Behind the scenes of Aligned Agency’s success story.

Meet Hursh Dodhia-Shah, founder of Western Australia’s highest-rated digital marketing agency. His journey from a student entrepreneur to building a premium digital agency serving $1-10 million businesses showcases how the right mix of strategic thinking and efficient tools can transform a business.

Their journey at a glance:

• Serves businesses with $1-10M annual turnover
• Works with startups to billion-dollar companies
• Highest-rated digital marketing agency in Western Australia
• Expanded from local to international clients
• Built comprehensive digital marketing solutions

All about Aligned Agency: Backstory, company overview, failures, and more!

Could you tell us about your backstory?

“My journey began in 1993 with a global upbringing. I was born in the UK to Indian parents working there on secondment, and we moved back to Kenya when I was around two years old. Growing up in Kenya was amazing, and I have some fantastic memories of my childhood there.

In high school, I excelled in Math and science, which led me to study engineering at the University of Western Australia, following in my dad’s footsteps. However, I soon realized engineering wasn’t my passion, so I switched to commerce and marketing, which aligned much better with my personality, strengths, and skills.

I’ve always been highly entrepreneurial since I was six years old. From selling toys and marbles in primary school to various hustles in Australia, I’ve always looked for opportunities. Some of my early entrepreneurial ventures included selling candy bars, buying and selling cameras online, and even putting together and selling sticker packs from skate magazines.”

What does Aligned Agency specialize in?

“Aligned Agency is a digital marketing agency with a mission to be a key driving force in helping people grow and achieve their definition of success in their businesses and lives. We don’t just see ourselves as a marketing agency or growth partner; we strive to be one of the main reasons our clients achieve their dreams.

We typically work with companies with annual turnovers between $1 and $10 million, helping them grow to their desired levels. Our services include:

• Website design
• Search advertising
• Social media advertising
• Digital strategy

Our clients range from startups to billion-dollar companies across local, national, and international markets.”

Agency focus:

• Building solid digital foundations
• Long-term client success
• Strategic growth planning
• Comprehensive digital solutions

How did you start your business?

“My favorite story about starting the business is from 2014 when I returned from a backpacking trip through Europe. After contacting 40-50 companies for internships without response, I decided to explore internet advertising and digital marketing independently.

While working at JB Hi-Fi, I would pitch my marketing services to customers who made business purchases. One day, a guy named Nathan, who ran a modular housing studio, gave me a chance. He mentored me and taught me about outsourcing, Google AdWords, web strategy, and web design.

I gained my first ten customers by cold-calling local businesses from the phone book. By the time I finished university, I was making six figures part-time, and after graduation, I expanded the business, built a great team, and continued growing to where we are now.”

What challenges did you face along the way?

“Although there have been many micro failures and lessons along the way, my biggest lesson was not charging what I was genuinely worth until much later in the business journey. My commitment to clients was extremely high initially, but I significantly undercharged for my services compared to competitors.

The key takeaway is to permit yourself to charge what you’re worth. If you’re providing a premium service with the best results in the industry and have high levels of commitment and passion, you should charge accordingly.”

GoVisually & Aligned Agency

How did GoVisually help transform your workflow?

“We discovered GoVisually during a critical time when our previous design-proofing tool, Proof.me, suddenly shut down. We lost several live projects and weeks of work. Many alternatives we tried were overcomplicated, had unclear workflows, or lacked user-friendliness.

Our head of web development, Harry, discovered GoVisually, which stood out for its:

• Simplicity and ease of use
• Intuitive design
• Streamlined efficiency
• Comprehensive features

Within 24 hours, we decided to commit to GoVisually fully. It was exactly what we needed at the perfect time.”

How do you use GoVisually in your daily operations?

“We use GoVisually for:

• Website UI/UX designs
• Existing site improvements
• Creative assets development
• Ad graphics for Facebook, Instagram, and Google
• Team collaboration and communication

Without it, we couldn’t imagine running our company, workflows, and operations. It has become an integral part of our creative department; the whole team loves using it.”

Aligned Agency building a legacy: Founder advices, future plans, & recommendation!

What’s next for Aligned Agency?

“We’re focusing on:

• Expanding our talented team
• Working with more value-aligned clients
• Exploring technology business spaces
• Developing digital marketing courses
• Growing our international presence

In the short to medium term (1-3 years), we aim to make the agency as resilient, robust, and exceptional as possible.”

What advice would you give other founders?

“Here’s what I’ve learned so far:

1. Play the long game

• Stop looking for an endpoint
• Enjoy every part of the journey
• Think of it as an infinite game
• Remember there’s no such thing as failure—only growth

2. Look after yourself

• Prioritize mental and physical health
• Don’t sacrifice wellbeing for success
• Build a strong support network
• Make time for personal development”

Recommended Tools & Resources

Essential digital tools:

• GoVisually for design proofing
• Monday.com for project management
• Slack for internal communication
• Zoom and Google Meet for calls
• SEMrush and AHREFS for marketing
• Xero for accounting

Favorite Podcasts & Books:

• How I Built This with Guy Raz
• The Frankie Lee Podcast
• Diary of a CEO
• The Surrender Experiment
• Good to Great