10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Agency

Sara breaks down the 10 essential questions every small business should ask before hiring a marketing agency, consultant, or fractional CMO. From who owns your marketing assets to how results are measured, Sara shares hard-won lessons from 16+ years helping businesses avoid costly mistakes. Learn how to spot red flags, demand transparency, and build a partnership based on strategy—not secrecy. Perfect for anyone ready to own their marketing and stop getting trapped in bad contracts. Today we discussed: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:50 Why Marketing Is Hard 00:04:26 10 Questions Overview 00:05:14 Question 1: Asset Ownership 00:07:20 Question 2: Measuring Success 00:09:11 Question 3: Strategy Alignment 00:11:09 Question 4: Contract Terms 00:12:11 Question 6: Reporting Standards 00:12:23 Question 5: Team Interaction 00:13:04 Question 7: AI Integration 00:15:12 Question 8: Keep Your Team Involved 00:17:48 Question 10: What You'll Learn Rate, Review, & Follow This episode is brought to you by Duct Tape Marketing. Struggling with marketing chaos? Our CEO, Sara Nay, has created a free 30-minute workshop, The Clarity Engine, along with a practical worksheet to help you build a marketing system that actually scales. Ready to finish the year with a clear plan? Start the workshop & grab your free worksheet - https://dtm.world/clarity Want a second set of eyes on your strategy? Sara's offering a few free, year-end review sessions (limited capacity) Book your strategy call - https://dtm.world/yearend

John breaks down the 7 stages of a complete marketing operating system and why most businesses struggle without one. He explains how the marketing pyramid, business strategy, brand development, and customer experience all work together to create a repeatable, scalable system. You'll learn how to eliminate random tactics, integrate AI into your workflows, and build a structured approach that finally drives consistent results. If you've ever wondered how to build a marketing operating system for your business, this episode gives you the roadmap. Today we discussed: 00:00 Introduction 01:09 The Marketing Operating System 02:00 Business Chaos and the Marketing Pyramid 04:30 Designing the Marketing Operating System 08:00 The Seven Stages 10:43 Implementation Phases and Next Steps Rate, Review, & Follow This episode is brought to you by Duct Tape Marketing. Struggling with marketing chaos? Our CEO, Sara Nay, has created a free 30-minute workshop, The Clarity Engine, along with a practical worksheet to help you build a marketing system that actually scales. Ready to finish the year with a clear plan? Start the workshop & grab your free worksheet - https://dtm.world/clarity Want a second set of eyes on your strategy? Sara's offering a few free, year-end review sessions (limited capacity) Book your strategy call - https://dtm.world/yearend

*This episode originally aired in August 2025 Michael Aaron Flicker, founder of XenoPsi Ventures and co-founder of the Consumer Behavior Lab with behavioral scientist Richard Shotton, joins John Jantsch to explore how psychology shapes the world's most successful brands. Drawing from their book Hacking the Human Mind, Michael shares insights into the hidden science behind consumer decisions and brand loyalty. Listeners will learn how to apply behavioral science to create more effective campaigns, craft memorable messages, and drive real business growth. Today we discussed: 00:00 Start 01:03 Meet Michael Aaron Flicker 01:46 Hacking the Human Mind 02:47 Do Brands Know Psychology? 04:05 Challenging Marketing Myths 05:57 Behavioral Science Lab Work 07:43 Apple's iPod Memory Trick 10:41 Why 17 is Magic 12:09 Surprising Brand Psychology 13:37 The Peak-End Rule 16:23 Ethics of Mind Hacking 18:19 Getting Started Guide Rate, Review, & Follow If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Let us know what you loved most about the episode. Struggling with strategy? Unlock your free AI-powered prompts now and start building a winning strategy today! 👉 Get Your Free Prompts: https://dtm.world/freeprompts

John talks with Ashley Herd—founder of Manager Method—about why top performers often struggle when promoted into management and what organizations can do differently. Using real-world examples, Ashley breaks down how clear expectations, practical feedback, and better one-on-one conversations can transform team performance. She also shares her "career quilt" approach and a simple framework managers can use to make better decisions. If you want to build confident, effective leaders without burning people out, this conversation delivers the tools and long-tail strategies you need. Today we discussed: 00:00 Introduction 00:33 Meet Ashley Herd 01:07 Accidental Managers Problem 02:52 The Manager Method 04:38 Training Gap Reality 05:50 Setting Clear Expectations 09:05 Career Quilt Concept 10:43 One-on-One Best Practices 13:08 Pause, Consider, Act 15:40 Coaching vs. Managing 16:53 Simple Management Tips 18:28 HR Perception Myths 19:57 Resources & Templates Rate, Review, & Follow If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Let us know what you loved most about the episode. Struggling with strategy? Unlock your free AI-powered prompts now and start building a winning strategy today! 👉 Get Your Free Prompts: https://dtm.world/freeprompts

With over two decades of experience helping small businesses thrive, John dives solo into this episode to explore how AI is revolutionizing the buyer's journey. He breaks down the stages of his signature "Marketing Hourglass" framework and shares how businesses must adapt their strategies in an AI-driven world. Tune in to learn how to future-proof your marketing by aligning with evolving customer behavior, embracing self-service tools, and doubling down on authenticity and trust. Today we discussed: 00:00 Introducing Christine Perkett 00:09 The evolved buyer journey 02:29 Reintroducing the Marketing Hourglass as a flexible customer journey mode 03:43 How AI interrupts and reshapes journey stages like know, like, and trust 04:55 Recommendation engines and the rise of self-service experiences 06:12 The need to rethink SEO: focus on questions, not keywords 06:50 Combining digital efficiency with emotional, human-centered marketing 08:33 The journey is already changing—are you adapting?   Rate, Review, & Follow If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Let us know what you loved most about the episode. Struggling with strategy? Unlock your free AI-powered prompts now and start building a winning strategy today! 👉 Get Your Free Prompts: https://dtm.world/freeprompts

In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, we explore how small businesses can use AI to convert more leads while reclaiming precious time. John Jantsch talks with Rainmaker CEO Joe Gagnon about AI-native sales workflows, 24/7 phone agents, and why automation doesn't have to feel inauthentic. Together they break down how AI can improve inbound conversations, overcome objections, and deliver more predictable growth. Learn how AI tools that help small business owners save time can also create better customer experiences and streamline every step of the sales journey. Today we discussed: 00:00 Introduction 00:33 Welcome Joe Gagnon 00:57 Reinventing Small Biz Sales 02:41 AI-Native Sales Platform 04:23 Pricing & Access 07:16 Support Challenges 08:34 Sales Meets Support 10:09 Personalization Power 13:26 Customer Use Cases 15:09 Ethics & Constitution 18:06 Getting Started 20:21 Future Outlook Rate, Review, & Follow If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Let us know what you loved most about the episode. Struggling with strategy? Unlock your free AI-powered prompts now and start building a winning strategy today! 👉 Get Your Free Prompts: https://dtm.world/freeprompts

In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, we uncover how to magnetize the right clients by escaping the "obscurity tax" and building true market eminence. Guest David Newman breaks down the power of contrarian thinking, bold positioning, and sharing real expertise—not watered-down content. Learn why polarizing your message attracts perfect-fit clients while repelling the wrong ones, and how generosity, insight, and future-focused thinking fuel unstoppable growth. If you're ready to stand out in a noisy marketplace, this conversation gives you the long-tail strategies you need. Today we discussed: 00:00 Introduction 01:33 The Obscurity Tax 04:47 Stakeholder Influence 05:42 Visibility in AI Era 08:29 Attracting Right Clients 11:34 Core Strategies Revealed 15:37 AI as Thought Partner 17:11 Finding Your Niche Rate, Review, & Follow If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Let us know what you loved most about the episode. Struggling with strategy? Unlock your free AI-powered prompts now and start building a winning strategy today! 👉 Get Your Free Prompts: https://dtm.world/freeprompts

Choosing the right marketing agency can make or break your business — and in this episode, John Jantsch shares the 10 essential questions every business owner must ask before hiring a marketing partner. Using real-world examples and industry red flags, he breaks down how to protect your data, evaluate reporting, connect tactics to strategy, and spot agencies that overcharge while underdelivering. If you've ever worried about getting ripped off or want to make smarter marketing decisions, this episode gives you the clarity and confidence you need. Discover how to avoid costly mistakes and choose a partner that truly drives results. Today we discussed: 00:00 Introduction 01:48 Who Owns Your Data? 03:16 Defining Success 04:08 Strategy Alignment 04:52 Exit Strategies 05:39 Daily Work Breakdown 06:20 Ask For A Sample Report 06:41 AI & Human Oversight 07:43 Collaboration Process 08:14 Strategy Before Execution 09:18 Knowledge Transfer Rate, Review, & Follow If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Let us know what you loved most about the episode. Struggling with strategy? Unlock your free AI-powered prompts now and start building a winning strategy today! 👉 Get Your Free Prompts: https://dtm.world/freeprompts

John Jantsch sits down with LinkedIn expert Lorenzo Johnson to break down the four pillars of social selling that drive real results. Lorenzo explains how to improve your LinkedIn SSI score, build trusted relationships, and create value-driven content that stands out in a sea of generic AI posts. You'll learn why video, carousel posts, and authentic engagement outperform automation—and how to optimize your professional brand for 2026. If you're looking for best practices for social selling on LinkedIn, this episode delivers a clear blueprint you can put into action today. Today we discussed: 00:00 Introduction 00:33 Meet Lorenzo Johnson 01:10 LinkedIn in 2026 01:24 The New Landscape 03:47 AI's Impact on LinkedIn 04:53 Social Selling Index 08:11 Profile Optimization Tips 10:24 Long-Term Selling Strategy 12:46 Best Outreach Tools 16:24 Tool Compliance Rules 19:03 Measuring Your Success Rate, Review, & Follow If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Let us know what you loved most about the episode. Struggling with strategy? Unlock your free AI-powered prompts now and start building a winning strategy today! 👉 Get Your Free Prompts: https://dtm.world/freeprompts

Sara breaks down the 10 essential questions every small business should ask before hiring a marketing agency, consultant, or fractional CMO. From who owns your marketing assets to how results are measured, Sara shares hard-won lessons from 16+ years helping businesses avoid costly mistakes. Learn how to spot red flags, demand transparency, and build a partnership based on strategy—not secrecy. Perfect for anyone ready to own their marketing and stop getting trapped in bad contracts. Today we discussed: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:50 Why Marketing Is Hard 00:04:26 10 Questions Overview 00:05:14 Question 1: Asset Ownership 00:07:20 Question 2: Measuring Success 00:09:11 Question 3: Strategy Alignment 00:11:09 Question 4: Contract Terms 00:12:11 Question 6: Reporting Standards 00:12:23 Question 5: Team Interaction 00:13:04 Question 7: AI Integration 00:15:12 Question 8: Keep Your Team Involved 00:17:48 Question 10: What You'll Learn Rate, Review, & Follow If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Let us know what you loved most about the episode. Struggling with strategy? Unlock your free AI-powered prompts now and start building a winning strategy today! 👉 Get Your Free Prompts: https://dtm.world/freeprompts