How Zach Williamson Built a $40K/Month Social Media Agency by 29

Introduction

At just 29, Zach Williamson has turned his hobby into a thriving agency called From the Drafts. Starting with simple Twitter and Instagram accounts, he now manages two million-follower brands and drives consistent revenue of 20K–40K per month while keeping expenses low. This case study outlines his journey, early lessons, and key tactics used to scale a lean social media business.

From Side Projects to Professional Agency

Zach began experimenting with gallery sites, SEO, and Google AdSense at 18. Four months in, he hit 100,000 followers across platforms and reached 1 million within eight months. That early growth taught him how to generate buzz quickly and build audience trust. He took an internship at CollegeHumor, then leveraged those connections to land a marketing contract with Cycle & ESPN for their Twitter show Buckets via a cold DM.

Building a Brand Portfolio

By mid-2023, Zach relaunched Culture Crave, focusing on entertainment news. It now draws over one billion impressions each month and counts 300,000 followers. His second brand, Latest in Space, has also surpassed half a million followers. These assets not only attract sponsorship and platform ad revenue but serve as case studies when pitching new clients.

Diversified Revenue Streams

From the Drafts pulls in revenue from three main channels: managing client campaigns, producing sponsored content for its own brands, and partnering on platform-based shows like Snapchat Discover. Average monthly revenue ranges between $20,000 and $40,000. Operating costs hover around $5,000, thanks to remote contractors and smart software subscriptions.

Acquiring and Retaining Clients

Zach relies on word-of-mouth and his own visibility to attract leads. Cold DMs, Slack group pitches, and well-targeted emails round out his outreach. His strong results and transparent reporting have generated a high client return rate—many businesses stick around for multiple projects each year.

Process and Workflow

Each week, Zach maps out a content plan for owned brands and clients. He uses trend-tracking tools to spot surging topics, then drafts copy and visuals in Figma and Canva. Scheduling is handled via social posting apps, while performance is tracked in Google Analytics and native platform dashboards. Regular check-ins with clients ensure alignment and adjustments in real time. This system lets him juggle multiple accounts without burning out.

Lessons Learned

Zach found that fast follower growth depends on consistent posting, niche focus, and community engagement. Cold outreach pays off when you have strong portfolio examples. Keeping overhead low with freelancers and affordable tools lets him reinvest profits into new channels. Finally, diversifying revenue across owned brands and client work reduces risk when platform algorithms change.

What’s Next

Looking ahead, From the Drafts plans to expand into video series for streaming platforms and deepen partnerships with studios. Zach is also exploring a subscription-based community for hands-on training in social media strategy. With a keen eye on emerging networks, he’s well positioned to scale his agency further without sacrificing efficiency.

Key Metrics and Performance

• Over 1 million followers across owned brands
• 1 billion monthly impressions on Culture Crave
• $20K–$40K in monthly revenue with just $5K in costs

Conclusion

Zach’s model shows how building audience-first brands can fuel a profitable agency. His focus on testing content formats, leveraging low-cost tools, and staying agile offers a clear path for anyone looking to turn social media know-how into a sustainable business.