The AgencyHabits Podcast

Peter Kang, Sei-Wook Kim
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

Go behind the scenes of real agency businesses. The AgencyHabits Podcast shares ideas, lessons, and experiments from across Barrel Holdings - home to a growing portfolio of specialized agencies and over two decades of insights. We share them all here, hoping you'll test, tweak, and find what works best for your agency.

  1. Jun 9

    How Agencies Demonstrate Expertise Through Building a Proof Library | Ep 37

    Agency case studies, client references, and proof assets are some of the most underutilized growth tools inside agencies.   Today, we break down the three components of proof and why they are much more than sales collateral. Done well, proof becomes a strategic asset that strengthens positioning, improves business development, supports marketing, helps partnerships, and makes your agency's expertise visible and verifiable.   We'll cover: 📌 The three components of proof: case studies, artifacts, and active references 📌 Why proof is the foundation behind strong agency positioning 📌 What separates a strong case study from a portfolio piece 📌 How to document outcomes, methodology, and client challenges effectively 📌 Why agencies should treat proof as an investment, not an administrative task 📌 How artifacts showcase the way your agency thinks and operates 📌 Building and maintaining a network of active client references 📌 Organizing your proof library for sales, marketing, partnerships, and recruiting 📌 The best time to create case studies and capture client feedback 📌 Systems and habits that make proof creation sustainable   Whether you're trying to win more work, strengthen your positioning, or build institutional knowledge within your agency, investing in proof can create leverage across the entire business.   Watch this episode to learn how to turn past client work into assets that compound over time. ==================== 📺 Watch us on YouTube   📩 Build a more scalable, profitable agency Get the Agency Habits newsletter – practical breakdowns on pricing, margins, and operations you can apply immediately inside your agency. Subscribe here 👉 https://www.agencyhabits.com/   🔗 Follow the hosts on LinkedIn Peter Kang 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterkang34/ Sei-Wook Kim 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/seiwookkim/

    34 min

  2. May 26

    What Isn't Going to Change in the Next Ten Years | Ep 35

    AI is changing agencies fast. But the bigger question agency owners should ask is: what will never change? Today, we break down six timeless principles that will still define successful agencies over the next decade, even as AI reshapes delivery, operations, hiring, and client expectations. Using a framework inspired by Jeff Bezos, we explore the fundamentals that agency owners should continue investing in while everyone else chases short-term AI trends. We cover: 📌 Why trust is still the foundation of agency growth 📌 How specialization becomes even more important in the AI era 📌 Why leadership and human talent still matter 📌 The role of hospitality and client experience 📌 Why clients will always pay for results, speed, and perspective 📌 The long-term advantages of reputation, relationships, and patience If you run an agency and feel overwhelmed by how quickly AI is changing the industry, this episode offers a more grounded way to think about strategy and growth. ==================== 📺 Watch us on YouTube 📩 Build a more scalable, profitable agency Get the Agency Habits newsletter – practical breakdowns on pricing, margins, and operations you can apply immediately inside your agency. Subscribe here 👉 https://www.agencyhabits.com/ 🔗 Follow the hosts on LinkedIn Peter Kang 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterkang34/ Sei-Wook Kim 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/seiwookkim/

    27 min

  3. Jun 2

    Shifting From an Agency-Centric Mindset | Ep 36

    Client-centricity, positioning, and agency growth all start with understanding the customer more deeply.   In this episode, we break down why most agencies default to an inside-out perspective and how that impacts everything from service offerings and pricing to marketing, client communication, and culture.   Today, we cover: 📌 Why agencies build offerings around capabilities instead of client outcomes 📌 The difference between agency-centric and client-centric thinking 📌 How poor ICP definition leads to weak positioning 📌 Why most agency content and event marketing miss the mark 📌 How to reframe status updates around client goals and progress 📌 The cultural shift required to truly become client-centric   We also explore practical examples across: 📌 Service design and pricing 📌 Event marketing 📌 Content strategy 📌 Client communication 📌 Team culture and internal language   If your agency feels too reactive, struggles to differentiate, or relies heavily on explaining capabilities, this episode will help you rethink how you approach your clients and your positioning. ==================== 📺 Watch us on YouTube   📩 Build a more scalable, profitable agency Get the Agency Habits newsletter – practical breakdowns on pricing, margins, and operations you can apply immediately inside your agency. Subscribe here 👉 https://www.agencyhabits.com/   🔗 Follow the hosts on LinkedIn Peter Kang 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterkang34/ Sei-Wook Kim 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/seiwookkim/

    21 min

  4. May 19

    Positioning: The Stake in the Ground | Ep 34

    Agency positioning is one of the most misunderstood parts of building a service business. Most agencies can describe what they do, but very few can clearly explain why a client should choose them over another agency.   Today, we break down the four-part positioning framework we use to evaluate agencies: Category Wedge Provable differentiators Why now   We explain why most positioning fails, why vague "full-service agency" messaging weakens sales conversations, and how strong positioning makes agencies dramatically easier to buy.   We also unpack: 📌 Why positioning should be future-looking, not backwards-looking 📌 How to define a category buyers instantly understand 📌 What makes a wedge actually effective in sales conversations 📌 Why most agency differentiators are too vague to matter 📌 How urgency ("why now") creates buying momentum 📌 The danger of AI-washing your positioning 📌 Common positioning mistakes agencies repeatedly make 📌 How positioning connects to ICP, ecosystem, and service offerings   If your agency struggles to stand out, win the right clients, or explain why you're different in a memorable way, positioning is one of the highest-leverage exercises you can invest in. ==================== 📺 Watch us on YouTube   📩 Build a more scalable, profitable agency Get the Agency Habits newsletter – practical breakdowns on pricing, margins, and operations you can apply immediately inside your agency. Subscribe here 👉 https://www.agencyhabits.com/   🔗 Follow the hosts on LinkedIn Peter Kang 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterkang34/ Sei-Wook Kim 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/seiwookkim/

    28 min

  5. May 12

    Why Most Agency Marketing Doesn't Work [REPLAY]

    Agency marketing, lead generation, and brand building often feel inconsistent because they are approached reactively instead of as a long-term system.   We're bringing back this episode because it breaks down how to think about agency marketing as a compounding investment, not a short-term tactic.   In this episode, we cover: Why reactive marketing leads to inconsistent pipeline How to think about marketing as reputation and awareness building The importance of consistency and long-term investment Why most agencies stop too early before seeing results Six real examples of agency marketing in practice How to experiment and find what works for your agency   This episode also walks through practical examples, including: High-impact campaigns and events Open-source and product-led marketing Community building and meetups Content, newsletters, and thought leadership Physical marketing and brand experiences   If your agency marketing feels unpredictable or ineffective, this episode will help you rethink your approach and build something more sustainable. ==================== 📺 Watch us on YouTube   📩 Build a more scalable, profitable agency Get the Agency Habits newsletter – practical breakdowns on pricing, margins, and operations you can apply immediately inside your agency. Subscribe here 👉 https://www.agencyhabits.com/   🔗 Follow the hosts on LinkedIn Peter Kang 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterkang34/ Sei-Wook Kim 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/seiwookkim/

    19 min

  6. May 5

    How to Turn Client Work Into Long-Term Growth [REPLAY]

    Agency growth, client retention, and referrals all come down to how you think about your engagements.   We're bringing back this episode because it introduces the concept of engagement yield, and how the best agencies turn every client into a compounding asset.   In this episode, we break down: Why revenue is only part of the value of a client The four drivers of engagement yield: proof, leverage, relationships, and referrals How the right engagements create long-term advantages Why some projects actually create negative outcomes over time How to evaluate opportunities beyond just budget   If your agency is growing but not compounding, this framework will change how you think about every client you take on. ================== 📺 Watch us on YouTube   📩 Build a more scalable, profitable agency Get the Agency Habits newsletter – practical breakdowns on pricing, margins, and operations you can apply immediately inside your agency. Subscribe here 👉 https://www.agencyhabits.com/   🔗 Follow the hosts on LinkedIn Peter Kang 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterkang34/ Sei-Wook Kim 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/seiwookkim/

    21 min

  7. Apr 28

    9 Risks That Can Kill Your Agency [REPLAY]

    Agency risk, founder burnout, cash flow, and client concentration are some of the biggest threats to staying in business.   We're bringing back this episode because it breaks down how to think about agency risk management, business continuity, and long-term survival using a simple framework.   In this episode, we cover: How to use a risk matrix (likelihood vs impact) Founder burnout and partner misalignment Key person dependency and delivery risk Legal exposure with clients and employees Cash flow risk and insolvency Client concentration and dependency Strategic misalignment and market shifts   If you want to build a more resilient agency and avoid the risks that can quietly take you out, this is a framework worth revisiting. =============== 📺 Watch us on YouTube 📩 Build a more scalable, profitable agency Get the Agency Habits newsletter – practical breakdowns on pricing, margins, and operations you can apply immediately inside your agency.   Subscribe here 👉 https://www.agencyhabits.com/   🔗 Follow the hosts on LinkedIn Peter Kang 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterkang34/ Sei-Wook Kim 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/seiwookkim/

    35 min

  8. Apr 21

    The 6 Levers of Agency Profitability [REPLAY]

    Agency profitability comes down to a few key levers, but most agencies don't manage them intentionally.   We're bringing back this episode because it breaks down the six levers that directly impact agency profitability, gross margin, utilization, and delivery efficiency, and how they work together.   In this episode, we cover: Why pricing and scoping determine margin before work even starts How utilization and staffing decisions impact profitability The role of delivery efficiency and engagement design How scope creep quietly erodes margins Why reusable IP and systems increase leverage Where automation and AI can improve delivery efficiency   If your agency is growing but margins aren't improving, this is a framework worth revisiting.   📺 Watch us on YouTube   Peter Kang on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterkang34/ Sei-Wook Kim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seiwookkim/ AgencyHabits Website: https://www.agencyhabits.com/ AgencyHabits on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/agencyhabits/ Barrel Holdings Website: https://www.barrel-holdings.com/ Barrel Holdings LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/barrel-holdings/

    29 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Go behind the scenes of real agency businesses. The AgencyHabits Podcast shares ideas, lessons, and experiments from across Barrel Holdings - home to a growing portfolio of specialized agencies and over two decades of insights. We share them all here, hoping you'll test, tweak, and find what works best for your agency.

Information

  • Creator
    Peter Kang, Sei-Wook Kim
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    The AgencyHabits Podcast

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