#212: Breaking Down Our Business Expenses | What It Takes to Run a Boutique Agency

Custom design ≠ custom development—and knowing the difference could completely change how your website performs. In this episode, we’re joined by Lindsay, founder of Made to Thrive, to unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes of your site and why it might be holding you back as you scale. We’re diving into the key differences between design and development, when templates are enough, and the real signs it’s time to invest in a fully custom-built website. If your site feels more “held together” than built to grow, this conversation is going to click.Episode Show Notes: https://duocollective.com/blog/when-its-time-for-custom-developed-websiteTuesday Tips & Sips: https://duocollective.com/subscribeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/duoonairpodcast/

If your business stopped tomorrow, could someone else step in and run it? In today's episode, we’re breaking down how to start building SOPs in a way that actually feels doable, not overwhelming. We’re sharing how we document our processes at Duo, from refining your offers and writing out every step to turning those workflows into repeatable systems your team can follow. We also talk about email templates, internal “how-to” libraries, and why SOPs are one of the biggest unlocks for growth, even if you’re still a team of one. Because the goal isn’t perfection, it’s creating clarity, consistency, and a business that doesn’t rely on you for every single decision.Episode Show Notes: https://duocollective.com/blog/how-to-write-an-sopTuesday Tips & Sips: https://duocollective.com/subscribeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/duoonairpodcast/

Running a boutique agency isn’t just about client work and creative projects, there’s a whole layer of behind-the-scenes expenses that most people never see. In today's episode, we’re pulling back the curtain and breaking down exactly what it costs to run Duo Collective, from payroll and software to retreats, education, and everything in between. We’re sharing real numbers, where we choose to invest, where we stay lean, and how we think about spending as our business grows. If you’ve ever wondered what it actually looks like to run a team or you’re navigating your own business expenses, this is an honest, behind-the-scenes look you don’t hear often.Episode Show Notes: https://duocollective.com/blog/breaking-down-our-business-expensesTuesday Tips & Sips: https://duocollective.com/subscribeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/duoonairpodcast/

Paid ads can feel like a whole different world, especially if you’ve built your business on organic marketing. In today's episode, we’re joined by Jenny from Ads Uncorked to break down what you actually need to know before diving in. We’re talking about when a business is truly ready to run ads, why so many campaigns fail, and the difference between boosting a post and having a real strategy behind your spend. From budgets and conversion rates to what makes ads profitable in the long run, this conversation brings clarity to a space that often feels confusing, overwhelming, and a little intimidating.Episode Show Notes: https://duocollective.com/blog/what-to-know-about-paid-adsTuesday Tips & Sips: https://duocollective.com/subscribeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/duoonairpodcast/

You know those days where you worked all day but somehow have nothing to show for it? You’re busy, you’re doing all the things, but the inquiries just aren’t coming in. In today's episode, we’re breaking down eight reasons this happens and where your time might be going without actually moving your business forward. From starting your day in reactive mode to unclear offers, weak funnels, and forgetting to actually sell, we’re calling out the gaps that keep you stuck in busy work instead of booked out. Because being busy isn’t the goal. Building a business that converts is.Episode Show Notes: https://duocollective.com/blog/busy-but-not-booked-outLinks Mentioned in This Episode: https://duocollective.com/blog/how-to-spend-a-ceo-day-as-an-entrepreneur#206: https://duocollective.com/blog/optimizing-your-inquiry-process #58: https://duocollective.com/blog/4-email-marketing-leads-to-grow-your-list #181: https://duocollective.com/blog/email-newsletter-ideas Tuesday Tips & Sips: https://duocollective.com/subscribeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/duoonairpodcast/

Search is changing fast, and a new SEO question is popping up everywhere: how do you get AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overviews to mention your website as a source? In today's episode, we’re breaking down what “getting cited in AI” actually means, why some websites are being referenced while others are ignored, and the specific things you can do to increase your chances. From writing question-based content to structuring your posts so AI can easily pull from them, we’re sharing the practical shifts happening in SEO right now and how to position your website as a trusted source across both traditional search and AI-powered answers.Episode Show Notes: https://duocollective.com/blog/how-to-get-ai-mentionsLinks Mentioned in This Episode: https://validator.schema.org/https://search.google.com/test/rich-results Tuesday Tips & Sips: https://duocollective.com/subscribeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/duoonairpodcast/

Once your business is stable and bringing in revenue, the next question becomes: where should you actually reinvest your money for growth? In today's episode, we’re breaking down exactly how we’d spend $1,000 in a business that’s a few years in and ready for the next level. Instead of chasing shiny tools, random contractors, or trendy programs, we’re talking about identifying your biggest bottleneck first. From brand clarity and SEO visibility to systems, marketing channels, and operational support, we walk through the five most common places businesses plateau and how to invest strategically to move past them.Episode Show Notes: https://duocollective.com/blog/top-business-investments-to-growLinks Mentioned in This Episode:Sip & Strategize Workbook: https://duocollective.com/sip-and-strategize-workbookBrand Basics DIY Guide: https://duocollective.com/brand-basics-diy-guideDuo Branding Bar: https://duocollective.com/the-branding-barTuesday Tips & Sips: https://duocollective.com/subscribeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/duoonairpodcast/

If you’re feeling pressure to be faster, cheaper, and more “convenient” just to stay competitive, this conversation is an important one. With rising costs, tighter budgets, and AI making everything feel instant, it’s easy to default to speed and discounts. In today's episode, we’re sharing why we’ve chosen not to be the fastest or the cheapest, and why that decision has protected our quality, our team, and our clients’ results. We’re talking about positioning, sustainable pricing, building for long-term growth instead of short-term revenue, and how to confidently communicate the depth behind your process. Because when markets tighten, clarity and strategy matter more than ever.Episode Show Notes: https://duocollective.com/blog/why-smart-businesses-avoid-cutting-cornersTuesday Tips & Sips: https://duocollective.com/subscribeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/duoonairpodcast/

You got an inquiry. Cue the happy dance… and then the immediate “okay wait, what happens next?” spiral. In today's episode, we’re walking you through exactly what happens after someone fills out our inquiry form, from automated emails and personalized follow-ups to call prep, research, and sending a proposal with confidence. We’re sharing the workflow that took us years to refine, the human touches that make a difference, and the systems that keep it all running smoothly behind the scenes. If you’ve ever wondered whether your inquiry process feels clunky, inconsistent, or too manual, this is your behind-the-scenes look at what actually works.Episode Show Notes: https://duocollective.com/blog/optimizing-your-inquiry-processLinks Mentioned in This Episode:#46: https://duocollective.com/blog/11-things-to-automate-in-your-creative-businessDubsado: https://www.dubsado.com/?c=duocollective#108: https://duocollective.com/blog/client-management-system-dubsado#102: #102: 5 website pages you didn’t know you needed for SEOTuesday Tips & Sips: https://duocollective.com/subscribeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/duoonairpodcast/

SEO feels louder than ever right now. Between core algorithm updates, AI Overviews, GEO, AIO, and now ads inside ChatGPT, it’s easy to wonder what actually matters and what’s just noise. In this episode, we’re breaking down what’s new in the world of search, what volatility really means, whether you should care about opting out of AI summaries, and how all of this impacts your small business. The good news? The foundations haven’t changed. Quality, authority, and relevance still win. If you’ve been spiraling every time rankings shift, this is your calm, clear SEO reality check.Episode Show Notes: https://duocollective.com/blog/seo-trends-right-nowLinks Mentioned in This Episode:https://duocollective.com/seo-on-taphttps://www.semrush.com/sensor/Tuesday Tips & Sips: https://duocollective.com/subscribeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/duoonairpodcast/