In the competitive world of agencies and service businesses, standing out is not just about delivering great work; it's about how you operate, interact, and grow.

While many agencies struggle to find their rhythm, some consistently rise to the top.

So what's their secret? There are actually 4 of them 🙂

1. SOP

Your service business will never grow if you’re consistently reinventing the wheel.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are the backbone of any thriving service business.

They are, in essence, detailed, written instructions designed to achieve uniformity in the performance of specific functions.

SOP don’t have to be 20-pages docs. In fact, it’s better to keep them short.

For example, if you’re an SEO agency, you might have the following SOPs:

• Sales playbook
• Client onboarding
• Project SOP

2- Client portals

Most top-performing agencies and service firms have client portals.

It’s a one-stop digital hub simplifying everything you do with and for your clients.

From deliverables, project updates, and requests to billing – it's all there.

Client portals save you a lot of time, enabling you to effortlessly scale your business.

On the flip side, your clients will experience in a smoother, more engaging experience.

This often translates to increased satisfaction and, ultimately, more business for you.

3- Focus

Successful agencies don't try to sell everything to everyone.

They pick a lane and own it. Whether it's a specific industry or a specialized service, they go deep, not wide.

Let's say you're running a own digital agency focused on making websites.

• Option 1: You try to do it all - blogs, e-commerce sites, landing pages, and even SEO for all kinds of businesses.
• Option 2: You just make simple websites using Wix or Webflow for local shops and businesses near you.

Which one sounds easier to start and get big with?

This is true actually for pretty much every business. Start with one thing, nail it, and then add more as you go.

4- Leveraging existing clients

Finally, the secret sauce to exponential growth isn't just acquiring new clients; it's about maximizing the value of the ones you have.

When it comes to leveraging your existing clients, there are two major avenues:

1. Getting more business directly from them with up-sells, cross-sells or subscription services.
2. Using clients to attract new clients via referrals and testimonials.
   

Stay in touch with your past clients, nurture these relationships, and don't be shy about asking for a testimonial or a referral.

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