The marketing strategy that helped her build a multiple 7 figure agency ▪️ Prioritizing client revenue over agency revenue and how that has helped transform her business ▪️ Mindset challenges to building a team that supports a 7-figure agency and how to overcome it ▪️ How to hire A+ players to her team Rita Barry is the CEO of Rita Barry & Co, a digital marketing agency that focuses on metrics and helps its clients take control of their numbers so that they can transform their marketing campaigns and drive more sales. Rita revels in nerdy data collection and interpretation, connecting with business owners whose missions she loves, and creating true value and growth through marketing. She lives with her husband, kids, and Boston Terrier, Zoey in the gorgeous Canadian Rockies, where she can literally climb a mountain any time she needs to getaway. Show Links Rita Barry & Co. Website: https://ritabarry.co/ Rita Barry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ritabarryco/ Rita Barry LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritabarry/ This episode is brought to you by the FREE Strategic Connections Roundtable Join the free Strategic Connections Roundtable where creatives, consultants and service-based business owners can meet new business connections without the awkwardness of traditional networking. It's a curated experience where the group fit is curated so that connections and conversations thrive. That means that every month, a strategic connections roundtable will bring together a group of service based business owners in similar stages of business who can benefit from knowing each other SO that you can ▪️Make connections easier ▪️Share what your business offers ▪️Discover new resources ▪️And have an opportunity to mastermind a challenge Save your free seat right here Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, pleas
S1 E12 · Wed, June 09, 2021
Michael Tighe: How to avoid $60K in mistakes when growing your team
Have you hired somebody into your business before and felt burned because it didn’t work out? Michael did, and it cost him $60,ooo. In this episode, we explore the hiring and leadership insights gained from the costly mistake and how the mistake he made 6 years ago informs his approach to hiring and building his team today. On this episode of Small But Mighty Agency: How to avoid making $60,000 in hiring mistakes The leadership skills that are necessary for team building Creating KPI’s to help team members see how their salary and role can grow with the company The necessity of creating additional time to train people and the payoff Rebounding from losing over $250,000 in four days in the covid pandemic Michael Tighe is the co-founder and managing director of SOLID, a creative design and marketing agency that launched in 2010. Mike has a long-standing success record in agencies, before co-founding SOLID he worked at Critical Mass, and started up his first design company before co-founding SOLID. Mike is now the leader of a team of 14 with 5 full-time staff and 11 contractors. His quotable, "People think you have to be this otherworldly strong person to start a business, to build a business, and that's not true, To me, what it really means is your ability to bend and not break." Show Links Solid Website: https://asolidsite.com/ Michael Tighe Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miketighe/ Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E11 · Wed, June 02, 2021
Karen Seymour: How this social media strategist is going from solopreneur to CEO
If you’re a service-based solopreneur bumping up against capacity, what might feel scary but necessary is to de-prioritize business-building activities like marketing and visibility for business-stabilizing activities like systems, process improvements, and building your team. If onboarding two more clients in your business with the current structure you have now creates anxiety about servicing them with excellence, it's time to look at your operations and team. Karen Seymour was a solopreneur who started her digital marketing business four years ago. Over the past four years she’s gone from wondering how to get her next client to now bumping into a capacity challenge. This year, she’s deciding to put her clients first by focusing on business-stabilizing activities like systems, processes and team to better serve her current and future clients. On this episode of Small But Mighty Agency: What’s growing her business right now How to know it’s time to focus on streamlining operations and team What a team can really do for your business What’s working on social media this year Why networking is more important than ever Karen Seymour is the Founder & Social Media Strategist at Karen J Seymour - Digital Marketing, LLC in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She started her business in 2017, after a 10-year career as a consultant and project manager. Karen specializes in growing audiences and creating communities of loyal, raving fans and customers on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. When she’s not working, you can find Karen shopping online, brunching with friends, or spending time with her husband Geoff and 2 adorable fur babies, Roger and Eboni. Show Links Facebook: @kjsmarketing Instagram: @kjs_marketing Email: hello@karenjseymour.com Website: https://www.karenjseymour.com/ This episode is brought to you by the FREE Strategic Connections Roundtable Join the free Strategic Connections Roundtable where creatives, consultants, and service-based business owners can meet new business connections without the awkwardness of traditional networking. It's a curated experience where the group fit is curated so that connections and conversations thrive. That means that every month, a strategic connections roundtable will bring together a group of service based business owners in similar stages of business who can benefit from knowing each other SO that you can Make connections easier Share what your business offers Discover new resources And have an opportunity to mastermind a challenge Save your free
S1 E10 · Wed, May 26, 2021
Jelly Marketing & PR: How systems, processes and partnership helps this agency serve over 80 clients
While partnership in a business isn’t for everyone, it has its benefits. Darian Kovacs started his agency from a storage closet in the start-up days and now has a thriving agency of 80 clients. Jelly Digital Marketing and PR who serves clients like La-Z-Boy and Splash Down Waterpark went from an agency of one owner -- Darian Kovacs -- and towards his vision of an agency owned by a team by bringing in business partner, Sarah Clark. In this special episode we speak with Darian and Sarah about what makes a partnership successful and we get an inside peak of the systems and processes that make running 80+ clients possible in their business. On this episode of Small But Mighty Agency: What makes partnership in an agency successful What systems and processes make running 80+ clients possible The Standard Operating Procedure that is working for Jelly Digital Marketing and PR to help the team prioritize their work How Jelly Digital Marketing and PR plan and track capacity so that budget and people are balanced Why launching their own podcast isn’t the marketing strategy most people think it is Show Links Jelly Digital Marketing and PR ( https://jellymarketing.ca/ ) Jelly Digital Marketing and PR ( https://www.instagram.com/jellymarketing/ ) Marketing News Canada ( https://marketingnewscanada.com/ ) You Are Special, Max Lucado ( https://www.amazon.ca/You-Are-Special-Max-Lucado/dp/1581342195 ) This episode is brought to you by the FREE Strategic Connections Roundtable Join the free Strategic Connections Roundtable where creatives, consultants and service-based business owners can meet new business connections without the awkwardness of traditional networking. It's a curated experience where the group fit is curated so that connections and conversations thrive. That means that every month, a strategic connections roundtable will bring together a group of service based business owners in similar stages of business who can benefit from knowing each other SO that you can Make connections easier Share what your business offers Discover new resources And have an opportunity to mastermind a challenge Save your free seat right here Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E9 · Wed, May 19, 2021
Jenn Ennis: How great advice on pricing your services plus one confidence-boosting project can change your business
Having a full service agency was not a business that Jenn Ennis planned for when she started offering graphic design services as a freelancer back in 2014. Jenn credits a series of small pivotal moments in her journey adding up to the business she has now. In this episode we explore the small but mighty moments, including a lesson in pricing that set her up for success, and how one project can change your confidence and the trajectory of your business. Jenn is the proud wife of an actor, and mom to three boys. A graphic designer by trade, and over 15 years of working in brand development and design, Jenn founded Jennis Design Co. in 2014. JDCO is a full-service creative agency specializing in practical brand strategy and cohesive design solutions for print and digital marketing. Jenn is also the co-host of the Raising Mom Podcast. On this episode of Small But Mighty Agency: 9:58: Starting out as a boutique graphic design services and becoming a creative agency 11:25: How new hires helped her expand her scope of services 12:29: Landing her first 5 figure client and how it changed the business 15:19: How to price your services 18:08: When increasing your prices does and doesn’t make sense 21:47: Why transform a creative agency into a digital agency 26:51: What does it mean to switch to a leadership mindset Show Links Graphic Artist Guild Handbook JDCO Website JDCO Instagram This episode is brought to you by the FREE Strategic Connections Roundtable Join the free Strategic Connections Roundtable where creatives, consultants and service-based business owners can meet new business connections without the awkwardness of traditional networking. It's a curated experience where the group fit is curated so that connections and conversations thrive. That means that every month, a strategic connections roundtable will bring together a group of service based business owners in similar stages of business who can benefit from knowing each other SO that you can Make connections easier Share what your business offers Discover new resources And have an opportunity to mastermind a challenge Save your free seat right here Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E8 · Wed, May 12, 2021
4 Things Holding Your Business Back from Having a Self Managing Team
Do you feel like delegation is a struggle and you have a hard time trusting the people you’ve hired, BUT you still have hope that you can build a team that doesn’t rely on you to function? When that happens, you know you will regain time freedom and bandwidth. Yes, it's possible. Tune into this episode to hear the four things that might be holding you back from having a self managing team On this episode of Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, you will Recognize the hazards of the self employment mindset trap to growing a business Gain clarity on how communicating a strategic plan helps to build a self managing team Learn what needs to come before your hiring process in order attract A+ people Hear why processes and systems are not enough to set others up for success This week's episode of the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast is a solo episode . From time to time, I’ll be covering questions and challenges that I see my clients experience to support business owners like you to set up their teams and operations to be strategic. Show Links Website Instagram LinkedIn This episode is brought to you by the FREE Strategic Connections Roundtable Join the free Strategic Connections Roundtable where creatives, consultants and service-based business owners can meet new business connections without the awkwardness of traditional networking. It's a curated experience where the group fit is curated so that connections and conversations thrive. That means that every month, a strategic connections roundtable will bring together a group of service based business owners in similar stages of business who can benefit from knowing each other SO that you can Make connections easier Share what your business offers Discover new resources And have an opportunity to mastermind a challenge Save your free seat right here Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E7 · Wed, May 05, 2021
Conner Galway: How this Leader of the Year is building his business in an uncontested market place and why scaling isn’t the focus.
How is this Leader of the Year named by Marketing News Canada making the competition irrelevant? While most people know that consultant-type businesses don’t scale, this marketing agency owner isn’t too concerned with scaling right now, instead he’s focusing on what he calls building a defensible model. In other words, he would rather be in an uncontested marketplace solving a unique challenge for his clients than compete in a crowded one solving the same problems as everybody else. He’s carved out a healthy portfolio of B2B clients in travel, tech, and retail but scaling isn’t his focus right now. Conner Galway is the President of Junction Consulting – a digital consultancy in Vancouver, BC. Junction Consulting’s recent work includes helping to create a digital learning platform for Destination BC, and training for Lululemon. Conner was most recently named Leader of the Year by Marketing News Canada for his support of Canada’s tourism industry through the COVID-19 pandemic. Conner is one of Canada’s premiere digital business educators, teaching and developing curriculum at schools like Brainstation, Simon Fraser University, and Capilano University. He shares his latest thinking in a weekly email called The Brief that’s read by leaders at many of North America’s most respected brands. On this episode of Small But Mighty Agency: 2:41: How Conner started his first agency 4:45: Why the marketing consultant agency model over a traditional marketing agency that does implementation 8:50: The team structure he uses to run his marketing consultant agency 11:14: Why say “no” to the execution and implementation of marketing strategy and what to focus on instead 12:44: The “bias” and why it may not best serve clients best interest 14:39: What is the concept of digital from the inside out 19:15: What is Junction doing to productize and systematize a consultant-agency business 21:22: Why scaling is over-glorified and what is more important than scaling for Conner 26:41: What is and isn’t working to grow the business? Show Links Website: wearejunction.com Twitter: @Conner_G Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/connergalway The Brief weekly newsletter: brief.wearejunction.com This episode is brought to you by the FREE Strategic Connections Roundtable Join the free Strategic Connections Roundtable where creatives, consultants and service-based business owners can meet new business connections without the awkwardness of traditional networking. It's a curated experience where the group fit is curated so that connections and
S1 E6 · Wed, April 28, 2021
Shannon DeSouza: How a micro-agency is building the business to avoid the self employment trap
If you can set yourself up to avoid the Self Employment Trap of owning an agency in the first few years of business, the result is a business that sets you up for more time freedom. What’s the Self Employment Trap? It’s when you the business owner become the chief of everything by day juggling all the responsibilities and firefighter by night fixing all the problems, and feeling like you don’t have a team that you can trust. Meet Shannon, she is a consultant turned agency-owner. We explore why she started an agency, the things she would do differently if she were to start again, and what she is doing to pave her way forward to building a bigger team to get out of day to day operations Shannon DeSouza’s boutique digital marketing agency is based in Vancouver, where she leads all initiatives on web design, social media coaching and launch campaigns. Her professional experience comes from the software industry, where she spent 10 years working alongside CEO’s. For the last 5 years, her digital marketing agency has helped clients become more profitable by gaining more visibility, driving traffic, and increasing their sales online. On this episode of Small But Mighty Agency: 4:10 Why positioning herself as a consultant first was the right first step 8:20: Who she doesn’t want to be in her business and what was holding her back 9:32: What is the first system and process she invested in for her business 10:31: What she would do differently in her first year of business 12:43: Insights about her clients behavior before they buy and how that has changed her service offerings 15:22: What she is doing in her own social media to warm up cold audiences 24:03 The exact mindset block on money that she had to overcome to get to the next level 36:20: Why men and women are different when it comes to the selling Show Links Marketing 4 Moms Website Marketing 4 Moms on LinkedIn Marketing 4 Moms on Instagram This episode is brought to you by the FREE Strategic Connections Roundtable Join the free Strategic Connections Roundtable where creatives, consultants and service-based business owners can meet new business connections without the awkwardness of traditional networking. It's a curated experience where the group fit is curated so that connections and conversations thrive. That means that every month, a strategic connections roundtable will bring together a group of service based business owners in similar stages of business who can benefit from knowing each other SO that you can Make connections easier Share what your business offers <li
S1 E5 · Wed, April 21, 2021
Christine Pilkington: How this mom-blog evolved into a CMO for hire business
Making a pivot in business can be extreme or it can be very natural. Hear how Christine pivoted her mom blog to provide services that her advertisers didn’t know they needed until she naturally connected them to her digital marketing service-offerings. And then faced with an opportunity to change a competitive environment. Christine shares why she evolved her service offerings again to offer CMO for hire services. PLUS if you’ve ever thought about bringing your significant other into your team, Christine and I have a conversation about her decision to bring her husband into the business, what happened and why it ultimately didn’t work. Christine Pilkington has been consulting in digital marketing and product development for so long she can remember a world before content marketing, social media and mobile Her client roster includes some of the world’s biggest brands like AOL, BMW, MINI, Chevrolet, RadioShack, and Canada’s top media brands like Maclean’s, CityTV and Today’s Parent. On this episode of Small But Mighty Agency: 3:20: From corporate job to moving across country and starting a mom blog 8:47: The anatomy of profitable service offerings for a mom blog 12:30: Adding new services to the agency and the value of the “learn it” approach 15:23: Having her husband join the business, what she learned and why it ultimately didn’t work out 19:04: How do CMO for hire services work? 21:03: Why Christine doesn’t see her company as an agency 23:03: How the definition of agency is evolving Show Links Vancouvermom.ca Crisp Media This episode is brought to you by the FREE Strategic Connections Roundtable Join the free Strategic Connections Roundtable where creatives, consultants and service-based business owners can meet new business connections without the awkwardness of traditional networking. It's a curated experience where the group fit is curated so that connections and conversations thrive. That means that every month, a strategic connections roundtable will bring together a group of service based business owners in similar stages of business who can benefit from knowing each other SO that you can Make connections easier Share what your business offers Discover new resources And have an opportunity to mastermind a challenge Save your free seat right here Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me @audreyjoykwan
S1 E4 · Wed, April 14, 2021
Allison Davis: How to spot opportunities for bigger plays in sales conversations
How do service based business owners miss opportunities for bigger plays in sales calls? You’ve been there and I’ve been there. It happens when the stakes are high and your nerves get the best of you. That’s why we’re talking about sales calls today and how to spot opportunities to close bigger deals with two ways of thinking. Hint: my favorite is: “peeling an onion”. Allison Davis is a sales trainer and coach. With nearly 20 years of sales experience, Allison's contributions have elevated the revenue of companies like National Geographic, Time Out North America and Gabrielle Bernstein, Inc. Allison now focuses on sharing her empathic and human approach to selling with business owners who desire a fresh, modern sales process that feels organic and aligned — not stale and prescribed. On this episode of Small But Mighty Agency: 5:41: Two common mistakes people make on sales calls 8:33: what happens when we approach sales conversations with a script 9:17: How to hit “beats” in a sales call using the ALIGN framework 10:54: Using the concept of “peeling an onion” in a sales call to get to the bigger pain points and therefore the bigger sale 15:35: Tap into the power of drilling down and sticking to one big pain point in a sales call 16:05: The difference between being good and being great in a sales call 19:14: Storytelling as a superpower and how to marry storytelling and presentation decks in sales Show Links ALIGN Download: https://allison-davis.com/align/ Follow Allison on LinkedIn Follow Allison on Instagram Clubhouse: @allison-davis This episode is brought to you by the FREE Strategic Connections Roundtable Join the free Strategic Connections Roundtable where creatives, consultants and service-based business owners can meet new business connections without the awkwardness of traditional networking. It's a curated experience where the group fit is curated so that connections and conversations thrive. That means that every month, a strategic connections roundtable will bring together a group of service based business owners in similar stages of business who can benefit from knowing each other SO that you can Make connections easier Share what your business offers Discover new resources And have an opportunity to mastermind a challenge Save your free seat right here Now it’s time to build your Small But Mighty Agency Thanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this epi
S1 E3 · Wed, April 07, 2021
Joel Klettke: How this copywriting consultant uncovered a new opportunity to serve fast-growing B2Bs and pivoted into an agency with a scale-able niche
Discover why identifying the missing processes for other businesses is an opportunity that service-based business owners can miss and how Joel invested his time to build a delivery process that set him and his team up as the go to experts in an uncontended niche. Joel Klettke is the Founder of Case Study Buddy a specialized team who help B2B brands capture, share and cash in on customer success stories. He is also a sought after conversion copywriter for SaaS and B2B, having served clients like Hubspot, WP Engine and Scott’s Cheap Flights. On this episode of Small But Mighty Agency: 10:08: What is the the value of being in a deep niche and why it’s the opposite of limiting 14:46: Using one simple marketing strategy to grow both his businesses 16:44: The power of defining and articulating his process to exponential growth 19:53: Why he thinks of his company as a powerful process masquerading as a company 20:43: How he went through “the muck” to figure out what works 30:13: The catastrophic failure of hiring 10 people into his business and why it failed 32:10: Why people who are good at their craft have a difficult time stepping into the manager role and building a team for their business 34:57: How he decided on the right partner for his business and perspectives on partnerships Show Links: Case Study Buddy Website LinkedIn: Joel Klettke Twitter: Joel Klettke This episode is brought to you by the FREE Strategic Connections Roundtable Join the free Strategic Connections Roundtable where creatives, consultants and service-based business owners can meet new business connections without the awkwardness of traditional networking. It's a curated experience where the group fit is curated so that connections and conversations thrive. That means that every month, a strategic connections roundtable will bring together a group of service based business owners in similar stages of business who can benefit from knowing each other SO that you can Make connections easier Share what your business offers Discover new resources And have an opportunity to mastermind a challenge Save your free seat right here Now it’s time to build your Small But Mighty Agency Thanks for tuning into the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast! If you enjoyed today’s episode, head over to Apple Podcast to subscribe, rate, and leave your honest review. Connect with me on <a href='https:
S1 E2 · Wed, March 31, 2021
Lindsay O’Donnell: How overcoming mindset blocks to hiring helped this agency owner break the ceiling on her sales goals
If you have a sales ceiling that you keep bumping up against and can’t seem to bust through? Or maybe you’re navigating the complexities of an efficient small team? Listen in on this candid conversation about mindset blocks and team wins and struggles with Lindsay O’Donnell. Lindsay O'Donnell is the founder and owner of Piquant Marketing, a Vancouver-based digital marketing agency that specializes in health food. After years of being an activist and bouncing around different industries, she found her calling working with small food businesses wanting to change the world. On this episode of Small But Mighty Agency: 5:05 – Why the thinking behind “when I have extra money then I will hire” is flawed 7:43 – Learning to delegate and the mindset shift that needs to take place to go from doing to delegating 13:34 – The different stages of hiring and how Lindsay is managing her team of 12 contractors 20:56 – The relationship between hitting sales goals and building a team 26:18 – Why team members might not own the work like you the business owner wants them too 34:08 – The additional activities that Lindsay says contributed to the best sales month ever Show Links Piquant Marketing Piquant Marketing on Instagram This episode is brought to you by the FREE Strategic Connections Roundtable Join the free Strategic Connections Roundtable where creatives, consultants and service-based business owners can meet new business connections without the awkwardness of traditional networking. It's a curated experience where the group fit is curated so that connections and conversations thrive. That means that every month, a strategic connections roundtable will bring together a group of service based business owners in similar stages of business who can benefit from knowing each other SO that you can Make connections easier Share what your business offers Discover new resources And have an opportunity to mastermind a challenge Save your free seat right here Now it’s time to build your Small But Mighty Agency Thanks for tuning into the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast! If you enjoyed today’s episode, head over to Apple Podcast to subscribe, rate, and leave your honest review. Connect with me on Instagram , LinkedIn or visit my website for even m
S1 E1 · Wed, March 24, 2021
Scot Keith: How cultivating a low overhead, high talent team set this business owner up to win Strategy Agency of The Year
Get an inside peek into how this Award-Winning Strategy Agency of The Year is doing things differently. With 37 people (and growing), his agency has no departments and instead uses a concept called casting, to bring the right people into the right creative projects. Hear how Scot and his team reduce the fear of failure and perfectionism paralysis by actively showing clients the quantity of ideas that failed to get to the quality ones. Scot Keith is the co-founder and CEO of 123w an idea and design agency that launched in 2013 with humble beginnings in a small garage in Vancouver. Scot has a long-standing success record in creative agencies, before co-founding 123w, he worked at Palmer Jervis DDB, Lowe Roche, and helped to start-up Zulu Alpha Kilo and his first company Kommunity. On this episode of Small But Mighty Agency: 3:44 – How the greatest weakness in his business became the greatest opportunity for his brand positioning. 4:28 – Why are 45% of his team members creative directors? 8:32 – Why say no to having departments and how he uses the concept of casting 9:33 – The core principles of casting and going against the casting stereotypes for the most creative campaigns 12:21 – Why creativity doesn’t come out of thin air and his methodical approach to creativity 14:02 – How to consistently arrive at great work 14:33 – Why showing clients where you failed is an ingredient for success 18:33 – The value of being relentless and the impact on his business 19:55 – Why having an award winning agency parallels a winning sports team 21:56 – The most important lesson you can learn as a leader Show Links 123w Website Scot Keith Linkedin Simon Sinek Malcolm Gladwell Book "Outliers" (10,000 hours) This episode is brought to you by the FREE Strategic Connections Roundtable Join the free Strategic Connections Roundtable where creatives, consultants and service-based business owners can meet new business connections without the awkwardness of traditional networking. It's a curated experience where the group fit is curated so that connections and conversations thrive. That means that every month, a strategic connections roundtable will bring together a group of service based business owners in similar stages of business who can benefit from knowing each other SO that you can Make connections easier Share what your business offers Discover new resources And have an opportunity to mastermind a challenge Save your free seat <a href='https://www
S1 E0 · Mon, March 08, 2021
Trailer: Welcome to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast
If you’re a creative, consultant, or agency owner who wants to know what the rollercoaster ride really looks like to grow your business from one to many — — you’re in the right place. My guests and I pull back the curtains on the realities of growing and running agencies of different sizes and what it takes to build a team. And if you’re anything like me, you want more than the highlight reel, you want to learn from the mistakes of others so that you can stop short of the same mistakes. I'm your host, Audrey Joy Kwan I spend my days as a coach and consultant to multiple 6 and 7 figure agency owners. For the last 7 years, I’ve been behind the scenes helping people grow, lead and operate small but mighty agencies. Here at the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, we'll uncover what works —and equally as important— what didn't work to get these business owners to where they are today. Ready? Set. Let's go.
loading...