Episode 9 - From Cold Calls to 7-Figure Deals: Richard Carey on Growth Beyond Referrals

In this episode of Growth Without Referrals, Mark Ferguson sits down with Richard Carey, founder of RCDM Studio, to talk about what actually works when it comes to winning business beyond word of mouth.Richard shares how he built RCDM after being laid off from Pearson, how his agency evolved from software and digital product development into a full-lifecycle digital agency, and why “building something” is never enough if you cannot sell it.The conversation dives into two standout stories: a cold inbound inquiry that turned into a seven-figure project, and a cold email response that led to one of Richard’s largest web development wins. Along the way, Richard breaks down why timing, authenticity, speed of follow-up, and multi-touch marketing matter more than any single growth tactic.They also discuss how agencies stay relevant, what AI is changing, why no one channel is enough, and what Richard would do if he had to rebuild his pipeline from scratch today.If you are a founder, consultant, or agency leader trying to create more predictable growth, this episode is packed with practical insight.In this episode:How Richard turned a layoff into the launch of RCDM StudioThe cold call that led to a seven-figure opportunityWhy responding fast can change the outcome of a dealWhat most businesses get wrong about website conversionWhy multi-touch marketing beats relying on one channelHow to think about adapting as technology changesWhat Richard would do to build pipeline from scratch todayConnect with Richard Carey:Website: rcdmstudio.com Email: [email protected] Services Group, LLC | Mark Ferguson | [email protected]