journey forward prepared

The Lodestar Agency Consulting Blog

FOR Future-Focused Agency Leaders

Brian Kessman Brian Kessman

The Great Agency Reset: Moving Beyond Time-Based Pricing in an AI World

AI has made time-based pricing obsolete, but most agencies are responding with surface-level fixes that miss the deeper transformation required. Explore why switching to fixed fees isn't enough and learn the positioning → product → price sequence that's helping agencies increase prices, double client acquisition, and grow their deal size.

Read More
Brian Kessman Brian Kessman

Knowing When It’s Time to Reposition Your Agency

How do you know when it’s time to reposition your agency? It’s not always about fixing a problem—it might be about seizing an opportunity. Learn how to spot the subtle signals before they become full-blown challenges, and discover how repositioning can open new doors to growth, clarity, and market leadership.

Read More
Brian Kessman Brian Kessman

The 5 Agency Growth Pathways: From Hustle to High-Margin Scale

This roadmap outlines the five pathways agencies typically move through to transition from transactional, project-based vendors to high-margin, market-leading firms. The most dangerous path is the one you stay on. Which path is your firm on? Where do you want to be? What combination of pathways will get you there?

Read More
Brian Kessman Brian Kessman

Unlocking the Dynamics of Modern Marketing Procurement

Our industry is shifting toward value-led models with 74% of multinational brands planning to transition to outcome-based pricing models within the next three years. Here’s your playbook for navigating these trends and client expectations in the years ahead.

Read More
Brian Kessman Brian Kessman

From Transactional Services to Scalable, High-Margin Growth

Top investors don’t scatter their capital randomly. They focus on high-return opportunities. Here’s how your agency can do the same—surfacing the most valuable, profitable client problems that your firm is uniquely qualified to solve, resulting in many strategic, financial, and operational benefits.

Read More