GYDA - Grow Your Digital Agency

GYDA - Robert Craven and Janusz Stabik
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GYDA (Grow Your Digital Agency) is a business consultancy that helps digital agency leaders run the agencies they want to run, so they can live the life they want to lead. We do this by using the mastermind process to spearhead agency growth.The GYDA Talks Podcast includes interviews and discussions between Robert Craven, Janusz Stabik and Digital Agency Experts. Each podcast is full of knowledge to help you Grow Your Digital Agency.

  1. MAR 11

    How to Attract Dream Clients with Matt Essam

    In this GYDA Talks, Robert talks to Matt Essam, a creative business coach, author, and speaker who helps creative studio founders and service-based business owners attract better clients and grow with confidence. He’s known for practical frameworks such as his Partnership Playbook™, that turn relationship-building into a consistent client-attraction strategy. With over a decade of experience, Matt combines mindset, strategy, and real-world outreach tactics to help creatives charge their worth and build sustainable, fulfilling businesses. He also shares insights through content, coaching, and his Creative Courage podcast, supporting founders to step into clear, confident leadership. Matt and Robert discuss the challenge agencies face in differentiating themselves and why creatives often struggle to attract the right clients despite being highly talented, a problem often stemming from prioritising delivery over marketing. Matt talks through his three-pillar model for attracting dream clients: defining the ideal client, creating a low-risk offer (like a scorecard) to provide a "taste" of value, and leveraging partnerships to bypass the lengthy process of building trust. And they wrap up with a discussion around the core mindset shift, which involves focusing communication on the client's current struggles rather than the agency's services, requiring agencies to articulate the client’s problems better than they can themselves. Topics covered: Client StrugglesMarketing Gaps in the Creative IndustryThe Dilemma for Small Agency OwnersThe Talent Limit and Marketing CompetenceThe First Mindset Shift: Focus on Client ProblemsAgency Engagement at the Decision-Making ProcessArticulating Client Problems for TrustThe Three Pillars for Attracting Dream ClientsWhoOfferPartnershipCase Study: The Sponsorship Assessment ScorecardThe Low-Risk Offer and Sales ApproachThe Partnership Pillar: Shortcut to TrustKey Takeaways and Golden Nuggets"Somebody somewhere today woke up with exactly what you need"Agencies must "be able to articulate your ideal client's problems better than they can" by focusing on the client's experience, not their productAccess Matt's Studio Leadflow System here: https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/studioleadflowsystem

    50 min

  2. MAR 11

    Inside the Deal: Scaling, Rebranding, and Rebuilding an Agency to £4M+ with George Blandford, Ology Group

    In this GYDA Talks, Rob talks to George Blandford, co-owner of the Ology Group. Specialising in different approaches to authority gain. 10+ years of experience in this sector. International speaker, trainer and oxygen consumer. Robert and George discuss scaling and rebranding agencies UK Linkology and Reachology to over £4 million in turnover. George talks through their strategy of leveraging business partnerships, securing equity deals and fractional CMO roles in other ventures, and implementing a "blue ocean" product positioning strategy to rebuild client trust in the digital industry. They highlight the importance of delegation for strategic thinking and the contrast between George’s business-person approach and that of a typical "technician" agency owner. Topics covered: Deal-Making and Entrepreneurial ApproachBenefits of Business PartnershipsGeorge's Diverse Business PortfolioClient Value Perspective from Business OwnershipLeveraging Fractional CMO and Equity DealsAddressing Risk and Confidence in Marketing AgenciesStructuring Equity PartnershipsProduct Positioning and Blue Ocean StrategyRebuilding Trust in the Digital IndustryUnderstanding Customer Acquisition Cost and Lifetime ValueThe Scaling and Rebranding Journey of LinkologyGrowth Challenges and Future StrategyThe Importance of Strategic Thinking and Delegation

    50 min

  3. MAR 11

    Liberating The Profit Locked in Poor Lead Generation Process with Jon Payne of RevOps

    In this GYDA Talks, Rob talks to Jon Payne… a "Totally unemployable" RevOps Consultant and Fractional Commercial Director. ‘It's called RevOps these days, but since 1998, I've been helping businesses grow through the creation and execution of digital strategies across marketing, sales and customer service, particularly around websites and, increasingly, HubSpot.’ Rob and Jon discuss: Defining RevOpsRevOps and Agency GrowthSystematising the Sales ProcessImproving Lead Nurturing and QualificationForecasting and Deal PrioritisationKey Takeaways and Final Advice Profit is often locked in an agency's sales pipeline due to poor conversations or letting leads slip away… a systematic approach and better conversations, focusing on the client's real motivators (like buying a house in Italy), are essential for unlocking this profit and gaining referrals.

    30 min

  4. MAR 11

    Pricing, Positioning & Pitching - Blair Enns on How Agencies Must Evolve

    Blair Enns is the founder of Win Without Pitching, the sales training organisation for expert advisors and practitioners. Author of three books, The Four Conversations: A New Model for Selling Expertise (2024), Pricing Creativity: A Guide to Profit Beyond the Billable Hour (2018) and The Win Without Pitching Manifesto (2010). Co-host, along with David C. Baker, of the podcast 2Bobs: Conversations on the Art of Creative Entrepreneurship. Advocate of integrity-based selling and value-based pricing, serving those who are experts first and salespeople second. In this GYDA Talks, Rob was joined by Blair to gain his insight into how agencies must evolve, with a focus on pricing, postioning and pitching. They discussed: Challenges in Agency Sales and MarketingProduction-Oriented vs. Market-Led MindsetImpact of AI on AgenciesPricing Models in the Age of AI"Win Without Pitching" Relevance"The Four Conversations" ModelChallenges in Adopting the New Sales ModelBlair Enns' Future PlansKey Advice: Specialisation and Pricing.

    44 min

  5. FEB 2

    How To Write The Perfect Digital Marketing Plan with PR Smith

    In this podcast, Robert talks to PR Smith, who elaborates on the SOSTAC® framework's components, its application in agencies, the importance of 90-day review cycles, and the role of AI in planning, emphasising careful strategic use. We also discussed overcoming resistance to SOSTAC®, its long-term impact since 1993, and the critical need for a customer-centric approach in all business endeavours, directing agencies to free resources on sostac.org and a weekly AI chat. SOSTAC® Framework Audience and BenefitsPaul Smith's Background and SOSTAC® originsSOSTAC® Framework ComponentsApplying SOSTAC in AgenciesSOSTAC® Planning and Review CyclesAI Integration in SOSTAC®Creative AI Prompting and Strategy WeaknessesEffective Controls and KPIs in SOSTAC®Overcoming Resistance to SOSTAC®Longevity and Impact of SOSTAC®Customer-Centric ApproachSOSTAC® Resources for Agencies

    41 min

  6. JAN 26

    GYDA State of the Nation for Q1 2026 with Robert Craven

    Robert Craven presents the "GYDA State of the Nation for Q1 2026," characterising the market as volatile. He emphasised that "trust is your superpower" for agencies facing AI, outdated business models, and low growth and goes on to detail winning strategies like niche specialisation and service expansion to possibly become "transformation partners." Robert concludes with an action plan for leaders to pivot from "traffic to trust" and drive decisive action. Topics covered: State of the Nation and Market VolatilityAI, Trust, and Market OutlookCurrent Reality and Benchmark ChallengesWinner Strategies and VUCA Version TwoResearch Insights and Strategic ShiftsLeadership and Trust as a SuperpowerAgile Leadership and AI Trust DilemmaProblem Identification and Action PlanFinal Thoughts on Leadership

    35 min

  7. JAN 26

    Selling Your Business? Don’t Wing It. With David Blois

    David, Managing Partner at M&A Advisory and Principal at Eaton Square, leads M&A transactions to maximise client value in consulting, marketing communications, digital, and MarTech sectors. With over 30 years of experience in corporate finance, business management, and strategic consulting, David offers deep insights into industry dynamics and trends. In this no-nonsense conversation, Robert Craven sits down with M&A Advisory’s David Blois to lift the lid on the real-world challenges of mergers and acquisitions. You’ll hear: What makes a business genuinely sellable (hint: it’s not your turnover)When to get an advisor involved (spoiler: sooner than you think)The truth about multiples, valuations and the myths that trip people upHow to increase value and avoid costly mistakesWhether you're prepping to sell, buy, or just want to know what your business is really worth, this episode is packed with sharp insights and practical takeaways. As David says, “You’ve got to work on the business, not just in it.”

    44 min

  8. JAN 21

    The LinkedIn Growth Blueprint: Branding, Engagement, and ROI for Agency Leaders with Sarah Clay

    In this GYDA Talks, Rob talks to Sarah Clay. Sarah is a LinkedIn trainer who helps professionals harness the power of social media to amplify their voices and grow their businesses. With a career that spans law, photography, TV production, and marketing, Sarah discovered her passion for social media while leading PR and social media for a film company. Growing up as the only girl among six brothers taught her creative ways to be heard -skills she now passes on to her clients. Driven by a desire to make an impact, Sarah brings her diverse experience and “secret sauce” strategies to empower others to stand out authentically on LinkedIn. Rob and Sarah discuss how digital agency leaders struggle with LinkedIn despite knowing its importance, likening sporadic efforts to inconsistent gym attendance. Sarah emphasises that LinkedIn should be viewed as a "networking party" focused on building relationships through consistent engagement, personal content, and purposeful commenting. They also discuss strategies for personal vs. company branding, effective posting frequency, handling undesirable comments, and a three-step process for LinkedIn success, concluding that LinkedIn is trending towards a "pay-to-play" model where personal profiles drive engagement. Topics included Mindset Shift for LinkedIn Success: Networking AnalogyPersonal vs. Company BrandingPersonal Content and BoundariesPosting Frequency and Purposeful Commenting StrategyThree-Step LinkedIn ProcessTargeted Engagement HackMetrics and ROIRecommendations for Agency Leaders

    47 min
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About

GYDA (Grow Your Digital Agency) is a business consultancy that helps digital agency leaders run the agencies they want to run, so they can live the life they want to lead. We do this by using the mastermind process to spearhead agency growth.The GYDA Talks Podcast includes interviews and discussions between Robert Craven, Janusz Stabik and Digital Agency Experts. Each podcast is full of knowledge to help you Grow Your Digital Agency.

Information

  • Creator
    GYDA - Robert Craven and Janusz Stabik
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    144
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 GYDA - Grow Your Digital Agency
  • Show Website
    GYDA - Grow Your Digital Agency