The Reason Your Agency Proposals Take Forever to Write

Welcome back to The Agency Hour, where we help web design and digital agency owners create abundance for themselves, their teams, and their communities. In this episode, Troy Dean sits down with Akshat Chowdhury, owner of WP Remote, to explore the evolving landscape of digital agencies, WordPress management, and AI integration. They unpack powerful insights from both the WordPress community and the broader SaaS ecosystem, revealing how agencies can position themselves for sustainable growth in an increasingly complex technological environment. The conversation bridges the gap between WordPress solutions and enterprise platforms like HubSpot, offering a unique perspective on where the industry is heading. If you're looking to understand how to leverage technology trends to create more value for your clients while building a more sustainable agency model, this episode delivers essential strategies and thought-provoking insights. Key Takeaways Why One-Time Projects Keep You Stuck – The hidden danger of unpredictable revenue and how to break free from the project cycle Why Retainers Aren't the Best Solution – Stop trading time for money and sell outcomes instead How to Package & Price Recurring Revenue Services – Three proven models that work for any agency The No-Brainer Pitch for Recurring Clients – A simple way to make your offer an easy yes How to Transition Existing Clients Into Recurring Plans – Turn past clients into long-term revenue The Secret to Selling Without Resistance – A risk-reversal strategy that eliminates hesitation How to Scale Without Overworking – Automate, delegate, and systemize for profitable growth If you’re ready to scale your agency and reclaim your time, join our new community for just $1. Every week, Troy goes live with actionable strategies to help you build a business that works - for you Handy Links: E2M Solutions - https://www.e2msolutions.com/agency-mavericksWP Remote - https://wpremote.com 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 |

Welcome back to The Agency Hour, where we help web design and digital agency owners create abundance for themselves, their teams, and their communities. In this episode, Troy Dean sits down with Josh Moore, CEO of Duo Plus, a thriving New Zealand-based ads and SEO agency. Josh shares his remarkable journey from freelancer with offshore contractors to leading a team of 14 people in a newly expanded office space. They dive deep into the leadership principles that transformed Josh's role from hands-on practitioner to strategic leader, exploring how accountability systems, automated reporting, and intentional relationship building have fueled Duo Plus's growth over the past decade. What You'll Learn: Why One-Time Projects Keep You Stuck – The hidden danger of unpredictable revenue. Why Retainers Aren't the Best Solution – Stop trading time for money and sell outcomes instead. How to Package & Price Recurring Revenue Services – Three proven models that work for any agency. The No-Brainer Pitch for Recurring Clients – A simple way to make your offer an easy yes. How to Transition Existing Clients Into Recurring Plans – Turn past clients into long-term revenue. The Secret to Selling Without Resistance – A risk-reversal strategy that eliminates hesitation. How to Scale Without Overworking – Automate, delegate, and systemize for profitable growth. If you’re ready to scale your agency and reclaim your time, join our new community for just $1. Every week, Troy goes live with actionable strategies to help you build a business that works - for you Handy Links:  Duo Plus - https://www.duoplus.nz/E2M Solutions - https://www.e2msolutions.com/agency-mavericksWP Remote - https://wpremote.com 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

Welcome back to The Agency Hour, where we help web design and digital agency owners create abundance for themselves, their teams, and their communities. Ever wonder why some agencies have prospects lining up while others struggle to close deals? The secret isn't better talent or flashier portfolios, it's how you communicate your value. In this eye-opening episode, Troy Dean reveals why your prospects don't want to buy your services; they want the transformative results those services deliver. What you'll learn: Why describing services by features creates confusion instead of excitement How to position your offerings around client outcomes rather than agency activities The framework for creating a master services list with benefits Why your team needs consistent language when discussing your services How to cut proposal creation time in half Discover why saying "we help you dominate local search so customers find you first" is infinitely more powerful than "we do SEO." Transform your sales conversations from technical explanations into compelling visions of success. If you’re ready to scale your agency and reclaim your time, join our new community for just $1. Every week, Troy goes live with actionable strategies to help you build a business that works - for you Handy Links:  E2M Solutions - https://www.e2msolutions.com/agency-mavericksWP Remote - https://wpremote.com 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

Welcome back to The Agency Hour, where we help web design and digital agency owners create abundance for themselves, their teams, and their communities. In this episode, Troy Dean sits down with Brent Weaver, former founder of uGurus and now CEO of E2M Solutions, for a candid conversation about career transitions and the future of AI in agencies. Brent shares his journey from building a coaching empire to its unexpected shutdown by DigitalOcean, and how he found a new path leading a 330-person agency. They explore the challenges of stepping into a CEO role, managing international teams across time zones, and how E2M is positioning agencies to thrive in the AI revolution. If you're curious about how to integrate AI into your agency operations, looking to understand the leadership transition process, or simply want to hear how two former competitors became collaborators, this episode delivers valuable insights for agency owners at any stage.  Key Takeaways The Truth About Business Transitions - How to mentally separate yourself from your business when facing major changes Leading Remote Global Teams - Practical strategies for managing teams across 12-hour time zone differences AI Implementation for Agencies - Why process documentation must come before AI automation Fractional AI Services - How to leverage specialized AI talent without the full-time cost Effective Leadership Transfer - Methods for earning trust when stepping into an existing organization Community Building - The value of in-person events for agency growth and innovation The Future of Agency Services - How AI is transforming every aspect of agency operations Vistara AI for Agencies Event - Join Brent and the E2M team in Denver, Colorado from September 28-30 for an immersive three-day event focused on implementing AI in your agency. Use code maverick200 for $200 off your ticket at JoinVistara.com If you’re ready to scale your agency and reclaim your time, join our new community for just $1. Every week, Troy goes live with actionable strategies to help you build a business that works - for you Handy Links:  Vistara AI for Agencies Event - https://joinvistara.com/E2M Solutions - https://www.e2msolutions.com/agency-mavericksWP Remote - https://wpremote.com   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 |<...

Welcome back to The Agency Hour, where we help web design and digital agency owners create abundance for themselves, their teams, and their communities. In this episode, Troy Dean reveals the single biggest mistake that keeps agencies stuck in the feast-or-famine cycle: giving away their most valuable asset for free. Through compelling case studies of agency owners like Simon Kelly who tripled his revenue to $100K/month, Troy demonstrates how implementing a paid strategy model transforms not just income, but client relationships and team satisfaction. If you're tired of lengthy free consultations that lead nowhere and proposals that disappear into the void, this episode reveals the exact framework that's helping agencies convert 85% of prospects into long-term clients while working fewer hours and commanding premium rates. What You'll Learn Why Free Strategy Is Killing Your Agency – The hidden psychological damage of devaluing your expertise The Paid Strategy Model Revolution – How to get paid thousands before starting any client work Real-World Success Stories – How agencies like Simon's went from burnout to $100K+ months Client Psychology Transformation – Why paying clients show up differently and implement more Conversion Rate Secrets – How to achieve 85%+ conversion from roadmap to ongoing work Positioning as a Strategic Authority – Moving from vendor to trusted advisor status The Complete Implementation Framework – Practical steps to package, price and sell strategy If you’re ready to scale your agency and reclaim your time, join our new community for just $1. Every week, Troy goes live with actionable strategies to help you build a business that works - for you Handy Links:  E2M Solutions - https://www.e2msolutions.com/agency-mavericksWP Remote - https://wpremote.com 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

Welcome back to The Agency Hour, where we help web design and digital agency owners create abundance for themselves, their teams, and their communities. In this special episode, Troy Dean takes you behind the scenes of one of Agency Mavericks' exclusive training workshops focused on building your "authority website." You'll discover the critical components every agency website needs to position you as the trusted expert in your field and convert more visitors into high-quality leads. Troy shares a comprehensive, step-by-step playbook for launching or optimizing your website to establish instant credibility with prospects before they ever speak with you. If you're tired of competing on price, explaining your value, or struggling to convert website visitors into clients, this episode reveals exactly how to transform your digital presence into a powerful business asset that works for you 24/7. What You'll Learn: Why Your Current Website Isn't Converting – The missing elements that cause prospects to leave without contacting you The Core Components of an Authority Website – Essential sections that build instant credibility and pre-qualify leads How to Create Benefit-Driven Headlines – Transform technical features into compelling outcomes clients actually care about The Perfect Case Study Formula – A proven structure that showcases specific, verifiable results A Complete 4-Week Website Launch Plan – Step-by-step actions to rebuild or optimize your site for maximum impact Powerful AI Prompts – Ready-to-use templates for creating compelling website copy without staring at a blank page How to Position Yourself as the Expert – Psychology-based strategies that make clients see you as the solution, not just another vendor If you’re ready to scale your agency and reclaim your time, join our new community for just $1. Every week, Troy goes live with actionable strategies to help you build a business that works - for you Handy Links:  E2M Solutions - https://www.e2msolutions.com/agency-mavericksWP Remote - https://wpremote.com 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

Welcome back to The Agency Hour, where we help web design and digital agency owners create abundance for themselves, their teams, and their communities. In this episode, Troy Dean takes you behind the scenes of MAVCON Bali 2025, the 21st MAVCON event held at the luxurious Laguna Resort in Nusa Dua. Experience the highlights of this transformative event where agency owners gathered to share strategies, systems, and insights in a breathtaking tropical paradise. Troy unpacks the key presentations, workshops, and networking opportunities that made this event special – from the 7-11-4 customer journey framework to advanced hiring strategies in the age of AI. Discover why looking over another agency owner's shoulder and seeing their actual systems in action was the most valuable takeaway for attendees. If you're looking to elevate your agency, connect with like-minded owners, and experience the power of in-person collaboration in a world-class setting, this episode offers a compelling glimpse into what makes MAVCON a must-attend event. Key Takeaways The Ultimate Agency Asset: How to build a "click-to-close" automation experience using Google's 7-11-4 strategy Content Creation Frameworks: Practical approaches to overcome video production hesitation and create client-attracting content SEO in the AI Era: New strategies for ranking in large language models, AI overviews, and chatbots Employee Lifecycle Management: Honest insights on hiring and firing in today's agency environment Agency Acquisition Strategies: How to grow by acquiring smaller agencies with recurring revenue clients Collaborative Problem-Solving: The power of structured brains trust sessions to overcome your biggest challenges Networking Value: Why peer-to-peer knowledge sharing consistently delivers the highest ROI at in-person events If you’re ready to scale your agency and reclaim your time, join our new community for just $1. Every week, Troy goes live with actionable strategies to help you build a business that works - for you Handy Links:  MavCon - https://mvrx.link/mavconE2M Solutions - https://www.e2msolutions.com/agency-mavericksWP Remote - https://wpremote.com 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 |

Welcome back to The Agency Hour, the show that helps web design and digital agency owners create real abundance - for themselves, their teams, and the communities they serve. Tired of working endless hours in your agency without seeing the profits you deserve? Discover the exact framework successful agencies use to create sustainable growth, package their services into scalable products, and gain back precious time. In this special episode, I reveal the complete Agency GPS Model that's helped countless agency owners transform their businesses: Learn the three pillars of transformation: Grow your authority, Package your IP, and Scale your impact Discover the nine stepping stones that connect these pillars Understand how to create unlimited demand for your services See how to turn your knowledge into profitable, repeatable products Find out how to automate and delegate to reclaim your time Remember, this isn't about overnight success—it's a 3-5 year journey broken into manageable sprints. The most successful agency owners follow this roadmap to build businesses that deliver amazing profits while working just 3-4 hours a day. If you’re ready to scale your agency and reclaim your time, join our new community for just $1. Every week, Troy goes live with actionable strategies to help you build a business that works - for you Handy Links:  MavCon - https://mvrx.link/mavconE2M Solutions - https://www.e2msolutions.com/agency-mavericksWP Remote - https://wpremote.com 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

Welcome back to The Agency Hour, the show that helps web design and digital agency owners create real abundance - for themselves, their teams, and the communities they serve. Ever wonder if attending industry events is actually worth your time and money? In this eye-opening episode, we dive into the surprising ROI of in-person connections that you simply can't replicate online. Join Troy Dean and Simon Kelly (CEO of Seriously Good Design) as they explore the hidden value of those unstructured, organic conversations that happen between sessions at events - the ones that often create the biggest breakthroughs. Here’s what you’ll learn: How to engineer a 10X return from attending live events Why the conversations between sessions matter more than the presentations The surprising power of shifting your mindset from "this is difficult" to "I love this" How to determine if something truly deserves space in your calendar Why mentors help you see blind spots that are invisible to you Simon shares a personal story about how a single off-hand comment from Troy completely transformed his approach to client work, proving that sometimes the most valuable insights come from casual interactions, not formal teaching. Ready to maximize your next industry event? This episode gives you the mindset shift you need to turn your next conference from just another business expense into a genuine catalyst for growth. If you’re ready to scale your agency and reclaim your time, join our new community for just $1. Every week, Troy goes live with actionable strategies to help you build a business that works - for you Handy Links:  MavCon - https://mvrx.link/mavconSimon’s Web Design Process - https://sgd.com.au/our-web-design-process/Simon’s Paid Discovery Page - https://sgd.com.au/digital-strategy-workshop/E2M Solutions - https://www.e2msolutions.com/agency-mavericksWP Remote - https://wpremote.com 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...

Welcome back to The Agency Hour, the show that helps web design and digital agency owners create real abundance - for themselves, their teams, and the communities they serve. In this episode, Troy Dean and Simon Kelly, CEO and Head of Growth at Seriously Good Design, dive deep into the mindset that builds winning teams. They explore how beliefs shape behaviors, why most job ads fall flat, and how to use AI tools like Claude to develop powerful team member profiles. The conversation cuts through the fluff, challenging agency owners to examine whether they're unknowingly teaching their teams to lose or win. Troy shares his recent revelation about the power of Claude AI compared to ChatGPT, demonstrating how two simple prompts helped him create a comprehensive ideal client profile that transformed his workshop delivery. This practical application reveals how agency owners can use AI not just for client work, but for internal team building and recruitment. If you're looking to understand what truly drives autonomy and connection inside high-performing agencies, and how to cultivate a team culture built on shared beliefs rather than just shared goals, this episode is essential listening. Here’s what you’ll learn: Why Most Job Ads Fail – How to flip the script and talk to candidates about their journey instead of your company The AI Revolution in Team Building – Using Claude AI to create comprehensive ideal team member profiles with minimal prompting The Belief-Action-Results Framework – How your team's beliefs influence their behaviors and ultimately your agency's success Why Service Differentiation Is a Myth – The only true differentiator is your culture and how much your team cares The Three Pillars of Team Engagement – Autonomy, connection, and respected leadership Overcoming the "I Can't Do It" Mindset – Strategies for cultivating a growth mindset in your team The Power of Focus and Consistency – Why playing the long game is essential for sustainable agency growth This thought-provoking episode challenges agency owners to look beyond tactical "how-to" advice and focus on the philosophical foundations that truly drive team performance. As Troy and Simon conclude, "If you don't have the right beliefs and the right thinking and the right mindset, the how-to is irrelevant." If you’re ready to scale your agency and reclaim your time, join our new community for just $1. Every week, Troy goes live with actionable strategies to help you build a business that works - for you Handy Links:  MavCon - https://mvrx.link/mavconSimon’s Web Design Process - https://sgd.com.au/our-web-design-process/Simon’s Paid Discovery Page -...