How I Turned $2 Into $14M/Year Digital Marketing Agency

This video has been sponsored by Brave. Download Brave at brave.com/upflip to get started. Enter code UPFLIP at checkout for 25% off your first 3 months!
You might know Eric Siu as a co-host of the Marketing School podcast, where he and Neil Patel share daily digital marketing insights. He’s also the founder of Single Grain, a $1 million a month SMMA agency, and he explains how to start a marketing agency in this interview.
When Eric bought Single Grain in 2014 it was a struggling SEO agency. With a combination of an all-star team and state-of-the-art technology, Eric brought it back from the brink of failure. Now his digital marketing agency is among the top in the industry. He’ll share how he achieved this impressive transformation, and his advice for how to start a digital marketing agency with no experience.
Eric is also an avid gamer, and viewing life like a game is part of how he’s achieved success with his marketing agency. He explains this mindset in his book, Leveling Up, and he’ll share some key concepts for how to level up your life and business in this interview. Resilience is a big part of this. He’ll share how he recovers from setbacks with his digital agency and his advice for how to develop more resilience as an entrepreneur.
One surprising tip Eric has: offering free work can help you build a business. He’ll explain when and why this is a good idea and how to get SMMA clients using this approach. You’ll also learn about the missteps he’s taken in his entrepreneurial journey and the lessons he learned in the process that helped him keep leveling up his life.
If you liked this video, check out some of our past interviews with marketing experts:
How Jason Built $500K/Year Social Media Marketing Agency ►
• How Jason Built $500K/...
Reyes the Entrepreneur: How He Makes $210K a Year from KZread ►
• Reyes the Entrepreneur...
Resources:
www.upflip.com/academy - Start, Build, or Grow Your Business
www.singlegrain.com/ - Find Out More About Eric's Digital Marketing Business
Timestamps:
00:00 - START
00:38 - How he started
01:26 - Buying the business
03:12 - Value of books
04:45 - Mistakes made
05:56 - Social media dos and don’ts
07:01 - What he’d change
07:45 - Key digital marketing strategies
11:10 - Resilience
12:28 - Best advertising websites
13:57 - Podcast
15:01 - Digital marketing myth
15:54 - Fan Blitz
16:59 - AI’s role in digital marketing
18:45 - Running the business
20:20 - Landing big clients
21:23 - Hiring employees
22:57 - Continuous growth
24:07 - Dealing with burnout
25:00 - Retaining employees
26:24 - Advice on starting an agency
27:11 - Role of self-belief
28:05 - Writing a book
29:06 - Best platforms to gain traffic
30:04 - Daily habits for success
31:32 - Platform to scale
33:03 - Outro
#howtostartadigitalmarketingagency #digitalmarketingagency #smma

Пікірлер: 99

  • @UpFlip
    @UpFlip11 ай бұрын

    From start-up to scaling: everything you need at www.upflip.com/academy

  • @mirceaandrei1271
    @mirceaandrei12713 ай бұрын

    Greaaat perspective! I learn a loooottt from this video. I'm going to apply. Thank you

  • @pransuwimon3147
    @pransuwimon31479 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the great content

  • @richardnwachukwu234
    @richardnwachukwu2348 ай бұрын

    This really came up to my feed at the right time especially as i am at the dilemma of building my first digital marketing agency right now! Thank You @Upflip

  • @raghavkumar9258
    @raghavkumar92589 ай бұрын

    Really sharp and valuable information

  • @Flakecorns796
    @Flakecorns7963 ай бұрын

    So much great knowledge in one video!

  • @afsana2595
    @afsana259514 сағат бұрын

    Thanks for the great content.

  • @Jonbontabas
    @Jonbontabas11 ай бұрын

    "The grass is greener where you water it" This video is full of valuable info!

  • @creatorsmafia
    @creatorsmafia11 ай бұрын

    The key takeaway for me is the importance of laser-focused determination and building a loyal audience.

  • @MaracasEmbroidery
    @MaracasEmbroidery6 ай бұрын

    This right here is gold. 8 minutes in and I have to stop and take notes because already he's hitting me with these nuggets that I must master. I bow down to your greatness guys!

  • @user-gy7dr2ui9h
    @user-gy7dr2ui9h5 ай бұрын

    Immense value in this video. Thank you!

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    5 ай бұрын

    Glad you enjoyed it!

  • @James_r5
    @James_r58 ай бұрын

    amazing episode

  • @EngineerDJ_Julius
    @EngineerDJ_Julius10 ай бұрын

    one of the biggest flexes out there is using a $3000 Nikon or Canon as a webcam camera

  • @City2567
    @City25679 ай бұрын

    Brilliant video

  • @dotpenji
    @dotpenji10 ай бұрын

    Great interview with Eric! His story and insights are truly inspiring. It's impressive how he turned Single Grain around from a struggling agency to a thriving business. One key takeaway from his journey is the importance of resilience and the willingness to learn from setbacks. His ability to adapt and focus on his core values, like 'improvement obsession,' is admirable. Btw, I'm curious, considering his experience, what advice would he give to someone who is just starting their entrepreneurial journey, especially in the fast-paced world of digital marketing?

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    10 ай бұрын

    That's fantastic to hear about all the knowledge you gained! Eric suggests that for those looking to start, it's essential to produce plenty of sample content and proactively connect with individuals. You can even begin marketing with a budget of $0, with the goal of attracting organic traffic.

  • @angelachanelhuang1651

    @angelachanelhuang1651

    9 ай бұрын

    congrats

  • @copywriting101
    @copywriting10111 ай бұрын

    This episode was amazing! Thank you!

  • @messagesfromlife
    @messagesfromlife10 ай бұрын

    I love your content. very unique and high production value. a must for enterpreneurs. however... please ask more business questions. in many episodes I am left wondering - cost of customer aquisition - life time customer value - what about returns, what about shipping costs, - what about unhappy customers - what do you pay your employees, what incentives do they have? how do you keep them`? when do you fire them? how do you manage them? specifics are key. everyone says their biggest cost are employees---yes but break it down, explain it, what is revenue per employee "we have the best customer service" ...yes but everyone says that. more specifics. we get 50 000 orders - yes but where do the customers from come, are they repeat customers, how much does a new customer cost? what if sth goes missing, breaks, how do you handle customer complaints what mistakes did they make setting up the warehouse, how did they improve it? those are the nitty gritty details that i would love to see in your videos. the interviewer is usually just impressed by what the guys says - and does not dive deep enough. i noticed that especially in the Joes repair shop and i heart dogs. it would have been so cool to know more.

  • @Prattyandfood

    @Prattyandfood

    4 ай бұрын

    this are some great questions! And i agree - i too am often left wondering about some of these. and sometimes i find answers from different sources and different videos about businesses. would be great to have them answered based on one business itself. so my accumulation of knowledge isnt scattered and loopholed

  • @AgencyAnalytics
    @AgencyAnalytics8 ай бұрын

    This was such a great interview! Lots of value 🎉

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    8 ай бұрын

    Glad it was helpful! Were you inspired to start your own digital marketing business? ☺️

  • @Midnightcrawler5790
    @Midnightcrawler57909 ай бұрын

    he was a vp at marketing before he started he did not start with pennys and he had a knowledge headstart

  • @iamthegeorgebest

    @iamthegeorgebest

    Ай бұрын

    That's the unfair advantage most people don't want to acknowledge

  • @maybeyoureright4334

    @maybeyoureright4334

    15 күн бұрын

    If that's what you took away from this video, your mindset has already beat you.

  • @HassanAhmed-tl3mu
    @HassanAhmed-tl3mu10 ай бұрын

    Valuable content

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    10 ай бұрын

    Thanks for watching and supporting our channel! Hope you also watch our other content and find value in them. Any business you want to see next? ☺️

  • @afromagic1764
    @afromagic176410 ай бұрын

    eiii, you did it!! Shukran

  • @batonrouge6446
    @batonrouge64466 ай бұрын

    Eric dropped a bowl of Rhodium nuggets! Have to watch a second time to take copious notes.

  • @sriyanipremasiri6760
    @sriyanipremasiri67603 күн бұрын

    I am interested in starting a marking agency. I want to get clients in USA,UK .but I live in Sri Lanka. Can I get clients from those countries while living in my country?(virtual marketing agencies)

  • @frankfurter505
    @frankfurter50511 ай бұрын

    The quality of Upflip is rapidly declining. Would love to see content about people who dont get lucky breaks, or at least not another 'finance/business' guru. This video and the last are straight up antithetical to your "how their success can be replicated". Start with picking businesses that are repeatable..

  • @Tyiion

    @Tyiion

    10 ай бұрын

    Why do you think that what he did is not replicable? Do you have a thing against digital marketing businesses in general or is it something about this particular video? Digital marketing does not require a degree, that is why I ask.

  • @donpepe2798

    @donpepe2798

    6 күн бұрын

    How does he have time to do al the helping and manage his business?

  • @victoriakreative
    @victoriakreative9 ай бұрын

    “Outlast” that hits hard.

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    It does! Any business you want to see next? 🤔

  • @producermind9030
    @producermind90306 ай бұрын

    inspirational

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    6 ай бұрын

    Thanks for watching and supporting our channel! ☺️

  • @thenewyorkmoney
    @thenewyorkmoney8 күн бұрын

    I will start a career in digital marketing. But i m confused which can land me clients faster?? Google ads skiills or content creation skills

  • @usman6857
    @usman68575 ай бұрын

    Impressive!

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    5 ай бұрын

    We appreciate you tuning in! Thank you! ☺️

  • @edr.2642
    @edr.264211 ай бұрын

    What business is thiss? 10mins into the video I still dont get what his business is.

  • @king_charlie

    @king_charlie

    11 ай бұрын

    Digital Marketing Agency

  • @Insight-.-

    @Insight-.-

    8 ай бұрын

    Single Grain

  • @INSIGHTCO
    @INSIGHTCO11 ай бұрын

    Nice!

  • @trushatg
    @trushatg8 ай бұрын

    Neil Patel is a famous seo already. This is a Bs success story.

  • @Wheelztotheworld
    @Wheelztotheworld10 ай бұрын

    Yessir

  • @mohdnazam6466
    @mohdnazam646611 ай бұрын

  • @User-hr9oo
    @User-hr9oo3 ай бұрын

    Please post a video with successful law firms

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    3 ай бұрын

    That's fantastic! Any ideas on who we could invite for interviews? 😊

  • @rebecca1146
    @rebecca11469 ай бұрын

    "I've only read 10% of these book and I like Nassim Taleb." At which point I closed this video.

  • @nickdiaz6095
    @nickdiaz609511 ай бұрын

    Did you guys take down the wes watson video

  • @bart1meuz

    @bart1meuz

    10 ай бұрын

    Yeah it’s gone lol😂. This channel is toast

  • @nickdiaz6095

    @nickdiaz6095

    10 ай бұрын

    @@bart1meuz Whats goin on with the channel?

  • @Editnamehere
    @Editnamehere11 ай бұрын

    Damn Eric is still alive?

  • @vincentchuvc

    @vincentchuvc

    11 ай бұрын

    What do you mean?

  • @creditperception2468
    @creditperception246810 ай бұрын

    Everybody I’m listening to in these comments are NPC and that’s why you are very average . He could of started the company even a new one with $0 it literally takes having the correct knowledge and having great communication skills (which not a lot of you seem to have) with a little bit of networking and you can create anything even to the point where it will generate you millions . I started my cleaning company from 0 to $100,000 a year in revenue it isn’t a lot but in under 4 months . And all I did was basically hustle everyday and reach out to anybody I Can using these free platforms to network with the correct . Had them pay me and I also broke off with the cleaner , while being fully remote . He’s right when he said you just have to be a little bit smarter than average.

  • @myles.905

    @myles.905

    9 ай бұрын

    Dude that’s awesome I started a mini dorm cleaning business when I was at College and wanted to start my own legit cleaning business do you have an email or linkedin that I could ask you a few questions on?

  • @daved5023
    @daved502310 ай бұрын

    Ah..... the book case , row 12 , 3rd book in what book is it and what did you learn? I bet he didn't read them all.

  • @luciavurchio1613
    @luciavurchio161310 ай бұрын

    Why do you guys keep deleting videos? Where is the One with Wes watson

  • @Tyiion
    @Tyiion10 ай бұрын

    He gets most of his clients from SEO and referrals but he doesn’t recommend that new SMMA agencies use SEO???

  • @michealadedirann

    @michealadedirann

    6 ай бұрын

    I'm an SEO and the reason is because SEO takes weeks to months to work and possibly by then you'd be tired and give up

  • @captainclean342
    @captainclean34211 ай бұрын

    Definitely ran it into the ground knowing the whole time he had altered motives

  • @Luke.-cv9uv

    @Luke.-cv9uv

    8 ай бұрын

    No he did seller finance so he paid the same with the profits

  • @justtrend5730
    @justtrend57303 ай бұрын

    Good

  • @justtrend5730
    @justtrend57303 ай бұрын

    ❤❤❤❤

  • @curttimmbch
    @curttimmbch11 ай бұрын

    Sounds like he ran a business into the ground so he could buy it for pennies, to fix it once he owned it.

  • @beastmodessss4220

    @beastmodessss4220

    11 ай бұрын

    😂😂😂😂😂

  • @LevelingUpOfficial

    @LevelingUpOfficial

    11 ай бұрын

    The founder was tired and wanted to go do something else. We still talk today and are on good terms.

  • @bully1676

    @bully1676

    11 ай бұрын

    😂🤣😂🤣

  • @beastmodessss4220

    @beastmodessss4220

    11 ай бұрын

    @@LevelingUpOfficial we believe you

  • @sat4ever1

    @sat4ever1

    10 ай бұрын

    @@LevelingUpOfficial would you use gpt for seo content? Or Google autgoritme will flag it?

  • @atlanticgirl2432
    @atlanticgirl24326 ай бұрын

    👍👍

  • @alwaysbelievechrist4688
    @alwaysbelievechrist46886 ай бұрын

    The difference between poor and rich today is no comparison to 40 years ago in terms of choosing a product that’s good quality for all, now it’s obvious product quality separates us yet poor people will see a Porsche commercial and a mustang commercial and Kia PICANTO commercial!!! Blind if you don’t see it!

  • @caribguy2007
    @caribguy20079 ай бұрын

    This is not an upflip video, this is just an interview. Learned zero about starting an agency or what it involves or anything. Didnt even see the office or anything, we saw ballrooms for events.

  • @dilankabuddhika1455
    @dilankabuddhika145510 ай бұрын

    Please do a electrical service company, You already do many of business video, but didn't do a electrical service company.

  • @journeyeu
    @journeyeu9 ай бұрын

    Be focus and offer free trial 🎉

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    That one sacrifice can take you places 🙏

  • @deolly
    @deolly9 ай бұрын

    18:03 “costs have decreased by 80%” also means… people are losing their jobs. So fantastic 😒

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    Unfortunately, in some industries, especially in his niche, jobs can be automated using AI. It's an unavoidable trend as companies seek to reduce expenses and cut costs wherever possible.

  • @iamtheemsee
    @iamtheemsee3 ай бұрын

    Dude, go learn how to interview. Eric: you're really need to know how to work each platform. Interviewer: oh I see. Eric: yeah, you really need to understand what works natively on each platform. Interviewer: wow, that's great. 🤦🏻‍♂️. Ask him what!!!! How!!! Dig in!!! What a bozo.

  • @donpepe2798
    @donpepe27986 күн бұрын

    He sales courses. How can we believe he is not selling a dream??

  • @ZRPLAce_
    @ZRPLAce_11 ай бұрын

    nah man cocomelon has more subs

  • @spatzilly
    @spatzilly20 күн бұрын

    I'm surprised about the comments. I find this channel very frustrating to watch. Just constant scene changes and fluff comments. It's like you're more focused on changing scenes than providing value to the audience. Unbelievably frustrating to watch the interviewee say 2 sentences and then get ANOTHER SCENE CHANGE. Good lord.

  • @kruzedarling9347
    @kruzedarling934710 ай бұрын

    Mid vid

  • @Elitedashcam
    @Elitedashcam5 ай бұрын

    3:32 My Agency Account is Richer Than Elon Musk

  • @barberjungle
    @barberjungle10 ай бұрын

    One day I'll be able to give 1,000,000 to every person in the world.

  • @Embole-uk1tl

    @Embole-uk1tl

    10 ай бұрын

    @@fastfowardbutton1965 me second just 1mil is good enough for me😁😁

  • @warrenlowe676
    @warrenlowe67610 ай бұрын

    L vid. Get back to small service-based businesses from the young population

  • @justbeinghonest_
    @justbeinghonest_11 ай бұрын

    $2 to $14mil.....yeah right...😏...click bait...