Founder Diaries – Fixing the Leaky Bucket: Swof Media on Trust, ROI & Running Your Own Race
In this Founder Diaries episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma sits down with Steve Swoffer (Founder & CEO), Chester Boothe (Client Relationship Director), and Jay Muldoon (Marketing Manager) of Swof Media — a digital marketing and technology agency with over a decade of experience helping businesses grow. Recorded at the Swof Media offices, this candid conversation explores the realities of building and running a marketing agency, from its humble beginnings to navigating today’s fast-changing digital landscape. The trio share their insights on: * The evolution of marketing and technology over the last 30 years * Why partnerships matter more than transactions in client relationships * The “leaky bucket” analogy and why retaining customers is more powerful than chasing new ones * Tools and strategies like CRMs, email marketing, and discovery workshops that drive growth * How to balance client trust vs. control — and the art of educating clients without just “rolling over” * The challenges of proving ROI in marketing and aligning expectations from day one * Their top advice for business owners in 2025 on visibility, consistency, and committing fully to marketing * Life and business lessons, from slowing down to avoiding comparison and ultimately running your own race This episode is perfect for business owners, founders, and marketing leaders who want to: * Build stronger, trust-led client relationships * Improve retention before chasing new customers * Understand how to measure marketing ROI realistically * Learn how to navigate control, trust, and education in client-agency partnerships * Gain inspiration from three professionals who’ve built a thriving agency on honesty, consistency, and passion 🔗 Connect with Steve, Chester and Jay Steve Swoffer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveswoffer/ Chester Boothe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chesterboothe/ Jay Muldoon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-muldoon/ Swof Media: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swof-media/ 🔗 Connect with Nitin Sharma https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/ Discover recruitment tools and services at Rectools.io: https://www.rectools.io/ Find out about the Recruitment Curry Club: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/ New episodes of RecTalk and Founder Diaries drop every Wednesday and Friday. Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/
