Why Smart Agencies Are Choosing Retainers Over Projects with David Brecount

Are retainers the future of agency growth?

In this episode, David Brecount — CEO and co-founder of US Digital Partners — returns to share how his agency survived and thrived over 23 years by doing the opposite of what most agencies chase: consistency over chaos, long-term strategy over shiny tactics, and relationships over quick wins.

Watch our latest video training, How to Take Charge of Your Agency’s Future Revenue. During this training, you’ll learn how we get qualified appointments every week using tasteful and highly targeted email outreach.

We talk about how he shifted from project-based work to recurring revenue, what clients actually want in today’s skeptical market, and how his team is doubling down on being human in a noisy, AI-dominated landscape.

Whether you're an agency founder or a sales leader selling complex services, this is a blueprint for sustainable growth.

 🔍 What we cover in this episode:
– Why they transitioned from projects to retainers
– How to sell strategy (not just deliverables)
– Navigating economic uncertainty without panicking
– The “physical therapy” mindset behind real marketing
– Why pricing transparency ≠ trust
– AI hype vs. human creativity
– And… why they ditched open office culture for private spaces 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

CONNECT WITH DAVID BRECOUNT

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US DIGITAL PARTNERS

CONNECT WITH DAN ENGLANDER:

LinkedIn

Sales Schema