Small But Mighty Agency: How to Grow Your Agency

Audrey Joy Kwan | Growth Strategist for Agencies
  • 5.0 (14)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

If you want to grow an agency to seven figures and beyond without working more hours in your business, tune in.  I know your time is valuable, so I keep it practical and help you work smarter, not harder, in every episode.  I'm your host, Audrey Joy Kwan. I know what it takes to build an agency—including supporting an agency owner in selling and exiting, and consulting for 200-person agencies—because I've done it.  My team and I have coached and consulted with over 150 agency owners and have been behind the scenes of multiple seven-figure agencies.  All this to say, join us on the Small But Mighty Agency podcast to grow an agency with real-world experience and practical tips that help you to work less and earn more while leading with integrity.  Let's go! 

  1. Jun 17

    Backed Into a Corner and Building a Better Growth Playbook

    There's a moment Joe Teo describes in this episode that will feel familiar to a lot of agency owners: revenue flattening, a growth channel that stopped working and no plan B. For Joe, the CEO and co-founder of HeyOrca, that moment forced a question most marketers never think to ask: what if you'd built a growth strategy with no foundation underneath it? In this episode, Joe breaks down how HeyOrca rebuilt their growth engine through community-led marketing after paid ads hit a wall, and what they learned about the difference between having an audience and building a community. We get into: Why systems alone (newsletters, Slack groups, webinars) don't create community, and what actually doesThe shift from "what should we publish next?" to a question that changes everythingHow paid ads fit into a community-led strategy without becoming the whole strategyThe participation signals worth tracking beyond likes and commentsWhy Joe thinks AI fatigue is pushing people toward something most marketers are underestimatingJoe is also the author of Community-Led Marketing, and his take on where trust, attention, and growth intersect right now is one I think you'll be thinking about long after the episode ends. Show Notes: -Website: heyorca.com -Community-Led Marketing ebook: heyorca.com/ebook/community-led-marketing -Joe Teo's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/josephteols -HeyOrca's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/heyorca Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep155 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis

    38 min

  2. Jun 3

    The Handoff Nobody Plans For

    Ten years of running an agency, and everything was still in her head. Natasha Golinsky, founder of On Purpose Projects, a custom web and e-commerce development agency, didn't plan her exit from the day-to-day. A stage two breast cancer diagnosis gave her six weeks to hand over a business she'd been running for a decade, while everything lived in her head. What came out the other side is one of the most honest, human stories about building a business that can run without you that I've heard. In this episode, Natasha shares what it really took to build and lead a strong remote contractor team, why the freedom she worked toward came with an unexpected identity shift, and what she wishes she'd done differently long before the crisis hit. Here's what we cover: What the handoff actually looked like when the timeline wasn't strategic, it was survivalThe emotional side of stepping out, the loneliness, the grief, and learning to let go of being neededThe multi-phase hiring process Natasha uses to find contractors who are the right fit beyond technical skillHow to start loosening your grip by identifying the work you already avoidYou don't have to go through a health crisis to build a business that doesn't depend on you. But you do have to be intentional about it. Let's dive in. Show Notes: -Natasha's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/natashagolinsky Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep154 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis

    30 min

  3. May 20

    The Hidden Cost of Trying to Keep Up

    A lot of small business owners are feeling the pressure to keep up right now. AI is changing how we work. New tools and platforms keep showing up. Buyers are behaving differently, and the market feels harder to read than it used to. And I get it. When things feel uncertain, it’s very easy to start adding more. But for small but mighty business owners, more is not always what creates momentum. Sometimes it just makes the business heavier. In this episode, I sit down with Lydia Lee, business strategist and work reinvention coach, for a conversation about what it really means to grow in this season. This is not a tidy framework conversation. It’s more of a real talk about the pressure small business owners are carrying, what is changing in the market, and why some of the most important growth moves right now might actually be quieter ones. We talk about simplifying, getting clearer on what you actually need, and building a business around your real season of life instead of someone else’s version of success. We also get into why relationships matter more than ever. AI can give you ideas, outlines, and tactics, but it cannot replace trust. In this episode, we cover: why experienced small business owners are feeling overwhelmed right nowhow AI is creating both urgency and distractionwhy adding more is not always the best response to uncertaintywhat it means to define growth based on the season you are actually inThis conversation is for you if you have been feeling the pressure to do more, but some part of you knows the answer might be to pause, simplify, and ask a more honest question: What do I actually need right now? Show Notes: Website: screwthecubicle.com ​ YouTube: youtube.com/screwthecubicle LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lydiallee Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep153 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis

    39 min

  4. May 6

    The Agency That Can Grow Without You

    A lot of agency owners think about selling one day. But selling is not something you prepare for at the last minute. And here's what most people miss: the things that make an agency attractive to a buyer are the same things that make it stronger, more stable, and more enjoyable to run right now.  Whether an exit is on your radar or not, this conversation is worth your time. In this episode, I sit down with Steve Guberman, M&A advisor for agency leaders, to get into what owners are building well, what they're avoiding, and what it really takes to run a business you could sell if you wanted to. Here's what we cover: The difference between building a team and building a team that can run without youWhat "panic selling" looks like and why so many owners end up thereWhy the goal isn't to sell. It's to have the option.You don't build a great agency to sell it. You build it well, and selling becomes an option.  Show Notes: -Website: agencyoutsight.com -Get the Operators Audit Worksheet: agencyoutsight.com/resources -LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/agencycoach -Podcast: agencyoutsight.com/podcast Hey thanks for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one.  Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep152 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis

    30 min

  5. Apr 22

    The Exit Path Most Agency Owners Overlook

    Most agency owners think exit means one thing: finding a buyer. This episode offers a different perspective. I sat down with Daniel Pillai, CEO of Langton PR, to talk about a path into ownership that did not come through a traditional sale, but through trust, mentorship, and a gradual transition shaped over time. It’s a conversation about leadership, succession, and the often unseen inner work of stepping into a role you’re not sure you’re ready for. Together, we explore what agency owners may be missing when they overlook internal succession, how potential can show up before someone fully believes in themselves, and why leading well is one of the most important parts of building an agency that lasts. In this episode, you’ll hear about: why exiting an agency doesn’t always have to mean selling to an outside buyerhow account management and relationship leadership can become a foundation for ownershipwhat true mentorship and stewardship can look like inside an agencywhy internal succession is not just an exit strategy, but a reflection of how well you leadIf you’ve ever thought about legacy, leadership, succession, or what it really means to build an agency that can outlast you, this conversation will give you a lot to think about. Show Notes: -Website: langtonpr.com -Instagram: @daniel.pillai -TikTok: @queendeehbic Hey thanks for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one.  Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep151 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis

    36 min

  6. Apr 8

    Why Clients Leave Agencies They Like

    Some agencies do solid work and still lose clients. And in a market like this, I think that raises a more important question than most people are asking: What actually makes a client want to stay? Because client retention is not just about doing good work. It is not just about being responsive, likable, or easy to work with either. There is a deeper layer to strong client relationships. A kind of value that makes a client feel steadier with you in the room, more confident in your perspective, and more likely to see you as someone who helps them think, not just someone who helps them deliver. This episode explores what that kind of relationship really requires now. I get into why client relationships feel different in this market, why strategic advisory matters more than ever, and what actually helps agencies become harder to replace when budgets tighten, pressure rises, and trust carries more weight. If you want to become harder to replace in the eyes of your clients, this episode will help you see where that value really comes from. RSVP to the next Mixer: https://agencytogether.com/mixer-event Hey thanks for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one.  Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep150

    13 min

  7. Mar 25

    Why Most Multicultural Marketing Misses the Mark

    What does it actually take to market to diverse audiences with depth, respect, and relevance? In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, I sit down with Marissa Nance, founder of Native Tongue Communications, to talk about what too many agencies still get wrong when trying to reach diverse audiences. Marissa shares why broad multicultural marketing often falls short and why she prefers the term micro cultural marketing instead. We explore what it means to understand people beyond surface-level demographics and why empathy, research, and cultural nuance matter more than ever. We also talk about the pressure agencies are facing right now as DEAI becomes more politicized, AI reshapes the marketing landscape, and brands risk losing the human insight that makes their work resonate. In this conversation, we unpack: Why “micro cultural” is a more useful lens than “multicultural”Why culture goes deeper than race, ethnicity, or genderHow empathy leads to stronger marketingWhere AI can support the work and where human judgment still mattersWhat agencies can do to market with more intention and integrityIf you want to create marketing that resonates more deeply and reflects a better understanding of the people you serve, this episode is worth a listen. Show Notes: -Website: nativetonguecommunications.com -Instagram: marissa.nance -LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marissanance Hey thanks for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one.  Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep149

    30 min

  8. Mar 11

    If AI Can Write, What Are Agencies Really Selling?

    Is AI quietly making your agency more replaceable? Or is it revealing where your real value actually lives? Right now, content can be generated in seconds. Blog posts. Emails. Website copy. Entire strategies drafted with a prompt. Which raises an uncomfortable question for agency owners: If the machine can produce the words… what are clients really paying us for? In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, we pull back the curtain on what AI actually looks like inside a working content agency serving technical clients. My guest, Victoria Cowan, founder of Wordplay Creative, built her business on thoughtful, human-centered storytelling. When AI hit the marketing world she felt what many writers felt: fear. Not hype. Not instant adoption. Fear. Instead of ignoring it or blindly embracing it she integrated it intentionally. In this conversation, we unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes: Where AI genuinely speeds up workflow and where it creates more workWhy most AI-generated content sounds the sameThe growing importance of editorial discernmentHow tone of voice is becoming a serious competitive advantageWhat agencies need to consider around transparency and IPWhy strategic thought partnership is becoming more valuable than executionAs more agencies use the same tools, sameness becomes the default.  If you’re navigating how to use AI without becoming commoditized, this episode will help you think more clearly about where your real leverage lives. Let’s dive in. Show Notes: -Website: https://www.wordplaycreative.ca/ -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriajunecowan/ Hey thanks for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one.  Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep148 Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis

    33 min
See All (156)

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

If you want to grow an agency to seven figures and beyond without working more hours in your business, tune in.  I know your time is valuable, so I keep it practical and help you work smarter, not harder, in every episode.  I'm your host, Audrey Joy Kwan. I know what it takes to build an agency—including supporting an agency owner in selling and exiting, and consulting for 200-person agencies—because I've done it.  My team and I have coached and consulted with over 150 agency owners and have been behind the scenes of multiple seven-figure agencies.  All this to say, join us on the Small But Mighty Agency podcast to grow an agency with real-world experience and practical tips that help you to work less and earn more while leading with integrity.  Let's go! 

Information