Agencies That Build

Pete Baumgartner is the Founder of Lincoln Loop, a full-service software development agency specializing in Python and Django development for web and mobile systems. They value transparent partnerships in order to produce straightforward solutions.
 
Takeaways:
Advertising yourself as a niche agency starting off is a great strategy to get your foot in the door and be successful as a new agency. Find out what you want to be known for early on.
Being a remote agency, it is important to have trust and autonomy with your team. This flexibility helps staff have a better work life balance and figure out their role.
Having a full financial transparency within the agency empowers co-workers to clearly visualize how they are affecting the bottom line.
Developing virtual team culture can be difficult. Start by meeting with your team in person at conferences and grow from there.
Pete Baumgartner’s superpower - Flexibility “We are all trying to wear a bunch of different hats. Things are going to drop and that’s okay.”
 
Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pbaumgartner/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ipmb
Lincoln Loop: https://lincolnloop.com
High Performance Django: https://highperformancedjango.com
 
Busted Myth:
“You don’t need a deep connection of people or be plugged into a network to start an agency. If you are doing good work and put yourself out there, then it will grow organically.” ~Pete
 
Ways to Tune In:
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agencies-that-build/id1533003876
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/04KrB9JKLJ7lxoBZQQpSSH?si=zljWTjmwSK-ht50WPpesOg
Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/show/agencies-that-build
Google Play - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYWdlbmNpZXN0aGF0YnVpbGQuY29tL2ZlZWQueG1s
YouTube - Full video - https://youtu.be/SXTBbCVWr2U

Jason Clark is the Owner of VIA Studio, an agency focused on transforming brands through strategy, design, development and marketing. They apply their core values of partnership, dedication and connection to drive value for their clients.
 
Takeaways:
When interviewing, it is important to make note of an individual’s soft skills to understand if they will be successful in an agency role.
Utilizing roadmaps for topics such as brand strategy or identity are useful when starting the conversation with clients on how your agency identifies it and the application process. 
Is client X asking for something to be created or a problem to be solved? Setting expectations before you engage with a client is imperative on how the partnership will progress.
“The best compliment you can give somebody who works in an agency is that they know how to listen. Having self-awareness is key to meeting with people.”~Jason
Are all of your staff flowing in the same direction as you? Be ready to have the conversation with staff members on what shifts need to be made to align goals and motivations.
Jason Clark’s superpower - Optimism, “I truly believe that your greatest strength is also your greatest weakness.”
 
Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjasonclark/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/clarkster?lang=en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cjasonclark/?hl=en
VIA Studio: https://via.studio
 
Most Fun Part of Being An Agency Owner:
Working in an agency, you get to build many relationships along the way and support co-workers in their career development.
 
Ways to Tune In:
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agencies-that-build/id1533003876
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/04KrB9JKLJ7lxoBZQQpSSH?si=zljWTjmwSK-ht50WPpesOg
Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/show/agencies-that-build
Google Play - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYWdlbmNpZXN0aGF0YnVpbGQuY29tL2ZlZWQueG1s
YouTube - Full video - https://youtu.be/xLehuwQ4Fe4

Josh Eaton is the CEO of Reaktiv Studios, a boutique WordPress agency focused on making the web better through quality development and creative solutions. They are dedicated to problem solving and overcoming obstacles.
 
Takeaways:
Having a paid discovery vs. pre-sales process allows an agency to scope out the project, manage expectations better, and give the client a good feel for the team before signing on to a much larger engagement.
Create a detailed outline for work responsibilities when developing a pre-sales discovery, especially what is not included. Make sure it is clear what is going into the project.
“When hiring for a developer position we look for a solid software developer rather than a WordPress developer. We want someone with good habits that we can train on WordPress.” ~Josh
During the interview process, having a panel of people from different departments or a code challenge will give hands on insight to how the interviewee problem solves and blends with coworkers. 
As you scale your company, remember to keep in account your company culture. A three person company can be vastly different from a forty person company.
Josh Eaton’s superpower - Debugging and problem solving
 
Links:
Personal/Business Website: https://www.josheaton.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josheaton/
Reaktiv Studios: https://reaktivstudios.com
Traveling 9 to 5: http://www.traveling9to5.com
 
Most Fun Part of Being An Agency Owner:
Launch date for a new site or project - “It is exciting to see the clients reaction. I also always like to take a step back during that day to talk to the team to tell them, ‘Hey, we just launch _____ for this brand name client. That’s really cool!’”  
 
Ways to Tune In:
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agencies-that-build/id1533003876
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/04KrB9JKLJ7lxoBZQQpSSH?si=zljWTjmwSK-ht50WPpesOg
Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/show/agencies-that-build
Google Play - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYWdlbmNpZXN0aGF0YnVpbGQuY29tL2ZlZWQueG1s
YouTube - Full video - https://youtu.be/2xUy9rZvGm0

Chad Pytel is the Founder and COO of thoughtbot, small studios of designers and developers collaborating closely with clients. They are dedicated to pushing the bar by continuously improving for themselves, the company and their clients.
 
Takeaways:
To close any productivity and communication gaps, remove the middleman between the founder and project team. “We fundamentally believe in having a small group of people who are really good at what they do working directly with clients to create something.” ~Chad Pytel.
Aspire to build successful products AND successful businesses. Training clients to facilitate a meeting or prioritize planning helps them be lucrative in the future outside of your own business. 
Set specific expectations for your team in terms of communication and holding the company philosophy. This sets the bar for your team and allows them to have a growth mindset going into projects. 
Training is a powerful tool that enables you to hire more people than you otherwise would have been able to and sets your team up for success. Apprenticeships and other training programs are a great way to accomplish this!
Whether you are a specialized or generalized company, the most important thing is to know what your model is and stay consistent to that. This provides a basis for your team to execute on.
Career advice from Chad Pytel, have an honest conversation with your founders about expectations and what you want to achieve before starting your company. 
 
Links:
Personal/Business Website: https://thoughtbot.com/blog
Email: chad@thoughtbot.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cpytel/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cpytel
Company Website: https://thoughtbot.com
AgencyU: www.thoughtbot.com/agencyu
Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots Podcast: https://www.giantrobots.fm
 
Busted Myths:
If your primary motivation for doing consulting is to earn some money to bootstrap a SaaS product then you might get stuck on a consulting treadmill. Be clear what your priorities are and be intentional about your work early on.
 
Ways to Tune In:
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agencies-that-build/id1533003876
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/04KrB9JKLJ7lxoBZQQpSSH?si=zljWTjmwSK-ht50WPpesOg
Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/show/agencies-that-build
Google Play - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYWdlbmNpZXN0aGF0YnVpbGQuY29tL2ZlZWQueG1s
YouTube - Full video - https://youtu.be/ExKVOtDDDxg

Michael Coogan is the President and Managing Partner of MC2 Design Group Inc., a strategic and digital marketing agency, working as integrated partners with our clients to plan, execute, and achieve business goals. They are committed to producing the best partnership-based results for their clientele.
 
Takeaways:
We spend so much time mindlessly taking in content. Why not take that time and put it towards something meaningful to you. “If we spend 15 minutes a day reading on a topic that we want to get better on and take a few notes, then that knowledge compounds over time.” ~Michael Coogan
It is easy to build a list of things you need to do for your business, but focusing on what to say is where things start to move forward. Uniting messaging across departments is key to building value for the customers.
Unite your team under the same philosophies. This will give them a basis of how their language and messaging with clients should be. 
Outsourced partners are great for specializing projects, especially when there are spikes in business. This builds your network while not having to sacrifice the quality of your product.
Build a framework that you can teach your team in order to build a StoryBrand. Clients look for companies that will guide them through the process.
Career advice from Michael Coogan, life is fair because it is unfair to everybody. However, we have the opportunity to choose how we react to things and our attitude.
 
Links:
Personal/Business Website: https://mc2design.com/blog/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coogan/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MC2DesignGroup
Company Website: https://mc2design.com
The Road Less Stupid: https://www.amazon.com/The-Road-Less-Stupid-audiobook/dp/B07DJWQ7JN
 
Busted Myths:
You don’t need to have a higher education to be a successful entrepreneur. You don’t need to have letters behind your name to prove that you are smart. Simply be continuously learning, reading and being creative.
 
Ways to Tune In:
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agencies-that-build/id1533003876
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/04KrB9JKLJ7lxoBZQQpSSH?si=zljWTjmwSK-ht50WPpesOg
Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/show/agencies-that-build
Google Play - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYWdlbmNpZXN0aGF0YnVpbGQuY29tL2ZlZWQueG1s
YouTube - Full video - https://youtu.be/kzQkAHHXf9Y

Jim Babcock is the President of SPM Services Inc., who build custom and packaged applications for Startups and Enterprises. He specializes in consulting people to take their ideas and turn them into business.
 
Takeaways:
Top 3 ways to better manage your offshore team:Get to know your team on a personal level
Develop a good specification for your product
Meet with them in the same duration you would with your domestic team
Look at your team as your partner. You need to have a contract that is flexible rather than stringent. This allows for more growth and room for expenses in the case of emergencies.
If you are working with an offshore team and they have multiple teams in multiple regions then you need to know that. Transparency is key to communication.
Be willing to work with every party and come to middle ground on when and how things need to be done for optimized productivity.
Don’t fall into Analysis Paralysis! Break work down into sprints to move productivity and fulfill requirements.
Career advice from Jim Babcock- take time to appreciate the blessings around you.
 
Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesababcock/
Company Website: https://spmsvc.com
Email: jim@vpmsvc.com
Phone Number: 760-644-2990
 
Busted Myths:
Working with offshore companies is only a horrible experience if you don’t manage it correctly. The offshore team needs to be managed and relationships built like they are right next door.
 
Ways to Tune In:
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agencies-that-build/id1533003876
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/04KrB9JKLJ7lxoBZQQpSSH?si=zljWTjmwSK-ht50WPpesOg
Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/show/agencies-that-build
Google Play - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYWdlbmNpZXN0aGF0YnVpbGQuY29tL2ZlZWQueG1s
YouTube - Full video - https://youtu.be/JQA6msJS4_A

Ben Callahan is the Founder of the Build Right workshop series and President of Sparkbox, a group of web makers that develop their client’s product and team during projects and through their Build Right training. 
 
Takeaways:
It is easy to get distracted by our technology rather than having personal conversations. However, that one on one connection builds relationships further than any piece of tech could.
It is ok to mess up! Transparency is key to good communication with a client. When mistakes happen try having a mindset of continuous improvement and lean on your coworkers for support.
The core of a great business relationship is transparency, trust, and honesty. This builds stability and shows your clients you have their best interest in mind.
“There is a lot of potential reward in being a hyper-specialized company. But the risk of course is choosing an industry. If something happens external to your group then all your marketing is focused on that niche.” ~Ben Callahan
Bring different voices to the table when looking for solutions. “Have a workplace that has a lot of different perspectives, different experiences because that is going to bring a lot of interesting solutions to the surface.” ~Ben Callahan
Career advice from Ben Callahan, embrace the leader within you. 
 
Links:
Personal/Business Website: https://bencallahan.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bencallahan/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bencallahan
Company Website: https://seesparkbox.com
 
Busted Myths:
Technology does not solve problems for us. There is always a person behind the tool. Building relationships is more important than building a product.
 
Ways to Tune In:
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agencies-that-build/id1533003876
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/04KrB9JKLJ7lxoBZQQpSSH?si=zljWTjmwSK-ht50WPpesOg
Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/show/agencies-that-build
Google Play - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYWdlbmNpZXN0aGF0YnVpbGQuY29tL2ZlZWQueG1s
YouTube - Full video - https://youtu.be/kIT_bMbKqY8

Phillip Tiongson is the founder and CEO of Potion, an independent studio dedicated to transforming the world of interactivity. 
 
Takeaways:
How do we communicate our unique value in a way that scales, is surprising, is reciprocal, and truly accessible? These four qualities are important to keep in mind with the call for connection in a technology demanding environment.
The physical world is rich with sensory interactions. However, that does not mean the digital world does not have a deep impact as well. Digital interactions have the power to cultivate metamorphic experiences through design and storytelling.
The relationships that you build with partners, whether they are collaborators, competitors or clients, is where new business comes from. 
In the future, how we relate to each other is going to evolve. “I think of Zoom right now as the iPhone 1. This is going to explode into many different special use cases and expressions...on how we send ourselves [digitally].”
Career advice from Phillip Tiongson, it is easy to mistake achievement for enjoying your work. Take time to appreciate everything and everyone around you.
 
Links:
Personal/Business Website: https://www.potiondesign.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philliptiongson/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/philliptiongson
Company Website: https://www.perchinteractive.com
 
Busted Myths:
We have just as much value and connection from miles away opposed to being in a physical place at the same time.
 
Ways to Tune In:
YouTube - Full video - https://youtu.be/hgRY3pg1nLQ

Carl Smith owns and runs the Bureau of Digital, an organization that supports agencies and provides the leadership training necessary to survive and thrive. Their focus on Digital Leadership, Business Development, Design Leadership, Operations, and Project Management has been invaluable to the digital agency landscape.
Takeaways:
 
In today’s climate, it is important to cater to your clients’ evolving needs and be flexible with them. How can you create a better relationship in the current world?
Generalists are what everyone wants out of individuals, but Specialists are what they want out of organizations. The most successful companies are those that are generalists, but promote themselves as specialists.
Position yourself as who you want to become versus who you are right now. This will help grow your business, company and community.
“If you have to change the fabric of who you are to accomplish something then you have lost part of yourself.” Double down on what makes you different as a company and an individual. ~Carl Smith
“Don’t always tell clients what is great about what they have. Sometimes it is better to show them the stuff they don’t want to hear.” ~Carl Smith
Career advice from Carl Smith, Nothing matters as much as it feels like it does. Leslie Peters said, “Life is a quest, not a text.”
Links:
 
Personal/Business Website: https://medium.com/@carlsmith
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carl-w-smith
Twitter: https://twitter.com/carlsmith
Company Website: https://bureauofdigital.com
Busted Myths:
 
There is work out there! Be flexible and open to try something different.
 
Ways to Tune In:
iTunes - Apple Podcasts
Stitcher - ATB on Stitcher
YouTube - Full video - https://youtu.be/rsNpcYKOuJI
 

Entrepreneur, Strategic thinker, roll up sleeves with multiple hats Jason Williams busts the myth that an agency can’t be formed with independent contractors only! Jason’s personal philosophy is to live a life of abundance, and works towards that for all of his customers and colleagues. 
“Listening, collaboration only works when you listen… sit down and listen, because you are always going to learn something.” - Jason Williams 
Takeaways:
 
Using a contractor model allows businesses to scale up or down as there is a need
Invest in contractors as well, give them access to agency attorney and accountant so they can take charge of their finances
Using a subscription based model, customers know that the job will get done in a certain amount of time, given a certain level of service, within a certain capacity
The best person for the job should get the job, where the person is based is contextual. 
Culture is the collective, and distributed network, that IS the culture. It creates itself and self corrects.
 
Links:
 
Personal/Business Website: www.dfuzr.com
LinkedIn:       linkedin.com/in/dfuzrceo      
Email: jason@dfuzr.com
Busted Myths:
 
To have an agency you need W2 workers not Independent Contractors! 
There is less commitment from freelancers / Contractors!
Off shore/near shore, the boundaries are becoming irrelevant, whoever is the best person or best group to get the job done
 
Ways to Tune In:
YouTube - Full video - https://youtu.be/snszY24vQ3c