What does it take to turn a side hustle into a thriving agency serving some of the biggest names in publishing?

In this episode, Corey chats with Alex Strathdee, founder of Advanced Amazon Ads, who started with a simple goal: sell more books. Fast forward, and Alex now manages millions in ad spend, helping nonfiction authors like Mike Michalowicz and Dan Sullivan grow their influence.

But Alex isn’t stopping there. He’s pulling back the curtain on a game-changing rebrand to Shelf Life, expanding his services to offer authors a complete marketing arsenal. From mastering Amazon ads to diving into influencer programs and TikTok strategies, Alex shares the secrets of scaling a specialized business while staying laser-focused on his niche. If you’re looking for a blueprint to grow your agency and adapt to a changing market, this episode delivers the goods.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

• Understanding the limitations of your advertising channels.
• Differentiating your niche agency. How Alex’s agency doubles its revenue every year since its inception. Strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome.
• How to gain more personal free time while scaling your business.
• “Seeding the Market”: An effective strategy for book marketing.
• Myths and misconceptions of book launches that will save authors time and money.
• The secret to agency growth: Having a consistent lead generation source.
• Why being a “best seller” doesn’t guarantee higher sales.
• Underrated benefits of outsourcing.

Here are some actionable key takeaways for agency founders:

• Specialization in both the audience served and the services offered is essential.
• As an agency, you need a consistent lead generation source to scale up. Beyond that, diversifying client sources is crucial for agency growth and stability.
• Building relationships through podcasting has been a significant client acquisition strategy.
• One way to overcome imposter syndrome is by networking with influential figures.
• Advertise where your audience lives. TikTok is becoming a significant platform for book sales because of the amount of readers reviewing books and sharing book recommendations.
• Outsourcing tasks can lead to better efficiency and productivity.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-strathdee
• Check out Advanced Amazon Ads: https://www.advancedamazonads.com
• Buy Alex’s books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07L7FMPYB
• Listen to Before the Bestseller: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/before-the-bestseller/id1352053720

👍If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔 😡

Frustrated with a lack of results from outbound? I'd like to give you my free 6-day email course that will transform your outbound program from broken to consistently driving new sales opportunities. Sign up here: GetOutboundROI.com.

This episode is sponsored by E2M, the #1 white-label partner for digital agencies. Visit https://www.e2msolutions.com/the-deep-specialization-podcast to get 20% off your first month.

"You have to think about the exit from day one.” – Ronik Patel, Founder of UnlimitedWP.

If you’ve ever dreamt of selling your agency, look no further than this episode. Excitingly, we have another two-time guest on, as Corey welcomes back Ronik Patel to discuss his recent success in getting his company, UnlimitedWP acquired by E2M. And, if the latter sounds familiar, it’s because its founder, Manish Dudharejia, is also a recent guest and friend of the podcast!

Ronik joins the show to share his exit experience, how that came to be, and all the lessons along the way. It truly is fascinating to witness the journey of a competitor becoming the acquirer, and what decisions led to the exit - or partial merger, to be exact.

While this episode is a gold mine of M&A advice, If we had to summarize a single takeaway, it would be that exits are made from day one. You have to plan for it from the get-go to ensure that your agency can run (and be acquired) without the day-to-day involvement of the founder.

Beyond the acquisition, we also discuss his future plans and what Ronik is building next for agencies. Tune in for the full story.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

- How to prime your agency for an acquisition.

- Best practices for a successful exit.

- Acquisition experience and learnings.

- What’s next for Ronik and what he’s building in the agency space.

Here are some actionable key takeaways for agency founders:

- If you’re looking for an exit, seek out buyers immediately.

- Trust and transparency are paramount in the acquisition process.

- Make a list of potential buyers early on and build relationships before you need them.

- Aligning on values is the cornerstone of a successful acquisition.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

- Connect with Ronik on LinkedIn Here
- Check out UnlimitedWP Here

👍If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

😡Frustrated with a lack of results from outbound? I'd like to give you my free 6-day email course that will transform your outbound program from broken to consistently driving new sales opportunities. Sign up here: GetOutboundROI.com.

"The commitment to specialization gives clarity and perspective, leading to higher conversion rates and client trust." – Vlad Mkrtumyan, CEO of Restoration Inbound

Today’s guest may have started as a general agency founder, but since niching down and taking a vertical approach, his team has helped one of their client’s achieve an increase of over $1M in new revenue. Meet Vlad Mkrtumyan, CEO of Restoration Inbound, a top-tier lead generation and SEO agency exclusively designed for mold remediation companies seeking growth and success.

With a deep understanding of their industry’s unique challenges and opportunities, their team harnesses the power of digital marketing to connect restoration businesses with potential clients.

So, how do you go from generalist to specialist?

If you’re in the process of finding your niche and don’t know what steps to take next, this episode will give you the steps you need.

Vlad emphasizes the importance of attending conferences, enjoying the learning process, and the role of software in their agency. He also highlights the balance of not immediately "boxing yourself in" but doing so over time, with examples of what that means.

Tune in for expert insights on how to find your niche and become the specialist you know you can be.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

- Vlad’s growth journey from starting as a general agency to niching down to restoration marketing.

- How becoming a specialist in a specific niche enables you to build deeper relationships with clients and give them better results.

- The major benefits of leveraging referrals, networking, and building a board of advisors.

- AI in marketing: How agencies can leverage it to help their clients implement AI tools.

Here are some actionable key takeaways for agency founders:

- Networking and building a board of advisors are crucial for success in a niche market.

- Focusing on high-margin industries can lead to greater profitability.

- Attending conferences gives insight into the industry, but it’s shadowing the potential niche that can really bring it more to life and help you to see first-hand if it’s right for you.

- Enjoying the learning process and becoming a master in the niche is a sign that the specialization is the right fit.

- If you’re still trying to figure out your niche, keep testing and trying! You’ll find it.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

- Connect with Vlad on LinkedIn here
- Check out Restoration Inbound here

👍If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

😡Frustrated with a lack of results from outbound? I'd like to give you my free 6-day email course that will transform your outbound program from broken to consistently driving new sales opportunities. Sign up here: GetOutboundROI.com.