I scaled my lead gen agency to 100k/mo in less than 2 years
If I was starting a new agency from scratch and wanted to scale to 100k/mo as fast as possible, these are the 5 things I’d do differently:
If I was starting a new agency from scratch and wanted to scale to 100k/mo as fast as possible, these are the 5 things I’d do differently:
The agency model is alive and well
I work with 200+ agency owners in Client Ascension and the wins channel is constantly active
Are there other business models that work?
100%
But anyone telling you the agency model is dead is only saying it so they can sell you another model
I work with 200+ agency owners in Client Ascension and the wins channel is constantly active
Are there other business models that work?
100%
But anyone telling you the agency model is dead is only saying it so they can sell you another model
Here's how my agency journey started:
About 3 years ago, me and my biz partners decided we’d try starting an agency where we'd help "knowledge experts" monetize their skills online
The goal was to create a business that gave us a nice income and lifestyle...
About 3 years ago, me and my biz partners decided we’d try starting an agency where we'd help "knowledge experts" monetize their skills online
The goal was to create a business that gave us a nice income and lifestyle...
Pretty quickly, we ran into tons of problems, the biggest being people didn't want what we were selling aka our offer SUCKED
We were working 12 hour days while also burning thousands of dollars on Facebook ads (basically donating to Zucks MMA lessons)
We were working 12 hour days while also burning thousands of dollars on Facebook ads (basically donating to Zucks MMA lessons)
At this point, we could have easily said "the agency model is dead" and jumped to a different business model, but that would have delayed our eventual success
Instead, we realized the business model wasn't the problem, our offer sucking was the problem
Instead, we realized the business model wasn't the problem, our offer sucking was the problem
We also realized we were really good at the lead gen part of what our previous offer consisted of, and we even heard from our prospects that this was their biggest desire/pain point
So at that point, we decided to rework our offer to help "knowledge experts" with lead gen
So at that point, we decided to rework our offer to help "knowledge experts" with lead gen
After months of work, we figured it out, and in 2022 we grew the agency to over $100k/mo in revenue
If I was starting an agency from scratch and wanted to get to $100k/mo as fast as possible, these are the 5 things I’d do differently:
If I was starting an agency from scratch and wanted to get to $100k/mo as fast as possible, these are the 5 things I’d do differently:
1. Sacrifice Margins Sooner
When I first started, I was hesitant to cut too deep into margins. We were re-investing in the business, but not in the right areas.
If I was starting over, I would invest in:
- Hiring a killer team
- Coaching/mentorship
- Growing my personal brand
When I first started, I was hesitant to cut too deep into margins. We were re-investing in the business, but not in the right areas.
If I was starting over, I would invest in:
- Hiring a killer team
- Coaching/mentorship
- Growing my personal brand
2. Invest In Multiple Marketing Channels
In the beginning, we were able to scale to 30-50k/mo with lead flow primarily from cold email and Twitter
But what happens if Twitter goes dark (kinda like what's happening now) or if cold email got banned?
In the beginning, we were able to scale to 30-50k/mo with lead flow primarily from cold email and Twitter
But what happens if Twitter goes dark (kinda like what's happening now) or if cold email got banned?
If you want to scale confidently in 2023, diversify your traffic sources.
Some channels to consider:
- SEO
- Paid ads
- Content marketing (YouTube, IG, TikTok)
- Podcasts
Study your target market to determine what channels make most sense for your business!
Some channels to consider:
- SEO
- Paid ads
- Content marketing (YouTube, IG, TikTok)
- Podcasts
Study your target market to determine what channels make most sense for your business!
3. Hire Faster
For almost 1.5 years, my agency was run by myself and by 2 biz partners (@cbwritescopy and @dancrowley1212)
That's basically it
Right around 30-50k, we hit a wall
At this point, I was spending 8 hours a day managing inboxes for clients
Not scalable
For almost 1.5 years, my agency was run by myself and by 2 biz partners (@cbwritescopy and @dancrowley1212)
That's basically it
Right around 30-50k, we hit a wall
At this point, I was spending 8 hours a day managing inboxes for clients
Not scalable
I had to let go of certain tasks, otherwise I would have burned out and the business would have ultimately failed
I also had to learn how to properly hire someone because I've never done that before
I also had to learn how to properly hire someone because I've never done that before
If you're looking to hire, make sure you:
- Clearly define the role and responsibilities
- Interview multiple candidates
- Prepare training and SOPs
- Sell them on the vision
- Pay them well
And as @garyvee likes to say, hire fast, fire faster, promote fastest
- Clearly define the role and responsibilities
- Interview multiple candidates
- Prepare training and SOPs
- Sell them on the vision
- Pay them well
And as @garyvee likes to say, hire fast, fire faster, promote fastest
4. Client Selection
Sure, when you're first starting, it makes sense to work with anyone you can just so you can experience the learning process of discovering who you really should be working with...
Sure, when you're first starting, it makes sense to work with anyone you can just so you can experience the learning process of discovering who you really should be working with...
But as you scale, if you don't get more selective on who you take on as clients, you will churn and burn all day long
Especially for a service like lead gen
After some nightmare experiences, we learned things to look for and things to avoid
Especially for a service like lead gen
After some nightmare experiences, we learned things to look for and things to avoid
Now, we evaluate clients based on qualification parameters that give us more confidence in getting them an ROI, such as:
- Close rate
- Sales process
- MRR
- Culture fit
- Team
This allows us to focus on getting better results for better clients.
Less churn = less headaches
- Close rate
- Sales process
- MRR
- Culture fit
- Team
This allows us to focus on getting better results for better clients.
Less churn = less headaches
5. Coaching/Mentorship
I've always been one to invest in courses and info products
But knowing what I know now, all these learnings that cost us 2 years and hundreds of thousands of dollars were in high ticket coaching programs, not the $97 courses
I've always been one to invest in courses and info products
But knowing what I know now, all these learnings that cost us 2 years and hundreds of thousands of dollars were in high ticket coaching programs, not the $97 courses
Even recently, investing $15k in Cole Gordon's program has rocketed my revenue and growth as a business owner
The right coaching program will significantly reduce your learning curve when you're first getting started
The right coaching program will significantly reduce your learning curve when you're first getting started
Learning from people who already have what you want is the easiest way to cut the time to success.
Investing in a coaching program is no joke!
I remember @scottcmillard saying his Client Ascension enrollment was worth more than his car lol
Investing in a coaching program is no joke!
I remember @scottcmillard saying his Client Ascension enrollment was worth more than his car lol
So what's important is you properly vet the programs you're considering joining
Look for things like:
- Student success stories
- Culture and community
- Proven coaches
- Money back guarantee
- 6 months minimum
Look for things like:
- Student success stories
- Culture and community
- Proven coaches
- Money back guarantee
- 6 months minimum
If you are an agency or B2B business owner and you want to speed up the process to scale to 100k, consider joining Client Ascension
We guarantee you'll add a minimum of $10k/mo in new biz or you don't pay!
Learn more here: ClientAscension.com
We guarantee you'll add a minimum of $10k/mo in new biz or you don't pay!
Learn more here: ClientAscension.com
And that's a wrap!
Let me know where you're at with your agency and what is currently holding you back from scaling to $100k/mo
And if you got value from this thread, please RT the first tweet and share this with a fellow agency owner
And follow @andrehaykaljr for more value!
Let me know where you're at with your agency and what is currently holding you back from scaling to $100k/mo
And if you got value from this thread, please RT the first tweet and share this with a fellow agency owner
And follow @andrehaykaljr for more value!
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