In Episode 21 of the Killer Growth Podcast, Samuel McVay sits down with Tyler Norris, COO and strategy lead at Killer Growth, for a candid conversation about building businesses across technological upheaval. Tyler takes us back to 2000, when he and his first business partner Andrew McCloud launched a web design agency during the dot-com era - landing a $16,800 Flash website project that proved the business model could work. Over three years, they scaled to multiple offices across the East Coast and Kansas City, serving clients alongside graphic designers and programmers. Tyler reflects on the entrepreneurial journey passed down through his family (both grandfathers and his father were business owners) and how that shaped his drive to build rather than manage. He also addresses the elephant in the room: AI and automation. Rather than fear, Tyler sees opportunity for boutique agencies like Killer Growth. While mega-agencies will always serve Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized firms have the agility and cross-channel expertise to serve local and regional businesses who don't have time to juggle social media, paid advertising, website management, and CRM automation alone. His real legacy? Showing his kids what persistence looks like when you're pursuing work you believe you're built to do.
Tyler Norris has been building things for 25 years. He grew up watching his father and both grandfathers run their own businesses, so the entrepreneurial blueprint was never abstract - it was lived experience. "I always wanted to build something," he tells Samuel McVay on Episode 21 of the Killer Growth Podcast. "I just grew up around that environment."
From Flash Websites to Agency Scale
In fall 2000, Tyler met Andrew McCloud in a networking class at Tyler Brickley's college (Tyler attended for six weeks across three years, admittedly not a traditional path). Both saw websites as the future. When Andrew called from D.C. with a client request, Tyler said yes. That first major project: a $16,800 Flash website for a gated housing community - a significant contract for 2001. "We were both like, oh, this could maybe work," Tyler recalls. "This could maybe be a living."
They did more than survive. For roughly three years, Tyler and Andrew built an agency with satellite offices in Kansas City and up the East Coast. They hired graphic designers, programmers, and sales reps. Tyler traveled to NFL games in Philadelphia, attended VIP after-parties (underage, he admits with a laugh), and gained the real-world education that college never provided. But the internet was volatile, markets shifted, and maintaining that multi-office structure became unsustainable.
Why Agencies Survive AI
Twenty-five years later, Tyler operates in a very different landscape. AI tools can now generate website copy, automate social media posting, and suggest marketing strategies. Yet he doesn't see agency work disappearing - quite the opposite. "For agencies of our size, we've got the experience and the know-how to bring the right pieces together," he explains. "You can't just have a website anymore. It's social media. It's media buying. It's all these channels working in concert."
The insight is crucial for business owners considering DIY digital marketing. Mega-agencies will always serve Apple and create Super Bowl commercials. But small to mid-sized service businesses - HVAC, plumbing, healthcare, legal - don't have bandwidth to manage multiple marketing channels themselves. They need partners who understand how local SEO, paid advertising, social media management, and CRM automation work together. That's the moat boutique agencies like Killer Growth occupy.
Legacy Over Accolades
When asked what he's most proud of, Tyler shifts the language: "I'm glad I've stuck with it." It's not bravado. Entrepreneurship is genuinely hard. Market crashes, SaaS competition, AI disruption - he's weathered them all. His real legacy, he says, is showing his kids that you pursue what you believe you're built to do, and you keep pushing even when it's difficult. That's the inheritance that matters.
What does Tyler Norris do at KillerGrowth?
Tyler Norris is the Chief Operating Officer and producer of the Killer Growth Podcast. He oversees operations at KillerGrowth, a Wichita-based digital marketing agency, and helps shape the company's strategy and growth initiatives.
How does the podcast and content marketing benefit service businesses?
Podcasts and long-form content establish thought leadership, build trust with potential clients, and create multiple touchpoints for local service businesses. They drive organic traffic, improve brand authority, and complement local SEO efforts - all critical for HVAC, roofing, plumbing, and contractor businesses competing in their markets.
How does KillerGrowth help local service businesses get more clients online?
KillerGrowth uses a multi-channel approach: local SEO to rank for service area keywords, Google Ads for immediate lead generation, Meta Ads for retargeting, custom website design optimized for conversions, GoHighLevel CRM to manage and nurture leads, and social media management to build consistent brand presence. Together, these services create a complete digital funnel for HVAC, roofing, plumbing, healthcare, legal, and contractor businesses.
What makes KillerGrowth different from other Wichita digital marketing agencies?
KillerGrowth combines deep expertise in local service industries with a podcast platform that amplifies your authority, integrated CRM systems that close more deals, and a transparent, strategy-first approach. We don't just run ads - we build complete growth systems tailored to how local service businesses actually win clients.
How can I get started with KillerGrowth?
Book a free strategy call with Samuel McVay at killergrowth.com/booking. We'll discuss your business, goals, and the best digital marketing approach to get you more quality leads and clients online.