How Young Adults Can Build a Thriving Digital Marketing Agency by Mastering Reputation and Trust

While in Las Vegas with my friend Seth Jordan, we discussed how young people entering digital marketing are being misled. Many are told to focus on sales scripts, fake authority, and quick wins—rather than learning how to deliver real results for clients.

If you’re trying to build a serious agency, ignore the hype. You need execution skills, documented systems, and a track record of performance.

Reputation Over Revenue: Why Relationships Matter

I get messages all the time from young people asking me to coach them one-on-one, hand them clients, and teach them everything I know. They’re focused on what they can get—money, fame, success. But the real question is: what value are they bringing?

The people who win in this business aren’t chasing dollar signs, but they’re building real skills and taking care of clients. When you do great work and are an A Player, clients talk about you. They refer to others. Very little “outreach” is required, since churn is so low.

Too many young people underestimate their ability to add value, especially when it comes to their own families.

I’ve seen young adults help their parents, who’ve been in business for decades, by doing simple things like cleaning up their online bios, getting customer reviews posted, and fixing their Google listings. These aren’t huge changes, but they lead to real impact.

The key is showing up, doing the work, and building a reputation rooted in results. People will line up to work with you when you become known for getting things done.

That’s why we’ve never had to chase big-name clients like Adidas or Red Bull; they came to us.

Keigan Carthy and Danny Leibrandt have built strong reputations in roofing and pest control, while Roger Wakefield is a nationally recognized plumbing expert. Roger’s visibility and expertise make him the go-to name for plumbers. Keigan and Danny excel within their own niches, providing excellent service to clients. Their success is rooted in consistent, high-quality work.

Pick a Niche and Own It

New agency owners often try to serve everyone, but that approach rarely works. Specializing helps you stand out and become the obvious choice in your field.

Keigan Carthy focused on roofing, mastering everything from lead generation to insurance claims. Now, roofing companies seek him out.

Brady Sticker, founder of Church Candy, chose churches as his niche. By understanding their needs and tailoring his services, he became the top choice for faith-based organizations.

Whether it’s real estate, landscaping, or another niche, going deep builds trust and positions you as the expert.

Apprenticeship Beats Instant Gratification

The problem with most young marketers today? They’re impatient. They want to skip the learning phase and go straight to making money. But would you trust a doctor who just watched some YouTube videos? No.

Our program is built on a real apprenticeship model with documented processes. The journey starts with mastering the basics, running ads, creating content, and analyzing data. Once you’ve built a solid foundation, the next step is tackling more complex projects, developing processes, and delivering real results.

I’ve sat down with business owners generating $10 million or more a year and helped them improve their digital presence on the spot. Sometimes, the results start showing up in search rankings the very next day. That’s the power of applied learning.

Unlike other programs, we provide everything you need to succeed: clients to work with, relationships to build on, systems that deliver repeatable results, and mentorship from experienced professionals. Instead of leaving you to figure things out alone, we give you real-world opportunities, proven frameworks, and the guidance you need to grow a sustainable agency.

Over time, as skills grow and confidence builds, taking on leadership roles and mentoring others becomes a natural progression. This gradual progression ensures you’re not just learning, but also gaining the practical experience needed to excel.

Marko Sipilä’s, demonstrates how focusing on a niche and mastering the craft, supported by our established methods, can lead to a seven-figure business

For instance, Harrison started out by diving into real-world digital marketing challenges. Instead of just reading about strategies, he worked directly with experienced professionals, soaking up practical knowledge.

This hands-on process built his reputation as a reliable marketer, and it’s how he became a well-known leader in the industry.

Ben Hammel and Jack have all followed this process, mastering their skills and building successful agencies

Once you’ve got that down, you move on to more complex projects, developing SOPs and delivering measurable results.

As you grow, you step into leadership roles, mentoring others, and expanding your influence. It’s all about progressing through each stage, building expertise, and becoming a true professional.

Marko began his journey while still in high school, running his own small marketing agency. He didn’t start with grand promises but by learning the ropes, focusing on a specific niche, and figuring out what actually worked.

It helped him grow from a one-person shop into a leader in his industry, eventually scaling his agency to seven figures.

So why should a business trust you with their marketing if you haven’t put in the work? That’s why LDT (Learn, Do, Teach) is crucial. 

If you’re a young adult who wants to make a lot of money the right way—by believing in apprenticeship and working in teams. then our program is designed to help you grow a successful agency.

We focus on teaching real skills, building strong professional relationships, and earning a reputation for excellence.

Leaders such as Marko Sipilä, Harrison Gevirtz, Keigan Carthy, Ben Hammel, and Jack Wendt stand out as industry A Players.

These accomplished professionals didn’t rely on shortcuts; instead, they achieved success through hard work, deep expertise, and a consistent track record of delivering outstanding results.

Marketing is a trade, just like plumbing, electrical work, or veterinary medicine. You have to learn from those who are already successful.

Unfortunately, because the barrier to entry is so low, anyone with an internet connection and a bit of confidence can claim that they’re a “marketing expert”. Why should we be surprised then, when companies hate working with agencies?

This is a skills issue rampant in the industry, not one of selling or confidence.

That’s why I tell young marketers to start by working under someone more experienced. Learn how to run ads, create content, and optimize campaigns before trying to sell services.

Why Most Agencies Fail After the Sale

If you land five clients but can’t get them real results, they won’t stick around. Our approach focuses on helping participants become execution experts who stand out because of their reliability and results-driven mindset.

Not sure where to start? Help your parents. If they run a local business—maybe they remodel bathrooms or run a dental clinic—you already have your first client. Audit their presence online.

• Is their bio missing or generic?
• Do they have testimonials posted anywhere?
• Can you find them on Google Maps?

As Jack Wendt says, “You don’t need to create anything new—just repurpose what they already have.”

Create articles, profiles, and listings that help them get found. It’s all about building trust signals and making what they do more visible.

By setting the bar high and supporting each other, we create an environment where everyone rises to the challenge. Worse, they’ll demand refunds and tell others you’re a fraud.

Before you start pitching businesses, ask yourself: Can you actually do the work? If I gave you a Google Ads account right now, could you improve its performance? If not, you need to focus on learning, not selling. That’s what separates the amateurs from the real players.

Too many people focus on selling first, thinking they’ll figure out the execution later. But that’s a losing game. Digital marketing is about tangible results, more leads, more sales, and measurable ROI.

If you don’t know how to track conversions, optimize ad spend, or adjust campaigns based on performance data, you’ll quickly lose credibility.

If you can’t diagnose SEO or ad issues, you’re not ready to call yourself a marketer. Real marketers can diagnose issues in a website’s SEO, pinpoint why an ad isn’t converting, or identify where a company is wasting money in its marketing budget. If you can’t do that yet, don’t panic—just take the time to learn.

For example, I’ve gotten on countless coaching calls with so-called “SEO” agencies, who after learning about their practices, don’t even know what EEAT is. How can you expect to help others, if you yourself don’t know the basic fundamentals of the thing others are paying you for?

Leverage a Network Instead of Going Solo

The fastest way to grow? Don’t do it alone. By pairing our participants with A-Players like Jack Wendt, Harrison Gevirtz, we ensure that every new agency owner has a direct line to industry-leading expertise and mentorship.

For example, if a pest control company needs marketing, we know Danny Lee Brandt has the expertise. If it’s a personal brand, that goes to Jack Wendt. When you work within a network, you get clients based on your proven skills, not your ability to cold pitch strangers.

The world is a small place. Any marketer claiming there’s “not enough business to go around” is lying. There are thousands of businesses willing to pay you thousands of dollars, assuming you can deliver results.

By tapping into a network, you’re able to leverage trust from others.

Why Apprenticeship and Long-Term Reputation Matter More Than Funnels

If you’re looking for a shortcut to $10K monthly and a Lamborghini, this isn’t for you. But if you’re willing to work, build a real reputation, and focus on results, you’ll create a lasting business.

Success won’t come overnight. But when we come together, share our wins, and learn from our challenges, we build a community that helps every member reach their potential. This shared commitment to excellence is what separates our program from others.

Digital marketing is easy, but maintaining relationships, learning solid SOPs, being reliable in Weekly MAA Reports, and following the 9 Triangles requires dedication and focus.

If you’re serious about learning through apprenticeship and not just another course, consider reaching out to Seth Jordan or me. Let’s see if you’re a good fit.