Episode #21
E21: Matt Burton & Russell Brockett - Retainers, Team Culture and AI: The Secrets to Agency Longevity with Rusty Monkey
“Just don’t be a dick” is easy enough and potentially one of our favourite lines in this podcast, shortly followed by “we're actually two 80-year-old women" we can’t confirm or deny. Here’s to another episode of Agency Intensive. It’s number 21 and Richard Hill sits down with Matt and Russell, co-founders of Rusty Monkey, an agency that’s been thriving for over two decades in the ever-changing world of digital services. Together, they reflect on over 25 years of navigating recessions, technology shifts, evolving client demands, the pandemic and now the rise of AI “It can be a gaslighting jerk”. They manage all this while staying true to the kind of business and culture they want to build. Tune in as the conversation dives deep into the real keys behind sustainable agency growth: building resilient, profitable and enjoyable businesses that last, without getting caught up in vanity metrics or relentless headcount expansion. If you’re looking to understand how to adapt, price creatively, build enduring client relationships, leverage events for business development and have a laugh, this episode is for you. Time Stamps: 00:00 Sustainable agency growth tips 05:13 Balancing different services for stability 07:38 Balancing multiple services in agencies 11:33 Setting up project-based work 14:15 Discussing Budget Estimation Strategies 17:17 Sponsor message from Aristo Sourcing 22:02 Rethinking company structure 23:31 Finding our minimum viable audience 28:16 Challenges of Scaling a Business 31:16 Running events to win business 32:26 Growing the event's audience 38:33 Networking at events 42:41 AI impact on small businesses 44:53 Using AI for user experience 48:41 Casual and earnest AI users 51:33 Challenges in SEO and Digital PR 53:29 Changes in SEO and consumer behavior 57:52 Derek Thompson's book and TED Talk
