Build a Better Agency Podcast Podcast Por Drew McLellan arte de portada

Build a Better Agency Podcast

Build a Better Agency Podcast

De: Drew McLellan
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Scale and grow your agency with better clients, invested employees, and a stronger bottom line, with Drew McLellan of Agency Management Institute.Build a Better Agency Economía Gestión y Liderazgo Liderazgo
Episodios
  • Episode 508 Project Management That Drives Profit with Rachel Gertz
    Jun 30 2025

    Welcome to another insightful episode of Build a Better Agency! This week, host Drew McLellan tackles a topic that agency owners and leaders wrestle with time and again: the true role of project management within an agency, and how getting it right can transform both your workflow and your bottom line. Drew is joined by expert consultant Rachel Gertz, who has spent over 15 years helping agencies demystify project management, build stronger systems, and create operational success.

    In this episode, Drew and Rachel dig deep into what project management really means in a modern agency setting, beyond just moving tasks from A to B or managing a checklist. Rachel shares her journey from educator to operations consultant, revealing why constraints and structure, when thoughtfully implemented, actually unleash greater creative freedom for agency teams. Together, they explore why so many agencies struggle with the sales-to-delivery handoff, how process breakdowns lead to burnout and missed profits, and what a healthy, efficient system should feel like for everyone involved.

    Listeners will walk away with actionable advice on rethinking their approach to project scoping, discovering the hidden pitfalls of underestimating the “soft” operational work, and why tools alone can’t fix a broken process. Rachel offers practical steps for evaluating where the real chaos lives in your agency, how to break the cycle of “garbage in, garbage out,” and the importance of prioritizing client relationship dynamics alongside deliverable deadlines.

    If you’re ready to move past reactionary chaos and toward calm, confidence, and profitability in your agency’s operations, this episode delivers both hope and a roadmap. Don’t miss these expert insights on the power of process, the value of discovery, and the freedom that comes from building a sustainable project management approach. By the end, you’ll see project management as the backbone of agency success—and have new ideas for turning your systems into a competitive advantage.

    A big thank you to our podcast’s presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They’re an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev, or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here.
    What You Will Learn in This Episode:

      • Clarifying the true role and value of project management in agencies
      • The critical impact of effective sales-to-project handoffs
      • Why project management systems unlock both creative freedom and operational efficiency
      • Moving beyond relying solely on tools to fixing underlying processes
      • The importance of scoping both the project and its environment
      • Building agency profitability by baking in realistic time and resource allocations
      • Cultivating calm, predictability, and stronger client relationships through better operational systems
    Más Menos
    47 m
  • Episode 507 Transformative Agency Strategies with Marcus Sheridan
    Jun 23 2025

    Welcome to another insightful episode of Build a Better Agency! This week, host Drew McLellan welcomes renowned marketing thought leader Marcus Sheridan to tackle some of the most pressing challenges—and exciting opportunities—facing agency owners today. Known for his influential book They Ask, You Answer, Marcus brings a fresh perspective to the table with the launch of his new book Endless Customers, focusing on how agencies can thrive in a rapidly evolving, technology-driven landscape.

    In this engaging conversation, Drew and Marcus dive deep into the shifting dynamics of content marketing and client engagement, especially in the age of AI and digital transformation. Marcus shares lessons from his own entrepreneurial journey—from saving his pool company during the recession by embracing innovative marketing tactics, to helping other organizations transition into strategic, indispensable partners for their clients. The discussion highlights the importance of moving beyond deliverables and embracing a coaching, strategy-first mindset to remain relevant and valuable.

    Listeners will walk away with actionable strategies, including the critical role of self-service tools like pricing estimators and self-scheduling platforms, which empower clients and drive measurable results. Marcus and Drew also underscore the increasing necessity for agencies to become trusted AI guides, equipping clients with the skills and confidence to harness new technologies across all facets of their business. Practical tips on fostering a culture of strategic thinking, ongoing communication training, and prioritizing trust-building with clients make this episode a must-listen.

    Whether you’re looking to future-proof your agency, deepen client relationships, or implement innovative self-service solutions, this episode is packed with both inspiration and step-by-step advice. Tune in to discover how you and your team can shift from order-takers to indispensable strategic partners—and build a foundation for stronger, more profitable client engagements in 2025 and beyond.

    A big thank you to our podcast’s presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They’re an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev, or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here.

    What You Will Learn in This Episode:

      • The shift from deliverables to strategic coaching as a core agency value
      • Embracing AI as both a tool and a key area of expertise for clients
      • Prioritizing self-service tools and experiences to align with modern buyer behaviors
      • Developing agency teams to think and act like coaches, not just order takers
      • The critical role of ongoing communication training to reduce client churn
      • Using pricing transparency and estimators to drive qualified leads and fast wins
      • Building trust and indispensability to secure long-term client relationships

    Más Menos
    50 m
  • Episode 506 How Prioritizing Fun Inspires Success with Mike Rucker
    Jun 16 2025

    Welcome to another engaging episode of Build a Better Agency! This week, host Drew McLellan shines a spotlight on a topic that’s both enjoyable and essential to agency life—fun. Drew is joined by Dr. Mike Rucker, a behavioral psychologist and author of The Fun Habit, for a lively exploration into how prioritizing fun and joy can make you a better leader, a more creative thinker, and ultimately, help you build a stronger agency.

    Mike delves into the science behind why Western culture tends to villainize fun in favor of productivity—and why that mindset is doing more harm than good. He unpacks concepts from positive psychology and reveals that constantly chasing happiness, or waiting for “someday” to enjoy yourself, can actually hinder well-being and lead to burnout. Instead, Mike explains the hedonic flexibility principle, which demonstrates that regularly scheduling small moments of joy leads to greater productivity, resilience, and creativity in both personal and professional realms.

    Drew and Mike discuss practical ways to infuse everyday life with meaningful fun, rather than relying on the occasional big vacation or forced office events. They address the challenges agency owners face, from time poverty and remote work’s blurred boundaries to generational differences in attitudes toward work and leisure. Listeners will find actionable strategies for designing transition rituals, claiming genuine downtime, and fostering a culture where fun isn’t just tolerated—it’s championed.

    Don’t miss this episode if you’re ready to break free from the grind and discover how making room for fun can transform your leadership, elevate your agency’s performance, and improve your own well-being. By the end, you’ll have practical tools to create more moments of joy for yourself and your team, and a whole new perspective on why fun is far from frivolous—it’s fundamental!

    A big thank you to our podcast’s presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They’re an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev, or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here.

    What You Will Learn in This Episode:

      • The critical link between fun, productivity, and agency creativity
      • Why scheduling small, consistent moments of joy matters more than big events
      • Tips for reclaiming time autonomy as an agency leader
      • Understanding and applying the hedonic flexibility principle
      • Strategies for breaking the workaholic mindset and preventing burnout
      • The right—and wrong—ways to foster fun within agency teams
      • Rethinking work rituals for healthier boundaries in hybrid and remote environments
    Más Menos
    47 m
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This is the ONLY business Podcast that I listen to on a regular basis. I have owned my Agency for over 30 years and I still walk away from nearly every episode with some new nugget of wisdom. I've shared the Podcast with my leadership team who listen to it often and my comments stemming from the show are so frequent it has become an inside joke when I begin a sentence with; "I was listening to my Agency Podcast the other day and they said..." If you own or run a marketing agency, you owe it to yourself to give this Podcast a listen.

Eddie Ulrich
Fuzzy Duck

A Must For Any Agency Owner

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