The Happy Clients Podcast Episodes

How to Build a Freedom-Focused Agency with Jason Swenk

If you're an agency owner who's ever felt the “I built this thing but now it’s running my life” burnout creeping in—this one's for you.

In this episode, Taylor sits down with Jason Swenk, the OG agency advisor and exit strategist, to talk about what it really takes to build an agency that works for you, not the other way around. Jason’s been in the agency trenches—scaling, selling, and now coaching others to do the same—and his insight is a goldmine for any founder craving freedom, not just more figures on a spreadsheet.

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How Many Clients Should Your Account Manager Handle? Let’s Break It Down.

If you’ve ever caught yourself wondering, “How many clients is too many for my account manager?”—you’re not alone, friend. T

his week on The Happy Clients Podcast, we sat down with Jenna to pull back the curtain on that very question—and the answer? It’s not one-size-fits-all.

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Why Agencies are Ditching Spreadsheets (and Falling in Love with Copper Instead)

If you’ve ever felt like your agency’s backend is being held together with duct tape, Google Sheets, and a prayer—this one’s for you.

In this episode, Taylor sits down with Perry Langenbahn from Copper (a CRM that actually gets agencies) to chat about how teams are moving from clunky, cobbled-together systems to sleek, streamlined operations—and finally getting their time (and sanity) back.

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The Agency Owner’s Secret Weapon? A Knockout Client Onboarding Process

Well, hey there, friend. Pull up a chair and grab that oat milk latte, because this one’s a game-changer.

In this Onboarding Series of The Happy Clients Podcast, we’re pulling back the curtain on one of the most make-or-break pieces of agency client work: onboarding. Yep, that dreamy, red-carpet welcome moment where client relationships are either built to last (or left scrambling from the get-go).

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Hiring an Account Manager: Our Recruitment Process

Today’s episode is a must-listen if you’re an agency owner looking to hire an account manager for your agency. We’re peeling back the curtain on THE hiring process we've developed after hiring tons and tons of account managers for agencies—with insights from Adelaide, our recruiter at DOT—so you can hire with confidence.

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What’s the secret sauce to running a thriving agency? In this episode of The Happy Clients Podcast, we’re peeling back the curtain on scaling with systems, landing high-ticket clients, agency growth hacks with Melissa Morris from Your Agency Authority. From battle-tested strategies to "wish I knew this sooner" lessons, this convo is packed with gold.

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How Much Is Too Much? The Account Manager Capacity Question

Welcome back to The Happy Clients Podcast! Today, we’re tackling one of the most frequently asked questions from agency owners and account managers alike: What is too much for an account manager? To help answer this, I’m joined by Jenna Meldrum, who manages a team of account managers here at DOT & Co., and has a unique behind-the-scenes look at how different agencies operate.

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The First Step to Fixing Your Agency’s Account Management Process

Let’s be real—account management can feel like juggling flaming swords while blindfolded. Agency owners often find themselves buried in client emails, chasing down project updates, and wondering, “Where the heck do we even start fixing this?”

In this episode of The Happy Clients Podcast, we pull back the curtain on the very first step we take when working with agencies: the account management audit. And trust us, it’s a game-changer. 🚀

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The Gold Standard of Account Management: Five Years in the Making

Welcome back to The Happy Clients Podcast! Today, we’re rolling up our sleeves and getting tactical with what we call The Gold Standard of Account Management. If you’re an agency owner or account manager, this is the episode you can’t afford to skip.

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How to Go from Good to Great in Account Management: A Gold Standard Approach

📣 Cue the confetti! This week on The Happy Clients Podcast, we’re diving into what it takes to level up your account management game and become an indispensable part of your agency team. Joining us is Jillian, a senior department manager at DOT & Company, whose four-plus years of account management experience have helped shape what DOT calls the Gold Standard for client care.

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Client Retention for Agencies: The Secret to Long-Term Growth

Insights from Tiffany, Senior Department Manager at DOT & Co.

If you’ve ever wondered how to grow your agency without constantly chasing new clients, the answer might be simpler than you think: client retention. On this week’s episode of The Happy Clients Podcast, Taylor sat down with Tiffany, Senior Department Manager at DOT & Co., to talk about why client retention for agencies is the ultimate game-changer.

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How to Master Proposals and Win More Clients in 2025

🎙️ The Happy Clients Podcast is back with a bang! In this episode, Taylor welcomes back Joe, the mastermind behind Smart Pricing Table, to tackle a pain point every agency owner knows too well—proposal anxiety. If you’re juggling client demands, tight deadlines, and the quest for clarity in your sales process, this one’s for you.

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Navigating Tricky Clients: Tales from the Agency Trenches

Navigating tricky client relationships doesn’t have to feel like walking a tightrope—it’s all about striking the right balance between empathy, clear communication, and firm boundaries. The secret sauce? Managing expectations from the get-go. Whether it’s setting deadlines, deliverables, or keeping everyone aligned with meeting schedules, clarity upfront sets the stage for smooth sailing later on. 💪🏻

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How to Set Quarterly Goals for Your Agency: A Step-by-Step Guide 🏆

Goal-setting isn’t just about dreaming big – it’s about getting everyone on your team rowing in the same direction. In this episode, we sat down with Jill from DOT Scalable to talk about how agency owners and account managers can work together to map out effective quarterly goals.

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In this episode of The Happy Clients Podcast, Ashton Shanks joins us to share his journey through a transformative agency merger. Ashton offers a behind-the-scenes look at how transparency, trust, and open communication were crucial in making the merger successful, despite the challenges of navigating team dynamics and resistance to change. 💪🏻

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How to Handle Unhappy Clients: Expert Tips from Tiffany

In this episode of The Happy Clients Podcast, we dive into a topic that’s not always the easiest to tackle, but one every agency owner will face at some point: unhappy clients. Tiffany, Senior Department Manager, takes the mic to share her personal stories of navigating difficult client situations and provides actionable strategies to defuse negative scenarios.

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Balancing Parenthood & Agency Life with Regina of Tenuto Consulting

Welcome to another inspiring episode of The Happy Clients Podcast! Today, we're thrilled to have Regina from Tenuto Consulting join us for a heartfelt conversation on balancing motherhood and running a successful agency. As moms ourselves, this topic is especially close to our hearts, and Regina shares a deeply personal journey that will resonate with any parent in the agency world. ✨

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Welcome back to The Happy Clients Podcast! Today, we are thrilled to have Mandi Ellefson, founder of Hands-Off CEO, join us. Mandi’s journey to creating a hands-off business model began from a personal crisis—attempting to take maternity leave only to find her previous business couldn't function without her.

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Unlocking Agency Success: How Smart Pricing Table Transforms Proposals

In this episode of The Happy Clients Podcast, Taylor welcomes Joe, the mastermind behind Smart Pricing Table, a revolutionary online interactive proposal software. Joe’s enthusiasm for optimizing processes shines as he dives into the origins and benefits of his innovative tool. ⚙️

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If you're looking for a solid dose of agency wisdom, you won't want to miss this episode of The Happy Clients Podcast. We had the pleasure of hosting Jody Sutter, an expert in business development for creative agencies, who shared her wealth of knowledge on overcoming sales bottlenecks and optimizing current sales processes.

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