Why Most Agencies Don’t Have a Coach – And How AI is Changing That

Hey everyone, and welcome back to the Agency Accelerator Podcast. I'm your host, Rob DaCosta, and today we're diving into a topic that I think will hit home for a lot of you agency owners out there. I want you to imagine this scenario. You're sitting at your desk, you're juggling five different client projects, stuck on the client service hamster wheel of doom. Your team is asking you for direction, your inbox is overflowing, and on top of it all, you're trying to figure out how to grow your agency. Does that sound familiar? Yep. I thought so. Now, somewhere in the back of your mind, you've probably heard that every agency owner could benefit from having a mentor or a coach. You probably have peers that have extolled the value of their coach or their non exec director. But let's be honest, how many of you actually have taken that leap? Now, you're not alone if you haven't. In fact, did you know that less than 50% of marketing agencies are currently working with a coach? And. And if you are a small agency or a freelancer, that number is way lower. Now, before you switch off, I promise you this isn't a plug for my coaching services. I wanted to discuss why getting a sounding board, a friendly shoulder, a coach or a mentor is so important. And what is happening in the industry that is going to rapidly change this. So why, when the evidence is clear that coaching can dramatically improve your success, are so many agencies going it alone? Well, today I want to dig into that question and more importantly, I want to show you how the world of coaching is changing fast. So let's jump in. I'm Rob Da Costa and this is the Agency Accelerator Podcast. As someone who has stood in your shoes, having started, grown and sold my own agency, I know just how it feels in the ups and downs of agency life. So this podcast aims to ease your journey just a little by sharing mine and my guests experiences and advice and as you navigate your way to growing a profitable, sustainable and enjoyable business. So let's talk about the big question. Why do so few agencies have coaches? I mean, if it's something that can help you grow your business, it can keep you focused and give you a sounding board when you need it most. Why don't more agencies jump on it? Well, in my experience, there are two main reasons, and I bet you can relate to at least one of them, but probably both of them. The first. The first one is cost. Hiring a coach can feel like a huge financial investment, especially if you're running a Small agency or you're just getting started? Look, I get it. You'll be paying hundreds or thousands of pounds per session, and you're looking at the numbers and thinking, how can I possibly justify spending thousands of pounds or dollars on coaching when I've got bills to pay, I've got employees to manage, they all want pay rises, and clients want more for less. And listen, I get it. That is a valid concern. And this is where a lot of agency owners get it wrong. They see coaching as a cost instead of an investment. It's easy to forget that the right coach will help you make better decisions, help you avoid expensive mistakes, and ultimately help you become more profitable. I've seen it happen time and time again. In fact, many of my clients who were hesitant about the cost initially ended up saying, I can't believe I waited this long to get a coach. Because the return on investment if you get a good coach is. Is real. It's kind of like hiring a personal trainer. Sure, there's money up front, but the longer gains, whether that be better health or in our case, a more successful, profitable agency, far outweigh the initial expense. And really, how much is the success of your business worth to you? Now? The second big objection I hear all the time is time. And if you're an agency owner, this one probably hits home. Look, we're all busy managing clients, dealing with team issues, trying to win new business, and maybe even trying to have a personal life. On top of all of that, it can feel like adding coaching sessions to your calendar is just one more thing to juggle in an already overloaded schedule. I get it. When you're wearing all the hats, finding time for anything extra feels like an impossible and needless task. But here's the irony. Not having a coach can actually waste more time than it saves. Without a coach, you're probably spending hours or days or even weeks trying to figure things out on your own, hitting the same walls over and over again, and learning by your mistakes, which can be super painful. A coach helps you get to solutions faster, stay focused on the right priorities, and keep your momentum going. Plus, with the right coach, it's not about adding more work to your play. It's about making sure you're spending your time on the things that really matter. Think about it. How much time do you use? Second guessing decisions or fixing other people's mistakes, or dealing with things that could have been avoided with some solid advice up front? I can't tell you how many agency owners I've worked with who come to Me feeling overwhelmed, like they're spinning their wheels, bashing their head against a brick wall and taking one step forwards and one back. But once we start working together, they find that they're actually freeing up more time because they're not constantly putting out fires. They've got a clear plan, someone to hold them accountable, and the confidence to make decisions without all the doubt and second guessing. So does this sound familiar? Maybe you thought about hiring a coach but pushed it off because of cost, or you felt like they couldn't possibly fit in your schedule. And if that's the case, trust me, you're not alone. These are the two main reasons I've heard over and over again when I was selling my one to one coaching. But here's the thing. The world of coaching is changing. AI is stepping in to help break down barriers of cost and time and other barriers as well. And it's opening up new opportunities for agency owners like you to get guidance you need without those old objections holding you back. And that's exactly what I want to dive into next. Because AI is is democratizing coaching in a way that's never been possible before. And it's something that you're going to want to pay attention to. All right, so we've talked about the two big reasons most agency owners don't hire a coach. Cost and time. But here's where things start to get really interesting. The world of coaching, just like many other industries, is changing fast. And that change has been driven by something that's going to sound familiar to you. Artificial intelligence. I mean, I know it's everywhere. And before you roll your eyes or think, oh, great, another AI buzzword. Stick with me for a second. AI is already transforming industries like education and health care and even therapy. And now it's making waves in the coaching world. I was listening to a podcast the other day while I was at the gym. They were talking about democratization of things like health care and education in parts of the world where that is fairly sparse. Basically, how advances in technology are making those vital services more accessible to people who've never had access before. And it got me thinking. This is happening in the coaching world too. AI is democratizing coaching. Now, what do I mean by that? Well, traditionally, coaching has been a one to one service, and that comes with a hefty price tag, especially if you want a coach that's really experienced in the agency industry. That's why so many small agencies just have been priced out of the market. They just can't afford it. But now, with the Rise of AI powered coaching platforms. That's all changing. AI is breaking down the barriers of cost and time and putting high quality coaching in the hands of people who never thought it was possible. And think about it. Having access to top tier coaching on demand, whenever you need it. And because it's AI driven, it's scalable. It doesn't matter if you're a one person freelancer or the owner of a large agency, you can get support you need without the hefty price tag or the need to carve out extra hours in your week. It really is the next evolution in coaching and agency support. And no, AI isn't here to replace human coaches, it's here to complement them. It's about making coaching more accessible, more affordable, and available to more people, no matter where they are in their business journey. Now, I did some research after listening to that podcast and I was really surprised by the stats, which is less than 50% of marketing agencies work with a coach today. And for smaller sort of SME agencies and freelancers, that number is even lower. But with AI stepping in, we could see that number rise dramatically. Because coaching is no longer reserved for the elite or those with significant budgets. It's all about leveling the playing field. Whether you're a big agency who can't afford to give every single team member a mentor or a solo operator. Just trying to grow your client base. AI coaching is opening doors that have been closed for too long. And this shift, well, it's happening right now. We're standing on the brink of a new era. Now, I know that sounds really dramatic, but trust me, it isn't. Okay, so so far we've talked about how AI is democratizing coaching, making it more accessible and affordable. Agencies of all shapes and sizes. But let's dive a bit deeper into how AI coaching can actually be a game changer for you as an agency owner. Think about it. What if you had access to a top tier coach whenever you needed advice? You're in the middle of a client negotiation and you're unsure how to approach the pricing conversation. Or maybe you're stuck deciding whether to hire the next team member and who that should be and you need a quick gut check. Maybe you don't know how to grow and you need some guidance. If you're lucky to have a coach, you'd have us to schedule a call with them. Maybe wait a week or more to get that guidance. But with AI coaching, it's there for you 247 and a tiny fraction of the cost. Now, let's get back to those two big barriers that we talked about, cost and time. AI coaching completely disrupts both of these. Now, traditional coaching can be expensive, as we've already discussed. I'm not going to sugarcoat that working one to one with a human coach comes at a premium. In fact, I charge over £1,000 per session. And for good reason. You're getting years, even decades in my case of experience and insight tailored to your specific search situation. But with AI, the costs are massively reduced because the system is scalable. You can get insights based on best practices, strategy and real world agency experience without the hefty price tag. That means smaller agencies and freelancers who could never afford human coaching. You now have access to the same level of guidance. AI is leveling the playing field, allowing every agency, regardless of size or budget, to benefit from high quality coaching when it comes to time. Look, I know we are all busy. You're running a business, managing clients, trying to grow and maybe even trying to have a personal life. As I mentioned earlier, you might feel you just don't have time for coaching sessions. And honestly, scheduling time with a traditional coach can feel just like another item on your never ending to do list. After all, your day is already long. Do you want to make it even longer? But here's where AI really shines. AI coaching is on demand. You don't have to carve out an hour in your busy week. You can get advice whenever you need it, in real time, whether that's 2pm in the middle of your workday or 2am because your brain just won't switch off. AI is there to support you. Now you might be wondering, okay, but how does AI coaching actually work? And why is it different to using ChatGPT? After all, how can a machine really give me the same kind of guidance that a human would? And absolutely, this is a fair question. So here's how it works. AI coaches like my platform, Ask Rob Anything are trained on millions of data points and insights. In the case of Ask Rob Anything for example, it's based on, at the moment, over 1.3 million words. That comes from my 30 plus years of agency experience. And that is growing all the time. So when you ask a question, you're tapping into this vast pool of knowledge, insights that are designed to help agency owners like you navigate real world challenges. It's not just a one size fits all answer pulled from the web. Unlike the ChatGpts of this world, the system learns from your input and over time, it tailors the advice to your specific needs and preferences. And let me be clear, AI coaching isn't here to replace human coaches. It's here to empower you. For some of you, AI might be your first experience with coaching. For others, it might complement the work you're already doing with a human coach. Either way, it's about expanding access, giving you more tools, your toolbox to grow your agency. And most Importantly, it's available 24 7. It doesn't judge, it doesn't bring any bias or moods to a coaching session. And it's a fraction of the cost of a one to one coaching session. Now for a minute, let's just take a step back and look at the bigger picture. AI is changing the landscape for agencies. Not just in how you deliver services to your clients, but how you get support for yourself. And here's the truth. Agencies that embrace AI will thrive. They'll be more efficient, more competitive and better equipped to meet the challenges challenges of tomorrow. But agencies that don't, they're going to get left behind or probably go out of business. It's as simple as that. The reality is, whether you're using AI tools for your clients or tapping into AI for your own personal and professional development, AI is not nice to have anymore. It's a must have. It's the next evolution of how agencies operate and grow. Just imagine the potential here. Agencies that could never afford this level of personalized guidance now have access to it. Freelancers who have been navigating the agency world on their own, learning from painful mistakes, can now get support that they need to make smart decisions and scale. It's a shift that's transforming our industry. So if you're curious about how this could work for you, I've got some good news. My AI coach, Ask Rob Anything, is already out there helping agency owners just like you. Now, it's really early days for this, but right now we already have over 100 users. It's designed to be your go to resource for advice, feedback and strategy tailored specifically to the challenges that you face running an agency. Whether you're stuck in a big decision, you need help navigating client relationships. You want a specific template or guide, or you just need a sounding board for your ideas. Ask Rob Anything is there for you 24 7. And here's the best part. Right now you can try it for free. Seriously, it's already supporting agency owners to grow their businesses, offering accountability and guidance that so many of us miss when we're stuck in the day to day grind. So are you ready to embrace AI or are you going to get overtaken by those who do. Because the future of coaching, it's not tomorrow. It's already here. Okay, so we've covered an awful lot today. We've talked about the barriers that keep agency owners from getting the coaching that they need. We've explored how AI is breaking down those barriers, democratizing coaching and making it accessible for every agency, regardless of size or budget. Now, here's where I want to challenge you. You heard the stats, you heard the stories. And if you've been thinking that coaching is something you need but just haven't had the resources, time, this is your moment. My AI coach, Ask Rob Anything, is designed specifically for agency owners like you. It's packed with all my knowledge, advice and insights that I've gained over my 30 plus years in the agency world. And the best part? You can access it anytime, anywhere. No scheduling, no big fees, just immediate practical support when you need it the most. So here's what I want you to do. Head over to clone.dacostacoaching.co.uk I'll put that in the show notes as well. So that's clone.dacostacoaching.co.uk UK and give ask Rob Anything a try. For free. Yep, you heard me right. I want you to experience firsthand how AI coaching can change the way you run your business. Have a chat with me, or an audio call or even a video coaching session with me and see how having access to that level of guidance 247 can make a real difference for your agency. This isn't just about keeping up with the times, this is about getting ahead. Agencies that embrace AI are going to thrive, while those who well, I don't think they'll be here in a few years time. So where do you want to be anyway? That's the end of today's podcast. Go give Ask Rob Anything a try. And thank you so much for tuning in today. As ever, if you found today's episode useful or maybe inspiring, please share the episode with your colleagues. And do consider leaving a review because it helps other people just like you find the podcast and it also tells me what topics resonate with you. So I'm Rob DaCosta and I can't wait to hear how AI coaching helps you take your agency to the next level and I'll catch you you on the next episode.