Building Agencies for Success: Insights from John Hoeft on The Schmidt List Podcast
With nearly three decades of experience in digital marketing, John Hoeft has been instrumental in helping solopreneurs launch successful agencies. In this recent episode of the Schmidt List Podcast, he shares his journey, strategies for success, and valuable insights into the future of marketing and agency-building.
John Hoeft’s Journey to Agency Building
John Hoeft’s journey into the world of digital marketing spans almost 30 years, working with traditional media organizations, publishers, software companies, and advertising agencies. His background in journalism and passion for content as king naturally led him to advertising and digital marketing. Today, as President of InterActive Circle, he helps others navigate the challenges of launching their own agencies through The Agency Builder’s innovative system.
The Vision Behind The Agency Builder
John reveals that The Agency Builder was born from the idea of assisting individuals, especially those with strong business networks, in launching their own digital marketing agencies. For many entrepreneurs with a desire to start an agency, the biggest obstacles are building a tech stack, generating new business, and managing the complexities of marketing services. The Agency Builder tackles these challenges by providing a comprehensive infrastructure, operating system, and support to ensure that agency owners can focus on growth.
Why Agencies Often Struggle and How The Agency Builder Addresses It
John touches on a common pitfall for traditional agencies – building around specific skill sets. Often, agencies hire expensive specialists, which limits their ability to serve clients comprehensively and can lead to internal and client churn. In contrast, The Agency Builder focuses on creating agencies that excel in leadership and project management while leveraging a vast network of service providers. This allows agency owners to deliver exactly what their clients need, scale up or down as necessary, and reduce the risk of churn.
How The Agency Builder Works
John describes The Agency Builder as a strategic partnership where the owner is actively involved in sales, product operations, and lead generation. The journey begins with a 90-day setup phase, where The Agency Builder team works on creating the agency’s brand, building its website, setting up CRM and project management tools, and more. Once launched, they provide continuous support through lead generation, business development, and fulfillment services to ensure the agency’s long-term success.
The Future of Marketing: What to Focus On
As a seasoned marketing professional, John shares his views on where marketing is headed. He emphasizes the importance of fundamentals, noting that web development, SEO, content marketing, and a solid paid search campaign remain crucial. He also highlights the power of thought leadership and storytelling, suggesting that producing thoughtful content across various channels can set businesses apart in a noisy digital landscape.
Who Is The Agency Builder For?
The ideal candidate for The Agency Builder is an entrepreneur with a strong business network and an interest in marketing. They might not have the expertise to build and scale a digital agency independently, but they are willing to engage actively in the process. The partnership is not for passive investors; it’s for those ready to roll up their sleeves and contribute to building their firm.
Why Partner with The Agency Builder?
- Innovative Operating System: The Agency Builder utilizes InterActive Circle’s proprietary Agency Operating System (AOS) to fast-track agency success.
- Proven Success: With 15 years of experience and a history of helping agencies achieve projected revenue of $1.6 million within 36 months, The Agency Builder knows how to bypass the learning curve.
- Comprehensive Support: From branding and lead generation to project management and fulfillment, The Agency Builder is there every step of the way.
- www.TheAgencyBuilder.com
Ready to learn more? visit Listen to the full episode to hear John Hoeft’s expert insights and discover how you can kickstart your agency-building journey.
