Why I Pulled the Plug on a ‘Successful’ Channel

A lot of agency founders are afraid to kill a channel that’s working… even when it’s not working for them.

For years, I ran my podcast as an interview show.
It introduced me to incredible agency owners.
It built my network.
It was “successful” by most measures. (top 2% podcast in the world)

But here’s the thing:
It stopped giving me the outcomes I needed.

The show made my guests the hero.
The conversations were great…
…but my own ideas, frameworks, and strategies were taking a back seat.

So last week, I did something some may call “risky”…
I ended the podcast in its current form.

Here’s the pivot:
YouTube-first content strategy built around 3 pillars:

1. Training videos: teaching sales, positioning, and marketing plays that actually work for agencies.
   
   

2. Hot seats: live problem-solving for agency owners in my network.
   
   

3. Client success stories: not fluffy testimonials, but real journeys from “before” to “after” working together.

Why?
Because I want a platform where I can lead the conversation, teach at depth, and give my audience something they can do after watching.

The lesson:
Just because something is familiar and functional doesn’t mean it’s the right vehicle for where you’re headed.

Sometimes, the best growth move is pulling the plug.

Who else has made a big content pivot like this?
What happened after you made the switch?

Frequently Asked Questions

When should an agency stop using a marketing channel that is performing well?

Look at whether the channel still serves the company's larger goals. Good audience or engagement numbers don't tell you much on their own — the channel might be reaching people who will never become clients. Ask whether it reaches your ideal clients, builds your authority, and supports your positioning.

How should agency founders choose the right marketing channels?

Start with where your ideal clients already spend time and how they like to find and vet expertise. The channel with the biggest audience isn't automatically the right one; the right one is whichever channel keeps putting you in front of the people you actually want to work with.

Is YouTube a good marketing channel for agency founders?

Yes, especially for founders who sell through education and demonstrated expertise. Video gives you room to explain complex ideas, show how you think, and answer the questions your market is actually asking, and it keeps getting found long after you publish it.

Should agencies focus on one content marketing channel?

Picking one primary channel lets an agency concentrate its resources and build a system it can actually repeat. From there, that content can be cut down and reshaped for newsletters, social posts, and short-form video, instead of starting from scratch on every platform.

What metrics should agencies use to measure content marketing success?

Followers, downloads, views, and engagement don't tell the full story. Look instead at whether the content is reaching your ideal clients, starting real conversations, driving relevant traffic to your site, and, ultimately, showing up in your pipeline and revenue.