#1030 - WP-Tonic Show:What it Takes To Run Successful Digital Marketing Agency in 2026

What It Takes to Run a Successful Digital Marketing Agency in 2026 Learn what it takes to run a successful digital marketing agency in 2026—proven strategies, tools, and tips to scale your business. ---------------------- Sponsors of The Show ------------------- Jetpack - https://f0k0.short.gy/97gIS8 Ninja Forms - https://f0k0.short.gy/97gIS8 WP-Rollover - https://f0k0.short.gy/97gIS8 LifterLMS - https://f0k0.short.gy/97gIS8 ---------------- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ In this insightful show, we explore the essential strategies and skills you need to run a digital marketing agency successfully in 2026. Discover how emerging technologies, evolving consumer behaviors, and data analytics are shaping the industry. Join us as we interview industry experts and share best practices to elevate your agency. With Special Guest Jake Hundley | CEO at Evergrow Marketing | Co-host of The Agency Growth Podcast https://jakehundley.com https://evergrowmarketing.com https://www.agencygrowthpod.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-hundley @EvergrowMktg #1 - Is niching dead? You and Cody have only served landscaping and lawn care companies since 2019. Some people say AI makes generalist agencies viable again. Are they wrong, or is niching down now overrated? #2 - Is Google Ads worth it anymore? You called this "The Worst Year for Google Ads". Be honest: is Google quietly taking the money agencies used to make, and should agencies still be building their business on it? #3 - Why agencies undercharge: After your talk with Jasmine Sotiropoulos about undercharging for creative work, let me ask it plainly. Are most agency owners undercharging because of the market, or because they're scared to ask for more? #4 - Can the owner ever step away? You've argued that quality suffers when owners step away. So is the "passive agency owner" dream a myth people should stop chasing? #5 - The "AI slop" jab: Someone on Reddit called you guys "AI slop" (same iHeart listing), and you've just done an episode on agency brand voice. Did that hurt? If everyone uses the same AI tools, is a "brand voice" just marketing talk now? #6-Jake, if you could go back to the beginning of your career journey, what advice would you give yourself? ---------------------- Sponsors of The Show ------------------- Jetpack - https://f0k0.short.gy/97gIS8 Ninja Forms - https://f0k0.short.gy/97gIS8 WP-Rollover - https://f0k0.short.gy/97gIS8 LifterLMS - https://f0k0.short.gy/97gIS8 ---------------- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ Jonathan Denwood & Kurt von Ahnen Jonathan Denwood https://www.wp-tonic.com https://manananomas.com ---------------- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ ▬▬ LEARN FROM US ▬▬ ► Our course is" Are You Looking To Build Your Membership Website Quickly And EASILY On WordPress?" https://www.wp-tonic.com/course/ ▬▬ LET'S CONNECT ▬▬ ► Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/wptonic ► Podcast "The Membership Machine Show." | "The WP-Tonic Show" | "The David Quald SEO Show" https://f0k0.short.gy/9AO3tG https://f0k0.short.gy/oF9q9f https://f0k0.short.gy/mLDLvv ► X (Twitter) https://x.com/wptonic_com ▬▬ SPECIAL DEALS ON THE TOOLS WE USE TO BUILD (ONLINE COURSES) ▬▬ https://f0k0.short.gy/97gIS8 ▬▬ ABOUT THIS CHANNEL ▬▬ We discuss everything related to building a successful membership/community website in 2024, from the right technology to up-to-date digital marketing techniques.