Agency Action

WP Minute
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Hosted by Toby Cryns and Kurt von Ahnen, the Agency Action Podcast (Part of the WP Minute Podcast Network) dives into the real-world ups and downs of running a WordPress agency. Each week, Toby and Kurt share open, honest conversations about the challenges and victories that come with building client relationships, pricing projects, finding the right tools, and growing a sustainable business. Whether you’re just launching your agency or refining your systems, you’ll get practical insights from two agency owners who live it every day—along with stories that remind you you’re not alone in this wild WordPress world of global teams, AI disruption, and constant change. Follow the show and explore more at TheWPMinute.com/podcasts

  1. 6d ago

    AI Can Build a Website. So Why Hire a WordPress Agency?

    This episode of The WP Minute’s Agency Action podcast tackles a big question for WordPress professionals: Are AI and changing client expectations making it harder to run a profitable agency? Kurt von Ahnen and Toby Cryns discuss why larger agencies may be losing their appeal, how smaller teams can compete, and why clients increasingly expect AI-powered work to happen almost instantly. They dig into the gap between generating something with AI and delivering a finished, professional product that’s ready for the real world. The conversation also gets into the realities of agency ownership: keeping clients happy, dealing with sudden cancellations, building processes that don’t depend on one customer, and deciding how much structure a team really needs. Plus, they debate a question that can hit close to home for freelancers and agency owners: Should you stop pitching for free? From charging for discovery to getting your foot in the door with enterprise clients, Kurt and Toby explore how agencies can protect their time, demonstrate their value, and adapt without losing sight of the fundamentals of running a business. Takeaways Large agencies may lose clients to smaller teams that offer more direct communication and less overhead.AI can generate code quickly, but quality, testing, SEO, and launch readiness still require human expertise.Clients who expect AI to deliver instant results may underestimate the work required to build reliable products.Agencies need to decide when AI-driven efficiency should change pricing and when the value of the final result justifies the fee.Client loyalty is never guaranteed, so build systems that can withstand losing a major account.Strong processes matter, but over-documenting every task can limit employee autonomy and create unnecessary complexity.Paid discovery helps agencies protect their time, qualify prospects, and establish a clearer project scope.Getting the first paid engagement can help agencies enter enterprise procurement systems and win larger projects.Important Links Kurt’s Agency: Mañana No Mas Toby’s Agency: The Mighty Mo! Follow Kurt & Toby: LinkedIn: Kurt | Toby Agency Action Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe

  2. Oct 20

    Can You Sell Your WordPress Agency for $200K?

    This episode of The WP Minute’s Agency Action podcast starts with a question every agency owner should consider: what makes a WordPress business worth buying? Kurt von Ahnen and Toby Cryns break down a listing for a WordPress repair business asking $200,000, with 24 clients and $60,000 in annual recurring revenue. They discuss what buyers should look for beyond revenue, why a business that runs without its owner may be worth more, and how client retention affects a potential sale. The conversation also gets into the realities of running an agency today, from hosting and email reliability to raising prices and passing along payment processing fees. They debate whether AI meeting bots should be allowed in calls, share what vibe coding makes possible, and explain why AI may give agencies more capacity rather than make their expertise obsolete. For agency owners thinking about their future, this episode is a reminder that recurring revenue is only part of the equation. Strong processes, reliable systems, and the ability to deliver real client value all matter. Takeaways Recurring revenue alone doesn't tell you whether a WordPress business is worth buying.A business that can operate without its owner may be more attractive to a buyer.Client relationships can be fragile during a sale, so plan for potential customer loss.Documented processes and hard-to-recreate assets can help build long-term business value.Reliable hosting and email support matter because downtime can damage client trust.Review hosting performance and pricing regularly instead of assuming today's deal will last.Raising prices and passing on payment fees requires understanding the trade-offs and being prepared to lose some clients.AI can increase agency capacity, but human judgment and expertise still matter when delivering the final result.Important Links Mentioned Kurt’s Agency: Mañana No Mas Toby’s Agency: The Mighty Mo! Follow Kurt & Toby on LinkedIn: Kurt | Toby Agency Action Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe

  3. Oct 6

    The Real Cost of Letting AI Run Your Business Systems

    This episode of The WP Minute’s Agency Action podcast gets into a question more WordPress agencies are going to have to answer: What work should humans still be doing? Kurt von Ahnen and Toby Cryns talk about using AI to manage email, improve project workflows, rebuild WordPress sites, and even replace piles of plugins with custom code. Kurt shares how AI helped take an abandoned site from a 56 to a 92 on desktop page speed, while Toby explains why he’s looking at AI as a way to reduce the time spent on complex WooCommerce projects. But the conversation gets more complicated when AI-generated work still needs human judgment. They debate whether agencies should build custom solutions or rely on established products, how much customization clients should expect, and where the line is between efficiency and creating another maintenance headache. Then there’s the other problem: AI subscriptions are piling up. Between Claude, ClickUp AI, Figma, Canva, Descript, Perplexity, and a growing list of specialized tools, agencies have to figure out whether the productivity gains actually justify the cost. Kurt and Toby dig into whether agencies are passing those costs on to clients — or simply absorbing them. It’s a very Agency Action conversation about AI, margins, clients, employees, and the uncomfortable question of what happens when the tools get better faster than the business can adapt. Takeaways AI is starting to replace real agency tasks, not just assist with them.Human judgment still matters when AI gets something 80% right.AI can make WordPress sites faster by eliminating unnecessary bloat.Agencies may start replacing plugin stacks with custom AI-built solutions.Clients can turn small customizations into endless maintenance work.Professionalism still matters when AI handles more of the actual work.AI subscriptions can quietly become a major agency expense.Agencies need to figure out whether AI savings are actually improving margins.Better AI may make leaner agencies possible.The real challenge is knowing what to automate and what to keep human.Important Links: Kurt’s Agency: Mañana No Mas Toby’s Agency: The Mighty Mo! Follow Kurt & Toby:LinkedIn: Kurt | Toby Agency Action Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe

  4. Sep 29

    AI Is Changing WordPress Agencies Faster Than We Think

    This episode of The WP Minute’s Agency Action podcast gets into what happens when AI starts doing the work WordPress agencies have traditionally billed for. Toby Cryns and Kurt von Ahnen talk about using Claude to rebuild WordPress sites, the shrinking size of some development projects, and what happens when clients can build functioning apps themselves with AI. They also dig into the bigger questions: How do you price work that AI can do in minutes? What does a WordPress developer actually need to bring to the table? And how do agencies hire people who can think beyond a task list? The conversation eventually moves from AI to the realities of agency growth — accountability, hiring, delegation, profitability, and knowing when adding more people actually makes the business harder to run. Takeaways AI is already shrinking some WordPress projects from days to hours.Agencies may need to sell expertise instead of time.AI-generated websites are good enough for many clients.Developers increasingly need to be customer-facing problem solvers.AI can create more technical debt through tools and subscriptions.Consultants may become more valuable as clients get overwhelmed by AI options.Value-based pricing becomes more important as AI speeds up delivery.Hiring for judgment is harder than hiring for technical skills.Agency growth can create more complexity instead of more freedom.Clear accountability can help agencies identify the right people and processes.Important Links: Kurt’s Agency: Mañana No MasToby’s Agency: The Mighty Mo!Follow Kurt & Toby:LinkedIn: Kurt | TobyAgency Action Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribeJoin us in Slack: The WP Minute Slack

  5. Sep 8

    Is AI About to Break the WordPress Agency Model?

    This episode of The WP Minute’s Agency Action podcast explores how AI is changing the way agencies build websites—and what that means for the future of the WordPress agency model. Kurt and Toby share their experience using AI tools to build and redesign a website, including where tools like Lovable can replace traditional workflows and where WordPress and developer expertise are still essential. They also dig into the business side of running an agency, from reducing tech debt and improving performance to hiring top talent, measuring profitability, and improving client communication. The conversation wraps with a discussion about the changing energy around WordCamps and the WordPress community. Takeaways: Simple brochure sites may no longer need WordPress. AI is great for first drafts, but humans still shape the final product. Complex business logic still requires developer expertise. Removing tech debt can improve performance more than adding new plugins. Expensive systems can’t replace strong operators. One great hire can outperform several average ones. Profitability matters more than billable hours. Frequent client status calls can signal internal communication problems.Important Links: Kurt’s Agency: Mañana No MasToby’s Agency: The Mighty Mo!Follow Kurt & Toby:LinkedIn: Kurt | TobyAgency Action Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe

  6. Sep 1

    Fewer Clients, More Revenue?

    This episode of The WP Minute’s Agency Action podcast explores a core agency question: is it better to pursue fewer, higher-value clients or more, lower-value clients with recurring revenue? Kurt and Toby compare both models using real examples from their own agencies, then widen the conversation into leadership, client fit, and what it means to build a business that lasts. Takeaways: Don’t seek cheap clients just because they’re available.Higher-value clients can be easier and more profitable.Firing poor-fit clients creates room for better ones.Recurring revenue creates stability and upsell opportunities.Hosting offers recurring revenue but is highly commoditized.Good leadership requires transparency, communication, and trust.Less financial pressure makes it easier to choose better clients.Important Links: Kurt’s Agency: Mañana No MasToby’s Agency: The Mighty Mo!Follow Kurt & Toby:LinkedIn: Kurt | TobyAgency Action Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe

  7. Aug 18

    If I Could Turn Back Time (For My Agency)

    If you could go back in time, what would you do differently? That’s the question Kurt and Toby tackle on this episode of The WP Minute’s Agency Action podcast. The guys recall services they shouldn’t have sold and the boundaries they didn’t create. The good news is that these lessons are learned through experience, and your agency has the power to evolve. It’s all about knowing when to make a positive change. You’ll also find thoughts on scaling your business, delegating tasks, and balancing profit and enjoyment.  And don’t miss their riffs on meeting client expectations, AI-generated RFP responses, and offering warranties on your work. Takeaways: Kurt would refuse to sell site audits and remodeling jobs.Toby emphasizes the need for firm processes and boundaries.User support is crucial for maintaining client relationships.Delegation is essential for growth but comes with discomfort.Profitability and enjoyment can often conflict.Successful agencies know when to stop certain practices.Cheap work can lead to better relationships if managed well.Scaling requires a shift in mindset and operations.Most successful founders lose the ego and focus on key performance indicators.Important Links: Kurt’s Agency: Mañana No MasToby’s Agency: The Mighty Mo!Follow Kurt & Toby: LinkedIn: Kurt | TobyAgency Action Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribehttps://thewpminute.com/if-i-could-turn-back-time-for-my-agency/

  8. Aug 11

    Meetings Don’t Have to Suck

    Are you tired of long, unproductive meetings that feel like a waste of time? Things don’t have to be this way! On this episode of The WP Minute’s Agency Action podcast, Kurt and Toby explore tips and techniques for making meetings that work for everyone. It’s not as hard as you may think. Preparation is the key to success. For example, setting a clear agenda with achievable goals will help you keep things from going off the rails. There’s also something to be said for the balance between urgency and importance in the decision-making process. With a little work, you can turn meetings from a dreaded duty to a way to move things forward. This episode has everything you need to get started. Takeaways: Meetings often lack structure and purpose.A good meeting should leave participants feeling productive.Implementing a consistent agenda can improve meeting effectiveness.Team dynamics can significantly impact meeting outcomes.Urgent tasks often distract from important goals.Building relationships is key to finding work.Sales should be prioritized over marketing in early stages.Networking can lead to unexpected opportunities.Accountability in meetings fosters better follow-through.Effective communication is essential for team success.Important Links: Kurt’s Agency: Mañana No MasToby’s Agency: The Mighty Mo!Follow Kurt & Toby: LinkedIn: Kurt | TobyAgency Action Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribehttps://thewpminute.com/meetings-dont-have-to-suck/

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About

Hosted by Toby Cryns and Kurt von Ahnen, the Agency Action Podcast (Part of the WP Minute Podcast Network) dives into the real-world ups and downs of running a WordPress agency. Each week, Toby and Kurt share open, honest conversations about the challenges and victories that come with building client relationships, pricing projects, finding the right tools, and growing a sustainable business. Whether you’re just launching your agency or refining your systems, you’ll get practical insights from two agency owners who live it every day—along with stories that remind you you’re not alone in this wild WordPress world of global teams, AI disruption, and constant change. Follow the show and explore more at TheWPMinute.com/podcasts

Information

  • Creator
    WP Minute
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Matt Report Media
  • Show Website
    Agency Action

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