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The Creative Agency Blog

Interviews, playbooks, and hard-won lessons for agency owners and leaders.

15 Best SEO Agencies in Portland (2026)

Blog · Growth

15 Best SEO Agencies in Portland (2026)

The 15 best SEO agencies in Portland for 2026 — vetted across Clutch, UpCity, and Semrush. Specialties, side-by-side comparison tables, typical pricing, and FAQs.

Jun 1, 2026

Best website directories for agencies

Marketing · Blog

Best website directories for agencies

The Best Agency Directories for SEO, AI Search & Leads (2026) Submitting your agency to directories can be tedious but […]

May 23, 2026

Agency Pricing Models

Pricing

Agency Pricing Models

Agency Pricing Models and How to Use Them Introduction I’ve been pricing agency services for over 15 years now, and […]

Mar 23, 2025

Uncategorized

How to Niche Your Agency

Clarify Your Niche, Your Value, and Your Impact The agency space is crowded, so positioning is super important. But positioning […]

Feb 7, 2025

Value-Based Pricing is Not a Strategy

Blog

Value-Based Pricing is Not a Strategy

We’ve all heard it: “Hourly pricing is fundamentally flawed. You need to value-price.” To me this often sounds like, “You’re doing it wrong and I’m smarter than you.” It’s also a bit obnoxious because if you ask me, all pricing is value-based. If something doesn’t have value YOU WOULDN’T PRICE IT IN

Jan 20, 2025

Agency Growth Secrets

Blog · Growth

Agency Growth Secrets

Not that anyone needs reminding but, 2024 was a rough year for agencies and I’m convinced our industry needs to […]

Jan 11, 2025

049 Agency Sales Journey – Jody Sutter of The Sutter Company

The Creative Agency Podcast

049 Agency Sales Journey – Jody Sutter of The Sutter Company

In this podcast episode, I spoke with Jody Sutter, the owner of The Sutter Company, a business development coaching and advisory firm. Jody brings over two decades of experience leading business development teams at renowned agencies like R/GA, OMD, and Havas Media. She now helps small marketing age

Nov 30, 2024

Your Logo Is Bad: How to Sell a Rebrand to a Reluctant Client

Sales · Blog

Your Logo Is Bad: How to Sell a Rebrand to a Reluctant Client

Dealing with a prospect that does not know they have bad branding is a delicate bridge to cross for a branding agency. Often a business would come to us looking for new packaging or a new website, without realizing how important elevating their logo (as well as assorted brand assets like fonts and c

Nov 25, 2024

How to Price a Website

Blog

How to Price a Website

I’ve Been Pricing Websites for Over a Decade and It’s Still a Challenge To be clear, pricing a website is easy. Pricing a website so someone buys it–that’s the hard part.

Nov 11, 2024

048 Agency Sales Optimization – Karl Sakas of Sakas & Company

The Creative Agency Podcast · Marketing

048 Agency Sales Optimization – Karl Sakas of Sakas & Company

Karl Sakas helps digital agency owners ‘Work Less’ and ‘Earn More’… while rewarding their best employees. Drawing on his background in agency operations, Karl has personally advised hundreds of agencies on every inhabited continent. An international speaker, he is the author of three books—including

Aug 3, 2024

047 Project Relationship Management – Rachel Gertz of Louder Than Ten

The Creative Agency Podcast · Uncategorized

047 Project Relationship Management – Rachel Gertz of Louder Than Ten

Rachel Gertz, Co-Founder of Louder Than Ten, has a profound way of framing the challenges agencies face in the current climate and a keen sense of how we must adapt and focus on building sustainable systems and relationships to foster growth. She also goes into detail about the sales and project man

Jul 5, 2024

The Best Payroll Service for Agencies

Blog · HR

The Best Payroll Service for Agencies

Managing payroll can be a headache. My agency, Murmur Creative, worked a few different local payroll services before moving to a cloud-based service. What’s really nice about using a service like Gusto (or Rippling) is that you can put the power to adjust benefits, make time-off requests, get reimbu

Jun 30, 2024

046 Fractional Project Management – August Shah of Partnered MG

The Creative Agency Podcast · Account Management

046 Fractional Project Management – August Shah of Partnered MG

I’m thrilled to introduce August Shah from Partnered Management Group. Not only is August a commercial airline pilot but he also founded Partnered MG, a fractional project management agency that specializes in supporting creative agencies with project managers, resources, and know-how.

May 28, 2024

045 Pitching and Pricing Smart – Agency Advisor Blair Enns

Billing · Contracts

045 Pitching and Pricing Smart – Agency Advisor Blair Enns

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-blair-enns.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Blair Enns is CEO of Win Without Pitching and the author of The Win Without […]

Oct 15, 2019

044 The Cannabis Niche – Jared Mirsky of Wick & Mortar

Growth · Sales

044 The Cannabis Niche – Jared Mirsky of Wick & Mortar

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-jared-mirsky.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Jared Mirsky is CEO of Wick & Mortar, a branding and marketing agency specializing in […]

Apr 24, 2019

043 A New Employee Every Month – Andrea Engstrom of Bajillion Agency

Culture · Growth

043 A New Employee Every Month – Andrea Engstrom of Bajillion Agency

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-bajillion.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Can you imagine hiring a new employee every month? Bajillion Agency is doing it. Andrea […]

Nov 6, 2018

041 Agency Finances With Ryan Watson of Upsourced Accounting

Billing · Finances

041 Agency Finances With Ryan Watson of Upsourced Accounting

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-upsourced-accounting.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Ryan Watson is the founder of a unique accounting agency, Upsourced Accounting, that focuses on […]

Apr 6, 2018

040 Our Story Part 4 – Murmur Creative Year in Review 2017

Culture · Growth

040 Our Story Part 4 – Murmur Creative Year in Review 2017

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-murmur-2017-review.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Once again we turn the mic on ourselves and talk about our own agency journey. […]

Mar 12, 2018

038 The Account Director Role – Ann Kaufman of Fuzzco

Account Management · The Creative Agency Podcast

038 The Account Director Role – Ann Kaufman of Fuzzco

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-fuzzco.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Ann Kaufman is a partner at Fuzzco. She runs their Portland, OR office. Ann cut her […]

Sep 19, 2017

037 Getting Down to Business – Brad Flowers of Bullhorn

Branding · Culture

037 Getting Down to Business – Brad Flowers of Bullhorn

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-bullhorn.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Brad Flowers is founder of an agency called Bullhorn. Brad and his partners have taken a […]

Jul 10, 2017

036 Cultivating a Creative Culture With Justin Dauer

Culture · Design

036 Cultivating a Creative Culture With Justin Dauer

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-justin-dauer.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Justin Dauer is a designer and author who just published a book called Cultivating a […]

Jun 19, 2017

035 Risk and Reward – Growing Orange Bus With Julian Leighton

Growth · Mistakes

035 Risk and Reward – Growing Orange Bus With Julian Leighton

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-orange-bus.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Julian Leighton started his career as a consultant driving around in an orange bus. The […]

May 30, 2017

034 The Importance of Content Strategy – Rob Mills of GatherContent

Content Strategy · The Creative Agency Podcast

034 The Importance of Content Strategy – Rob Mills of GatherContent

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-gathercontent.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS You can’t build a website without some form of content strategy. Rob Mills of GatherContent […]

May 1, 2017

033 Remote Work Mastery –  Rachel Zimmer of 5Crowd

Remote Agency · The Creative Agency Podcast

033 Remote Work Mastery – Rachel Zimmer of 5Crowd

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-5crowd.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Rachel Zimmer co-founded 5Crowd, a unique agency that uses a vetted network of freelancers to accomplish […]

Apr 17, 2017

032 New Agency Models – Will Burns of Ideasicle

Branding · Growth

032 New Agency Models – Will Burns of Ideasicle

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-ideasicle.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Forbes contributor and agency veteran Will Burns joins us to talk about how agencies are […]

Apr 3, 2017

031 Winning Business With Targeted Content – Isaac Arthur of CODO

Growth · Marketing

031 Winning Business With Targeted Content – Isaac Arthur of CODO

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-CODO.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS CODO brilliantly targeted their ideal clients by creating an online resource called The Craft Beer […]

Mar 19, 2017

030 Question the Defaults: Selling SEO with Mike Arnesen of UpBuild

Remote Agency · SEO

030 Question the Defaults: Selling SEO with Mike Arnesen of UpBuild

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-upbuild.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Mike Arnesen founded UpBuild, a technical marketing agency that offers a winning cocktail of conversion […]

Mar 5, 2017

029 Our Story Part 3 – 2016 Year End Review with Murmur Creative

Branding · Discovery

029 Our Story Part 3 – 2016 Year End Review with Murmur Creative

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-murmur-creative-3.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Did we hit our million dollar goal? What trials and tribulations did we face in […]

Feb 5, 2017

028 Stop Scope Creep with Karl Sakas of Sakas and Company

Billing · Contracts

028 Stop Scope Creep with Karl Sakas of Sakas and Company

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-karl-sakas.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Karl Sakas is an Agency Consultant and president of a global consulting firm called Sakas […]

Jan 26, 2017

027 The Virtual Reality Agency – Matthew Martin of Immersive VR

Growth · Marketing

027 The Virtual Reality Agency – Matthew Martin of Immersive VR

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-immersive-vr.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS While virtual reality technology has been around for while, the technology has only recently advanced […]

Jan 15, 2017

026 UI/UX Design Services – Pek Pongpaet of Impekable

Growth · The Creative Agency Podcast

026 UI/UX Design Services – Pek Pongpaet of Impekable

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-impekable.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Pek Pongpaet, of Impekable, joins us to discuss agency growth and UI/UX. Impekable is a silicon […]

Dec 11, 2016

024 Managing an Interactive Project Start to Finish – Part 1

Project Management · The Creative Agency Podcast

024 Managing an Interactive Project Start to Finish – Part 1

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-projects-part-1.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Managing interactive projects (websites and apps) ain’t easy. And it takes a special kind of […]

Nov 3, 2016

025 Managing an Interactive Project Start to Finish – Part 2

Project Management · The Creative Agency Podcast

025 Managing an Interactive Project Start to Finish – Part 2

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-project-part-2.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Managing interactive projects (websites and apps) ain’t easy. And it takes a special kind of […]

Nov 3, 2016

023 Discovery Workshops – Dan Carlton – The Paragraph Project

Discovery · The Creative Agency Podcast

023 Discovery Workshops – Dan Carlton – The Paragraph Project

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-paragraph-project.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Dan Carlton is founder of The Paragraph Project, a 10 person agency in Durham, North Carolina that […]

Oct 23, 2016

022 Agency Horror Stories – Client Possession, Vampirism, and More

Account Management · Project Management

022 Agency Horror Stories – Client Possession, Vampirism, and More

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-horror-stories.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Ladies and Gentlemen, get ready for the Creative Agency Podcast’s Open Office of Horrors in […]

Oct 17, 2016

021 Agency (The Book) – Rick Webb, Author and Agency Founder

Contracts · Favorites

021 Agency (The Book) – Rick Webb, Author and Agency Founder

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-rick-webb.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS n 2001, Rick Webb co-founded The Barbarian Group, an award-winning digital ad agency. He grew […]

Oct 5, 2016

020 Project Based Teams –  Sharon McMullen of Ink + Mortar

Branding · Growth

020 Project Based Teams – Sharon McMullen of Ink + Mortar

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-ink-and-mortar.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS While many agencies hire full-time employees and then hire contractors as needed, it’s also possible to […]

Sep 6, 2016

019 Is “Freelancer” a Dirty Word? Sarah Schulweis of Anchor & Orbit

Billing · Discovery

019 Is “Freelancer” a Dirty Word? Sarah Schulweis of Anchor & Orbit

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-anchor-orbit.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Sarah Schulweis of Anchor and Orbit is a consultant that helps small businesses grow by […]

Aug 22, 2016

018 USMP: Unique Selling Marriage Proposal – Top Hat IMC

Branding · Culture

018 USMP: Unique Selling Marriage Proposal – Top Hat IMC

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-top-hat-imc.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Top Hat IMC is a boutique creative agency located in Pittsburgh, PA. Ben and Pamela […]

Aug 16, 2016

017 Our Story Part 2 – Developing a Vision with Murmur Creative

Favorites · Growth

017 Our Story Part 2 – Developing a Vision with Murmur Creative

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-murmur-creative-2.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Defining the vision you have for your agency is one of the most important things […]

Aug 1, 2016

016 Running a Remote HubSpot Agency – Gray MacKenzie of GuavaBox

Culture · Remote Agency

016 Running a Remote HubSpot Agency – Gray MacKenzie of GuavaBox

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-guavabox.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Gray MacKenzie joins us to talk about HubSpot, running a remote agency (GuavaBox), and his […]

Jun 28, 2016

015 Content First – Isaac Szymanczyk of Conveyor

Copywriting · Favorites

015 Content First – Isaac Szymanczyk of Conveyor

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-conveyor.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Conveyor is an agency that specializes in content creation and strategy. They develop content for […]

Jun 1, 2016

014 Onboarding with Robby Russell of Planet Argon

Onboarding · The Creative Agency Podcast

014 Onboarding with Robby Russell of Planet Argon

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-planet-argon.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS No, Planet Argon is not actually a far away planet where redheads are considered evil […]

May 25, 2016

013 The Art of Discovery – David Yarde of Sevenality

Branding · Discovery

013 The Art of Discovery – David Yarde of Sevenality

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-sevenality.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Sevenality is a florida-based husband and wife creative agency run by Angelica and David Yarde. Sevenality […]

May 14, 2016

012 Learning From Our Mistakes – Ross Beyeler of Growth Spark

Growth · Interactive

012 Learning From Our Mistakes – Ross Beyeler of Growth Spark

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-growth-spark.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Agency owner, Ross Beyeler recorded every mistake his agency made for over a year. He […]

May 2, 2016

011 The Creative Agency Lawyer – Josh Barrett of Create Legal

Contracts · Favorites

011 The Creative Agency Lawyer – Josh Barrett of Create Legal

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-create-legal.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Are your contracts protecting your business and informing your client? Do you have a partnership […]

Apr 10, 2016

010 Building a Product In-House – Kyle Racki of Proposify

Design · Growth

010 Building a Product In-House – Kyle Racki of Proposify

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-proposify.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Kyle Racki of Proposify shares his story of growing an in-house software product while running […]

Mar 24, 2016

009 Award Winning Culture – Keith Scandone of O3 World

Culture · Growth

009 Award Winning Culture – Keith Scandone of O3 World

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-o3-world.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS When Keith Scandone decided he wasn’t cut out to be an actor in Hollywood, he […]

Mar 6, 2016

008 Work That Matters – Jeremy Pelley of OMFGCO

Branding · Design

008 Work That Matters – Jeremy Pelley of OMFGCO

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-omfgco.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Jeremy Pelley is co-owner of the Official Manufacturing Company (OMFGCO) a branding and design agency […]

Feb 23, 2016

007 What You Need to Know to Grow – James Loomstein of Rogue Marketing

Growth · Marketing

007 What You Need to Know to Grow – James Loomstein of Rogue Marketing

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-rogue-marketing.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS James Loomstein is co-founder of Rogue Marketing in Dallas, Texas, a college professor, and regular […]

Feb 8, 2016

006 Our Story Part 1 – Chris & Andrew of Murmur Creative

Growth · Murmur Creative

006 Our Story Part 1 – Chris & Andrew of Murmur Creative

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-murmur-creative.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS In this episode of The Creative Agency Podcast we turn the mic on ourselves and […]

Jan 25, 2016

005 Proposals and the Truth – Zach Davis of Cast Iron Coding

Interactive · Proposals

005 Proposals and the Truth – Zach Davis of Cast Iron Coding

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-cast-iron-coding.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS How do you go from earning a PHD in 17th century poetry to running a […]

Jan 19, 2016

004 Managing Rapid Growth – Doug Fish of Fish Marketing

Favorites · Growth

004 Managing Rapid Growth – Doug Fish of Fish Marketing

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-fish-marketing.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Doug Fish started Fish Advertising in the 90s, sold it, and then created a new […]

Jan 11, 2016

003 Crafting Reality Through Photography – Chris and Leah of NashCO

Photography · Specialization

003 Crafting Reality Through Photography – Chris and Leah of NashCO

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-nashco.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Leah Nash and Christopher Onstott are Portland, Oregon’s dynamic duo of lifestyle photography. Together they […]

Dec 28, 2015

002 From Creative to CEO – Patrick Ezell of Copious

Growth · UI/UX

002 From Creative to CEO – Patrick Ezell of Copious

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-copious.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS In the second episode of The Creative Agency Podcast, Chris interviews Patrick Ezell co-founder of the […]

Dec 14, 2015

001 Specialization – Kandace Brigleb of Needmore

Design · Specialization

001 Specialization – Kandace Brigleb of Needmore

https://media.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/content.blubrry.com/creative_agency_podcast/creative-agency-podcast-needmore.mp3 Podcast: Embed Subscribe RSS Welcome to the Creative Agency Podcast, where you get an inside look at how creative agencies, […]

Nov 30, 2015

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How to Grow Your Agency

Facing the fears and doing the hard things — what it actually takes to grow an agency, from someone doing it for the second time.

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