The Kate Ahl Show: Recent Episodes
Kate Ahl
Kate Ahl is an accidental agency owner living in Portland, Oregon. She's the CEO and founder of Simple Pin Media, a Pinterest marketing agency with over 100 clients and 35 team members. In each weekly episode, Kate dives into what it's like to run an agency, passes on wisdom from the lessons she's learned, and shares practice advice that will help any agency owner. In addition to agency tips, she also shares leadership tips for those wanting to hire a team and not be a micromanager that everyone wants to run from. Subscribe to get your daily dose of agency lessons each Sunday, but of course, you can listen on Monday. Follow the show on Instagram @kateahlshow
I’ve lived with this tension between agency owner and digital marketer for most of my agency career. Just this last year I’ve been able to identify the tension and figure out where I land.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
When you’re an accidental entrepreneur it’s important to look back on how something that was accidental has changed who you are and what you’ve become. I think it’s important because we often grow in ways we don’t realize, or discover gifts we didn’t know we had. If we don’t celebrate those moments we’re missing the growth journey and self-discovery.
If you’re looking for an 1 hour consult with someone who has gone before you in running an agency, I’m open. Go to kateahl.com and click on 1-1 consult and book a time with me. I’d love to help you troubleshoot a few areas of struggle in your business.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
We recently did an in-person sponsorship at a conference. It felt like a really big risk. Here are the details and what we learned from the experience.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
This idea of swim lanes revolutioned my thinking of how I work in my company more so than an org chart.
Not sure if you knew this but I offer 1 hour strategy calls for all types of agency owners. Let’s dig in on your business and give you 1-2 action items that move the needle forward in the next few months. Scroll below and book a call.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
How do you know when it’s time to make an investment in your business? Whether it’s coaching, education, or tech here are a few things to ask yourself before you hit the buy button.
Also, did you know i do 1-1 coaching? Funny story. One of my recent coaching clients asked me in September about a mastermind vs. coaching 1-1. I told her my experience and how this had impacted the growth of my business. My suggestion was to go with 1-1 coaching. She texted me the next day and said, “Why did you tell me you offered 1-1 coaching?!”
Biggest reason, I didn’t want her to think I was selfishly telling her 1-1 coaching was a fit and then immediately sell her into mine. Yes, I know marketing is important but your busines is important to me as well.
If 1-1 coaching is something you’re leaning into I would be honored to coach you. Fill out the form on my site and we can chat. I have room for 1 more client. We go in 3 month stretches so you can evaluate every 3 months if it’s worth your investment. Now onto talking about investments.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
I always find sharing the little things we do in our business to be fun and exciting for others who haven’t thought of it before. This is a little track hack I’ve been doing in my business now for 4 years and it’s been fun to reap the benefits.
If you haven’t grabbed my free Dream Client Playbook the scroll below in your podcast player to snag it now for free. It’s a 4-part series + PDF that will walk you through the steps I take to find my ideal clients and stop saying yes to those who aren’t a great fit. It’s a private podcast series you can only get by signing up so make sure you grab it now.
Dream Client Playbook
More info about the Chase card I have.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
After seeing countless ads on YouTube, Instagram and even TV i stepped back and started looking at AG1 and how they were marketing their product. It gave a me a few things to think about.
If you haven’t grabbed my free Dream Client Playbook scroll below in your podcast player to snag it now for free. It’s a 4-part series + PDF that will walk you through the steps I take to find my ideal clients and stop saying yes to those who aren’t a great fit. It’s a private podcast series you can only get by signing up so make sure you grab it now.
Dream Client Playbook
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
I’ve realized over the last few months that there are a lot of tactics and marketing options for my agency that I’m trying to use but i don’t know why. So instead of taking it all as truth from other marketers I’m challenging what I know and coming up with a new plan.
If you haven’t grabbed my free Dream Client Playbook scroll below in your podcast player to snag it now for free. It’s a 4-part series + PDF that will walk you through the steps I take to find my ideal clients and stop saying yes to those who aren’t a great fit. It’s a private podcast series you can only get by signing up so make sure you grab it now.
Dream Client Playbook
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
For the first time I’m stepping into the lead role as marketing director of my company. It’s something I’ve avoided for a really long time but it’s time to embrace the title. Here’s what I’m doing to prepare and get my mind ready for the challenge.
If you haven’t grabbed my free Dream Client Playbook the scroll below in your podcast player to snag it now for free. It’s a 4-part series + PDF that will walk you through the steps I take to find my ideal clients and stop saying yes to those who aren’t a great fit. It’s a private podcast series you can only get by signing up so make sure you grab it now.
Dream Client Playbook
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
This was an agency talk I gave at Agency live last October. It was probably the most vulnerable and candid I’ve been about the journey of agency ownership over 2022 and 2023. I hope what you take away today is that you’re resilient, you’re given ideas, and you’ll know when it’s time to throwin the towel.
I also want to invite you to attend Agency Live hosted by my friends Tasha Booth in 2024 in New Mexico. It was a great way to connect with other agency owners, get some ideas and inspiration for your business and take a moment to reflect. Click on the link below to purchase tickets.
Agency Live
If you need help and just someone to bouce ideas off then book a call with me.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
It’s almost a new year and people and business are in planning mode. Ready to bring the energy into a new year with hopes of it being better than the last.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
Here are the systems and apps that we use for communiation within our team. I’ve heard tons of different models used. What you’ll have to do is test something and figure out what does and does not work for you.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
This week I tackle a listener question from Debbie all about how to care for your team and show them that you appreciate them.
Join the newsletter: kateahl.com/subscribe
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
On a recent podcast, I was blown away by a quote that helped me think about leadership in a whole new light. Here’s my thoughts on that quote and how you can implement this philosophy into your team, regardless of the size.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
Sometimes you just know when it’s time to let go of a client, but honestly, it’s tough. You need the money, but you don’t want to take money from someone when it not working, so how do you let them go with honest, integrity, and amicably. We’re answering a listener question in today’s podcast.
Join the newsletter: kateahl.com/subscribe
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
In this interview we’re talking with one of our students about her recent pivot to adding more services and a retainer model that is helping her stay afloat during this weird economic times.
Sign up for our newsletter at kateahl.com
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
I asked for some ideas for the podcast in season 7 and this first response from a listener is all about the see-saw of hiring. Specifically when you’re trying to bring in more work but you need to staff up or down depending on the work. I’ll share my story of growth with team and how we look at it now almost 10 years into the agency.
If you want to know when you can join Agency Pro make sure you sign up for our newsletter at kateahl.com/subscribe.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
In this interview I bring you an interview with one of my Agency Pro students, Jen Vazquez. I always think it’s important to tell stories of agency owners that we can be encouraged and take pieces of wisdom away for our journey from their stories.
This season we’re going to take on a few different topics ranging from team, interviews with Agency Pro students, economic struggles, and where we’re going in 2024. I’d love it if you would share, pass onto friends.
I have a newsletter that comes out every Sunday as a reminder of the podcast and maybe a quick tip or two. To join go to kateahl.com/subscribe or click the link below in your podcast app.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
This is going to get a little personal but I think it’s important as we’re not always able to separate business and personal. Some of what we’re going through seeps into our business and it takes it on as well. A recap of my summer, growing out my grey hair, and my hesitation to show my face online.
If you want to be the first to hear when my self-study Pinterest Agency Pro course opens, sign up for my newsletter at kateahl.com/subscribe.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
Kicking off season 7 we’re tackling the topic of what motivates you as an agency owner when it comes to money. Is that the filter you use when you make your money decisions. Is your personal salary, company profit, or something else the number you look at.
This season we’re going to take on a few different topics ranging from team, interviews with Agency Pro students, economic struggles, and where we’re going in 2024. I’d love it if you would share, pass onto friends.
I have a newsletter that comes out every Sunday as a reminder of the podcast and maybe a quick tip or two. To join go to kateahl.com/subscribe or click the link below in your podcast app.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
I don’t love the word sales. It feels slimy. But in reality what we are all doing is selling our services and sometimes that comes with objections. Here are a few tips I have for sifting through what’s you and what’s them.
Needs sales training, check out Sales Maven Society
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
It’s a little scary to attend conferences, especially if you don’t know anyone. Not only are you worried about who you’ll talk to but is the investment going to be worth it. I’m sharing a little bit about my experience with conferences as well as an upcoming opportunity for you to attend an agency conference I’ll be speaking at.
Link to Agency Live October 17, 18, 19 2023
Join the newsletter: Kateahl.com
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
When business has been on an upward trajectory it’s hard to shift gears when you’re hit with a couple of down years. Here is where I’m at with getting small in the midst of learning how to do it myself.
Join the newsletter: kateahl.com/newsletter
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
I have been running my agency for 9 years. In that time I’ve take 5-6 days without internet connection and complete unplugging. I like to take Saturdays to unplug as well but nothing ever this long, without my computer, no slack, and completely unplugged. I needed it…but I don’t know if it would be possible 5 years ago. Here’s more to the story.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
When you’re an accidental business owner and you’ve grown a successful business, it’s easy to lose sight of your origin days. You start to think you’ve got this thing in the bag and you know exactly what you’re doing. But ultimately, you’re just guessing. And so is everyone else.
Join the newsletter: kateahl.com/subscribe
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
Description for podcast notes: What’s ahead after a long winter and how I’m planning for the next few years.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
It’s finally time for the world to fully open up again and in person events are in full swing. Here’s a bit about my recent event and how I took advantage of my speaking to leverage not only the audience, the brands, and the sponsors.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
I have HATED linkedIn for years. Like loathed it. But now I’m embracing it and even find that it’s been fun. And a great place for clients. But it takes a bit to get into the groover. Here’s my story and hopefully you can get some ideas for yourself.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
With all the reorganization of the agency, staff, and priorities, I knew we had to take a long hard look at where we were spending time on promotion. That included pulling back on IG, the place I thought we were getting the most clients from. Turns out, it wasn’t. Here’s what we did to figure that out.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
It’s hard to know how to navigate the rough waters in the moment because you’re tossed all around. But for me, right after that tumultuous moment, I got really clear on where we were going. We looked at the data instead of emotion. Cut programs, cut staff hours, and went for the long game instead of in the moment. Here’s a bit about my process.
Also, as some of you know I recently talked about leads and sales in a January masterclass. My friend Nikki Rausch runs a program called Sales Maven Society. She’s offering listeners 1 month free to her program. And Nikki is amazing at sales! She’s kind, listens to people, and I’m pretty sure she could get me to buy snow if it was outside my doorstep. She really is amazing. If you’re looking for help with sales and overcoming objections in your sales calls, Nikki’s program is worth a shot, especially with 1 month free! The link is in the description of the pod below. Just scroll down in your app.
Nikki’s program
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
A line of credit is something I never considered for my business but the opportunity came to my door in December. This is what I did when faced with that option.
Make sure you’ve joined the newsletter at kateahl.com/subscribe.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
**I hosted my second masters retreat for agency owners last weekend. It was the same group that met in June and this time they elevated their growth even more. And they gave me new ideas for how I can continue to serve you.
—**
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
After telling you about my hard year in episode 1, let’s talk a little bit about the emotions that followed. I didn’t really settle into the proactive mode, I wanted to burn it all down. Then I realized that wasn’t the best plan.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
You’ve probably seen all the amazing graphics from companies with their 5-year plans. It looks amazing and perfectly mapped out. But what it doesn’t take into consideration is the labor and intensity it took for a team of people to get to that point. In this episode I’m giving you an alternative to strategic mapping that might work for your brain. One transformation by the end of the year.
Join the newsletter: kateahl.com/subscribe
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
You’ve probably seen all the amazing graphics from companies with their 5-year plans. It looks amazing and perfectly mapped out. But what it doesn’t take into consideration is the labor and intensity it took for a team of people to get to that point. In this episode I’m giving you an alternative to strategic mapping that might work for your brain. One transformation by the end of the year.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
The back half of 2022 was hard and exhausting. It was a turn in the economy we had heard was coming but didn’t know what the extent would be. How would it affect service providers and agencies? Here’s a bit about my story and what I learned in the last year about how it
I hosted my first masterclass of 2023 all about leads and the momentum and energy that came out of that was palpable. Students who attended got laser focused on what method they were going to use for leads and the energy leaving that call is being brought into 2023. If you’re looking to get updated on the next class make sure you join my newsletter at: kateahl.com/subscribe
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
Are you overwhelmed by getting leads? Feeling tapped out on ideas for how to get them? Join me for a live, paid masterclass where we tackle 6 ways to grow your pipeline of high-quality leads on January 17th at 11 am eastern/1 pm pacific. This will be a super in-depth class to help agency owners and service providers learn new methods and ways to get more clients.
Go to kateahl.com/januaryworkshop to sign up now.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
This is tough topic. No one likes firing, well maybe a few crazy people out there, but for the most part it’s a super painful part of business. You invested in someone, you thought it would work, and for some reason it’s falling apart. It’s important to not let things linger and fire fast. But it’s a little harder in real life.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
Growing and managing and agency is a grind. If you’re not careful you’ll burnout and find yourself completely unmotivated to do much. So how do you build in times for rest? It can be in the holiday weeks or simply taking one day off a week per month. There are a lot of creative ways to build in rest which will allow you to get refreshed and renewed to keep growing.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
Every team, regardless if you’re big or small, like to be shown appreciation. They want to know you see them, value their work, and that you want them around for a while. But if you’re not someone who notices that kind of thing or your tendency is just to assume people know you think they are awesome, you’ll need to put in a system for reminders. Here are some of the ways we invest in our team.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
Feedback is hard to give to people, especially when it’s hard. But when you turn it into a lesson for both you and the team member it can become a powerful tool used for growth. So while not always easy, it’s one of the most helpful ways to build a loyal and cohesive team.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
It’s really easy to put all your energy into hiring and then get relaxed when it comes to training. You see this person as competent, you’re tasting freedom and moving into a new position and it’s tempting to cut corners. Don’t. You’ve just invested time and energy into interviewing, this can keep people in your circle for a long time and build loyalty. Keep running the race and serve your new employee or contractor by training them well.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
It’s really easy to put all your energy into hiring and then get relaxed when it comes to training. You see this person as competent, you’re tasting freedom and moving into a new position and it’s tempting to cut corners. Don’t. You’ve just invested time and energy into interviewing, this can keep people in your circle for a long time and build loyalty. Keep running the race and serve your new employee or contractor by training them well.
Subscribe to the newsletter – kateahl.com/subscribe
Hiring is a learned skill for your agency. I hate to tell you this but you’re going to make some mistakes and from those mistakes learn what you want in your hiring. In this episode, I’ll give you some history as to how I hired in the beginning and what we do now. Make sure you’re signed up for our email list at kateahl.com/subscribe.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
I’m far from the legal expert in this space but I want to share my experience and story so you can glean some wisdom and figure out what path is right for you.
Make sure you’re subscribed to my newsletter – kateahl.com/subscribe.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
Hiring your first team member can be scary. You have a ton of fears, questions, worries, and more when it comes to handing over some of the responsibility to someone else. You might even have some control issues and worry tremendously about if they screw up. Before you make your first hire get these things squared away and you’ll be set up for success.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
There are a lot of failures in business. One of the sayings we have in our agency is “fail forward”. Accept the loss, learn what you can and do better on the other side. Not only does it save us all from the shame storm but takes something that was super hard and makes it productive.
—
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour)
Executive Coaching
When you’re just starting out there are a lot of things you want to offer client, especially when they ask for it. You’re in service mode and creating something new makes sense. But if you’re a couple years in and you still have that service listed, is it still beneficial to your agency? In this podcast we deep dive into knowing when to remove a service from your offer list.
See full show notes for all episodes at kateahl.com.
Get more Agency Tips by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.
—
Work with me:
1-1 Consult (1-hour) Executive Coaching
Are agency owners really short-changing themselves by trading time for dollars? It’s a phrase the online industry has used for a while but it has roots in some interesting places not built for agency owners. So let’s dive into what it means and what you can do to figure out what your time is worth.
Onboarding is where your clients can get buyer's remorse. If you skip the important steps to caretake for them and lead them through the process you’ll lose out on their trust and pave the way for a bumpy relationship going forward.
Onboarding is KEY! It's not only a time for your client to hand over the check but it's also a time for you to show them how you'll wow them. How your services are a step above the rest. They are clear, provide leadership, and comfort that they made the right decision.
Take time out to either ask a friend to evaluate, learn from feedback and refine to be the best it can be.
Running your own business is hard. When clients depend on your for the deliverables. Plus you’re the marketing person, and the visionary, and the team manager, it’s so much to straddle that at times it feels like you should just give up. Here are a few tips for navigating burnout.
One question I get repeated is what’s my ROI? And how do you track? So let’s dive into how you can track your client's progress and figure out what numbers are important to them and you.
It’s so tempting to launch something new in our agency if we’re bored or feeling tired of our current offer to clients. But before you do that make sure you ask yourself these critical questions. If the answer is yes, make sure you create a full roadmap of how this service will be implemented in your agency.
Make sure you sign up for my email list!
Scaling is this big word I think fancy marketers use to sound cool. But what does it really mean? How does it fit in your agency model? We’re diving into types of scaling and the 3 things I think every agency owner needs to grow.
It’s easy to think there is a one sized fits all for agencies but it’s really all about the type of service you want to provide and how you want to provide it. Today we’re diving into the boutique agency model vs. plug and play.
Make sure you're signed up for my Sunday email -- kateahl.com/subscribe
It was a hard $7000 lesson but it taught me more about how to serve clients than anything else has in a long time. Instead of resenting the money spent I'm sharing with you my experience, the takeaways, and what we learned about continuing to improve our services.
In season 3 of the podcast we’re diving into the stuff no one talks about as it pertains to running an agency. Things like burnout, systems vs. processes, trading time for dollars, education, and keeping yourself in learning more. It’s the conversations that usually happen in the margins at events while having lunch. The ones where you take away an ah-ha moment you’ll never forget.
I’m going to try to bring some of those conversations out into the open and share with you my experience.
Make sure you subscribe to the newsletter -- kateahl.com/subscribe
We're getting rid of the old and bringing in the new -- The Kate Ahl show is now the Empowered Agency Podcast.
Still the same great focus on helping you grow your agency but just with a new name and focus.
Sign up for my weekly agency email at kateahl.com
In season 2 of the Kate Ahl show, we’ve covered a variety of ways to get clients for your service-based business. In this episode, we recap all the options and I leave you with a call to action for how you can put into action one method in Q3 that you can master.
I'm looking for your ideas for season 3. Send me an email at hello {at} kateahl.com
Social media can be a giant time suck if you’re not careful, but it can be a good tool for building awareness about your services. But you have to know why you’re using each platform and the goal you have for it.
To read more about this podcast go to kateahl.com
Content marketing doesn’t have to be part of your lead strategy. If you're into cold leads then it may not work, but if you want to show your authority, this may be the best way.
Here is my story and some of my favorite resources.
Make sure you subscribe to my weekly email and follow me on Instagram.
When someone refers a potential client to you that is a big deal. Not only does it mean that this person thinks highly of you and trusts you with this referral, it means that you’re the main person they think of when it comes to this service. That’s a big deal and should be held in high regard.
In this episode, we're going to talk about what referrals are, how to get them, how to thank people, and what type of fee or commission structure you want to set up.
Make sure you subscribe to my weekly email and follow me on Instagram.
Today I’m interviewing one of my Pinterest Agency Masters students who recently stepped out in a big way to discover not only a new form of lead gen but also that she could give up small products as a way to get more clients. What resulted from this leap was incredible.
Would love to hear more about this after you listen.
DM me on Instagram.
Learn more about our programs and how to work with me at kateahl.com.
Email marketing is really important to your business but if used improperly then pretty soon readers will leave those emails unopened in your inbox. Learn how to use email to show your expertise and get new leads.
This season we’re going deep into getting leads. So far we’ve tracking, how to attract clients, and if small offers actually get you clients. Make sure you go back and listen to the first few episodes of the season.
Make sure you subscribe to our weekly email at Kate Ahl. And follow on Instagram.
There is a lot of discussion about these so-called small offers that can help lead to clients signing. However, when you pull back the curtain on the intent of the person buying the small offer it doesn’t line up with the profile of a person who will buy your monthly management packages. So are these worth your time?
In this podcast we go deep on the following:
- What is a small offer or tripwire?
- What are they commonly used for and in which environment?
- What is the intent of the person buying the small offer?
- Learn or Let go
- The profile of your ideal client.
So do these have a place in a service-based business?
DM me on Instagram to share your experience.
So you want more clients and are either nervous or don’t know how to attract them to you. In this season’s podcast series we’re talking all about Lead Gen and how to get more clients. And to also think strategically about where those places are and how to put yourself in their path.
In this episode we talk about 4 ways:
Content Marketing
Email Marketing
Social Media
Referrals
Think about which one you want to invest in this year and go deep.
Also, Pinterest Agency Pro closes on April 12th, 2022 so if you're interested in the coaching program, click to learn more.
Share with me your takeaway on Instagram.
Tracking who, what, when, and where of client inquiries is not only important to your client acquisition but it’s also important to your marketing. It tells you where to go and where people are finding you.
In today's episode, we cover the pathway that clients go through to sign up for your services and call.
Then we dive into what you need to be recording to gather the best data for marketing in the right spaces for new clients. Relying less on gut and more on data.
I’d love to hear from you. Are you tracking client inquiries? What are you learning from them if you are? DM me on Instagram.
We’re kicking off season 2 talking about Lead Gen. This is a fancy word for getting clients. I’m sharing my lessons, takeaways, thoughts, stories, and more about what has worked and not worked when it comes to getting agency clients.
In this season we’re going to go deep on getting clients through the following and whether or not they work for agency owners:
- Small offers (sometimes called tripwires)
- Email marketing
- Content marketing
- Referrals
- Social Media
- Tracking how people are finding you
And so much more.
After listening DM me on Instagram to let me know the best way you're getting clients!https://www.instagram.com/kateahlshow/
Pinterest Agency Pro opens April 4! Click here to join!
That title sounds funny but it’s true. You need to really like serving people to make the agency model work. Not only clients but your team too.
Seems kind of obvious but…you would be surprised at how many people I talk with that have a hard time with customer service. Either they have never worked in a retail environment or it’s just not their favorite.
Those who have a service-based business can get caught up in helper mode or people-pleaser mode. And if you're not careful, that eats into your profit margins.
It's a delicate dance of serving and putting up some gates around your time.
Follow me on Instagram and join the conversation.
This week I’m interviewing one of my students, Christine, about her experience in growing her client base to over 40 in just a year.
We discuss how she grew so fast, what was her greatest struggle, and what were the greatest wins.
In our episode, we also talk about what supported her through that growth when it came to system and structure.
Follow the show on Instagram @kateahlshow
Join the Free Facebook group for listeners
Sign up for the weekly Agency Newsletter
To find the show notes visit kateahl.com/7
Leading a team of people is not for someone who doesn’t like people, but if you already have a few people working for you in your business, it would be worth your while to invest in your leadership development.
Learn more about our programs at kateahl.com/6
Often we lead with knowing who we WON’T work with but it’s just as important to know who you will work with.
You'll need to create the perfect fit system as well as know how to fire the clients that are not a good fit.
Learn more at kateahl.com/5
There’s this weird place when you’re growing your agency where you feel stuck. You know you need to hire but don’t know who to hire or when. It feels like a big mountain in your way. You can’t figure out a way over or around it.
Follow the show on Instagram
Join the Free Facebook group for listeners
Sign up for the weekly Agency Newsletter
No one wants emergencies in business, but when you’re working with clients day to day it makes it much harder to step away when something comes up suddenly. Having had a few major emergencies in my business thus far, I’ve learned a bit about what works and doesn’t work.
Follow the show on Instagram @kateahlshow Subscribe to the weekly Agency Newsletter.
Business coaching has been an integral part of my business. It’s something I need to help bring wisdom guidance and stability. Here’s a little bit of what I’ve learned about finding a coach and how it’s helped me along the way.
Follow me on Instagram @kateahlshow
Subscribe to the weekly Agency Newsletter
In 2014 I started a business as a way to make money for my family. Little did I know what it would morph into and how it would unlock my passion for leadership, team building, and teaching. Here’s the story behind starting a marketing agency.
Make sure you're subscribed to the agency newsletter www.kateahl.com/subscribe
Follow on Instagram @kateahlshow
I’m Kate Ahl and welcome to the Kate Ahl Show
I’m An Agency owner, team builder, passionate teacher, coach, guide, and leader.
What started at the kitchen table in 2014 as a dumb idea, morphed into something I never would have expected. A CEO of a 7 figure agency, serving hundreds of clients and providing meaningful employment to over 35 team members.
With the start of this accidental business, it ignited what I was meant to do all along.
The interactions with clients brought out my love of serving and helping.
The new team hires revealed my gift of seeing strengths in others and helping them grow into their full potential.
The business structure tapped into the leadership trait someone called out in me when I was just 15.
It’s been 8 years of failures, mistakes, joys, wins, learning lessons, and more. It’s been coaching, masterminds, marketing, and personality tests.
By no means do I have the whole agency ownership thing figured out, but I do have some wisdom lessons that I’m willing to pass on to others in a service-based business.
This podcast Is just that, simple lessons, takeaways, and stories from my experience as an agency owner. My hope is that you’ll be challenged, inspired, encouraged, and motivated to continue to serve your clients in the best way possible.
And ultimately, that you’ll get to a point where you’re out of the weeds of the service owner details and into the place of the CEO of your agency where you can lead, grow, and scale to impact clients and your team.
As you listen to this podcast, please share it with other service providers and agency owners who need a bit of encouragement as well.
With that, let’s dive into the Kate Ahl show.