1898 – Digital Marketing Coaching with AJ Rivera & Mike Schmidt

In this episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur, your host Josh Elledge speaks to the Co-Founders of Agency Coach, AJ Rivera and Mike Schmidt.

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Mike Schmidt and AJ Rivera, the CMO and CEO of Agency Coach, discussed their evolution from managing a web design and digital marketing company in 2003 to establishing Agency Coach. Their objective is to assist digital marketing agencies in achieving more time and financial freedom, a goal rooted in their personal experiences and the obstacles they overcame during their entrepreneurial journey.

Agency Coach provides a variety of programs and coaching services designed to deliver practical strategies for agency owners. Mike and AJ shared success stories from agency owners who have experienced significant growth and financial success by applying their guidance. These success stories highlight the effectiveness of their coaching and the potential for transformation within the agency space.

Their discussion also covered typical challenges faced by agency owners, such as the urge to accept a broad range of projects and the difficulty in securing recurring revenue. Mike and AJ provided solutions to these problems, emphasizing the importance of selecting projects that support long-term objectives and focusing on high-ticket services that generate recurring revenue.

Key Points from the Episode:

Mission of Agency Coach
Distinguishing between freelancer and agency owner
Common challenges faced by agency owners
Strategies and principles for agency owners to overcome challenges
Importance of saying no to projects not aligned with long-term goals
Nurturing and warming up leads
Value of review and reputation management in attracting and retaining clients
Programs and coaching services offered by Agency Coach
Success stories of agency owners who achieved growth and financial success
Importance of community and collaboration in agency ownership journey

About AJ Rivera:

AJ Rivera is a distinguished figure in the digital marketing world, renowned for his role as a #FunnelHacker, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Agency Coach. As a multiple 2 Comma Club award winner and a successful digital agency owner, AJ has significantly impacted the #FunnelHacking community by creating the FunnelHub movement. His prior experience with Intuit, managing online communities for products like QuickBooks and TurboTax, has provided him with a robust foundation in digital marketing strategies. This background fuels his passion for assisting small businesses to thrive in a competitive digital landscape.

Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, AJ Rivera has co-owned a 7-figure digital agency, showcasing his expertise and dedication to the digital marketing sector. His agency, Anchor Wave, is a pivotal example for many digital agencies worldwide, offering vital frameworks and strategies for achieving time and financial freedom. AJ’s commitment to empowering digital agency owners is evident through his extensive work in online courses, coaching programs, and private consulting. He collaborates with industry giants such as Russell Brunson. He speaks at notable events like Funnel Hacking Live, further cementing his influence and contribution to the digital marketing and funnel hacking communities.

About Mike Schmidt:

Mike Schmidt launched Anchor Wave in 2003, recognizing the nascent potential of digital marketing long before it became a cornerstone of business strategy. His foresight and leadership have guided the agency to become a significant player in the industry, boasting a team of 20 dedicated professionals and a portfolio of over 2,000 website constructions alongside numerous successful digital marketing campaigns. Under Schmidt's stewardship, Anchor Wave has survived and thrived, evolving into a multi-million dollar agency known for its innovative and effective digital solutions.

In 2008, the agency's trajectory gained further momentum with the addition of Anthony “AJ” Rivera, whose expertise in corporate sales injected new vitality into the firm's operations. AJ's adoption of forward-thinking sales strategies and a mindset focused on abundance played a pivotal role in securing multiple awards for Anchor Wave. Mike and AJ have expanded their influence beyond the agency itself, founding Agency Coach in 2017 to share their accumulated wisdom with agency owners globally, aiming to transform the digital agency landscape through comprehensive training in cutting-edge tools, strategies, and business philosophies.

About Agency Coach:

Agency Coach has emerged as a premier institution committed to enhancing the capabilities of digital agencies, embodying the principle of “own your agency, own your life.” This philosophy underpins their mission to arm agency owners with the essential skills and knowledge required to successfully navigate the complexities of the modern digital environment. Launched by experienced agency entrepreneurs Mike Schmidt and Anthony “AJ” Rivera in 2017, Agency Coach fills a critical void by offering specialized education and support tailored to the unique challenges faced by web and digital agencies today.

The foundation of Agency Coach's curriculum is its focus on a comprehensive approach to agency management, emphasizing not just immediate business tactics such as sales and marketing but also the importance of building a business that is both sustainable and scalable. Beyond business acumen, Mike and AJ advocate for personal development and cultivating a positive agency culture that supports work-life balance. Serving over 15,000 agency owners worldwide, Agency Coach has become a pivotal resource, fostering the growth and success of digital agencies around the globe through its bespoke coaching programs and the deep industry expertise of its founders.

Tweetable Moments:

08:03 – “The biggest flex an agency owner can execute on is saying the word ‘no'. No, you're not a great client to work with; no, it doesn't pay enough; no, I don't want to work on this.