In this episode of Agency Bites, I'm thrilled to chat with John Tsourakis, the owner and president of Oyova, a dynamic national marketing and web development agency. Jon has an inspiring story about his journey into the agency world, and I can't wait for you to hear how Oyova has evolved over the years and the lessons Jon has learned along the way.

We dive into the challenges that agencies face in today’s ever-changing market and discuss the critical role of niche marketing and how personalized service can help retain clients. Jon shares his valuable insights on adapting to market conditions and his exciting plans for future growth, including potential acquisitions.

To wrap things up, we have some fun with rapid-fire questions that reveal personal insights and practical business advice. Join us for what promises to be an engaging and informative conversation!

Key Bytes

• Jon's journey into the agency space began after leaving a family business.

• The merger of Oyova in 2019 led to rapid growth initially.

• The agency faced challenges due to economic downturns and client pullbacks.

• Niche marketing is crucial for agency success in a competitive landscape.

• Client retention is achieved through personalized, white glove service.

• The agency offers a digital marketing suite and web development services.

• Future growth strategies include focusing on specialization and potential acquisitions.

• Maintaining a healthy billing rate is essential for agency profitability.

• The agency space is evolving, and adaptation is key to survival.

• It's important to push oneself beyond perceived limits to achieve success.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Agency Bites and Guest Background

02:30 The Evolution of Oyova and Market Challenges

06:53 Niche Marketing: The Key to Agency Success

11:14 Client Retention and White Glove Service

14:55 Service Offerings: Digital Marketing and Web Development

21:02 Future Outlook: Adaptation and Growth Strategies

27:38Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Thoughts

In episode 089 of Agency Bites, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dan Englander, CEO of Sales Schema. We dove into the world of strategic sales planning for marketing agencies and unpacked some of the biggest challenges agency owners face—things like relying too much on referrals, struggling with time, and not having a clear idea of their target market.  

Dan breaks down why building trust and leveraging connections is so critical for effective outreach, and we talk about where automation fits (and doesn’t fit) into the sales process. He also explains why it’s so important to create a solid sales system before you start hiring salespeople, and how understanding sales cycles can help set better expectations.  

We also touch on hiring the right salesperson and why the human element in sales can’t be overlooked. And of course, we wrap up with some fun rapid-fire questions that give us a glimpse into Dan’s personal and professional side. 

If you’re an agency owner looking to make your sales process smoother, more human, and more effective—this one’s for you!

Key Bytes

• Many agencies rely too much on referrals for growth.

• Lack of time and clarity are major stumbling blocks for agency owners.

• Outbound sales should start as a clarity-building exercise.

• Agencies should define their target markets and specialize.

• Building trust is crucial in a competitive landscape.

• Leveraging connections can enhance outreach effectiveness.

• Automation in sales processes is essential but quality matters.

• Most agency clients have owner-led sales teams.

• It's important to build a sales system before hiring a salesperson.

• Understanding sales cycles is key to setting expectations.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Agency Growth Strategies

01:50 The Importance of Strategic Sales Planning

04:41 Overcoming Common Agency Growth Challenges

09:10 Building Trust in a Competitive Landscape

12:52 Leveraging Connections for Effective Outreach

15:24 The Role of Automation in Sales Processes

18:46 Creating a Sales System Before Hiring

21:55 Understanding Sales Cycles and Expectations

26:51 The Human Element in Sales

Dan Englander is the CEO and Founder of Sales Schema, a fractional new business team for marketing agencies, and he hosts The Digital Agency Growth Podcast.  Previously Dan was the first employee head of new business at IdeaRocket, and before that, Account Coordinator at DXagency.  He's also the author of Relationship Sales at Scale: How to Find Your Virtual Tribe and Reliably Grow Your Professional Service Business, Mastering Account Management and The B2B Sales Blueprint.  In his spare time, he enjoys developing new aches and pains via Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and spending time with his wife Sarah and their son Adrian in NYC.

Contact Dan:

www.salesschema.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/danenglander/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/sales-schema/?viewAsMember=true

https://www.facebook.com/salesschema

Ep 088 – Mario Lanzarotti, Zen-Preneurs – Mindful Agency Ownership

In this episode of Agency Bites, I sat down with Mario Lanzarotti, a business strategist who transformed his entrepreneurial journey through mindfulness and personal growth to focus on joy and making an impact. Mario shared his powerful story of starting an e-commerce business in New York, experiencing a pivotal panic attack that led him to meditation, and ultimately discovering the importance of emotional processing and redefining success. Through practices like Transcendental Meditation and plant medicine ceremonies, Mario developed his Zenpreneur method, which emphasizes that who you are being is more important than what you are doing. We dove deep into how entrepreneurs can break free from the hustle culture, process underlying emotional barriers, and create a more intentional, fulfilling business path. Mario's journey is a testament to the power of choice, inner work, and understanding that true success goes far beyond financial metrics.

Key Takeaways

• Mario's journey began in New York City with an e-commerce brand.

• Entrepreneurship is often perceived as a path to freedom.

• Stress can lead to a realization that something is off in life.

• Meditation provided Mario with a tool to regain control.

• Success is not just about financial gain but also personal happiness.

• The Landmark Forum helped Mario understand the power of choice.

• Agency owners often feel overwhelmed by information overload.

• Emotional processing is crucial for personal and professional growth.

• Redefining success can lead to a more fulfilling life.

• Who you are being is more important than what you are doing.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Zenpreneurship

01:00 Mario's Entrepreneurial Journey

04:31 The Turning Point: From Stress to Meditation

10:30 Discovering the Power of Choice

15:05 The Shift from Hustle to Zen

20:04 Emotional Processing and Personal Growth

25:13 Redefining Success Beyond Money

30:05 The Matrix of Entrepreneurship

32:07 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Thoughts

Mario Lanzarotti is a pioneer in transforming the way agency owners scale their businesses, combining high-performance strategies with inner peace and sustainable success. After successfully exiting his first company, Awl & Sundry, in 2019, Mario embarked on a global journey that led to the creation of the Zenpreneur method—an innovative approach that empowers entrepreneurs to achieve 7-figure success without sacrificing their well-being.

Today, Mario is leading a movement that redefines entrepreneurial success by integrating wealth creation with self-mastery and mindful leadership. He specializes in guiding agency owners from overwhelmed solopreneurs to confident CEOs who build scalable businesses while maintaining freedom, control, and a lasting impact.

With over 1,000 business owners coached, Mario has left an indelible mark on the entrepreneurial community. His TEDx talk, which has amassed over 2 million organic views, underscores his groundbreaking methods for accelerating business growth while fostering a balanced, fulfilling lifestyle.

Mario’s mission is to help agency owners break free from the grind culture, scale with purpose, and create businesses that not only thrive financially but also contribute positively to their lives and the world around them.

Contact Mario:

https://www.mariolanzarotti.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanzarottimario/

Ep 087 – Peter Kang, Barrel Holdings – Building an Agency Portfolio

In Episode 087 of Agency Bytes, I had an inspiring conversation with Peter Kang, co-founder and chairman of Barrel Holdings. Peter shared his journey of building Barrel, a standout eCommerce agency specializing in Shopify, and how his vision evolved into creating multiple specialized agencies under the Barrel Holdings umbrella.  

We dove into the challenges and rewards of growing an agency, the strategic decisions that shaped his path, and what it’s like to step back from daily operations to focus on the bigger picture. Peter is passionate about investing in the right people and systems to build an ecosystem of agency services that truly thrives and writes about it weekly in his newsletter.

He also opened up about the importance of transparency in communication, their bold Omakase experiment in funnel building, and launching Agency Habits, a resource-packed platform for agency operators. Throughout our chat, Peter emphasized the power of relationships in business and the fulfillment that comes from pursuing work you’re truly passionate about.  

This episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration—don’t miss it!

Key Takeaways

• Peter Kang co-founded Barrel in 2006 with a focus on digital transformation.

• The agency evolved to specialize in e-commerce, particularly Shopify.

• Barrel Holdings was created to manage multiple agencies under one umbrella.

• Transparency in communication has been a core value for Peter and his team.

• The Omakase experiment allowed clients to receive branding for free, building a portfolio.

• Separate agencies allow for tailored staffing and focused strategies.

• Agency Habits aims to share resources and insights among agency operators.

• Building relationships is crucial for long-term success in business.

• The importance of passion-driven work over purely strategic planning.

• Peter emphasizes the need for a succession plan in agency leadership.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Agency Bites and Peter Kang

05:10 Focusing on E-commerce and Shopify

10:16 The Strategy Behind Separate Agencies

14:35 The Importance of Transparency in Communication

16:20 The Omakase Experiment: A Bold Approach

23:01 Building a Diverse Agency Portfolio

24:56 Launching Agency Habits: A New Venture

28:41 Rapid Fire Questions and Personal Insights

Peter Kang is co-founder and Chairman of Barrel Holdings, a portfolio of digital agency businesses that includes Barrel, a leading Shopify agency, and BX Studio, a leading Webflow agency. Peter enjoys working closely with agency leaders both in and outside of Barrel Holdings, being a sounding board and sharing lessons learned from years of operating agency businesses.

Contact Peter:

barrel-holdings.com

peterkang.com

agencyhabits.com

In episode 078, Jhana Li, founder of Spyglass Ops, shares her inspiring journey from living van life to building her own successful operations consulting company. She talks about how she helps agency owners scale their businesses while regaining personal freedom by mastering the power of operations. 

Jhana highlights how crucial operations are for growth and profitability, explaining how optimizing team performance, delegating tasks effectively, and implementing solid systems and processes allow founders to focus on high-value activities that drive real results. This episode is packed with practical insights for anyone looking to scale their agency while building a more efficient, sustainable business.

Key Takeaways

• Operations is crucial for scaling an agency and maximizing profitability.

• Optimizing team performance and implementing systems and processes are key to success.

• Founders should focus on high-value activities and delegate tasks to free up time.

• Raising the bar for success and setting higher standards can lead to team growth and success.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:04 The Importance of Operations in Scaling

08:23 Maximizing Team Performance

17:23 Raising the Bar for Success

Jhana Li, founder of Spyglass Ops. Jhana started as a COO for multiple startups - while living van life. After seeing countless founders stall out & trap themselves without the proper Operations, 3 years ago Jhana decided to start Spyglass Ops. Since then she has helped more than 100 businesses scale past 7 & 8-figures. Through Operations consulting, recruitment, and training, Spyglass Ops empowers founders to simultaneously scale their businesses while regaining their personal freedom.

Jhana Li started as a COO for multiple startups (while simultaneously traveling full-time in a converted van through N & S America). After seeing countless founders stall out & trap themselves without the proper Operations, 3 years ago Jhana decided to start her own company, Spyglass Ops. Since then she has helped 100+ businesses scale past 7 & 8-figures. Through Operations consulting, recruitment, and training, Spyglass Ops empowers founders to simultaneously scale their businesses while regaining their personal freedom.

Contact Jhana Li:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejhanali

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejhanali/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhana-li/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theJhanaLi/

Website: https://spyglassops.com/

In Episode 064, I had the pleasure of having an inspiring conversation with Justine Clay, a business coach and ADHD life coach for creative entrepreneurs. Justine shares her journey from working in the creative industry to launching her own coaching business, and how these experiences have shaped her current work. She delves into the unique challenges and strengths of individuals with ADHD and the importance of fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment. Justine discusses the need for leadership to understand and accommodate neurodivergent team members and examines the impact of remote work on those with ADHD. Throughout the conversation, Justine emphasizes creating spaces that foster connection and meaningful experiences, and the importance of being present and taking care of ourselves in our daily lives. She also shares valuable business advice on focusing on solutions rather than problems and keeping the client at the center of our thoughts and messaging.

Key Takeaways

• Understanding the unique challenges and strengths of individuals with ADHD is crucial for creating a supportive work environment.

• Leadership should strive to accommodate the needs of neurodivergent team members and provide them with the tools and resources they need to thrive.

• Remote work can be beneficial for individuals with ADHD, as it allows for greater flexibility and control over their work environment.

• Creating an open and inclusive culture where individuals feel comfortable communicating their needs is essential for fostering productivity and well-being.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:00 Becoming an Independent Creative Professional

06:00 Starting a Creative Management Agency

09:00 Transitioning to Coaching

13:00 Becoming an ADHD Coach

15:00 ADHD as a Superpower, or not

19:00 Supporting Neurodivergent Individuals

21:00 Coaching Leadership on Working with Neurodivergent Team Members

25:00 The Impact of Remote Work on ADHD

35:00 Personal Hobbies and Tools

38:02 Creating Spaces for Connection and Experience

39:12 Focus on Solutions, Not Problems

In this episode I have a great conversation with Selena Thiele, the founder of Office Mercenary, about why the key to winning is delegation. She discusses the concept of virtual assistants and the benefits they bring to businesses. She shares her own experience of feeling overwhelmed as a small business owner and how she started Office Mercenary to provide specialized support to entrepreneurs. Selena emphasizes the importance of finding the right virtual assistant and building long-term client relationships. She also highlights the challenges of delegating tasks and setting boundaries. Selena provides insights into the types of tasks Office Mercenary handles and the role of standard operating procedures (SOPs) in effective delegation. She concludes with valuable business advice, including the importance of letting go of perfectionism and striving for good enough.

Key Takeaways

• Virtual assistants can provide specialized support to overwhelmed small business owners.

• Building long-term client relationships is beneficial for both the client and the virtual assistant.

• Delegating tasks and setting boundaries are essential for effective collaboration with a virtual assistant.

• Standard operating procedures (SOPs) can streamline delegation and ensure consistent quality.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

01:02 The Concept of Office Mercenaries

02:23 The Impact of the Pandemic on the Virtual Assistant Industry

03:08 The Importance of Finding the Right Virtual Assistant

04:06 The Benefits of Long-Term Client Relationships

04:49 The Transformation After Delegating Tasks

06:16 The Types of Tasks Office Mercenary Handles

08:42 The Challenges of Delegating and Setting Boundaries

11:05 The Importance of Letting Go and Accepting 85% Quality

13:03 Low-Hanging Fruit for Delegation

15:44 The Definition of a Good Virtual Assistant

17:54 The Role of SOPs and Systems in Delegation

19:59 Misconceptions About Virtual Assistants

22:57 Rapid Fire Questions

25:35 Invaluable Business Advice