How to Create a Successful Web3 Agency

An unconventional and (almost) risk-free pathway to becoming a successful web3 entrepreneur.

Introduction.

In this short article, I will discuss the best way to start a web3 agency, according to my experience. Compared to standard guides found in business books, it might seem unconventional, but this system will certainly allow you to start while minimizing economic and reputational risks.

What is a Web3 Agency?

A web3 agency offers technology or marketing services to projects related to the crypto/blockchain world. These services can range from web design, content marketing, search engine optimization, social media management, video production, data analysis, or the development of smart contracts. There’s no fixed rule on the services provided by an agency: it depends on the skills and passions of the founders who may lead the agency to focus more on one specific field rather than another.

Creating a web3 project is extremely complex and requires a wide range of skills, and it is therefore unlikely, especially for small-scale projects, that the team possesses all of them. That’s where agencies come into play, trying to fill the gaps and getting paid for it.

The First Clients.

The first mandatory step in creating an agency is having someone willing to pay for the services provided. So, find a client and get paid. It might come from your personal network (LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter) – or acquaintances, but the important thing is that they pay real money. No excuses.

This will demonstrate that:

• The market needs the services you offer
• You can find paying customers (probably the hardest part of the job)
• Customers’ requests are successfully met
• You have fully understood the level of complexity that business management requires

Creating a Company.

After successfully carrying out projects on behalf of a couple of clients, you now can present yourself with demonstrable experience and a couple of case studies. It’s time to make the next move, which is to create a company: either by yourself or with partners.

Having a partner is one of the most complex, but at the same time rewarding, choices to make during the journey. Being in (at least) 2 has a huge number of advantages, such as:

• Dividing the work: this way everyone can focus on their area of expertise.
• Making more conscious and weighed decisions.
• Playing the “roles” card during negotiation phases (“I don’t know, I have to talk to him!”). In my case, I had a co-founder able to handle all incoming clients and marketing, while I took care of managing existing clients and technology.

Marketing, Positioning, and First Hiring.

The company has been founded. The partner has been found. The first clients have arrived. Cool!

Now potential clients need to be able to see what services are offered and find the agency. But there are only 24 hours in a day, and if you’re busy managing current clients, it’s unlikely you’ll successfully and methodically find the next ones.

That’s why the first hiring of an agency should be able to help perform all the technical tasks that take a lot of time, and help structure the online presence of the company. Most likely, the natural path of the first hire is to become a future partner, so pay a lot of attention to this choice! Areas where you likely need support could be creating a website, setting up emails, creating social media, supporting presentations, and organizing meetings.

If the company’s financial availability does not allow to pay the first employee for at least 6 months without going bankrupt, then it’s better to do these jobs yourself!

With the help of the first employee (or by yourself), the priorities should be: Create a presentation website Create your own service deck, a document that includes all services offered Structure the online presence of the agency (Twitter, Instagram, …) Start contacting potential client companies

Hiring.

Hiring is another of the complex tasks that fall to the founders. During the first months/years, there won’t be a human resources manager, so the founders themselves will choose the new collaborators. Keep in mind that to get a job done, hiring a collaborator is not the only possible choice! In fact, it is always possible to collaborate project by project (Upwork and Freelancer are every entrepreneur’s best friends!), buy an already prepared solution, use an artificial intelligence tool or consider the possibility of doing the job on your own!

Tips for hiring as a startup agency: Prefer flexible forms of contract Start with a trial period from 1 to 4 weeks. Behavior > Experiences > Previous Brands People who deliver results > Hard workers DO NOT hire if you can’t afford it Pay little as a base salary, but abound with bonuses!

In our agency, we opted for 100% flexible solutions. Our collaborators work from wherever they want, whenever they want. But the work must be done promptly and with the highest quality. For example, the chronological order of the first hirings in our agency was:

• General operations / tech (future partner)
• Graphic designer
• Smart contract engineer
• Salesperson (performance-based)
• Frontend developer
• Backend developer
• General operations 2 / marketing
• Copywriter

Structure.

Whether you have 2 or 100 clients, structure is extremely important to behave professionally with clients and ensure a high-level result. When you’re small, it’s advisable to be personally responsible for every project. Initially, it’s better to be the only one communicating with the customer. In the growth phase, you can start delegating the responsibility for some projects to your most trusted collaborator, giving them a reason to do so, such as making them share in the profits generated.

Until you have reached a very advanced state of growth, the founders will always be held accountable for all projects, for better or worse. For this reason, it is important to check, where possible, every single job that is presented and help even where you shouldn’t, so you are sure everything is going in the right direction.

Business Tips.

At the end of the day, you open an agency to make money. A lot of money. Here you can find some simple tips, but they have the potential to change the life of your business! Charge a monthly service fee to all projects. Customers may be late in delivering materials or request dozens of revisions. This way, you’re always happy to help them. It’s okay to accept jobs that you can’t do today, but you expect to be able to do soon! If you pay 500 to develop something, you should be able to resell it for 1000. Working for free for reputable companies that you love always pays off in the long run, but only if the job is done well!

Conclusion.

While this may not be the best route for every single agency in absolute terms, it certainly gives an idea of what worked for us. If you have any observations or suggestions, don’t hesitate to write to us at workwith@bc.army!