How To Grow Your Agency By Finding “Teachable” Staff with Danny Gavin
🎙️ Happy Clients Podcast Recap: How To Grow Your Agency By Finding “Teachable” Staff with Danny Gavin
Running an agency can be one of the most rewarding and overwhelming experiences for entrepreneurs. Between managing clients, overseeing deliverables, and leading a team, it’s easy to get stuck working in the business instead of on it.
That’s exactly what we unpacked in our latest episode of the DOT & Company Podcast with Danny Gavin, Founder and Chief Strategist at Optidge Digital and creator of Odeo Academy. Danny shared practical, experience-driven advice that every agency owner can learn from, especially those navigating the challenges of growth and delegation.
If you’ve ever wondered how to scale your agency sustainably while maintaining client trust and team alignment, this conversation is a must-listen.
We help agency owners grow by taking client management off your plate - and putting you in the CEO seat instead
From Solo Consultant to Scalable Agency
Danny’s story is proof that an agency can grow organically through consistency and client satisfaction, not just paid ads. What started in 2011 as a one-person consultancy evolved into a thriving digital marketing agency with more than 16 team members and 98% of new business coming from referrals.
The key? Focusing on doing great work and nurturing client relationships that naturally lead to word-of-mouth growth. For agency owners tired of chasing cold leads, Danny’s approach is a reminder that your best marketing asset might already be your current client base.
“When you create a vessel and an opportunity, the blessings fill in,” Danny shared. “Do great work, and the clients will keep coming.”
Building a Team You Can Trust
As his agency grew, Danny learned one of the hardest but most transformative lessons for agency owners: learning to let go.
“The hardest part for me has been being able to let go,” he said. “If you take all the responsibility yourself, you’ll have no life. But when you delegate, 95% of the time your team will do great, and that 5% you lose, you gain back tenfold in freedom and perspective.”
This mindset shift is one of the biggest turning points for successful founders. By trusting his team, Danny gained the space to focus on strategy, innovation, and growth, not micromanagement.
Finding (and Growing) the Right People
Another standout insight from the episode was Danny’s unconventional hiring strategy. Instead of recruiting through traditional job boards, he built his own talent pipeline by teaching digital marketing at the University of Houston.
“Seventy-five percent of my full-time staff are former students,” Danny revealed. “It’s like a cheat code, you get to see people’s work ethic, curiosity, and attitude long before they join your team.”
For agency leaders struggling to find reliable, skilled hires, this is a brilliant reminder: your next great hire might be someone you’ve already taught, mentored, or collaborated with in another setting.
Creating Sustainable Growth Through Education
In addition to running Optidge Digital, Danny also founded Odeo Academy, an online platform teaching digital marketing fundamentals to beginners, particularly women entering the workforce or pivoting careers.
The educational arm not only helps more people access digital marketing careers, but it also creates an additional revenue stream for his agency, allowing him to be selective about clients and projects.
“The more successful Odeo becomes, the more selective we can be with our clients,” Danny explained. “It’s not just about growing; it’s about growing wisely.”
Key Takeaways for Agency Owners
Referrals are your best growth channel: prioritize exceptional client experience.
Delegate early and often: trust your team and step into the strategist role.
Build your own talent pipeline: education and mentorship can attract incredible hires.
Diversify your revenue: new offers can create freedom to choose the right clients.
Remember your lifestyle goals: growth should support your life, not consume it.
If you’re an agency owner ready to grow your business while protecting your time, energy, and client relationships, this episode will give you both perspective and practical tools.
Connect with Optidge here: optidge.com
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