I just watched a fascinating video from marketing strategist Adam Erhart about starting a digital marketing agency with no experience, and I have to say – his approach makes a lot of sense for beginners. While many “gurus” push complicated agency models requiring years of expertise, Adam presents a practical pathway that focuses on results first, skills second.
What caught my attention was his “easy mode” entry point into the agency world. Instead of positioning yourself as a marketing expert from day one (which most beginners simply aren’t), he suggests starting as an affiliate for marketing software that solves real business problems.
The Reality of Client Expectations
Having worked with countless business owners over my career, I can confirm Adam’s key insight: clients don’t care about your credentials, experience, or background. They care about one thing – results. If you can help them make more money than they pay you, they’ll love you forever.
This truth creates an opportunity for beginners. Most business owners know surprisingly little about marketing. They’re busy running their operations and don’t have time to master digital marketing tactics. They need someone to bridge the gap between their business and potential customers.
As Adam bluntly puts it: “It’s not the best business that wins. It’s the business with the best marketing.” This reality creates demand for anyone who can help with marketing, even beginners.
The Three-Tier Agency Model
Adam breaks down the agency world into three tiers:
- Consulting – Highest paying but requires expert-level knowledge
- Done-for-you services – The traditional agency model where you execute marketing tactics
- Software reselling – The “easy mode” entry point for beginners
The genius of starting with software is that you don’t need to be a marketing expert – you just need to understand what the software does and how it solves business problems. This allows you to start making money while simultaneously learning marketing fundamentals.
Why This Approach Works
I’ve seen many aspiring entrepreneurs get stuck in “learning mode” forever. They take course after course but never make a dollar because they don’t feel “ready.” Adam’s approach flips this on its head with an “earn while you learn” model.
The benefits of this approach include:
- Making money from day one through affiliate commissions
- Learning what businesses actually want through real conversations
- Building confidence through early wins
- Creating recurring revenue that compounds over time
This creates a natural progression. You start by selling software, which leads to relationships with business owners. As you learn more about marketing, you can gradually offer additional services, eventually building a full-service agency if that’s your goal.
Solving Real Business Problems
What makes this approach powerful is its focus on solving tangible problems. When a business owner misses calls from potential customers, you can offer automated text-back solutions. When they struggle to follow up with leads quickly, you can implement automated email sequences. When their website converts poorly, you can deploy high-converting templates.
These are real problems costing businesses real money. By solving them, you deliver the results clients care about without needing years of marketing expertise.
“Marketing should not be a cost. Marketing should be an investment where we put in $1 and we get out $2 or three or five or 10.”
I’ve found this principle to be universally true across all businesses I’ve worked with. When you can demonstrate positive ROI, price resistance disappears.
Is This Approach Right For You?
While Adam’s strategy isn’t the only way to build an agency, it’s particularly well-suited for:
- Complete beginners with no marketing background
- People looking to escape 9-5 jobs quickly
- Those who want to build recurring revenue
- Aspiring entrepreneurs with limited startup capital
The low barrier to entry means you can test this model without quitting your day job or investing significant money upfront.
I’ve seen many successful entrepreneurs start with simple models like this before expanding into more complex businesses. The key is getting started and generating momentum rather than waiting until you feel “ready.”
If you’re stuck in analysis paralysis or overwhelmed by all the marketing tactics you think you need to master, Adam’s approach offers a refreshing alternative. Start with what’s simple, focus on delivering results, and build your expertise along the way.
The marketing world rewards action-takers, not perpetual students. This “easy mode” entry point might be exactly what you need to finally launch your agency journey.
