Podcast
How to Scale an 8 Figure Agency 🚀
Hosted by Jordan Ross · EN
Welcome to How to Scale an 8-Figure Agency, the show where I break down the exact operational, financial, and AI-driven systems that today’s top marketing agencies use to scale past seven figures — without burning out or getting trapped in fulfillment.
Every week, we go deep into:
• AI consulting for marketing agencies
• Operational infrastructure that actually scales
• Building automations, workflows, and agent-based systems
• Hiring and training world-class teams
• Improving margins, capacity, and client LTV
• Turning your agency into an 8-figure operation that runs without you
If you’re a founder stuck in the weeds, capped by systems, or wondering how to integrate AI into your agency the right way… this podcast is your blueprint.
I’m Jordan Ross — founder of 8 Figure Agency and the person behind hundreds of successful agency scale-ups — and this is where we turn chaos into clarity, and CEOs into true operators.
Let’s get into it.
27episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Claude Skills, AI Agents & The Build vs. Buy Decision for Marketing Agencies
1w ago00:48:01Tap to summarizeFREE DOWNLOAD: How to Set Up the Hermes Agent → https://value.8figureagency.co/hermes Ready to become an AI-native agency? Book a call at 8figureagency.coGuest: Ben Fisher, founder of Skinny and Bald. Hampton member. Been coding since fifth grade. Has been CEO twice, CTO three times. Describes himself as 60% product, 40% engineer.The pull: Ben is one of the sharpest guys in the Hampton AI channel. This is his second time on the pod. Jordan came with real questions about funnels, databases, and skills — Ben answered live, then pulled up his actual meeting-processing skill on screen share.What we coveredThe build vs. buy question. Jordan’s giveaway funnel pulls comments → emails → form fills → booked calls across LinkedIn and X, six campaigns a week. His partner said use GoHighLevel. Ben’s framing: build custom with Claude when you control the maintenance, use a tool when it solves 80%+ without workarounds. Texting is the exception — Twilio’s regulatory rabbit hole can eat days even with Claude Code.Databases and custom funnels. Jordan wants the funnel experience to mirror what the user clicked — landing page copy, follow-up sequence, everything. Ben’s example: he still uses Kit.com for his newsletter, but layered custom API logic on top. He didn’t rebuild Kit. He enriched it.The thing that separates real builders from vibe coders. “What distinguishes really effective builders really comes down to workflow.” Same models. Same Claude. Different results because of how people work. Ben’s non-negotiable: test-driven development. Plan first. Write the tests. Then build. Otherwise Claude tells you it shipped something that doesn’t exist.The “your friend Ben is absolutely correct” story. Hampton buddy building a chief of staff agent in Slack and WhatsApp. Asked Claude if it was secure. Claude said yes. Ben listed four gaps. Buddy pasted Ben’s message into Claude. Claude wrote back: “Your friend Ben is absolutely correct. We don’t do this, this, this, and this.” Lesson: you cannot ask the AI to verify the AI.Claude Skills, real talk. Skills are mostly plain English text files the AI reads. They get highly personal fast — Ben said his public repo of skills is becoming less useful to others because the nuances are his. Best move for most people: use someone else’s skill as a reference, have Claude analyze how it works, then build your own flavor.Ben’s content-from-meetings workflow (live demo). Fireflies records every call → transcripts get stored as markdown files in a local folder → a Claude skill called process meeting notes runs on demand, pulls the last 3 days, formats each meeting in EOS Level 10 format (clear accountability, agreements, action items), and routes to-dos to the right project repo. Why local files instead of remote Fireflies calls? Speed. His second brain reads disk faster than it makes API calls across nine months of transcripts.Writing in your voice with AI. Ben studied journalism and advertising. He uses Claude as a sparring partner first, last-mile editor second. Reference for anyone serious about this: every.to publishes their full editorial AI process, including how to build an anti-AI style guide. Ben also actively removes em-dashes from his AI output now because they’ve become the tell.Markdown files as the convention. .md is what the AI world runs on. Pound signs for headers, asterisks for bold. Doesn’t really matter if you use .txt or .docx — but markdown gives the AI hierarchy it can parse.Tools and references mentionedFireflies, Claude Code, N8N, Zapier, Kit.com, GoHighLevel, Twilio, Obsidian, every.to, Superpowers (Claude skill harness), Hampton, EOS Level 10 format, Ruben’s “How AI” Substack.Where to find Benskinnyandbald.com — consulting offersdearben.ai — Ben’s AI podcast where execs submit questions and he answers live with screen share, plus his newsletterReady to build an AI-native agency that runs on systems, not scrambling?8 Figure Agency helps seven-figure agency owners install the agents, automations, and AI workflows that turn your team into a 10x operation. Done-for-you implementation starting at $2K/month.Book your call: 8figureagency.covalue.8figureagency.cohermesThis playbook shows you the exact stack. Install instructions, the 30-day roadmap, the five daily prompts that turn your agent into a second brain, and eight use cases pulled straight from agencies doing it right now.8figureagency.coAI Solutions for Marketing Agencies | 8figure agencyOptimize your marketing agency with our AI solutions. Join 1,000+ agencies and scale your revenue today!every.toEveryEvery — The only subscription you need to stay at the edge of AI. Ideas, apps, and training from practitioners who build with AI daily.http://every.to/skinnyandbald.comBen FisherI help companies figure out where AI fits — and then build it.
Transcribe →
How Jon Bond Built a Billion Dollar Ad Agency (And What He'd Do Different Today)
2w ago00:51:04Tap to summarizeFree Download — The Hermes Agent PlaybookLearn how to set up the Hermes Agent to automate your agency.👉 https://value.8figureagency.co/hermesEpisode SummaryMost agency owners can't picture hitting $100M. Jon Bond hit a billion.Jon co-founded Kirshenbaum Bond in his 20s — when starting an ad agency that young was so absurd, the New York Times literally wrote that the editor had socks older than the firm. They scaled it to $1 billion a year in revenue with clients like BMW ($25M/year), Wendy's ($11M/year), and Revlon ($9M/year), then exited.In this episode, Jon breaks down the principles that actually got him there — tip of the spear positioning, culture as a growth lever, near-future betting, and the offer structure he'd use if he had to do it all over again in 2026. Plus the immortal advice from his consultant: "Resist the temptation to fuck mice."If you run a marketing agency stuck in the $1–3M "business purgatory" range, this one's for you.What You'll LearnWhy "fame before fortune" still works — and why Jon spent the early years getting press before chasing big logosThe "tip of the spear" rule — why being able to do everything is killing your agency, and how to find the one thing Google ranks you forHow Jon turned clients into his banker — the freelance-first model he used to spin out 5 sub-agencies inside one umbrellaThe pay-on-performance offer Jon would build today — and the math that lets you charge more than any agency ever has"Resist the temptation to fuck mice" — the line from his consultant that changed how Jon picked clientsWhen culture stops being automatic — the exact size threshold where you have to start engineering itThe Drinks Trolley story — why 150 ex-employees still show up to the same bar a decade after the agency was merged into oblivionNear-future betting — the framework Jon uses to spot the next wave (and how he hosted a marketing AI conference 3 months before ChatGPT dropped, to an empty room)Why he's "0 for 3 on Harvard people" — and what he hires for insteadWhy 100% remote is killing agency culture — and the founder who used to put on a suit to work alone in a spare roomAbout Jon BondJon Bond is the co-founder of Kirshenbaum Bond, the agency he built from the ground up in his 20s and scaled to $1B/year in revenue. Today, he advises founders on marketing, does board work, and invests in companies he can also help market. Painfully hip, refuses to fit in, has had 20 minutes with Barbara Walters on national TV.Connect with Jon:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jonbond (he's nearly capped at 30,000 connections — be quick)Email: jon@bondsworld.aiAbout the Host — Jordan RossJordan Ross is the founder of 8 Figure Agency, the AI consulting and dev firm for marketing agencies. He helps 7- and 8-figure agency owners install AI-native systems that remove the founder from day-to-day operations and add seven figures of EBITDA without adding headcount. His clients collectively generate over $1B in annual revenue.Connect with Jordan:Website: 8figureagency.coFree Hermes Agent Playbook: value.8figureagency.co/hermesLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jordan-ross-8faX / Twitter: @jordanrossleviWant to Automate Your Agency?The Hermes Agent is the open-source AI agent framework built specifically for marketing agencies. SQLite memory. 40+ tools out of the box. OpenRouter integration. Built by agency owners, for agency owners.Download the free Hermes Agent Playbook → value.8figureagency.co/hermesLearn the exact setup, prompts, and architecture our clients are using to automate their agency operations.
Transcribe →
How to Use Arc Ads + AI UGC to Scale Ad, Seo & Tiktok Agencies
3w ago00:28:56Tap to summarizeFigure out what you need to use for your AI tech stack:https://value.8figureagency.co/topaiJordan sits down with Noah Friedberg, founder of Maverick Creative, to break down how marketing agencies and ecom brands are using Arc Ads and AI UGC creators to drive viral content at scale. Noah walks through a live demo of Arc Ads, shares the framework his clients use to hit eight figures on TikTok Shop, and explains where AI replaces human influencers — and where it doesn't. If you run an agency or ecom brand and want to understand the AI UGC opportunity, this one's for you.Timestamps(00:00) Intro: Why AI UGC is the fastest path to going viral(00:54) Noah's background — Maverick Creative, TikTok Shop, working with 7-8 figure ecom brands(03:14) The mindset shift: volume, shots on net, and why one $25K influencer video is a billboard, not a sales channel(04:00) The 12,000 videos = $3M framework from TikTok Shop(05:38) Case study: Launching an 8-figure Amazon brand on TikTok Shop in under 3 months(06:48) Why Arc Ads vs. other AI video platforms ("the Apple of its category")(08:51) Live Arc Ads demo: Going from nothing to a finished AI UGC video(10:25) Script strategy: Using authority figures (e.g., AI doctor) to build trust and call out your ICP(13:21) The most complex AI UGC formats: cartoons, green screens, B-roll + talking head combos(14:40) Does AI UGC work for service businesses and agencies? (Yes — credit repair, info, low-ticket offers)(15:36) Building an AI influencer for an agency from scratch (warmed-up pages, US-hosted iPhones, full funnel)(19:15) When you outgrow Arc Ads: custom workflows with Claude Code, multi-tool stacks, B-roll generation(22:44) Why workflow automation matters — content running 24/7 without human touch(23:42) Scale numbers: 50-60 accounts per brand, 10 videos per page per day, up to 550 videos/day(25:00) The biggest mistake brands make: confusing one viral video with a real system(26:21) How Noah measures data at scale (Kalodata, social one, competitor analysis)(28:20) Why "set it and forget it" AI is a myth — the human strategy layer still winsKey TakeawaysVolume beats prestige. A single $20–25K influencer video is essentially a billboard. A few thousand AI UGC videos at a few dollars each gives you orders of magnitude more shots on net.Quality at volume is the unlock. The 12K videos = $3M framework only works when each video meets a real quality bar — trash content at scale doesn't move revenue.Arc Ads is the entry point. Easy, fast, cheap, realistic talking-head videos. But for B-roll, cartoons, and custom stitched workflows, you need agentic tools like Claude Code on top.Systematize, don't celebrate. Most brands hit one viral video and assume that's the new normal. Without a system, 80% of revenue keeps coming from one creator or one format.AI doesn't replace strategy. Brands that try to "set and forget" AI workflows fail. The human guiding hand — script direction, competitor analysis, taste — is still where the edge lives.Resources & Tools MentionedArc Ads — arcads.aiWhisper Flow — for dictating scriptsClaude Code — for custom AI UGC workflowsn8n — automationKalodata, Social One — data and trend analysis toolsConnect with NoahWebsite: maverickcreative.netDMs: @NoahFriedberg on all platforms
Transcribe →
How To Make $70K From a Live Event Without Selling Tickets (Step-by-Step Guide)
Apr 2700:22:03Tap to summarizeFigure out the next 5 things to build using AI: https://value.8figureagency.co/constraintIn this episode, Jordan Ross breaks down exactly how he hosted a high-level live event with 100+ qualified agency owners—and made over $70,000 in profit without relying on ticket sales.If you’ve ever thought about hosting your own event but feared losing money, low turnout, or poor execution, this episode gives you the full A–Z playbook.Jordan shares the behind-the-scenes strategy that turned his event from a potential $14K loss into a profitable, repeatable system you can use in your own business.
Transcribe →
How to Get $100K in Emergency Business Capital for 2.5%
Apr 200:11:53Tap to summarizeWant to build a 1-person AI-powered team? Start here → https://value.8figureagency.co/1personteamHow to Access $100K in Capital for Only 2.5% | Mind VitaminMost founders panic when cash runs dry — and panic is expensive. Jordan shares the exact system he knew but forgot to use when someone stole every dollar from his business bank account, forcing him to cover payroll overnight at a brutal 22% rate.In this episode, he breaks down the two-part capital strategy he teaches other founders so you never have to make that same mistake.What's covered:Why quick capital solutions (MCAs, short-term loans) will cost you 20–30% and how to avoid themThe 0% APR credit card strategy for funding $40–60K in marketing tests with zero interestHow to consolidate unused credit limits across Chase cards to unlock six-figure availabilityZillMoney.com — the tool that lets you run payroll through a credit card for just 2.5%The auto-payment rule you must follow or the whole strategy blows up at month 12How Jordan uses the same system to travel business class and five-star for freeResources mentioned:Zill Money: https://zilmoney.com/ref/zil-AdB71k8figureagency.co
Transcribe →
How a 23-Year-Old Klaviyo Agency Hit $500K/Month: Talent Acquisition, Pricing Strategy & the Founder QC System That Scales
Mar 2300:29:12Tap to summarizeGrab free resource here: https://t.co/QyzZzPY7uAMax, founder of WellCopy, runs one of the fastest-growing email and SMS marketing agencies in the e-commerce space — 130+ retainer clients, 70 employees, and a jump from $30K/month to $500K/month in 24 months. He's 23.Jordan sits down with Max to break down exactly how he's doing it — before he hits eight figures — so you can steal what's working.What we cover:— The founder QC system: why Max personally reviews thousands of emails every week and why pulling back too early kills culture before it scales— Talent acquisition at the mid-seven-figure bottleneck: internal recruiters, employee referral programs with tiered incentives, and VSLs for every open role— The 10-80-10 rule for delegating without losing standards— How WellCopy grew from $3.2K to $5.8K average monthly retainer — and why every dollar of that increase is pure margin— Building roles around your people instead of forcing people into roles— Running a month-long waitlist with zero paid ads— Launching a done-with-you coaching program that sold out in 24 hoursThe bottom line: Max's unfair advantage isn't demand — it's standards. And he built those standards by never fully letting go of the work.If you're running a service agency between $1M–$5M and want to build the operational foundation to actually hit eight figures, that's exactly what we work on at 8figureagency.co.Follow Max: Twitter @maxwellcopy | Instagram @wellcopymax | wellcopy.net
Transcribe →
AI in Ad & SEO Agencies: The 2026 State of the Union
Mar 1300:14:56Tap to summarizelearn how to use claude code here:https://leads.8figureagency.co/ai-agency-client-deliverables-claude-codeThe AI landscape is moving fast — and most ad and SEO agencies are either overwhelmed, underinformed, or both. In this episode, Jordan Ross breaks down the real state of the union for marketing agencies navigating AI adoption in 2026.No hype. No fluff. Just an honest look at what's actually changing, what's worth your attention, and how to think about building an AI-native agency without creating chaos.What we cover:The agency fluidity problem — why most agencies are stuck with 10 people in 10 different stacks and how to fix itMCP servers — what they are and why they matter for agency operationsDIY with Claude Code — when it makes sense to build vs. buyAI agents — how they're changing the way agency workflows actually runAI marketplaces — what's emerging and how to evaluate what's worth testingY Combinator — what the latest batch signals about where the industry is headingThe cultural and managerial layer — why tool adoption alone won't save youResources & Links:🌐 Learn more: 8figureagency.co📩 Work with Jordan: jordan@8figureagency.co
Transcribe →
How to Generate 1,000+ Leads with Virtual Summits (Borrowing Other People’s Lists the Right Way)
Mar 500:23:02Tap to summarizeUNLOCK THE 13 SYSTEMS EVERY AGENCY OWNER NEEDS TO REACH 8 FIGURES:https://bit.ly/41Sm05NIn this episode, Jordan Ross sits down with Kevin Sanderson, founder of LGN Marketing, to break down how agency owners can generate thousands of qualified leads by hosting virtual summits — without paid ads.Kevin shares the exact playbook he used to help build an 8-figure Amazon agency and how he leveraged 15–20 influential speakers to “borrow” their email lists and audiences. The result? Nearly 1,100 targeted agency owners registered for a single event.They walk through the full strategy step-by-step — from identifying your ideal audience and recruiting high-leverage speakers, to building a follow-up funnel that converts summit attendees into long-term clients.The conversation also covers how to structure your summit for maximum list growth, how to use social proof and leaderboards to increase speaker promotion, and why the real money is made in the backend nurturing sequence.This episode is a must-listen for:Digital marketing agency owners looking to grow their email list fastFounders who want to generate qualified leads without relying on paid adsOperators exploring webinars, virtual summits, or audience partnershipsAgencies focused on building long-term list equity⏱️ Podcast Chapters– Why Virtual Summits Are a Million-Dollar Growth Lever– Choosing the Right ICP for Your Event– How to Recruit Influential Speakers– Building the Funnel, Swipe Copy & Tracking Links– Using Social Proof & Leaderboards to Drive Promotion– The Backend Strategy: VIP Offers & List Nurture– Turning Summit Attendees into Long-Term ClientsKevin’s Workbook – https://lgnmarketing.com/workbookKevin’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-sanderson-profile/To learn more go to 8figureagency.co
Transcribe →
How Tim Keen Built a High-Converting AI Sales Funnel Using Claude, Cold Email & Lead Magnets
Mar 200:36:59Tap to summarizeUNLOCK THE 13 SYSTEMS EVERY AGENCY OWNER NEEDS TO REACH 8 FIGURES:https://bit.ly/41Sm05NIn this episode, Jordan Ross sits down with Tim Keen, founder of Modern Agency Sales, to unpack the exact system behind Tim’s AI-powered funnel that generated 20,000+ leads on LinkedIn in just 12 months.Tim breaks down the full-stack system he engineered—from scraping LinkedIn profiles to auto-generating personalized lead magnets, high-performing landing pages, cold email sequences, and even 60-day content calendars. This is not theory—it's a blueprint built from code, prompts, and pure inbound/outbound mastery.They dive into the evolution of B2B lead generation, why most agency lead magnets are broken, and how to build funnels that look beautiful, deliver value, and book strategy calls on autopilot. Tim also explains how his own tools connect call transcripts to content pipelines and discusses the cold email infrastructure he's using to achieve 70%+ positive reply rates in 2024.This episode is packed with cutting-edge tactics for:Digital agency owners wanting better inbound and outbound funnelsOperators looking to productize services with AIFounders who hate sales decks but want high-ticket calls booked dailyAnyone building an AI-first client acquisition engine⏱ Podcast Chapters– How Tim Got 20,000+ Leads on LinkedIn– The Blueprint of a Modern AI Sales Funnel– Why Cold Email Still Works (and What to Avoid)– Building Personalized Lead Magnets with Claude– How to Auto-Generate 60 Days of Content– The Tech Stack: Trigger.dev, Superbase, and Beyond– Using Call Transcripts to Drive Content Creation– Building Product-Led Growth into a Service Business– Why Most Lead Magnets Suck (and How to Fix Yours)– What’s Next for Tim & Modern Agency SalesTo learn more, visit 8figureagency.coTim’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-keen
Transcribe →
Scaling Agency Teams: The People Systems Behind a 2,500-Person Operation
Feb 2600:46:08Tap to summarizeUNLOCK THE 13 SYSTEMS EVERY AGENCY OWNER NEEDS TO REACH 8 FIGURES:https://bit.ly/41Sm05NIn this episode, Jordan Ross sits down with Arman Taheri, co-founder of TalentPop, to unpack the infrastructure, hiring systems, and operational design behind one of the most scaled agency teams in the industry.From architecting org charts to tracking capacity utilization with workforce analysts, Arman breaks down how TalentPop scaled to over 2,500 employees by building two core departments: internal ops and client-facing CX, each supported by a layered management structure.If you're an agency founder stuck at $2M-$5M and struggling to scale people without breaking quality or margin, this episode is your playbook for transitioning from generalists to specialists and turning headcount into growth capacity.Whether you're searching for insights on recruiting at scale, org chart design, hiring process automation, or how to build an 85% capacity utilization model, this episode maps the exact journey to scalable ops.Chapters:1. TalentPop’s Origin Story: From Face Masks to CX Ops2. The Two Departments That Run an 8-Figure Agency3. Architecting a Layered Team: Specialist → Team Lead → Ops Manager4. How to Track Capacity Utilization With Real Math5. The Role of Workforce Management and Business Analysts6. Hiring Funnel Design: Filtering, Scoring, and Scaling7. Common Mistakes in Team Building (and How to Avoid Them)8. Why You Shouldn’t Let CSMs Own Onboarding9. Data-Driven Growth: People Ops That Actually ScaleTo learn more go to 8figureagency.coReach Arman at:TalentPop: https://www.talentpop.co/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thearmantaheri/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/armantaheri/
Transcribe →