Landon Bates: The Biggest Mistakes New Agency Owners Make In Starting Your Social Media Agency

Running an agency is hard work.

But does it have to be?

My friend Landon Bates is an expert in the field of social media marketing. While success stories of social media agencies abound on the internet, what about the failurea?

Most importantly – how you can avoid the trapdoors thousands of young adults fall into while growing their social media agency.

Whether you are an aspiring young entrepreneur looking to start your own agency or someone considering hiring one, it is crucial to gain a comprehensive understanding of how social media agencies operate.

Landon Bates, who embarked on his social media marketing journey at the age of 18 and is now 23, shares his experiences and insights to help you avoid potential pitfalls.

Landon Bates began his foray into the world of social media marketing at a young age, as mentioned earlier, when he was just 18. His prior experience in sales, gained through door-to-door endeavors during high school, laid the foundation for his journey.

One figure who greatly influenced him was Tyler Lopez, from whom he purchased a social media marketing course to learn the ropes.

Since then, Landon’s path has been an adventure, particularly after he relocated to California once his business started gaining traction. The excitement of meeting new people and navigating unfamiliar environments has been the wildest part of his journey.

However, it is important to note that the social media agency business can be volatile. Establishing a consistent client base is not a straightforward process, as clients can come and go from one month to the next.

While the tools like our friends at have Vedasta help, this doesn’t impact the main issue.

Contrary to popular belief, persuading clients to invest thousands of dollars monthly is far from easy. It requires considerable time and effort to find the right approach. Landon personally achieved success by working with realtors in the real estate industry.

Landon’s venture into real estate wasn’t planned.

Instead, it was a fortuitous encounter with his friend’s father, a realtor, that set the wheels in motion. Through this connection, Landon was given the opportunity to run some advertisements for the realtor, driving leads and delivering impressive results.

This initial taste of success sparked Landon’s interest in the real estate industry and ignited a desire to explore its potential further.

Landon recognized the power of social media as a platform for reaching potential clients and generating leads. Back in the early days of Facebook, when organic reach was more accessible, Landon seized the opportunity to promote his services.

He posted in a Facebook group, leveraging the platform’s wide reach to showcase his capabilities. This bold move proved to be instrumental in attracting attention and opening doors for Landon’s budding social media agency.

What started as a happenstance collaboration with a realtor transformed into a full-fledged focus on the real estate industry for Landon. The positive feedback and results he received from his initial work further solidified his interest in this sector.

Landon’s journey into real estate was not a deliberate choice, but rather a series of fortuitous events and the ability to recognize and seize

During that period, Landon gained recognition as “the attractive agent.” He created videos, donning his blue collar shirt, specifically targeting real estate agents seeking to generate leads through social media. His primary goal was to increase awareness of his services and establish his brand presence.

However, in this approach there was a lack of evidence showcasing his clients or the results he had achieved. It seemed as though Landon was more focused on pitching to real estate agents rather than actively working with them.

This situation reflects a common dilemma faced by many young adults: how to convince others to hire them when they have yet to secure their first clients. To address this challenge, Landon emphasizes the importance of gaining experience by working with someone for free initially, delivering tangible results, and building credibility. Once value has been proven, gradually transitioning to charging a portion of the achieved results becomes a feasible strategy.

Building trust and establishing a track record are essential prerequisites before expecting clients to invest in one’s services.

Although Landon wouldn’t describe them as catastrophic failures, he has certainly encountered setbacks and made mistakes along the way.

One notable challenge he faced was the failure of clients to convert the leads he generated for them. This is a widespread issue across industries. It is vital for businesses to have their dedicated sales teams in place, equipped with scripts and trained in the art of closing deals.

The success of clients’ businesses should not solely rely on their ability to sell. This obstacle is particularly significant for service-based businesses, especially smaller ones like real estate agents. Even when working with top agents, Landon noticed that the average number of calls made during a three to six-month partnership was a mere 12, which is unlikely to yield substantial success.

We offer guidance in our Agency Management course here.

Landon’s specialization in copywriting revolved around crafting persuasive messages for landing pages, videos, and one-on-one sales calls.

When asked about his experiences in this process, he highlights a common misconception. Some people tend to delve too deeply into the realm of persuasion, hoping to control others’ decisions.

It can be alluring to believe that mastering persuasive words will guarantee success. However, Landon realized that the key lies in providing people with genuine value and good deals. Clients can intuitively sense whether an offer is worthwhile or not.

Therefore, if one focuses on offering the best product or service available, excessive persuasion becomes unnecessary.

Considering the importance of copywriting and persuasive words, one may wonder about their significance relative to reputation and expertise. Landon suggests that copywriting accounts for approximately 20% or even less of the overall success.

The specific percentage may vary depending on the business model.

While having a good network can be advantageous, Landon acknowledges that reputation and knowledge are essential components. Building a strong reputation within the industry and demonstrating expertise in social media marketing are crucial for long-term success.

What advice does Landon have for young adults starting a social media agency?

Personal passion and dedication. He encourages individuals to pursue their dreams if they genuinely find the industry interesting and are willing to invest several years to master the various components involved.

However, Landon cautions that success in this field is not guaranteed and requires relentless effort. It is important to remember that the social media agency business is not inherently easier or better than any other industry. Like any business venture, it presents its own challenges.

Landon recognized that building trust and establishing credibility were paramount to success in the social media agency realm. While it was important to refine his sales pitch and provide excellent service, he understood that the relationship with clients was the foundation upon which lasting partnerships were built.

Trust and credibility facilitated quicker decision-making and increased the chances of successful collaborations. Landon’s emphasis on building relationships highlights the understanding that, beyond mere transactions, the connection with clients played a vital role in the long-term viability of his agency.

You have to practice what you preach.

In the realm of entrepreneurship, there is a notable trend of individuals who not only sell a particular service but also embody it themselves. Landon discovered the allure of this approach in his journey as a real estate marketer. While initially starting out as a real estate marketing agency, he soon realized the benefits of being a real estate agent as well.

Selling real estate had its appeal for Landon. Not only did it offer lucrative opportunities, but he also found fulfillment in providing people with favorable deals. The ability to directly represent the service he was selling added an authentic touch to his approach.

By becoming a real estate agent himself, he could better understand the needs and desires of his clients, aligning his interests with theirs.

The concept of practicing what you preach became even more evident as Landon observed his friends’ successes in various industries.

My friend Ryan managed a decorative concrete company and also ran an agency specializing in serving similar businesses. Ryan’s achievements demonstrated the power of firsthand experience in operating a company successfully. By building and eventually selling his own business, Ryan proved his expertise in the field, gaining credibility and insight that can only be attained through practical involvement.

Landon recognized the value of taking action and actually doing the work before engaging in the business of selling it. This principle, he believed, was crucial for longevity and sustained success. Merely selling a service without a deep understanding of its intricacies and practical implementation could lead to short-lived ventures.

In the age of social media glamour, it is easy for young adults to overlook the underlying business aspect of this realm. Many fail to realize that behind the scenes of conferences and casual hangouts lies a crucial business component. When we, as social media professionals, attend these events, our purpose extends beyond socializing – we are there to build brands.

Even in seemingly casual situations with drinks flowing, we remain conscious of the professional nature of these encounters. We understand that our role is to represent the companies we work with and make them look good. By looking polished ourselves, we enhance the image of everyone in our network.

It is our responsibility to honor our clients by capturing their videos, discussing their endeavors, and executing what we call the “content factory.” This content becomes a powerful tool for boosting their business, attracting more customers, and driving sales.

The figureheads we collaborate with, such as Bradley, Tommy Mellow, or Daryl Isaacs, recognize the behind-the-scenes work we do to elevate their profiles. It is not merely about rubbing shoulders with famous personalities; it is about working side by side as peers. What makes the experience even more rewarding is that they treat us as equals.

For example, Brad takes Landon and me out to sushi, emphasizing the camaraderie and partnership we share. It is not about engaging in celebrity activities; it is about collaborating on projects and achieving shared goals.

The allure of our work lies in the opportunity to interact with fascinating individuals. Gone are the days of monotonous office routines and strict check-ins. Instead, we have the freedom to work with cool people and embark on exciting projects.

However, this freedom demands discipline. Without the presence of an office and colleagues holding us accountable, we must rely on our own motivation and self-discipline to get things done. I appreciate this freedom because I have the discipline to stay focused and complete my tasks.

Unfortunately, many young adults struggle with this level of autonomy as they are accustomed to the structured environment of classrooms and the guidance of teachers setting deadlines.

To grow as a business, you must learn various skills, but it’s crucial to quickly delegate tasks and replace yourself. My time is too valuable to compete against workers earning $3 per hour. We create jobs for others while focusing on higher-value tasks.

As an agency, you can charge clients thousands of dollars per month while paying a fraction of that to your team. By maintaining a strong client relationship, you act as the intermediary between the clients and the virtual assistants, just like a waiter in a restaurant who communicates with the customers on one hand and with the kitchen staff on the other.

Our program provides the necessary training, allowing you to transition from doing the work yourself to leading a team and achieving greater results.