Smart Agency Masterclass Podcast with Jason Swenk
Bi-weekly interviews, strategy, and advice for building your marketing agency the smart way.
The popular agency podcast has just turned 10 years old and covers everything from starting a successful agency to selling your agency.
#1 Agency Leadership Podcast. Check Out Our Past Guests.
-
![]()
Seth Godin
Best selling Author of Purple Cow, This is Marketing, Linchpin, Permission Marketing
-
![]()
Guy Kawasaki
Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist of Canva and former Apple chief evangelist
-
![]()
Gino Wickman
The creator of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and author of Traction.
-
![]()
Mike Michaelowicz
Best-selling author of Profit First and Clock Work
-
![]()
Neil Patel
Founder of CrazyEgg, Kissmetrics, and other multimillion dollar companies
-
![]()
Joey Coleman
Recognized for his expertise in customer retention & enhancing client loyalty
-
![]()
Amy Porterfield
Renowned online marketing expert and educator
-
![]()
Pat Flynn
The leaders in the podcast space
-
![]()
Jay Baer
Best Selling author of Talk Triggers, Hug Your Haters, and one of the best speakers
-
![]()
Todd Herman
Coach to Elite pro athletes, leaders, and public figures
-
![]()
Dan Martell
Author of Buy Back Your Time. Influential coach in SaaS startups.
Should You Productize Agency Services? Navigating the Risks and Rewards with Matthew McIver | Ep #722
Have you clearly defined your service offering to the extent that you can productize it? Or do you prefer to customize your approach for each client’s needs? Which strategy aligns better with your agency's objectives and overall success? Today's featured guest transitioned from providing highly customized services, which impacted his team's ability to meet deadlines and adhere to budgets. He has since adopted a productized model and is currently exploring how to effectively present differentiated pricing tiers. Join us as we delve into invaluable insights on launching and scaling a creative agency, optimizing your service offerings, and gracefully managing a co-founder's exit.
Building a Global Agency Team and Scaling Against the Grain with Alina Vlaic | Ep #721
How much automation should be integrated into your agency's processes? When is automation a good idea, and when isn’t it? Are your agency services diverse enough to withstand a shifting market? In this interview, learn from one agency owner who has grown her agency making very conscious decisions about what she’ll need to build a business that stands the test of time. From avoiding heavy automation to building a team based primarily in the US while living in Romania, she considers all angles before making long-term plans and has pushed against some trends to find her path. In this episode, we delve into her journey and gather valuable insights on scaling an agency in the dynamic world of e-commerce.
Embrace Your Expertise and Charge for Value NOT Time with Sharon Robustelli | Ep #719
Do you price your agency services based on time spent or based on value delivered? Your fees should reflect the expertise you bring to solving your client's challenges, not how long it takes. If you still consider time your most valuable metric, it may be time to reassess the true value you offer. Our featured guest started her career in PR and ventured to start an agency after becoming disillusioned with corporate decision-making; often neglecting the best interests of both teams and clients. She set out to build an agency that would get the job done while not losing sight of their values. Tune in to learn how she learned to appreciate the value she brought to clients and how that changed the way she prices her services and structured her offer.
WIN MORE Business by Crafting an Authentic Story with Matthew Woodget | Ep #718
Do you know the power of intertwining your personal narrative with your business journey? Today’s guest is a narrative strategist who built his agency around helping entrepreneurs shape their stories to attract the right clients by communicating their goals and values. Discover how owning and sharing impactful stories can set owners apart from salespeople and lead to successful outcomes.
Unlocking Sales Success by Becoming Your Own Client with Jim Huffman | Ep# 716
Are you seeking the best approach to train your sales team? Today’s featured guest reflects on past mistakes made while attempting to step away from sales, and shares a recent success could lead to a complete overhaul of the sales funnel, resulting in a tenfold increase in the closing rate.
Are You a Visionary or Volunteer at Your Agency? Becoming a True CEO with Casey Benedict | Ep# 715
Are you making a mark in your specific niche? Our guest today, a seasoned agency owner with fourteen years of experience working with influencers believes these are areas where agencies could learn from influencers. Tune in to learn more about her agency’s approach to influencer marketing and why you should stop being a volunteer at your own agency.
Staying Versatile and Adaptable in Uncertain Times with Amy Jackson | Ep# 714
Are you considering narrowing your focus in the near future, or do you prefer to retain the flexibility to take advantage of growth opportunities in specific sectors? Our featured guest today opts for diversification and maintaining her agency’s agility to capitalize on the expansion of emerging sectors. Gain insights into her journey of building a PR agency, her strategies for solidifying its growth, and the ongoing learning curve inherent in the agency's evolution.
When Is the Right Time to Use Acquisition as a Strategy for Rapid Growth? with Manish Dudharejia | Ep# 713
What advantages does an acquisition offer compared to organic growth? Our featured guest today will discuss his ongoing acquisition process, outlining his reasoning behind this move, sharing why this felt like the perfect moment for an acquisition, and how he kept his peace of mind during this time-consuming process.
Are You the Bottleneck In Your Agency? Empowering Your Team with Irwin Hau | Ep# 709
Have you found yourself becoming the bottleneck in your own agency's growth? Our guest today is a successful agency owner who found he was hindering the business’ progress. He had to shift away from the superhero mindset and empower his team to move forward. Tune in to learn how unexpected events can lead to new beginnings and the importance of seizing opportunities.
Achieving Team Alignment with Your Agency’s Goals with Julie Williamson | Ep# 708
Have you ever felt like a broken record, endlessly repeating your agency's goals and vision, only to be met with a sea of glazed-over expressions? It’s a common struggle for agency owners to feel they’re desperately trying to rally the troops behind a unified purpose. Today’s guest is a specialist in the art of leadership alignment and how to foster authentic goal comprehension that permeates every level of your organization.
About the Show
The popular agency podcast has been around since 2014 and covers everything from starting a successful agency to selling your agency. What makes this podcast a must-listen is Swenk’s background as the founder and CEO of an agency for over a decade. Swenk brings his own experience to the table, besides the expertise of his guests. He mostly covers topics that help growing agencies scale to the next level.
YOUR HOST
JASON SWENK
Smart Agency Masterclass
Jason is a family man who also happens to have created a couple big marketing agencies, helped thousands of agency owners, and had a big agency exit too.
