Episode 683 Agency AMA With Ryan Waterbury
Show Highlights
In this special “Agency Chat” AMA edition of The SDM Show, host Rob Cairns sits down with recurring co-host Ryan Waterbury for an engaging, rapid-fire Q&A session. They cover Ryan’s journey from print broker to agency owner, the evolution of CMS platforms and web applications, practical hosting and site management strategies, and a wide variety of rapid-fire tech, lifestyle, and business choices.
Thank You To Our Sponsor
Thanks you to our sponsor, All-in-One WP Migration by ServMask. Export your entire WordPress site in one click, import it anywhere. No server access needed, no command line, works with every hosting provider. Free on wordpress.org, Pro extension at servmask.com.
Show Note
Key Topics & Highlights:
- Agency Origins: Ryan shares how working with print companies and designers eventually led him into web development, turning a side hustle into a full-time digital agency.
- CMS & Tech Stack Evolution: A look at transitioning from Drupal to WordPress, building lightweight web applications using Laravel, Tailwind, and React, and the debate between using a standard CMS versus custom “vibecoding.”
- Website Management & Hosting: Why Ryan and Rob prefer self-managed VPS hosting (RunCloud, Vultr, Google Cloud) over shared hosts, and the time-saving benefits of using MainWP for multi-site management.
- Digital Advertising Strategies: Balancing Google Ads for high-intent search with Facebook/Meta for discovery and remarketing, supported by server-side Google Tag Manager.
- Gadgets & Everyday Tech: Insights on Google Workspace vs. Zoom, Google Pixel devices and on-device AI models, Garmin vs. smartwatches, and camera gear setups.
Rapid-Fire Highlights:
- Hosting & Tools: SiteGround over HostGator; MainWP over ManageWP; Google Meet over Zoom.
- Devices: Google Pixel over iPhone; iPad over Android tablets; Garmin over Pixel/Samsung watches; Nikon for traditional camera bodies.
- Internet & Media: Cable/Fiber over DSL; Satellite (Starlink) over rural DSL; TechCrunch over CNET; Streaming over Cable TV; Print books over audiobooks.
- Travel & Lifestyle: Hotels over Airbnbs; Uber over traditional taxis; Breweries over coworking spaces; Canoeing over kayaking; Montreal/Vancouver and France travel memories.
PocketCasts
Radio Public
Spotify
Stitcher
Apple Podcasts
Amazon Music
