Are you looking for the secrets to thriving in today’s competitive agency landscape? Rise25 recently spoke with 30 top agency leaders who shared their most effective strategies for success. These experts emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong client relationship, leveraging innovative digital marketing tools, and continuously adapting to market changes. They also highlighted the significance of building a robust online presence and investing in team development to drive growth and client satisfaction.
This article showcases a diverse range of agencies, each bringing unique strengths and services to the table. From specialized digital marketing firms to comprehensive full-service agencies, the featured leaders offer insights into services such as SEO, content marketing, social media management, and strategic consulting. This collection of top-tier agencies demonstrates the breadth and depth of expertise available in the industry, providing valuable resources for businesses looking to enhance their marketing efforts.
Laurel Mintz, Elevate My Brand
Based on her experience, Laurel Mintz, Founder of Elevate My Brand, says empowering her team is the key to running a successful agency. “It’s really about a team that’s all in the right seats on the bus,” she says. Laurel recently executed an employee stock ownership plan, allowing part of her team to own a stake in the agency—a move aligned with their mission of advancing social and economic justice. While having a cohesive, engaged team is crucial, Laurel acknowledges that managing people can be the biggest challenge. Implementing robust processes, from performance reviews to project management systems, helps ensure clear expectations for everyone, keeping them on track and informed.
Elevate My Brand is a digital and experiential marketing agency based in Los Angeles with a global client base. For 15 years, they’ve worked with over 300 brands, more than 200 of which are diverse-led, helping 40% raise capital. The agency’s offerings include web design, social media, advertising, event management, and field marketing. Their ideal clients are typically VC-backed, middle-market brands that value expertise, embrace collaborative partnerships and understand marketing’s crucial role in driving sales and growth. Whether a company is B2B or B2C, Laurel’s small but mighty team of specialists aims to take the marketing reins while collaborating closely with clients.
Learn more: Laurel Mintz on LinkedIn, Elevate My Brand
Mike Maynard, Napier – B2B PR and Marketing Agency
Napier B2B PR and Marketing Agency owner Mike Maynard’s top tip for running a successful agency is to have a crystal-clear understanding of your agency’s core competencies and focus your efforts there. He learned this lesson the hard way earlier in his career when Napier took on work outside of its areas of expertise, spreading itself too thin and never being able to put in 100% effort for those clients. Mike says the biggest ongoing challenge is matching your team’s capabilities and bandwidth with your new client pipeline. Having too many or too few employees relative to the workload makes it extremely difficult to deliver top-notch work.
Napier is an integrated B2B PR and marketing agency with expertise in communicating with technical buyers and decision-makers at big companies. While it started as a pure PR firm 40 years ago, Mike has expanded its services to include digital marketing, advertising, content creation, and more during his 22 years of ownership. Napier’s sweet spot is communicating complex technical products and concepts to engineers and others making purchasing decisions on highly technical offerings. Mike touts the firm’s expertise in understanding the B2B buying cycle and engaging the entire buying committee through integrated marketing tactics.
Learn more: Mike Maynard on LinkedIn, Napier – B2B PR and Marketing Agency
Adam Malik, Bloxspring
The key to running a successful agency, according to Adam Malik, Co-founder of Bloxspring, is to hire ambitious people who take initiative and don’t wait for permission to solve problems. One major challenge for agencies is taking on work that generates revenue but proves to be more trouble than it’s worth due to lengthy delivery timelines. Adam advises embracing mistakes as learning opportunities rather than letting them hold you back when starting an agency.
Bloxspring is a marketing agency entirely devoted to serving B2B companies in the real estate and proptech sectors. In April 2020, Adam and his co-founder, with a background in real estate technology, founded Bloxspring. The company offers four primary services: developing marketing and communications strategies, providing PR and media relations to build visibility, executing account-based marketing campaigns, and creating content like whitepapers around product launches. What makes Bloxspring unique is its proprietary analytics platform for measuring the business impact of their work beyond just media coverage.
Learn more: Adam Malik on LinkedIn, Bloxspring
Jesse Resnick, Experience Interaction Digital
Jesse Resnick, Founder of Experience Interaction Digital, believes the key to running a successful agency is understanding accrual accounting and not relying solely on cash-based accounting, which won’t reveal the true financial picture. He emphasizes the importance of balancing great client relationships with delivering high-quality work, as “amazing work done for a client who doesn’t think it’s amazing doesn’t yield that result.” Jesse’s biggest challenge in running his agency is scaling it effectively. This means developing systems and processes to handle growth, going from a team of 5 to 15, 30, 50, and even more employees, all while keeping his team motivated and happy.
Experience Interaction Digital is a full-service agency that provides creative, technology, and marketing solutions with a consumer-first approach. Jesse explains they “develop a strategy and audience target and then reverse engineer great user experiences across digital and physical experiences.” Founded 14 years ago, the agency has evolved to offer additional services like first-party data, CRM, and more B2C work, though their core ethos of prioritizing customer experience has remained consistent. Jesse and his partner Walter have complementary skill sets and a shared vision delivering exceptional customer experiences for their clients.
Learn more: Jesse Resnick on LinkedIn, Experience Interaction Digital
Mike Barker, EI Advisory
Mike Barker, Global Managing Director of EI Advisory, emphasizes building and nurturing client relationships for long-term agency success. Mike said, “We’re in the business of relationships, aren’t we? You can’t ever afford to really screw up.” He advises agencies to focus on growing existing client accounts rather than constantly chasing new business. Mike highlights that accessing potential clients at larger firms, known for their detailed procurement processes, poses a significant challenge. “Getting on those rosters” by working through the proper channels is key for securing new business.
EI Advisory is a B2B marketing agency that has been in operation since 2008, currently with around 22 clients. Mike notes that after previously working with around 40 clients, they purposefully downsized their client base about five or six years ago to provide better service. The agency has seen significant growth in the last half-decade by concentrating on deepening relationships with existing clients. EI Advisory’s ideal clients are larger B2B companies, which Mike says can have challenging 90-day payment terms that require careful cash flow management.
Learn more: Mike Barker on LinkedIn, EI Advisory
Ayo Adepoju, We Plug Good Music
Ayo Adepoju, CEO and Managing Director of We Plug Good Music, says an agency can uphold a trustworthy brand by delivering on promised services. He states, “The way that we have been able to [build trust] is by delivering on the service that we say that we will do.” Ayo also highlights client retention as a major challenge for music PR agencies compared to corporate communications firms, as musicians often only require PR support around new releases rather than year-round. “There isn’t really a strong need to retain a PR firm all year round…when the band is not really doing much,” he notes.
We Plug Good Music is a London-based PR and media company that provides music PR services focusing on press, publicity, and media relations for artists, record labels, and the like. Ayo shares that the agency helps clients get coverage in leading music and culture publications like Complex, Fader, and Pitchfork. While still a music-led company, their ideal clients are simply those “making good and interesting music.” We Plug Good Music has worked with major labels such as Def Jam, Sony, and Platoon, assisting the artists on those labels’ rosters.
Learn more: Ayo Adepoju on LinkedIn, We Plug Good Music
Louise Findlay, Energy PR
According to Louise Findlay, Managing Director of Energy PR, maintaining a healthy work-life balance and embracing change are key tips for running a successful agency. In an ever-evolving industry like public relations, she emphasizes the importance of enthusiasm for change and adaptability, advocating for early adaptation. Additionally, Louise advises employing brilliant individuals who may be more knowledgeable than yourself, as this allows for growth and prevents stagnation. Some challenges she has continually faced include finding and retaining good talent, effectively managing time, and extracting herself from the day-to-day operations as the agency scales.
Energy PR, founded in 1995, is a full-service communications agency serving a mix of B2B and consumer clients. On the B2B side, they work with companies in innovative sectors like science, engineering, energy, the environment, and software development. Their consumer clients are primarily home improvement brands offering products like windows, doors, and furnishings. The agency tailors its approach based on each client’s audience, goals, and how that audience consumes information, spanning media relations, social media, content creation, events, and more. With a lengthy history and clients worldwide, including the New York Toy Fair outside of North America, Energy PR caters to companies at the cutting edge of their respective industries.
Learn more: Louise Findlay on LinkedIn, Energy PR
Jack Nagy, MTA360
Jack Nagy, President of MTA360, suggests that focusing on delivering client results is essential for agency success. “Focus on driving results for a client, focus on fulfillment. Everybody puts sales first. I understand that sales are the lifeblood of an agency,” Jack says. He believes the key to earning money is to excel at fulfilling work, not vice versa. Clients’ skepticism is a major hurdle for agencies, according to Jack, as many have had negative experiences with previous companies that overpromised and underdelivered.
MTA360 specializes in home improvement services, focusing on verticals like HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, and solar. Jack highlights that the agency takes a unique, holistic approach by offering custom-built websites, proprietary SEO software, natural backlink building, and a strategic content product – services that set them apart from competitors. With 20 years in business, MTA360 has extensive research and development experience across 20 home improvement verticals. Jack is proud that the agency has grown every year, attributing this success to their commitment to driving results through their comprehensive suite of services tailored to each client’s needs.
Learn more: Jack Nagy on LinkedIn, MTA360
Ron Sachs, Sachs Media
Ron Sachs, CEO and Founder of Sachs Media, believes that managing cash flow is one of the biggest challenges in running an agency. As the firm grew, he would lose sleep worrying about having enough funds to cover the bimonthly payroll of over $100,000. Ron emphasizes the importance of not growing too quickly and advises agency owners to take on work they can be proud of, even if they disagree with a client’s stance on certain issues. He also believes that the public relations industry has the power to foster positive change and civility in society.
Sachs Media is an integrated marketing and communications firm based in Tallahassee, Florida. Founded by Ron in 1996 after working as a journalist and for two Florida governors, the agency has grown to over 40 employees nationwide. Ron recently transitioned ownership to five younger partners, positioning the firm for continued success in the coming decades. Sachs Media provides various services, including web development, social media, crisis management, and advertising, serving public, private, and non-profit organizations.
Learn more: Ron Sachs on LinkedIn, Sachs Media
Aaron Pearson, BitBranding
Aaron Pearson, Managing Director of BitBranding, emphasizes the importance of serving a specific market exceptionally well and maintaining high-profit margins for agency success. He believes focusing on a niche allows an agency to add significant value and achieve a stable revenue stream. This approach also provides the flexibility to make mistakes and learn from them. According to Aaron, one of the biggest challenges in running an agency is managing people, whether building client relationships or finding the right talent. He notes that business operations become complex when human elements are involved, echoing a common sentiment among agency leaders.
BitBranding, under Aaron’s leadership, is dedicated to growing clothing brands, focusing exclusively on this niche to become a leader in the field. The agency prides itself on its boutique approach, helping smaller brands reach milestones like their first million in revenue and scaling to higher levels. BitBranding typically works with brands aiming to grow from one or two million dollars annually to tens of millions. While they don’t often engage with high-profile names, they focus on adding value to passionate entrepreneurs and those looking to transition from corporate jobs to fulfilling their dreams of owning a clothing brand.
Learn more: Aaron Pearson on LinkedIn, BitBranding
Brett Winn, the refinery creative
When scaling an agency, Brett Winn, Owner of The Refinery Creative, says growth should be organic. He advises that hiring should be done thoughtfully, following the principle of “hire slow, fire fast,” to ensure that the right people join the team. He stresses the significance of defining core values and ensuring they permeate the company to foster a strong, unified culture. Brett highlights the challenges posed by external factors like economic downturns and industry strikes, which can drastically affect rate cards and, thus, staffing and salary structures. Navigating these fluctuations requires balancing core values, like kindness, while making tough business decisions.
The Refinery Creative is a well-established entertainment marketing agency with over 16 years of experience. Specializing in theatrical, broadcast, and streaming media, the agency provides a comprehensive range of services, including print, digital, and AV marketing for movies and TV shows. Their portfolio includes creating trailers, TV spots, social media content, banners, and digital out-of-home advertising. The agency primarily serves major studios, streaming services, networks, and cable distributors. Founded by Brett and his partners Adam Waldman and Brad Hochberg, who all came from Trailer Park, the agency has grown from a small team of eight people to a robust organization of 165, maintaining its creative and client-focused ethos throughout its expansion.
Learn more: Brett Winn on LinkedIn, the refinery creative
Peter Malick, InboundAV
A strong company culture and exceptional client service are paramount to running a successful agency, according to Peter Malick, Founder and CEO of InboundAV. Peter advises dedicating substantial time to building a mutually supportive culture, even in a remote work environment with team members across five countries. He notes that this supportive atmosphere makes employees look forward to work daily. Moreover, Peter highlights the importance of being detailed and clear in client service, with a strict approach to outlining expectations upfront. This approach, he believes, is crucial for avoiding misunderstandings and fostering strong client relationships.
Peter’s agency, InboundAV, evolved from his extensive background in the music industry, where he worked as a professional musician and later transitioned into marketing. Initially serving clients in the musical instrument sector, InboundAV has grown to become a HubSpot Platinum partner, specializing in marketing automation, API integrations, web design, and development. The agency aims to understand each client’s comprehensive needs, providing tailored solutions. Peter is passionate about working with mid-market companies and promising startups, driven by the potential to foster substantial growth and enhance their creative potential.
Learn more: Peter Malick on LinkedIn, InboundAV
Melanie Querry, Beyond Spots and Dots
Melanie Querry, Owner of Beyond Spots & Dots, emphasizes the critical importance of effective communication in running a successful agency, especially in the post-COVID era. She notes that while remote work has benefits, it can lead to a significant loss in communication and collaboration, both essential in communication-intensive fields. Melanie highlights the necessity of using various communication methods, including phone calls and video conferences, to ensure team members remain connected and effective. She recounts an instance where a team member struggled to contact a client, underscoring the need to use all available tools to maintain strong communication channels.
Beyond Spots & Dots is a full-service advertising agency founded by Melanie. The agency operates as an outsourced marketing department for businesses, offering services such as traditional media (TV, radio, print, and outdoor), TV and video production, social media management, web development, and public relations. With 18 years of experience in digital advertising campaigns, Beyond Spots & Dots caters to medium- to large-sized businesses and nonprofits. Melanie describes their ideal clients as those who need professional marketing expertise but cannot afford to hire a full in-house team or those with small marketing departments looking to expand their capabilities without the overhead of additional staff.
Learn more: Melanie Querry on LinkedIn, Beyond Spots & Dots
Eric McGehearty, Globe Runner
Eric McGehearty, CEO of Globe Runner, says assembling the right team is essential for agency success, noting that a top performer can be worth three times that of a mediocre employee. Despite his 15 years in business, Eric faces challenges in identifying and retaining top-performing employees. He also stresses the necessity of understanding your financials intimately, advising agency leaders to use comprehensive dashboards that integrate data from various sources to track profitability accurately. Eric’s biggest challenge has been maintaining the right-sized staff for the fluctuating client base, highlighting the importance of balancing fixed and variable expenses to match the agency’s current client needs.
Founded 15 years ago, Globe Runner is a full-service digital marketing agency specializing in SEO that leverages its expertise to deliver exceptional ROI for clients. Alongside SEO, the agency offers services in paid search, content creation, and website development aimed at lead generation and e-commerce sales. Globe Runner primarily serves mid-market companies with revenues between $5 million and $250 million, acting as an extension of their marketing departments. It also serves Fortune 1000 clients but prides itself on catering to underserved markets, avoiding the competition that saturates specialized niches like dentistry.
Learn more: Eric McGehearty on LinkedIn, Globe Runner
Greg Benevent, Website Depot
According to Greg Benevent, Senior Content Director at Website Depot, a successful agency tailors services to each client’s unique needs. Greg explains that even though they offer various packages, customization is crucial, whether for a hands-on client who wants to be involved in every detail or for a hands-off client who only wants to see results. The constant struggle lies in tailoring services to meet each client’s needs, ensuring long-term partnerships and repeat business.
Website Depot Inc. is an award-winning Google Partner specializing in website design and development. With a team of experienced web designers and developers, the agency creates SEO-friendly websites that stand out in search engine results. Their clients span various sectors, including businesses, celebrities, and non-profit organizations. The agency prides itself on offering low-fee monthly maintenance packages and comprehensive online services, ensuring that even those new to the internet can successfully manage their online presence. Website Depot’s most successful clients have been attorneys and rehab treatment centers, but they are also expanding their services to blue-collar industries like HVAC and home improvement.
Learn more: Greg Benevent on LinkedIn, Website Depot
Joseph Levi, Noise Media
When building a successful agency, Joseph Levi, CEO & Co-founder of Noise Media, emphasizes the importance of resilience and focus. “If you’re starting an agency, you have to be very good at dealing with rejection,” he advises. The initial stages require a relentless hustle to win new business, making it crucial to have a clear niche and excel in it, like how Noise Media began with a strong focus on social media. Joseph highlights the challenge of scaling, as growth demands strategic hiring and managing variables beyond their control, such as client budget cuts or internal changes.
Noise Media, a digital marketing agency founded five years ago, excels at helping brands grow and scale through comprehensive services in strategy, paid media, creative, and influencer marketing. Joseph shares that their ideal clients are scale-ups, with current projects including digital marketing for well-known brands like TaskRabbit and JustPark. Despite their focus on larger companies, Noise Media also caters to startups and SMEs, showcasing their versatility and commitment to driving growth for a diverse clientele.
Learn more: Joseph Levi on LinkedIn, Noise Media
Candace MacDonald, Carbonate Group
Candace MacDonald, Co-founder & Managing Director of Carbonate Group, emphasizes the importance of focusing on people while building a successful agency. “You are in the people business,” she states, noting that the true value an agency offers is its talented team. Success hinges on training and retaining skilled individuals. A significant challenge she highlights is finding and attracting clients that align with the agency’s strengths. Candace underscores the necessity of a consultative sales approach, understanding clients’ needs holistically, and knowing when to take on projects or pass them on to others.
Carbonate Group is a creative strategy and communications firm specializing in the hospitality industry. The agency serves food and beverage brands, restaurants, hotels, and food tech companies, offering services like brand strategy, visual identity development, and comprehensive marketing design. On the communications front, they handle social media, influencer marketing, and paid social campaigns. While they cater to large international corporations, their core clientele comprises small to medium-sized businesses. Candace notes that their boutique size of 14 full-time employees allows for adaptability and deep integration with clients, ensuring tailored and effective strategies.
Learn more: Candace MacDonald on LinkedIn, Carbonate Group
Steven Muro, Fusion
According to Steven Muro, Founder/President of Fusion, passion is the key to running a successful agency. “You have to be passionate and feel like you’re on the client’s team,” Steven emphasizes. He views the agency’s success as inextricably linked to the success of its clients. Beyond passion, Steven highlights the importance of responding effectively to RFPs, pricing correctly, and managing scope creep. Maintaining a motivated and proud staff is another crucial aspect that contributes to Fusion’s low turnover rate, especially among younger employees. One persistent challenge Steven faces is convincing potential clients of the value of external research, as many rely heavily on their own, often flawed, perceptions.
Fusion is a niche agency specializing in the produce industry, focusing on fruits, vegetables, and fresh foods. Steven explains that Fusion operates as a B2B agency, working with notable clients like the California Avocados Commission, the National Watermelon Promotion Board, and Zespri Kiwifruit. The agency’s operations encompass research and data analytics, creative marketing, and strategy. Typically, Fusion starts with comprehensive research to understand clients’ competitive landscapes and uses these insights to develop targeted marketing strategies and campaigns. Over its 27 years in operation, Fusion has built a reputation for its expertise in the fresh food sector and its commitment to data-driven marketing approaches.
Learn more: Steven Muro on LinkedIn, Fusion
Alex Sunshine, Rising Suns Agency
Learn more: Alex Sunshine on LinkedIn, Rising Suns Agency
James La Barrie, Beyond Marketing
According to James La Barrie running a successful agency starts with a firm understanding of core values. This clarity helps in making decisions, selecting clients, and hiring employees who align with the organization’s ethos. James emphasizes the importance of not hiring solely based on skills but considering how individuals fit within the team culture. He also highlights the necessity of taking care of employees by offering flexibility, such as 32-hour work weeks, and cautions against chasing money at the expense of quality and continuity.
Now in its 11th year, Beyond Marketing offers comprehensive digital marketing services including website design, pay-per-click advertising, brand strategy, graphic design, and copywriting. James and his team pride themselves on their strategic approach to marketing, focusing on word-of-mouth alongside digital strategies. This dual focus helps their clients create strong, sustainable marketing outcomes by exceeding customer expectations at every interaction point, turning customers into effective advocates for the business.
Learn more: James La Barrie on LinkedIn, Beyond Marketing
Wandia Chiuri, Reactionpower
According to Wandia Chiuri, the keys to running a successful agency are to always put the customer first and to ensure you demonstrate passion in your work. Wandia emphasizes that paying attention to customer needs and hiring passionate, skilled individuals are critical for maintaining enthusiasm and delivering quality service. She also highlights the challenge of managing relationships in the agency business, noting that sometimes success depends more on relationships than merit, which can be heartbreaking when excellent performance is not enough to retain business.
Reactionpower focuses on building personal brands for high-profile clients, including executives, fast-growing companies, politicians, and celebrities. The agency is distinguished by its data-driven approach, employing data scientists to leverage NLP, AI, and computer vision to inform branding strategies. Their ideal clients are tech executives and product officers who prioritize digital innovation and appreciate data-driven decision-making, aiming to strengthen global partnerships and enhance their personal brands through strategic insights and risk mitigation.
Learn more: Wandia Chiuri on LinkedIn, Reactionpower
Jessica Rhodes, Interview Connections
Jessica Rhodes says the key to running a successful agency is to invest in a solid team. She notes that while effective marketing and sales strategies can attract clients, maintaining long-term satisfaction requires a dedicated and skilled team. Jessica highlights the importance of providing consistent, high-quality service from the initial marketing contact through the entire client experience. She also notes the challenge of maintaining profitability, balancing the costs of high-level employees, and ensuring that services are priced appropriately to sustain the business.
Interview Connections, established by Jessica in 2013, is the first podcast booking agency and has secured over 30,000 podcast interviews for more than 800 clients in the past 11 years. The agency offers a high-touch, concierge-level service that includes creating media kits, strategizing podcast goals, conducting research and pitching, and providing coaching on monetizing interviews. Jessica and her team cater to clients ranging from new business owners seeking visibility to established entrepreneurs looking to expand their audience. Their ideal clients often require educational conversations to convert prospects, making Interview Connections’ personalized approach particularly effective.
Learn more: Jessica Rhodes on LinkedIn, Interview Connections
Nathan Lomax, Quick Fire Digital
One of Nathan Lomax’s top tips for running a successful agency is to surround yourself with peers and mentors with more experience. Nathan emphasizes the importance of learning from bigger agencies and maintaining peer-to-peer networks to discuss common challenges and frustrations. He also highlights the constant challenge of balancing work volume with staffing, often fluctuating between too much work and not enough personnel and vise versa. This tightrope walk requires effective resource planning and a proactive approach to client acquisition and retention.
Founded on June 1st, 2017, Quick Fire Digital initially offered a wide range of services before niching down to specialize in Shopify in 2019. This focus allowed the agency to hone its expertise and deliver deeper value to its clients. Now a 30-member team, the agency primarily serves mid-market brands with revenues between $1 and $30 million. Its services include improving conversion rates, maximizing customer value, and project migrations from other e-commerce platforms to Shopify. By focusing exclusively on Shopify, Quick Fire Digital stays ahead of new features and updates, ensuring they provide top-notch service to their clients.
Learn more: Nathan Lomax on LinkedIn, Quick Fire Digital
Jeff Gapinski, Huemor Designs
According to Jeff Gapinski the key to running a successful agency lies in prioritizing your team’s well-being and developing a robust client acquisition process. Jeff maintains that the greatest asset of any agency is its people; their expertise and dedication drive the business forward. Additionally, he warns against relying solely on referrals for client acquisition, as this can hinder growth and scalability. Jeff advises agencies to invest in strategies that consistently build a client pipeline, acknowledging that this can be particularly challenging for smaller agencies but is essential for progression. One significant challenge Jeff mentions is avoiding becoming a bottleneck as the agency grows, highlighting the importance of streamlining processes and delegating responsibilities effectively.
Huemor Designs, founded by Jeff, is a digital agency renowned for building some of the best websites on the internet. The agency primarily serves mid-market businesses with annual revenues between $25 to $100 million, though it also collaborates with larger companies and funded startups. Huemor’s impressive client roster includes well-known names like 23andMe, Live Nation, NBC Sports, and Boston Dynamics. The agency’s commitment to excellence and innovation has established it as a go-to partner for businesses looking to enhance their digital presence.
Learn more: Jeff Lapinski on LinkedIn, Huemor Designs
Danish Bhat, Demand Infotech
Danish Bhat emphasizes the importance of transparency and relationship-building in running a successful agency. Danish believes that being personally involved with clients from the initial meeting through the entire project lifecycle helps build trust and ensures client satisfaction. He advocates for providing trial campaigns at no cost to demonstrate service value, which helps gain clients’ confidence. The most significant challenges Danish faced initially were fitting into enterprise client criteria and handling large projects, which he has overcome by scaling his operations to handle multiple clients simultaneously.
Demand Infotech, established in 2004, has grown to employ over 350 professionals and operates seven offices globally, including locations in the UAE, Malaysia, Singapore, the UK, the US, Turkey, and the Philippines. The agency specializes in demand generation marketing, offering a range of services such as content marketing, account-based marketing, lead generation, and tele-prospecting. They cater to a diverse clientele, including industry giants like IBM, Cisco, Adobe, and HCL Technologies, across various sectors such as IT, SaaS, manufacturing, and healthcare. Their multi-channel approach and partnerships with platforms like ZoomInfo and Foundry enable them to provide comprehensive marketing solutions and data-driven strategies for their clients.
Learn more: Danish Bhat on LinkedIn, Demand Infotech
Ben Kalkman, Rocket Media
Ben Kalkman advises agency leaders to understand and connect with their teams and clients. “Know your people and meet them where they are,” he says, highlighting that acknowledging diverse personalities strengthens an agency. Ben also stresses the significance of delighting customers, focusing on quality over quantity. A major challenge he faces is engaging clients across various states, which he addresses through thoughtful, small gestures that build lasting relationships.
Rocket Media, now in its 21st year, began as a true startup in Ben’s home. From its humble beginnings, it has grown to a 30-employee firm specializing in the home services sector. Initially serving a heating and cooling company, Rocket Media now focuses on clients in the heating, plumbing, electrical, and solar industries. Despite changes over the years, including a shift to a largely remote workforce during the pandemic, Rocket Media remains dedicated to providing exceptional service to its home service clients, maintaining its niche focus and local engagement.
Learn more: Ben Kalkman on LinkedIn, Rocket Media
Chris Marine, Campfire Consulting
Chris Marine, the Founder and CEO of Campfire consulting, says having a cohesive team aligned with your company’s values is essential for running a successful agency. He notes that while it may sound cliché, a dedicated team is crucial, especially in a niche field where they are paving new paths. Chris believes in fostering a strong culture through initiatives like a four-and-a-half-day work week and remote work options, which improve team morale and work-life balance. However, he acknowledges that maintaining effective collaboration in a remote setting remains a significant challenge, which he addresses through bi-annual retreats to build deeper connections.
Campfire Consulting — rebranded from its original focus on channel strategy media planning and buying — has evolved to emphasize impact consulting using the B Corp framework. The agency now integrates marketing strategy with sustainability efforts to bridge the gap between impact and marketing teams. By working closely with clients like Stonyfield Organic, Campfire Consulting helps transform their sustainability initiatives into compelling stories, enhancing both their influence and market presence. This unique approach has positioned the agency as a leader in purpose-driven consulting over its seven-year journey.
Learn more: Chris Marine on LinkedIn, Campfire Consulting
Kevin Daisey, Array Digital
Kevin Daisey emphasizes the importance of stepping out of the technician role to focus on the business itself. He maintains that foundational elements such as core values, mission statements, and visions are crucial, even if they seem trivial at first. Building a solid foundation promotes a strong culture, which facilitates effective processes and scalability. Kevin stresses the necessity of having strategic plans for every action and process-driven activities. This structured approach enhances efficiency and makes employees feel secure and better equipped to perform their tasks.
Array Digital serves law firms across various practice areas nationwide, focusing on web development, SEO, content creation, and search advertising. The agency leverages industry-specific podcasts to establish thought leadership and build trust within its niche. Array Digital’s commitment to organic growth and tailored marketing strategies has made the agency a preferred partner for law firms seeking to enhance their online presence and client acquisition efforts.
Learn more: Kevin Daisey on LinkedIn, Array Digital, Crush Digital, Rival Digital
Atif & Maazin Fazil, GoFunnels
According to business partners Atif and Maazin Fazil, the key to running a successful agency today involves a deep understanding of evolving marketing platforms and algorithm optimization. Atif emphasizes the importance of staying attuned to how algorithms work, noting that the old methods of defining and targeting audiences have shifted significantly. Now, trusting the algorithm to identify your audience is crucial. He advises agencies to create diverse content that engages customers through multiple touch points, increasing from an average of seven to 15. Additionally, ensuring that data is sent as far down the funnel as possible, such as tracking qualified leads or conversions, optimizes the algorithm’s performance. Maazin highlights the challenge of acquiring and retaining top talent, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of high-level funnel technology, as a critical aspect of scaling their operations.
Under Maazin and Atif’s leadership, GoFunnels has positioned itself as a growth partner for marketing agencies. Established as a backend technical fulfillment provider, GoFunnels offers comprehensive services, including branded fulfillment, automations, and AI workflows, all delivered in a white-labeled manner. This allows client agencies to focus on acquiring new customers while GoFunnels handles the backend operations. The agency prides itself on its flexible and tool-agnostic approach, supporting platforms like ClickFunnels, Kajabi, Shopify, and more. GoFunnels’ ideal clients are agencies with a minimum monthly revenue of $30k and a team of at least three, ensuring they have the foundational elements in place. GoFunnels’ remote team, sourced globally from regions like Pakistan, the Philippines, and Nigeria, undergoes rigorous training to meet the company’s high standards of communication and performance, ensuring seamless integration with client operations.
Learn more: Mastiff Fazil on LinkedIn, Atif Fazil on LinkedIn, GoFunnels
Martin Kier, Brand Buddy
Martin Kier emphasizes flexibility when it comes to running a successful agency. While many advocate for niching down, Martin advises against putting all your eggs in one basket. By working across multiple industries, the risk is diversified, and the agency remains dynamic and innovative. He believes that experiences from one sector can often be applied to another, which keeps learning continuous and engaging.
Founded in 2018, Brand Buddy quickly gained traction in 2019 under Martin’s leadership. The agency offers a comprehensive range of digital marketing services, including SEO, web design, Google ads, social media ads, SMS marketing, and email marketing. While they are open to working with businesses of various types and sizes, they have found notable success in the e-commerce space. Martin and his team enjoy collaborating with both e-commerce and service-based businesses, including general trades, ensuring that Brand Buddy caters to a diverse clientele.
Learn more: Martin Kier on LinkedIn, Brand Buddy
Matt Miller, X FCTR
Matt Miller says you need to find trustworthy partners and invest in relationships to have a thriving and successful agency. Despite the unexpected hurdles like launching an experiential agency right before the pandemic, Matt underscores the significance of collaborative partnerships built on mutual trust and shared vision. He highlights the resilience required to navigate unforeseen circumstances, exemplified by his agency’s pivot to digital marketing during the pandemic to continue delivering value to clients.
X-FCTR, co-founded by Matt Miller and his partners, specializes in brand experiences and experiential marketing. Founded just before the pandemic, the agency’s journey reflects adaptability and innovation. Its expertise lies in amplifying brand engagement through various channels, including face-to-face interactions, mobile tours, and influencer marketing. With a diverse client portfolio spanning retail, healthcare, automotive, and sports marketing, X-FCTR leverages its experiential background to create impactful campaigns and activations. From high-profile events like the Super Bowl and the Kentucky Derby to grassroots initiatives, the agency excels in driving audience engagement and brand visibility.
Learn more: Matt Miller on LinkedIn, X-FCTR
Robin Dolch, Hundred Stories
Robin Dolch urges agency owners not to become complacent when running a successful agency. Robin learned this the hard way during the pandemic, which forced her to rebuild her agency from the ground up. She discovered that stepping back too much and trusting others without proper oversight could lead to significant setbacks. Robin now ensures she remains actively involved in critical aspects of the agency, balancing trust with vigilance to prevent future oversights. Her key tip for agency leaders is to always stay engaged and never take success for granted, as unforeseen challenges can arise at any time.
Under Robin’s leadership, Hundred Stories has thrived for 15 years as a boutique agency specializing in luxury real estate. The agency handles a wide range of projects, from interior design and architecture to hospitality and new developments, including high-end residential properties and large-scale multifamily buildings. They work with prestigious clients such as Christie’s International, offering comprehensive services that encompass everything from financing to construction. Robin’s agency is renowned for its cradle-to-grave approach, ensuring that every detail of a project is meticulously managed, which has attracted a discerning clientele who value expertise and personalized service in the luxury real estate market.
Learn more: Robin Dolch on LinkedIn, Hundred Stories
Nicholas Rubright, Ranko Media
According to Nicholas Rubright, a critical tip for running a thriving agency is to master your marketing channels before hiring sales personnel. Nicholas encourages founders to understand these channels intimately, whether through cold email outreach, LinkedIn messages, SEO strategies, or other means. He highlights a common pitfall he experienced when trying to hire a salesperson before fully grasping the marketing strategy himself. Additionally, Nicholas acknowledges the challenge of hiring sales staff who possess the expertise to effectively communicate the agency’s offerings, especially in complex niches. The struggle to find individuals who can convey authority and close deals adds complexity to agency operations.
Ranko Media specializes in full-stack SEO and digital PR services, adhering strictly to White Hat practices. The agency’s digital PR approach integrates traditional strategies into online platforms, focusing on link acquisition, brand visibility, and reputation management. The agency serves a diverse clientele, ranging from major corporations like Twilio and Webex to local businesses such as barber shops. Regardless of the client’s scale, Ranko Media applies the same level of dedication to each project, recognizing that the effort invested in SEO and digital PR remains consistent across various business sizes.
Learn more: Nicholas Rubright on LinkedIn, Ranko Media
Omar Karim, MAB Digital Marketing
One of the most daunting aspects of agency management, according to Omar Karim, is maintaining long-term client relationships while ensuring the sustainability of creative services. He highlights the inevitable fatigue that accompanies creative endeavors over time, emphasizing the need for agencies to continually refresh their approach to creativity and innovation. Additionally, he acknowledges the challenges of managing fluctuating client relationships, particularly when facing turnover in management or executive positions, which can impact client retention. Despite the competitive nature of the industry and the inevitable loss of clients, Omar advises embracing these obstacles as opportunities for growth and renewal, allowing agencies to evolve and improve with each new client engagement.
MAB Digital Marketing boasts a rich history spanning over 22 years in the digital marketing realm. Offering a comprehensive suite of services, MAB stands out for its ability to seamlessly blend design and storytelling. Specializing in everything from media planning to technical architecture and performance marketing, MAB prides itself on delivering transparent results tied back to analytics and performance metrics. With a diverse clientele spanning various industries, including industrial manufacturing, health and fitness, medical services, and consumer products, MAB Digital Marketing showcases its adaptability and expertise in catering to a wide range of client needs.
Learn more: Omar Karim in LinkedIn, MAB Digital Marketing
Christopher Suchánek, Firm Media
Firm Media’s Lead SEO and Content Specialist, Christopher Suchánek, shares this top tip for agency success: prioritize greatness over pleasing everyone. He emphasizes the importance of striving for excellence rather than conforming to mass expectations, as true innovation often challenges conventional norms. Christopher says to focus on impactful, meaningful work that resonates with audiences, even if it means foregoing popular trends or conventional recognition.
Firm Media is a leading marketing agency that specializes in blending traditional and digital marketing strategies. With over 16 years of experience, the agency has garnered numerous accolades, including the prestigious Agency of the Year award from the American Advertising Federation. Firm Media’s core focus is providing tailored marketing solutions for specialty medical practices, including plastic and oral surgery and periodontics. Their boutique approach ensures market exclusivity, partnering with only one doctor per major metropolitan area.
Learn more:Christopher Suchánek on LinkedIn, Firm Media