Smart Agency Masterclass with Jason Swenk: Podcast for Digital Marketing Agencies

Why Smart Agencies Build Leaders (Not Just Hire Them) with Hamlet Azarian | Ep #812

How to Make Clients Choose You and Stay: Lessons You Can Steal from Caitlin Copple & Holly Conti | Ep #811

In this episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass, Jason Swenk interviews Caitlin Copple and Holly Conti of Full Swing PR about their partnership, business growth, and strategies for agency success. They discuss how they became partners, the importance of aligning values, and practicing what they preach in their PR agenc...

Why Going ‘Niche or Die’ Paid Off Big for Daniel Moscovitch | Ep #810

In this episode of the podcast, Jason Swenk interviews Daniel Moscovitch of Flooring Pros Marketing about his journey from running a generalist digital marketing agency to specializing in SEO and marketing for the flooring industry. Daniel discusses the challenges he faced in transitioning to a niche market, including ...

AI Tools Are Cheap Now… But That’s About to Change. What Agencies Need to Know

Building a $30M Agency with the Right KPIs, AI Hacks & Client Moves with Chris Dreyer | Ep #808

In this episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass, Jason Swenk interviews Chris Dreyer, CEO of Rankings.io, a marketing agency for law firms, about his journey to growing his agency past the $30 million mark. Chris shares insights on the importance of data-driven decision-making, key performance indicators (KPIs), and le...

How to Create a Digital Brain for Your Agency and Scale Smarter with Shawn Johnston | Ep #807

In this episode of the podcast, Jason Swenk interviews Shawn Johnston, the owner of Forge & Smith, a strategic web agency specializing in bespoke WordPress websites. Shawn recounts his transition from print design to web development, sparked by the advent of CSS, and shares his experiences building his agency from Crai...

When Growth Isn’t the Goal: Rebuilding for Freedom, Not Burnout with Blake Denman | Ep #806

In this episode of the podcast, Jason Swenk interviews Blake Denman, the president and founder of Rickety Roo Inc., a remote-based agency specializing in SEO and paid search marketing. Blake shares the story behind his agency's name, his journey into agency life after a traumatic brain injury, and the challenges he fac...

What Happened After Brent Weaver Sold UGURUS? The Truth About Life Post-Exit | Ep #805

In the second part of Jason Swenk's interview with Brent Weaver, they delve into the realities of acquisitions, contrasting entrepreneurial environments with corporate structures. Brent shares his experiences navigating team and client reactions during and after the sales of UGURUS, emphasizing the importance of retent...

Pepsi Paid $2 Billion for Gut Soda?! Here’s What Your Agency Should Be Doing Right Now

What Happened to UGURUS? Straight from the Founder Brent Weaver | Ep #803

In this episode of the podcast, Jason Swenk interviews Brent Weaver, the founder of UGURUS, about his journey from building websites in high school to creating a seven-figure coaching company for digital agencies. Brent discusses the early days of UGURUS, including its origins as a blog called BCGURUS, the launch of th...

Hiring Red Flags That Cost Agencies Thousands (and How to Avoid Them) with Collin Slattery | Ep #802

In this episode of the podcast, Jason Swenk interviews Collin Slattery, the owner of Tycoon Digital, an e-commerce-focused agency specializing in Facebook and Google ads, creative landing pages, and related services. Collin shares his journey into agency ownership, starting from making money online after high school to...

Why Delegating AI Could Be the Fastest Way to Kill Your Agency with Brandon Na | Ep #801

In this episode of the podcast, Jason Swenk interviews Brandon Na, the owner of Seattle Organic SEO, who also works in venture capital and as an acting CMO. They discuss Brandon's accidental entry into the agency world, his experiences at Amazon and Expedia, and his perspective on leadership. The conversation explores ...

How Client Caps and Community Made this Agency a Category of One with Oli Luke | Ep #800

In this episode of the podcast, Jason Swenk interviews Oli Luke, who shares his journey in the marketing space, particularly his experience building a marketing agency in the hearing healthcare niche. Oli discusses the accidental creation of a community among his clients during COVID-19, which evolved into a membership...

Built a $100M Agency in 3 Years—Then It Went Bankrupt. Here’s What I Wish I Knew

Jason Swenk discusses the pitfalls of scaling an agency through acquisition, drawing from his experience with a $100M agency rollup that ultimately failed. He highlights key mistakes such as prioritizing monetary goals over a clear vision, lack of integration between acquired agencies, and the dangers of debt-fueled gr...

Scaling Isn’t About Doing More — It’s About Doing Less (The Right Way) with Joaby Parker | Ep #798

In this episode of the podcast, Jason Swenk interviews Joaby Parker, the founder and CEO of Cover 3 Growth Partners, about his journey in the agency space. Joaby shares his experiences from his first job working with agencies to starting his own agency, including early challenges, key clients like Chemdry, and the deci...

Hiring a Sales Team? Why Most Agency Owners Sabotage Themselves (and How to Get it Right) with Travis Hoechlin | Ep #797

In this episode of the podcast, Jason Swenk interviews Travis Hoechlin, CEO of Rize Up Media, a marketing company for law firms. Travis shares his journey of starting his agency after leaving a Fortune 500 company, driven by a lack of recognition despite being a top salesperson. He discusses the importance of building ...

Profit vs. Purpose: Why the Future of Business Isn’t What You Think with Jeff Hilimire | Ep #796

Jason Swenk interviews Jeff Hilimire, who discusses his journey from starting an agency to his current role running Purpose Group, a holding company focused on purpose-driven businesses. Hilimire shares insights into his new book, "Dream Small," which encourages individuals to start small and find purpose in their work...

How to Transform Your Agency's Messaging for Maximum ROI with Stephen Woessner | Ep #795

In this episode of the podcast, Jason Swenk interviews Stephen Woessner about strategies for agencies to attract clients and increase their value. Stephen emphasizes the importance of agencies specializing in a niche, providing valuable content, and demonstrating their expertise. They discuss how agencies should focus ...

Mark Zuckerberg Declares War On The AI Advertising Industry! Here's What Smart Agencies Are Doing Next.

Are You Treating AI as Mission-Critical — Or Just Dabbling in It? With Paolo Vidali | Ep #793

This episode explores how agencies are adapting to the rapid advancements in AI, particularly focusing on its integration into e-commerce and digital marketing strategies. Paolo Vidali shares his experience with Hidden Gears, detailing the agency's journey in establishing AI usage policies for both staff and clients, e...