Overwhelmed, overworked, on the brink of burnout? Agency life is known for its fast pace and demanding clients, and I know from personal experience how burnout can completely de-rail you. As I slowly return recovery, I invited Cat Burchmore onto the podcast to help me learn how I could prevent burnout as a business owner by leaning on automation more. In this episode we explore how implementing automation strategies can help you avoid burnout and take control of your well-being. Cat shares...

Struggling to break out of the feast and famine cycle? Do you feel like you're constantly putting out fires and not making the progress you want in your business? Brent is a seasoned agency owner who started his first digital agency at the tender age of 17. In this episode, he shares his journey of navigating the challenges of running an agency, from landing his first clients to eventually selling his business not once, but twice. Full show notes:...

Time tracking is often seen as a necessary evil - something that takes time away from doing client work or feels like micromanaging employees. In this episode I interview Ilia from Toggl to discover why those assumptions are wrong. We discuss real-world examples of how time tracking provides valuable data to help agencies work more efficiently, provide better project estimates, optimise team members' time, identify profitable versus unprofitable clients, and ultimately achieve better...

Running an agency is tough, but invaluable lessons can be learned from those who've spent years growing in the trenches. In this episode, I sat down with Jon Tsourakis, a veteran agency owner of over 15 years, who doesn't look a day over 30. (Had to say that in case he reads this.) As the founder of Oyova, Jon has led his digital marketing agency from humble beginnings to a thriving team of 30. He's made mistakes, evolved his offerings, and learned countless tips for building an agency...

Do you feel like your website or brand is lost in the endless sea of search engine results? Does it seem like no matter what you do, you just can't break onto page one or get those coveted top rankings? Well, today's guest, Jason Barnard is here to help you finally stop getting buried by search engines. Known as the "Brand SERP Guy," Jason is an international authority on managing brand search optimisation and online reputation. In this info-packed episode, he shares insider tips to take...

Are you struggling to attract high-paying clients who see the immense value in what you offer? Do you find yourself exhaustively pitching potential clients who just don't get what makes you different? In this eye-opening episode, Helen Knight joins us to share her proven framework for positioning yourself as the obvious choice for your ideal clients. You'll discover new ways to identify and align with your dream clients, create offers tailored specifically to their needs, and leverage...

Struggling to build your business? Cash strapped and wish you had investment? What if I told you, you already have everything you need to build an exciting and growing business? Meet Zara and Aaron, the founders of Choppity. They are building their business in public, keeping costs razor thin and laser focusing on their niche. The results are difficult to deny! A powerful solution, tonnes of potential, and a growing MRR. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/low-cash-growth/

The vast sea of online courses makes it challenging for any one course to stand out. But what if there's a method that not only grabs attention but also ensures course completion, builds trust, and positions you as an expert they can't wait to buy from? In this episode, we unravel the secret sauce behind course delivery that people are ignoring. Discover the transformative power of email-delivered courses and why they're growing in popularity. Learn how this simple shift in delivery can...

Do you ever feel like your web agency is stuck in a cycle of one-and-done projects? You deliver an exceptional website, only to watch the client fade away, turning what could have been a fruitful, ongoing collaboration into a fleeting transaction. But what if there was a way to turn that one-time project into a long-term partnership? In this episode, we explore an often-overlooked tool that can transform your client relationships and significantly boost your agency's recurring...

Struggling to make logo design pay? In this episode, we meet Ian Paget, the man behind Logo Geek, who turned his passion for logo design into profit. I ask: What does it take to go all in on logos? What can we learn from others? How can we improve our skills? How do we keep motivated? Ian delivers! Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/make-a-living-designing-logos/

Struggling to grow your agency or finding it tough to reel in new clients? Perhaps you feel conscious that your agency isn't yet what you'd hoped it would be? Simon Penson's journey is sure to inspire you. His own agency journey began at his kitchen table, of all places, where he faced and overcame a multitude of challenges, ultimately leading to the successful sale of his agency. His story highlights the importance of perseverance and the transformative power of a good mentor.  Full show...

Ever felt like you're on a never-ending hamster wheel of agency life? Trying to build a business that will support the life you want for you and your family, but never quite getting there? You're not alone. Many of us are caught in this relentless cycle, believing that success is just around the corner if we work harder, grow bigger. But what if there's another way? My guest in today's episode, Daniel Hutt, found himself in the same exhausting cycle. A seasoned content marketing expert and...

Creating website policies can feel pretty overwhelming. It’s easy to think copying and pasting templates will do, but this shortcut can put both agencies and clients at risk. In this episode, I was really pumped to chat again with Hans from Termageddon. He walks us through his journey of building a tool that does the heavy lifting. He shares valuable insights into building a business on a firm foundation and developing relationships that last. Full show notes:...

Do you get anxious when updating your client's WordPress website, wondering what will break? Do you spend hours running tests in staging, before finally pushing everything live? In this episode, we explore WordPress maintenance and look at a solution designed to help developers and designers catch issues before they cause a real problem. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/streamlining-wordpress-maintenance/

Meet Michelle Frechette, a trailblazer in the WordPress community who is bridging gaps and building connections in ways you wouldn't imagine. Michelle, the Director of Community Engagement for StellarWP at Liquid Web, takes us on a journey from her first encounter with WordPress to her current role as a community leader. She shares her insights on the power of inclusivity, the thrill of her first WordCamp, and the delicate art of fostering diversity without tokenism. If you've ever...

Find yourself ignoring newsletters you receive? Think that having your own newsletter is therefore a waste of time? Think again. I was challenged when our guest Shiven shared insights into building your own newsletter and audience that I had never considered. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/newsletter-success/

Fed up installing fresh copies of WordPress to test themes, plugins or code? What if you could spark up a blank WordPress instance directly in your browser in seconds, without even needing a host? Watch the video: Today we dive into the exciting world of WordPress Playground with special guest Adam Zielinski, a WordPress core developer at Automattic. Learn how this web-based development environment revolutionizes WordPress site creation and modification without any setup required. Full...

Introducing ChatGPT to our entire team has been a game-changer! While some folks worry AI will take their jobs, our team is thriving with enhanced productivity and an improved work-life balance. Discover how we're leveraging AI to supercharge our efficiency in coding, content creation, email management, translations, and beyond! Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/chatgpt-in-a-web-agency

As an agency owner, it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day demands of running your business. But what happens when your work starts to take a toll on your health and happiness? For many agency owners, the answer is a frustrating cycle of too much work and not enough time for self-care. But it doesn't have to be this way.  Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/fit-with-small-steady-steps/

Feel like the internal communication at your agency is a little bit of a mess? Perhaps you're missing deadlines, upsetting clients, or duplicating your efforts internally. In this episode, Lee shares how stand-up meetings in his agency help solve these problems. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/implement-stand-up-meetings

Imagine a mastermind group that catapults your business to new heights, helps you make bold moves, and pushes you to reach your full potential. Lee shares his own incredible journey of growth and transformation, thanks to the power of these game-changing meetups.  Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/mastermind-effect-agency-transformation

Ever felt swamped, stressed, or on edge due to tough clients? In this honest and unplanned episode, our host Lee gets real about how his mental health has been impacted by tricky client relationships. Tune in to hear his personal story, insights, and advice on dealing with toxic clients and safeguarding your well-being in the digital world. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/toxic-clients-mental-health

Are you having a tough time providing top-notch support to your clients? In this episode, Lee spills the beans on how his agency, Event Engine, turned their messy support system into one with a perfect 100% client happiness rating. Discover the super simple process they put in place to bring order to their support system, improve communication, and take a more proactive approach to helping their clients.  Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/optimise-support-win-clients-hearts/

Have you ever been excited to receive a new lead in your inbox, only for the communication to fizzle out over time? As a web agency owner, this can be a frustrating experience. In this episode, Lee shares his agency's solution to this problem. By implementing a simple process using a CRM, they were able to track their communications and convert more leads. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/track-and-convert-leads/