The Agency Growth Podcast

Hosted by Agency U

Business Marketing

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Episodes

211

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

The Agency Growth Podcast

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June 12, 2026Episode 2101 hr 1 min

AI Is Devaluing Your Agency | Episode 210

[Cold open [Jake’s 7,000-word schema study] ends at 11:56]AI is making clients question what they used to pay agencies for.In this episode, we talk about how clients are starting to look at agency work differently now that AI can give them a first draft, a basic design, a legal answer, a finance answer, or a marketing opinion in seconds. It does not have to be perfect to change how they think.That is the part agency owners need to pay attention to. The real threat is not always what AI can actually do, but what the client believes it can do.The value has to move somewhere else. Better thinking, better judgment, better relationships, better performance, and being the kind of partner clients actually trust when the AI gives them a confident answer that is wrong.-----RESOURCES:Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools-----NEWSLETTERWant the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter!https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter-----COMMUNITYLooking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord!https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD-----CONTACTGot something to say? Send us a message:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

June 5, 2026Episode 2091 hr 8 min

When Agency Fatigue Sets In | Episode 209

[Cold open [Bad shaker bottles. Creatine. Gemini as a personal trainer.] ends at 08:43.]Cody and Jake talk through the weird spot agency owners hit when the business is growing, but the work starts feeling less fulfilling.This episode gets into the reality of running a productized agency at volume. More clients, more accounts, more expectations, and more moments where “just manage expectations better” stops being a useful answer.They also talk about what the next evolution of Evergrow might look like. Not just adding another marketing channel, but building operational tools around the problems clients already have: missed calls, weak follow-up, no review generation, bad lead handling, and messy sales processes.It’s part therapy session, part business discussion. The kind of conversation agency owners have when the machine is working, revenue is growing, and somehow the next problem still feels right in front of you.-----RESOURCES:Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools-----NEWSLETTERWant the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter!https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter-----COMMUNITYLooking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord!https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD-----CONTACTGot something to say? Send us a message:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

May 29, 2026Episode 2081 hr 11 min

The Rise of the AI-Informed Client | Episode 208

[Cold open (Music opinions, Spotify habits, and Mr. Brightside trauma) ends at 09:40.]AI has given clients just enough language to sound confident, but not always enough context to be right.In this episode, we talk about what happens when clients start using ChatGPT, Gemini, or other LLMs to audit the work they already pay an agency to do. Sometimes the questions are fair. Sometimes they are just AI-generated checklists dressed up as strategy.We get into SEO advice, Google Ads testing, schema, CDNs, landing page structure, and all the tiny technical things that sound important online but often do not move the needle. We opened up our inbox to share real client emails and break down how we set firm boundaries.This is not an anti-AI episode. It is an episode about authority, trust, and what agency owners should do when clients start treating AI like the expert in the room.-----RESOURCES:Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools-----NEWSLETTERWant the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter!https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter-----COMMUNITYLooking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord!https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD-----CONTACTGot something to say? Send us a message:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

May 22, 2026Episode 2071 hr 46 min

Inside the Chaos of Automotive Marketing (ft. Jackie Studor w/ Make Model Marketing) | Episode 207

We sat down with Jackie Studor from Make Model Marketing to talk about the absolute grind of running a niche digital agency in the automotive industry. The automotive niche isn't built for standard agency plays. Jackie explained how her team navigates massive manufacturer compliance rules and co-op dollar systems where a simple error can cost a client thousands. Because of this intense nuance, they strictly hire account managers who have actual dealership experience. They also do something most remote agencies avoid: visiting every single client in person every month. It's a high-touch model that drives an impressive 48-month retention rate but creates distinct operational bottlenecks. We dug into those hurdles, from calculating service margins without billable hours to managing team capacity as the business scales. If you have ever thought about breaking into the car business, this episode is a realistic look at the industry. Car dealers do not buy from cold calls; they buy from industry peer groups and trusted referrals. It is a heavy, unsexy operation, but there is a lot to learn from how they structure their business.-----MENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:Follow Jackie:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-studor/Make & Model Advertising:https://makemodelmarketing.com/-----RESOURCES:Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools-----NEWSLETTERWant the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter!https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter-----COMMUNITYLooking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord!https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD-----CONTACTGot something to say? Send us a message:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

May 15, 2026Episode 2061 hr 54 min

Walking Away From a $2M Agency (ft. Dan Gent w/ Dear Agency Founder) | Episode 206

We sat down with Dan Gent, who ran his product design agency, Lighthouse London, for 15 years before walking away in 2023 and now writes his own newsletter, Dear Agency Founder.Dan details how Lighthouse reached 20 people and roughly $2 million in revenue before market conditions forced a closure rather than a traditional exit. He explains the dangerous "dip" where profit margins drop as you hire non-billable managers and ops staff to scale. This conversation is a blunt look at the reality that businesses often end by closing or walking away instead of a multi-million dollar payout.We also tackle the difficulty of design retainers and why clients often stop seeing value once the initial project is finished. Dan advises treating yourself as an employee with a set wage in your forecast so you can actually afford to hire your replacement. He also touches on how AI is commoditizing "grunt work," forcing designers to sell accountability and taste instead of just Figma files.-----MENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:Follow Dan:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dangent/The Dear Agency Founder Newsletter:https://join.dearagencyfounder.com/?utm_source=agencygrowthpodcast-----RESOURCES:Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools-----NEWSLETTERWant the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter!https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter-----COMMUNITYLooking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord!https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD-----CONTACTGot something to say? Send us a message:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

May 8, 2026Episode 20553 min

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

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

May 1, 2026Episode 2041 hr 7 min

Should Agencies Show Clients Everything? | Episode 204

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

April 24, 2026Episode 2031 hr 34 min

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

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

April 17, 2026Episode 2021 hr 32 min

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

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

April 10, 2026Episode 2011 hr 26 min

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

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