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The Agency Uplift Podcast: Agency Scaling Strategies & Growth Tips
Unlock proven frameworks, AI‑powered workflows, and client acquisition blueprints to scale your digital agency from freelance to Fortune. Each week, host Sean Lang, co‑founder of Social Commerce Club and agency growth coach, sits down with a wide array of agency leaders—sharing battle‑tested tactics on profitability, processes, and people management.
Whether you’re aiming to double client retention, streamline operations, or boost ad ROI, you’ll walk away with actionable insights and playbooks you can implement today. New episodes every Monday and Wednesday, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.
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83 Episodes
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Summary In this solo episode, I break down why most “people problems” inside agencies are actually process or clarity failures. I introduce a four bucket diagnostic framework: Process, Leadership Clarity, People, and Client Fit, to help agency owners understand the true root cause of performance issues before blaming the team member. By applying this method, leaders can reduce churn, prevent misfires, and create more predictable delivery. Takeaways Most performance issues stem from missing ...
Summary: Host Sean Lang talks with Joe Romeo, founder of Aperitif Agency and co-founder of Rocket Fuel Agency, about his journey from SEO freelancer to running two thriving agencies. Joe shares the key systems, hiring strategies, and AI-powered processes that have helped him build scalable operations and a motivated team while still balancing life as a new father. Takeaways: Moving from freelancer to agency owner requires process, systems, and delegation. Hire curious, self-driven lear...
Summary: Sean Lang shares why most agencies plateau and reveals the three critical elements that allow an agency to scale without chaos or constant founder involvement: systematized accountability, strong culture, and a founder identity shift. Drawing from his eight-year journey building Social Commerce Club, Sean explains how agencies can replace luck and chaos with clarity, culture, and leadership systems that run without the founder. Takeaways: Agencies plateau when the founder becomes t...
Summary: Host Sean Lang talks with Frederic Jean-Bart, CEO of Performance Partners, about how he built an affiliate marketing agency that supports 8- and 9-figure DTC brands. Frederic explains how systems, hiring, mentorship, and disciplined client selection helped him scale intentionally and cut churn to below 10%. Takeaways: Scaling affiliate programs is about relationships, not quantity. SOPs and documentation create leverage and consistency. Strong hiring decisions shape long-term grow...
Summary: I explore how agency pricing connects directly to operations and scalability. From managing 42 clients at $2K/month to handling elite retainers at $20K/month, I reveal the hidden operational realities behind each lane to $1M and how to build the right systems for sustainable growth. Takeaways: Systemization is non-negotiable in a high-volume model. Use clear SOPs and templated communication to avoid chaos. Client experience and margins improve as retainers increase. Seniority l...
Summary In this episode of The Agency Uplift, Sean Lang interviews Tobi Chapman of EverBoost. They explore the challenges and opportunities of running a retention marketing agency, from hiring the right people to building a culture of accountability. Tobi also explains why direct mail is resurging as a powerful channel for CPG brands. Takeaways Scaling requires patience and realistic expectations A bad cultural fit can “rot” a company from the inside Direct mail creates physical, me...
Summary: In this episode, I share a tactical guide for agency owners who struggle with delayed payments and unpredictable cashflow. I walk through a five step system to regain control: automate billing with Stripe, switch to pre service invoicing, use a card on file model, and delegate accounts receivable to a VA. Takeaways: End-of-month billing creates cashflow gaps. Stripe’s subscription feature simplifies recurring payments. Always start work after payment clears. VA ownership of AR ...
Summary Bradley Benner, founder of multiple businesses including Semantic Mastery and Treecare HQ, shares how he went from electrician to running four successful marketing ventures. He explains why niching down, delegating, and mastering sales were the game changers in scaling his agencies. Takeaways Niching down creates stability and growth opportunities. Delegation and SOPs are critical to removing yourself from daily operations. Sales is a learnable skill — practice builds confid...
Summary: Sean Lang shares the painful story of signing a $10K/month retainer client and losing them within two weeks. The experience revealed deep flaws in the agency’s pre-sales, handoff, and onboarding processes. Sean walks through where things went wrong and how agencies can build better systems that protect both revenue and relationships. Takeaways: Never trade speed for clarity. Qualification prevents misaligned client relationships. A strong handoff between sales and delivery is non-n...
Summary Eric Emerson, President of In Your Hand Media, joins Sean Lang to discuss building a boutique digital agency, the role of AI in scaling, and why relationships matter more than impressions. Eric shares his journey from freelancing to leading a team, and how agencies must adapt in the AI era to remain relevant. Takeaways AI isn’t just about tools, it’s about retraining teams to leverage them. Boutique agencies win when they bring agility and personal touch. Hiring is less abou...
Summary: In this solo episode, I get real about partnerships. The good, the bad, and everything in between. I share my own experiences working with partners, the lessons I’ve learned from friendship-based businesses, and what you can do instead when you’re looking for more support on your agency journey. Takeaways: The grass isn’t always greener, partnerships only work when they’re intentional.Complementary strengths beat matching personalities every time.Friends can be great part...
Summary Sean Lang interviews Sebastian Eduard on building Insiders, a hands-on Amazon PPC agency. Sebastian shares why net profit is his North Star, how he grew a Romanian team of sellers into A-players, and why disconnecting from work gave him the clarity to scale. Takeaways Automated ads can’t replace profit-focused human judgment. Long-term success requires building systems, not dependency. Culture fit is more important than technical skills. Founders must step back for the team to s...
Summary In this solo episode, host Sean Lang walks through his powerful Team Member Audit, a simple yet transformative framework for getting clarity on your agency’s people. Sean shares how ambiguity kills growth and why knowing exactly who’s doing what, who fits your values, and who drives leverage can unlock scale, stability, and sanity for agency owners. Takeaways Clarity is the foundation of growth, ambiguity can’t be optimized. The Team Member Audit should be done monthly to assess ro...
Summary Sean Lang interviews Wes Towers, founder of Uplift 360, on his 20-year journey from freelance nights to running a successful agency for trades and construction businesses. Wes shares why niching was the turning point, the hidden costs of agency work, and how embracing both AI and human connection positions agencies for the future. Takeaways Niching accelerates growth by reducing complexity and improving deliverables.Mentors can save years of trial-and-error in agency building.Larg...
Summary: In this solo episode, host Sean Lang breaks down why messy operations aren’t the root problem in most agencies. The real issue starts at the cultural level with unclear values, lack of accountability, and ambiguous expectations. Sean walks through the hierarchy of frameworks every agency must install to reduce churn, strengthen delivery, and scale sustainably. Takeaways: Client churn is a symptom of deeper operational and cultural issues. Consistency starts with an objective “defi...
Summary: In this episode, Sean Lang sits down with Melih Oztalay, CEO of Smart Finds Marketing, to uncover how his agency has not only survived but thrived for 38 years in a constantly changing industry. From the wild west of the 1990s internet to today’s AI-driven marketing landscape, Melih shares how adaptability, strategic decision-making, and an early-adopter mindset shaped his agency’s journey. Takeaways: Longevity in business comes from constant reinvention. AI is no longer opt...
Summary: In this solo episode, host Sean Lang breaks down the critical identity shift every agency owner must make from operator to CEO. He shares how he stayed stuck for years by trying to scale on "hard mode," and how adopting leverage, clarity, and a weekly CEO ritual transformed his agency’s growth. Takeaways: Operators scale effort; CEOs scale impact. Leverage comes from systems, training, delegation, and reusable IP. Clarity enables smarter decisions and reveals leverage points. We...
Summary Andrew DiLullo, CEO of Ad Crunch, shares his journey from audio production into building an agency that helps DTC brands grow fast. He and host Sean Lang dig into the realities of scaling. Why retention beats acquisition, how hiring A list players changes everything, and how clarity creates stability. Takeaways Agencies often start by accident—demand forces structure. Client retention is the most underrated growth lever. Hiring ops and A-players unlocks scalability. Referra...
Summary In this episode, Pasha Knish sits down with Sean Lang, founder of Agency Uplift, to unpack the fundamentals of scaling an agency. From defining company culture to structuring a smart hiring process, Sean shares how agency owners can stop being the bottleneck and build teams that thrive. Takeaways Culture and values drive better hiring decisions than resumes alone. Add friction to your hiring process to filter out the wrong candidates. Founders often become bottlenecks by keepi...
Summary Sean Lang sits down with Adam Paine, founder and CEO of NUBRAND, to dive into the 16-year evolution of his performance marketing agency. Adam shares how he grew from building websites solo to running an 8-person distributed team that partners with CMOs across industries. He talks candidly about struggles with over-reliance on referrals, learning to scale, finding the right people, and shifting from “being the agency” to truly becoming its CEO. From systems and processes to minds...
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