3 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started SMMA

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares three key lessons from their journey in building a successful social media marketing agency. They stress the importance of 'jumping and building on the way down,' meaning that perfection isn't necessary at the start—action is. They also advise focusing on filling your calendar with sales calls for practice, regardless of the quality of leads. Finally, they emphasize becoming a better entrepreneur and human by mastering both business tactics and personal growth. The speaker’s success story encourages viewers to push through the first 18 months, which can be the hardest but most rewarding phase of agency life.

Takeaways

• 😀 Jump and build on your way down—don’t get caught up in perfection. Focus on taking action instead of over-planning.
• 😀 Speed is more important than perfection when starting an agency. You don’t need a website or business name to begin working with clients.
• 😀 Fill up your calendar with meetings and sales calls to gain experience. Sales is a skill that improves with practice.
• 😀 When starting out, prioritize quantity over quality in your appointments to build experience and reference points.
• 😀 The first 18 months of running an agency are challenging, but persistence is key to breaking through and reaching the upper echelon of success.
• 😀 Success in agency life is built on roots and foundations, which grow stronger each year as you continue to improve and learn.
• 😀 Personal development is just as important as business strategies. Focus on being a better entrepreneur and a better human overall.
• 😀 Biohacking, optimizing sleep, and improving focus are key practices for enhancing your entrepreneurial capabilities.
• 😀 Building multiple successful businesses comes from being a well-rounded entrepreneur with knowledge in various areas, not just one specialty.
• 😀 Your agency's success is not only about the service you offer but also about how you manage your life, habits, and environment.
• 😀 Don’t expect to be great at sales right away—experience and getting ‘bruised’ in the process is valuable for growth.

Q & A

What is the key lesson the speaker learned after signing their first client?

The key lesson is that success in starting an agency is about action, not perfection. The speaker emphasizes that focusing on irrelevant details like logos or websites is a form of procrastination. Instead, it’s important to quickly start acquiring clients and delivering results.

Why does the speaker recommend 'jumping and building on your way down'?

The speaker recommends this because waiting for everything to be perfect before taking action only delays progress. By focusing on the basics and starting immediately, even without a logo or website, you can begin building your business and generating results.

What does the speaker mean by 'fill up your calendar at all costs'?

The speaker suggests filling your calendar with sales calls and meetings as soon as possible, even if you’re not yet an expert in sales. The goal is to get practice, build experience, and refine your sales skills. Quantity of calls matters more than the quality of leads early on.

How does the speaker describe the importance of experience in sales?

The speaker believes that no one is good at sales when they first start. The key to improvement is consistent practice and experience. Each sales call, even if unsuccessful, provides valuable reference points for better performance in the future.

What is meant by 'T-shaped' entrepreneurship, and why is it important?

A 'T-shaped' entrepreneur has broad knowledge in many areas and deep expertise in one or two key fields. This approach is important because it allows an entrepreneur to handle various aspects of their business while being an expert in their core area of focus.

What role does personal development play in running a successful agency?

Personal development is crucial to becoming a better entrepreneur and business owner. The speaker emphasizes that success comes not only from business tactics but also from optimizing one's personal habits—such as improving focus, sleep, and overall well-being.

How did the speaker manage to scale their agency to $15,000/month without a website or name?

The speaker achieved this by focusing on what truly drives business success—getting clients and delivering results—rather than worrying about non-essential details like branding or website design. Speed and action were prioritized over perfection.

Why is focusing on the first 18 months critical for new agency owners?

The first 18 months are crucial because they set the foundation for future growth. Many agency owners quit during this time, but those who persist reach the 'upper echelon' of success where business becomes easier, more profitable, and more sustainable.

What does the speaker mean by 'success likes speed'?

The phrase 'success likes speed' means that taking quick, decisive action leads to faster results. The speaker stresses the importance of acting swiftly and not getting bogged down by perfectionism in the early stages of building an agency.

What advice does the speaker give regarding setting up a new agency?

The speaker advises setting up the basics as quickly as possible (like a business email, domain, and a simple logo) but warns against overthinking these details. After a week of setup, the focus should shift to reaching out to potential clients and getting appointments on the calendar.