The Agency Hour

In this episode of The Agency Hour, Troy Dean sits down with Jamie Kritharas, Founder of Defiant Digital, to discuss how he transformed his career from international DJ to leading one of Australia’s top digital agencies. Jamie shares his journey of building Defiant Digital from scratch, helping over 300 businesses generate hundreds of millions in revenue by combining creativity with performance marketing. Troy and Jamie explore the challenges and triumphs of scaling a remote team of 30 A-players, the importance of aligning creative with ad performance, and how Jamie built a business that thrives without him. Jamie reveals the mindset shifts and practical strategies that helped him step out of day-to-day client work, create a thriving team culture, and protect his agency by firing toxic clients. The conversation also dives into Defiant Digital’s client acquisition strategies, the tools they use to maintain team cohesion in a remote environment, and Jamie’s approach to fostering a team-first culture. Jamie’s candid insights and actionable advice are a must-listen for anyone looking to scale their agency sustainably while maintaining creative excellence. Whether you’re an agency owner looking to step out of the weeds or an entrepreneur ready to build a business that runs without you, this episode is packed with practical insights and inspiration.   Handy Links: Defiant Digital Paid Discovery WIX   Get a Personalised Game Plan to Grow Your AgencyTake this online assessment and get recommendations based on more than 10 years of experience helping 4K+ agencies. This stuff works. Reduce the overwhelm and know exactly what to do next. Gameplan.agencymavericks.com Follow us on the socials: YouTube | Facebook | FB Group | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin

In this episode of The Agency Hour, Troy Dean sits down with Brandon Leibowitz, Founder of SEO Optimizers, to discuss how digital marketing is evolving in the AI era and what it means for agency owners and marketers. Brandon shares his proven strategies for driving traffic, building authority, and adapting to rapid technological changes like AI-driven content and search engine advancements.   Troy and Brandon delve into the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, Bard, and Gemini, examining their impact on SEO, content creation, and the value of human connection in digital marketing. Brandon explains how to use AI responsibly, emphasizing the importance of accuracy and personalization in content while avoiding common mistakes that could harm a site’s rankings. The conversation also highlights the enduring power of backlinks, how to leverage them effectively, and why video content is becoming a critical tool for engaging audiences and dominating search results.   Brandon shares his insights on the future of search, including why websites need to evolve into content-rich, audience-focused platforms to remain competitive. He also discusses actionable ways to future-proof your SEO strategy, from targeting high-value keywords to creating authentic, high-quality content that stands out in an increasingly AI-driven digital landscape.   Whether you’re looking to refine your SEO strategy, explore new ways to use AI in your agency, or stay ahead of digital marketing trends, this episode is a must-listen for agency owners and marketers alike.     Handy Links: SEO Optimizers Paid Discovery WIX   Get a Personalised Game Plan to Grow Your AgencyTake this online assessment and get recommendations based on more than 10 years of experience helping 4K+ agencies. This stuff works. Reduce the overwhelm and know exactly what to do next. Gameplan.agencymavericks.com Follow us on the socials: YouTube | Facebook | FB Group | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin

In this episode of The Agency Hour, Troy Dean sits down with Cannon Carr, Regional Director and Partner at EP Wealth, to explore strategic wealth-building and financial independence for agency owners. Cannon shares his innovative “Three R’s Framework” — Reinvest, Reward, and Repurpose — designed to help business owners create wealth beyond the agency, while building a sustainable, scalable business model. Troy and Cannon dive deep into the crucial steps every agency owner should take to diversify income and protect their financial future. Cannon discusses why relying solely on agency profits isn’t enough and provides actionable insights on how to reinvest wisely for growth, reward yourself sustainably, and repurpose income to build a financial safety net outside of the agency. The conversation covers everything from creating a succession plan, to making your business less dependent on you, to planning for a profitable exit strategy on your terms. Key highlights include Cannon’s advice on using diversified investments to secure financial freedom, understanding how to scale a business beyond the founder’s role, and navigating the complexities of selling or passing on an agency. Cannon explains how to avoid common pitfalls and use financial planning to turn an agency into a wealth-building engine that supports the owner’s lifestyle and goals. Whether you’re an agency owner looking to grow, exit, or simply build a solid financial foundation, this episode is packed with essential strategies to help you secure long-term wealth and independence. // HANDY   Handy Links: EP Wealth Cannon Carr LinkedIn Paid Discovery WIX   Get a Personalised Game Plan to Grow Your AgencyTake this online assessment and get recommendations based on more than 10 years of experience helping 4K+ agencies. This stuff works. Reduce the overwhelm and know exactly what to do next. Gameplan.agencymavericks.com Follow us on the socials: YouTube | Facebook | FB Group | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin

In this episode of The Agency Hour Podcast, Johnny Flash sits down with Laura Elizabeth, seasoned web designer and founder of Client Portal, to unpack the transformative power of paid discovery in building profitable, streamlined client relationships. Laura shares her journey from freelance web design to launching Client Portal, a WordPress plugin that simplifies client communication and helps agencies deliver a professional, high-touch experience. Johnny and Laura dive deep into the role of paid discovery as a critical tool for qualifying clients, setting clear project expectations, and minimizing scope creep. Laura explains how paid discovery not only weeds out low-commitment clients but also positions agencies as trusted advisors from the very start. She shares insights on structuring paid discovery sessions, creating actionable digital roadmaps, and effectively communicating project scope to ensure mutual alignment. They also explore best practices for creating a seamless client onboarding process that sets the stage for long-term partnerships. Laura emphasizes small, impactful touches—like reusable email templates, regular project check-ins, and thoughtful offboarding—as key to maintaining client satisfaction and generating repeat business. In this practical episode, Johnny and Laura highlight how agencies can elevate their client experience by implementing client portals to keep files, links, and deliverables organized in one accessible location, helping clients feel informed without overwhelming them. From templates for difficult conversations to strategies for securing referrals, this conversation is full of actionable advice for agencies aiming to improve client communication and increase efficiency. Whether you’re an agency owner or a freelancer looking to streamline client management, this episode provides essential tips for turning leads into loyal clients and maximizing agency profitability.   Handy Links Wix Paid Discovery HighLevel Client Portal Laura’s Twitter: @lauraelizdunn   Get a Personalised Game Plan to Grow Your AgencyTake this online assessment and get recommendations based on more than 10 years of experience helping 4K+ agencies. This stuff works. Reduce the overwhelm and know exactly what to do next. Gameplan.agencymavericks.com Follow us on the socials: YouTube | Facebook | FB Group | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin