The Agency U teaches founders how to scale their agencies and increase profitability. Austin Schneider and Gilberto Rosas grew their agencies to $200K/month and $160K/month. The program started with four pillars: offer, sales, system, and team. It provides all the tools, resources, and support to help you scale a successful agency. The program has a structured roadmap, 1:1 and group calls, modules, a community, and a private platform. It is for those agency owners who want to escape the daily grind. The program helps owners transition from being an operator to an orchestrator.
Student testimonials found on the Agency U website shared notable success. They shared increased revenues, improved client retention, and more freedom with their time. They attributed this to the program's 1:1 mentorship, done-for-you systems, and support. For example, Gabe Wegulo owns a real estate media agency and boosted his monthly revenue from $6,000 to $13,000. Similarly, Cameron Stewart doubled his revenue to nearly $1 million following Austin's advice. A video production specialist, Matt Saavedra, grew his monthly revenue from $5,000 to $20,000. He also scaled his team to eight members.
I worked in digital marketing for over a decade. In fact, it played a huge part in my success as an online entrepreneur. I tried social media, paid ads, content, SEO, and more. This Agency U review will discuss its pros and cons, pillars, and inclusions. We also share some success stories and student testimonials sourced from different platforms. This includes its own website and YouTube. Additionally, we feature a business model that is more passive and easily scalable. It does not require hiring more people.
Agency U Pros and Cons
Pros
Agency U founders could scale their agencies to a 6-figure income monthly.
Agency U offers a custom-built operating system tailored to your agency’s needs.
It includes 1:1 calls, group coaching, live training, and workshops. It also has a Slack community and 24/7 access to Austin and his team for support.
It has hundreds of SOP templates for sales, client management, onboarding, and hiring. It also includes tools like automation, CRM setup, and SMS integration.
Cons
Success in the program requires active participation. You must exert consistent effort and time investment of at least 5 hours per week.
The program price is not disclosed on the Agency U website.
There is no guarantee that the strategies shared by some students can work for your agency.
Beginners who may not invest time and money may struggle to keep up with the program. It is focused more on scaling than on starting.
Price
The Agency U cost is not disclosed anywhere on its platform.
Training
The training involved one-on-one calls, video lessons, and group calls. It also includes live training, workshops, and a Slack channel.
Group
Agency U has a Skool group with 840 members and a Slack community with other agency owners.
Refund Policy
There is no refund policy stated on Agency U's platform.
Origin
The Agency U started in 2021.
Reputation
Austin has extensive experience in business development and real estate. He has built a strong reputation for helping agencies scale their operations. Many student success stories back this. Austin is also praised for his expertise, mentorship, and support. He is also well-followed on social media. He has 10,865 followers on LinkedIn and 6875 followers on Instagram. There are 939 followers on Facebook and 12K followers on YouTube. He also runs a podcast called Agency U that has significant views.
I appreciate the support and the presence of Austin in every phase of the program. Although I went on a different path, I still value everything I learned from him.
What are the 4 Pillars to Scale Your Agency?
Austin said that a well-defined offer should be:
Here are the steps to create the offer as advised by Austin Schneider:
Austin said the key components of a client acquisition or sales system are the following:
According to Austin, the core systems that every agency needs are the following:
To build a talent system, Austin recommends the following steps:
What Do You Get With Agency U?
Who is Agency U For?
Are Students of Agency U Successful?
Yes, students of Agency U are successful. Austin has scaled his agency to 6-figures, earning $221,400 per month. Austin's income in 2021 from his agency, Brandtegic, LLC, is $1,759,513.51 in 2021 and $779,416.25 in 2020. Many testimonials are present on Agency U's landing pages and websites. These student testimonials shared success stories and reports on increasing their revenue.
Others shared that they achieved time freedom using Austin's systems and strategies. Moreover, some students discuss improved client retention and scaling their team members. They appreciate the program’s 1:1 mentorship, done-for-you systems, and supportive community.
Gabe Wegulo operates a real estate media agency in Phoenix, Arizona. He specializes in social media content, management, and property tour videos. Before joining Agency U, Gabe's business has scattered client information and inefficient systems.
Agency U introduced Gabe to Notion to enhance the organization and efficiency. They use it to consolidate contacts and standardize operating procedures. The new systems saved him time and reduced client communication. It improved the efficiency of his agency. Agency U guided Gabe in crafting compelling service packages. This includes social media management and video production. Within three months, Gabe's retainer revenue increased from $6,000 to $13,000.
Gabe hired extra videographers and photographers so he could focus on other matters. He endorses Agency U for its comprehensive resources, personalized coaching, and practical tools. Gabe said that they have been instrumental in his agency's growth.
Cameron Stewart grew his creative agency with the help of Austin's Agency U program. Before joining Agency U, Cameron's agency had two full-time employees. They lacked structure and faced organizational challenges. Cameron’s business was making under $500,000 annually. However, they lacked clarity in their roles, often leading to inefficiencies and burnout.
Cameron's team expanded to 7 full-time employees and 16 contractors. His revenue nearly doubled to under $1 million. Agency U helped Cameron close a $275,000 deal. Cameron said that his success was because of learning to price for profit. He delegates tasks rather than doing everything himself. Initially, Cameron wanted to oversee everything. However, Agency U helped him transition to a CEO mindset. He learned to focus on managing people instead of doing hands-on work.
Matt Saavedra is the founder of Savvy Media in Southern California. He specializes in short-form video production. He operated as a freelancer, handling all aspects of his business. It shares Matt with the frameworks to transition from freelancer to agency owner.
He identified and refined his service offerings, pricing, marketing, and delivery. Matt expanded his team to eight members. He hired videographers, editors, and account managers. His monthly revenue increased from $5,000–$8,000 to $20,000. He advises agency owners to take decisive action. This includes investing in personal growth and avoiding comparing yourself to others.
In addition, Austin received good reviews from his clients. Frank Palino appreciates Austin's willingness to go the extra mile for client success. Ben C. praises Austin’s effort to create a better client experience. Matthew Trimner and Brandon Schneider commend Austin for being a reliable resource, while Lacey Jayne also notes Austin’s dual expertise in business and coaching.
You can also find a lot of students' testimonials and screenshots from Agency U's videos. One example is a real estate photography company. It started with no clients and grew to 9 after the program. Now, it makes $14,000 monthly from short-form social media. In addition, the owner now commands bigger pay for his services, from $700 to $1500 per social media shoot.
Who is Austin Schneider?
Austin Schneider is an entrepreneur and agency owner. He co-founded Agency U, working alongside Gilberto Rosas in 2021. The program helps agency owners scale their businesses to 6-7-figure incomes. Austin is also the founder of Brandtegic, LLC. It is his creative video agency, which he scaled to $5M with over 20 team members and a studio in Seattle. He provides social media management, video production, branding, and photography services.
Austin’s journey began with adversity. At 16, he faced eviction and dealt with family challenges like his brother's addiction. By 19, he worked two jobs to pay for school while seeking a stable construction or law enforcement career. At 20, a mentor helped him earn his first 100% commission on a sales job. He earned six figures in his first year by age 21. At 24 years old, he transitioned into real estate. He worked with Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty from 2016 to 2019. However, he eventually left real estate to become a full-time agency owner. From 2011 to 2017, he held leadership roles at KING 5 Media Group and Allied Trade Group.
At 27, Austin built a strong foundation for his agency. He redefined his offer, sales systems, and fulfillment processes with guidance from mentors. By 29, his agency hit its first seven-figure income. This led him to create Agency U at 30 years old with Gilberto to share their scaling strategies. Today, Agency U consistently generates six-figure months. It has served over 100 clients and worked with different brands. Agency U offers personalized 1:1 support, copy-and-paste systems, and easy-implementation services.
Austin is passionate about endurance sports outside his professional life. He joined ultra-running, Ironman races, and cycling. He enjoys spending time with his wife and staying active in San Diego, California, US. Austin also spent almost a decade involved in various volunteer and leadership roles. He has been part of the Leadership Team at Community for Youth since 2015. He mentors young people and contributes to leadership programs.
He has also been a part of Shoe Guy for Olive Crest since 2016. He joined a fundraiser to support at-risk children and programs preventing child abuse. He is also been a Board Member of the Boys & Girls Club of America since 2017. He helps empower children and teens through education and extracurricular activities. Additionally, Austin volunteers for Make A Difference Day. He supports the nationwide efforts to improve lives through community service.
Who is Gilberto Rosas?
Gilberto Rosas is an entrepreneur and the co-founder of Agency U. He is from South Central, Los Angeles. He launched his agency with $60 in debt back in 2018. He had no other income because he quit his $12-an-hour job with just $2,000 in his bank account.
He used to work 14-hour days from his small apartment. He sent countless LinkedIn messages, made cold calls, and endured rejection after rejection. Within 19 days, he landed his first client. In the following weeks, he secured two more. By the end of his first year, he consistently earned $10K per month. However, he felt stuck in this income range and wanted to break free from this plateau. He also experienced moments of self-doubt and rock bottom. So, Gilberto spent $6K on a coaching program that helped him scale his business. He then hired an executive assistant so he could work more on client acquisition. This paid off because he was earning $50K per month after.
He also hired an operations manager and a closer so he could step back from the day-to-day operations. This hiring decision made his agency earn $161K per month. Outside his job, he values his wife and loves to travel around the world. He wants to immerse himself in different cultures. Aside from Agency U, Gilberto is also a well-followed figure. He has over 24K followers on his Facebook page.
What Is Austin and Gilberto's Claim?
Austin and Gilberto claimed their programs were the fastest way to scale to $50K monthly. They focus on their success and how it can be replicated to help other agencies succeed. One of their pages said they have scaled their agencies to $200K/month and $160K monthly.
In addition, they added that the strategies they used helped others do the same. Agency owners may become facilitators through their systems and structures. It helps them free up some time rather than working relentlessly for hours. Also, they said that investing in mentorship and a proven system is the only way to scale to 5-6 figures per month. Austin and Gilberto also claimed that each revenue level requires a new system and new hires. They said that this will help you manage your agency further.
Debunking Austin and Gilberto's Claim?
Austin and Gilberto's success is within the creative/video production agencies. Contrary to their claim, the same strategies may not apply to all agencies, mainly because they have different business models, challenges, and offerings. Each agency has different overhead costs, so their revenue could vary. Also, the success they have mentioned was way back in 2018-2020. The market conditions may not be the same in 2024.
However, revenue growth is not the only way to evaluate an agency's success. Other key metrics are profitability and client retention rate. These two reflect both financial health and client satisfaction. Other important metrics are customer acquisition cost, lifetime value of clients, and employee satisfaction. These assess the efficiency and the agency's work environment.
In addition, an agency fails not because it lacks a sound system or a good offer. Sometimes, it comes with a lack of demand for such products or services. They also stress that hiring team members to manage day-to-day operations is necessary. However, start-ups or those in the early stages may not need these roles. This is especially true if they have effective automation in place. For example, tools like Hubspot and Zapier can be used.
Some founders may want to get involved with operations to maintain control over business. This includes decision-making, quality control, and some creative aspects of the business. This makes agency owners familiar with the roles of each team member. If key members leave the team, you may step up and avoid setbacks while waiting for a replacement.
Austin and Gilberto claimed that mentorship is necessary when scaling an agency. This is true to avoid the trial-and-error phase. However, choosing the right mentor is a big decision. Much information is available online for free, such as on YouTube or in niche communities. This is helpful to those starting out with no thousands to spare for a course or a mentor.
Many courses, including Agency U, provide frameworks but can't guarantee success. The results you see in your agency may vary from those of other agencies. This is because it still comes down to a lot of factors. This includes executing learned strategies, niche and competition, and client demands. Austin, Gilberto, and their successful students' skills are not universally replicable. The system alone cannot solve the demand challenges. Agency owners still need to engage in lead-generation activities. In addition, hiring additional team members may require additional costs. This is something that not all founders are prepared for.
What Top Services Do Digital Marketing Agencies Offer?
The top services digital marketing agencies offer are:
- Lead Generation Services. This includes implementing strategies to attract and convert prospects into paying customers. These services use email campaigns, social media advertising, SEO, and paid ads. The goal is to connect with target audiences and showcase your products or services.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Services. It aims to enhance website visibility on search engines. This is through on-page, off-page, technical, and local SEO techniques. It also involves optimizing its content, structure, and performance to drive organic traffic.
- Content Marketing Services. This involves producing engaging, high-quality content for businesses. The goal is to reach the right target audience and improve marketing efforts. This includes blog posts, social media content, videos, infographics, and more. They boost brand visibility, attract customers, and drive engagement across various platforms. Tools like Ippei's Content Writer use AI workflows to produce high-quality, SEO-optimized content.
- Social Media Marketing Services. This creates and manages campaigns on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. It engages audiences, builds brand awareness, and drives sales and conversions. These services include content creation, paid ads, audience targeting, and performance tracking. The goal is to maximize social media presence.
- Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising Services. This manages paid ad campaigns on platforms like Google Ads. Businesses pay only when users click on their ads. It focuses on targeted audience reach, keyword bidding, ad optimization, and performance analysis. The major goals are to drive traffic, generate leads, and achieve measurable ROI.
- Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Services. It combines paid advertising with search SEO strategies. The aim is to increase a website’s visibility on search engine and social media results pages.
- Email Marketing Services. This aims to nurture leads, engage customers, and drive conversions. These services include crafting compelling content and automating email sequences.
- Video Marketing Services. It is about using engaging video content to communicate a brand’s message. It includes scriptwriting, production, editing, and distribution. You may use platforms like YouTube, social media, and websites. The aim is to boost engagement, drive conversions, and build brand awareness.
- Web Design Services. This involves creating responsive websites for businesses. Services include layout design, navigation structure, branding, and mobile optimization. To goal is to enhance user experience and support effective online presence.
- Web Development Services. It focuses on building and maintaining a website's functional and technical aspects. These services include coding, database management, and site optimization. It integrates features like e-commerce, content management systems, and APIs. This ensures a secure, scalable, and high-performing online platform.
Digital marketing agencies have great potential to help businesses grow. However, an agency's biggest challenge is staying competitive in a saturated market. According to Business Research Insights, this industry is growing at 14.32%. The increased use of social media and digital platforms drives this growth. With this, keeping up with the changing technology and trends is difficult. Other downsides include balancing costs, maintaining skilled teams, and managing clients.
How to Package and Sell Digital Marketing Services?
To package and sell digital marketing services, you must:
- Identify core services. Identify your agency's primary digital marketing services. This includes SEO, content marketing, social media management, or PPC advertising.
- Choose a business niche. Focus on a specific industry or market. Then, tailor your services and establish expertise to attract customers more easily.
- Bundle relevant services. Create service packages that combine complementary offerings. Provide potential customers with comprehensive solutions that add value and address multiple needs.
- Set transparent pricing. Develop clear and straightforward pricing structures for your service packages. This guarantees clients understand the costs and value associated with each option.
- Outline clear deliverables. Define specific outcomes and expectations for each service package. This helps customers know exactly what they will receive. This is also a good measure of your success as a digital marketing agency.
- Offer customization options. Allow customers to tailor packages to their unique needs. This provides flexibility and shows your commitment to personalized service.
- Develop a marketing strategy. Promote your service packages through targeted marketing efforts. This shows your expertise and the benefits of your offerings. It helps attract potential clients and convert them into paying customers.
- Engage and qualify leads. Reach out to potential clients and assess their needs. Determine if they are fit for your services. This assures a productive client-agency relationship.
- Present tailored pitches. Deliver customized proposals that address each qualified lead's specific challenges and goals. Highlight how your services provide solutions to these challenges.
- Address objections and close deals. Be prepared to handle client concerns and questions. Provide clear and confident responses to agreements and objections.
Earn Passive Income Without Constant Client Acquisition With Local Lead Generation
Earning passive income with local lead generation involves creating a system that generates monetized leads for local businesses without requiring constant client acquisition. To start, choose a profitable niche, like industries with high lead demand. Good examples are home services, legal services, medical services, and many more. Then, create a rank and rent website tailored to your local niches.
Next, use search engine optimization (SEO) to rank these websites on search engines. To capture potential leads, you may include a professional design, compelling content, and clear calls to action (CTAs). You may use lead capture tools like contact forms, call tracking numbers, chatbots, and CRM software to manage and track leads.
Then, charge businesses a fee for every lead you bring. You can also rent your ranked website to local businesses for a fixed monthly fee. Or, you may charge a smaller flat fee and a commission per lead. Once you build relationships with businesses, they will pay monthly for consistent leads. Having fixed monthly or recurring fees provides a steady and predictable income.
To increase the value of your leads, you may offer your services to one niche and location. However, you may replicate your website in multiple locations and niches. Once the site is ranked, it requires minimal upkeep and avoids the need for constant rework. You may perform periodic updates to maintain rankings, but that is it.
Since leads are automatically delivered to clients, the need for frequent interaction is reduced. You expand into other niches using similar systems and earn passive income streams. If you want a reliable and scalable source of passive income with no need for constant client acquisition, try local lead generation.
