Agency Bytes

Ep 066 – Gabe Levine, Matchstick Legal – Not Legal Advice

Featuring: Gabe Levine, Matchstick Legal

In this episode, I had the incredible opportunity to interview Gabe Levine from Matchstick Legal, a top-notch attorney specializing in representing creative businesses. Gabe brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table, making this a must-listen episode for anyone in the creative industry.

We dive deep into some of the hottest topics facing agencies today. Ever worried about protecting your creative work from copycats? Gabe shares essential strategies and legal insights to safeguard your intellectual property. We also tackle the crucial task of reviewing and updating contracts to ensure they’re airtight and up-to-date with the latest legal standards.

Gabe unpacks the complexities of GDPR and privacy regulations, breaking down what they mean for your agency and how to stay compliant. He also emphasizes the importance of perspective and leverage in negotiations, providing practical tips to help you navigate these often challenging discussions.

Whether you're an agency owner, creative professional, or just interested in the legal side of the creative world, this episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable advice. Don't miss out on this engaging conversation with one of the leading legal minds in the industry!

Key Takeaways

• Having a relationship with an attorney as an agency owner is important for protecting creative work and navigating legal issues.

• Registering trademarks and copyrights can help protect creative work from copycats.

• Contracts should be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure they align with the agency's current practices and protect their interests.

• GDPR and privacy regulations are important considerations for agencies, and compliance can be complex.

• Having perspective and creating leverage are key in negotiations, but sometimes compromises need to be made to secure work.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

05:28 Protecting Creative Work from Copycats

11:38 Reviewing and Updating Contracts

Gabe is an attorney specializing in representing creative and technical businesses in commercial transactions. He's a shareholder in and president of Matchstick Legal, Inc. Gabe lives in Marin County, California with his wife Holly, daughter Kate and dog Scully. He's a very average gravel cyclist but enjoys it quite a bit.

Connect with Gabe on his website and LinkedIn

Ep 065 – James Martin, Made by James – Designers Helping Designers

Featuring: James Martin, Made by James

In Episode 065, I have the exciting opportunity to speak with James Martin, also known as Made By James, a talented UK-based designer renowned for his dedication to design education and his candid presence on social media. I invited James because I deeply admire how he’s grown his following and how he communicates with his audience.

James shares his journey from a solopreneur to becoming a design partner at Lincoln Design, highlighting the evolution of his career and the importance of giving back to the design community. He openly discusses the range of emotions he experiences during the design process, including imposter syndrome, and provides valuable Adobe tips and tricks.

In our conversation, James talks about understanding your worth and pricing your services appropriately. He emphasizes the fear of saying no and its impact on self-worth, sharing his 13% rule for pricing to help increase confidence in charging higher rates. James also underscores the importance of setting the right prices and not undervaluing oneself.

Finally, James reflects on the significance of letting go to grow and the importance of celebrating achievements along the way. This episode is packed with insights for designers at any stage of their careers, offering practical advice and inspiration for building a successful and fulfilling design practice.

Key Takeaways

• Building a community and giving back through design education can lead to personal and professional growth.
• Consistency and authenticity in sharing your work and knowledge on social media can help establish your personal brand.
• Transitioning from a solopreneur to working with an agency can provide new opportunities and a larger team to collaborate with.
• Understanding your worth as a designer and pricing your services accordingly is crucial for sustainable business growth.
• Saying no to clients who don't align with your value and pricing can lead to better opportunities and a stronger business. Don't let fear and self-doubt dictate your pricing. Set the right prices based on your value and expertise.
• Use the 13% rule to increase your prices incrementally and build confidence in charging higher rates.
• Focus on proving your value to clients through case studies and demonstrating the impact of your work.
• Let go of certain tasks and responsibilities to allow for growth and scalability in your business.
• Take the time to celebrate your achievements and enjoy the journey rather than constantly chasing the next goal.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
02:06 Starting to Share Work on Social Media
05:00 Evolution as a Designer
06:45 Transition to Working with Lincoln Design
09:11 Giving Back and Building a Community
12:09 Transition from Solopreneur to Agency Partner
19:15 False Sense of Security on Social Media
21:22 Knowing Your Worth and Evolving as a Designer
23:15 Saying No to Clients to Say Yes to Yourself
23:47 The Fear of Saying No and Self-Worth
25:06 Setting the Right Prices
26:28 Proving Your Value to Clients
27:27 The 13% Rule for Pricing
29:22 The Evolution of the Partnership with Lincoln
30:28 Focusing on Helping Designers
33:29 Letting Go to Grow

James Martin, better known as Made By James, is transforming the design education landscape with his rebellious creativity and relentless determination. He has dedicated 20 years of his life to achieving creative excellence, being sought after by clients for the impact his work has on businesses and the meticulously crafted experiences he delivers.

He now has one purpose: to build the best designers on the planet.

Through his real-world experience, he understands that to land your 'dream client,' you first need to become a 'dream designer.' The status quo within the design education space is focused solely on external outcomes when the real focus should be on internal transformation. He knows if he can help designers become comfortable with the unpredictability of the real creative world, then the predictable stuff becomes even easier to manage.

His full focus is as an educator to brand designers, but he is also a best-selling author, public speaker, and creative partner at Lincoln Design Co., where the team works daily with the likes of Disney, Liquid Death, and Nike. He is dedicated to guiding the next generation of designers with action, honesty, and love, creating a future where designers and clients thrive together.

 

Connect with James on his website or Instagram.

Ep 064 – Justine Clay, – ADHD, Creativity, and Cultivating the Conditions to Thrive

Featuring: Justine Clay

In Episode 064, I had the pleasure of having an inspiring conversation with Justine Clay, a business coach and ADHD life coach for creative entrepreneurs. Justine shares her journey from working in the creative industry to launching her own coaching business, and how these experiences have shaped her current work. She delves into the unique challenges and strengths of individuals with ADHD and the importance of fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment. Justine discusses the need for leadership to understand and accommodate neurodivergent team members and examines the impact of remote work on those with ADHD. Throughout the conversation, Justine emphasizes creating spaces that foster connection and meaningful experiences, and the importance of being present and taking care of ourselves in our daily lives. She also shares valuable business advice on focusing on solutions rather than problems and keeping the client at the center of our thoughts and messaging.

Key Takeaways

• Understanding the unique challenges and strengths of individuals with ADHD is crucial for creating a supportive work environment.
• Leadership should strive to accommodate the needs of neurodivergent team members and provide them with the tools and resources they need to thrive.
• Remote work can be beneficial for individuals with ADHD, as it allows for greater flexibility and control over their work environment.
• Creating an open and inclusive culture where individuals feel comfortable communicating their needs is essential for fostering productivity and well-being.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
03:00 Becoming an Independent Creative Professional
06:00 Starting a Creative Management Agency
09:00 Transitioning to Coaching
13:00 Becoming an ADHD Coach
15:00 ADHD as a Superpower, or not
19:00 Supporting Neurodivergent Individuals
21:00 Coaching Leadership on Working with Neurodivergent Team Members
25:00 The Impact of Remote Work on ADHD
35:00 Personal Hobbies and Tools
38:02 Creating Spaces for Connection and Experience
39:12 Focus on Solutions, Not Problems

Justine Clay is a speaker, writer, business coach, and ADHD life coach for creative entrepreneurs and freelancers. Justine’s lifelong passion for supporting creatives started as a career in talent management, where she got to work with some of the best independent talent in New York City. Seeing a need in the market to empower freelance creatives with the business and marketing skills they needed to thrive, Justine launched her coaching business in 2010 and has not looked back since.

Using her actionable Profitable by Design framework, Justine helps creative entrepreneurs of all stripes and neurotypes identify and articulate their unique value and build a fulfilling, efficient, and profitable creative business.

Contact Justine on her website, download a Free guide: How to get more high -quality clients and get paid what you're worth, or find Justine on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Ep 063 – Selena Thiele, Office Mercenary – Delegate to Win

Featuring: Selena Thiele, Office Mercenary

In this episode I have a great conversation with Selena Thiele, the founder of Office Mercenary, about why the key to winning is delegation. She discusses the concept of virtual assistants and the benefits they bring to businesses. She shares her own experience of feeling overwhelmed as a small business owner and how she started Office Mercenary to provide specialized support to entrepreneurs. Selena emphasizes the importance of finding the right virtual assistant and building long-term client relationships. She also highlights the challenges of delegating tasks and setting boundaries. Selena provides insights into the types of tasks Office Mercenary handles and the role of standard operating procedures (SOPs) in effective delegation. She concludes with valuable business advice, including the importance of letting go of perfectionism and striving for good enough.

Key Takeaways

• Virtual assistants can provide specialized support to overwhelmed small business owners.

• Building long-term client relationships is beneficial for both the client and the virtual assistant.

• Delegating tasks and setting boundaries are essential for effective collaboration with a virtual assistant.

• Standard operating procedures (SOPs) can streamline delegation and ensure consistent quality.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
01:02 The Concept of Office Mercenaries
02:23 The Impact of the Pandemic on the Virtual Assistant Industry
03:08 The Importance of Finding the Right Virtual Assistant
04:06 The Benefits of Long-Term Client Relationships
04:49 The Transformation After Delegating Tasks
06:16 The Types of Tasks Office Mercenary Handles
08:42 The Challenges of Delegating and Setting Boundaries
11:05 The Importance of Letting Go and Accepting 85% Quality
13:03 Low-Hanging Fruit for Delegation
15:44 The Definition of a Good Virtual Assistant
17:54 The Role of SOPs and Systems in Delegation
19:59 Misconceptions About Virtual Assistants
22:57 Rapid Fire Questions
25:35 Invaluable Business Advice

Selena Thiele, with her business partner Alyssa, combined their almost 30 years of experience in office administration to found Office Mercenary in 2019. She is an expert in virtual assistance, bookkeeping, business services, and helping business owners get out of their own way. She and the Office Mercenary team provide various services to businesses that help them conquer their day-to-day struggles and focus on the most important goals. Online Business Management services are also provided for those ready to take the next step in growth, organization, and kicking butt. Selena enjoys her pets, travel, video games, reading, and gardening in her spare time.

Contact Selena on her website, Instagram, Facebook, personal LinkedIn, company LinkedIn, or TikTok.

 

 

 

Ep 062 – Jared Gibson, Outworks.io – Authenticity Matters

Featuring: Jared Gibson, Outworks.io

In this episode, I had a great chat with Jared Gibson, co-founder of Outworks.io. Jared takes us through the journey of how Outworks.io came to be and how it shifted its focus to LinkedIn engagement for B2B professionals. We dive into the common struggles small business owners face in drumming up new leads. Originally, Outworks.io was all about email lead generation, but they soon found their sweet spot on LinkedIn. Jared shares why building trust through LinkedIn engagement is key and gives us some tips on what kind of content really clicks on the platform. He also shares some top-level strategy on how to leverage relationship building tactics on LinkedIn to convert comments into sales. Plus, he talks about the importance of having an abundance mindset, being your true authentic self, and the benefits of working with competitors. Don't miss out on Jared's valuable insights!

Key Takeaways

• Outworks started as an email lead generation service before pivoting to focus solely on LinkedIn engagement for B2B professionals.
• Building trust through engagement is key on LinkedIn, and it is important to take a networking approach rather than a sales approach.
• Posting valuable and authentic content on LinkedIn can help establish credibility and attract engagement.
• Optimizing LinkedIn profiles and engaging with other users' posts can help break through the noise and build relationships.
• Having an abundance mindset and collaborating with competitors can lead to new opportunities and growth.

Chapters

00:00 Origin of Outworks.io
01:00 Starting with Email Lead Generation
02:27 Pivoting to Focus on LinkedIn
03:42 Combining Email and LinkedIn Strategies
05:11 Posting Organic Content on LinkedIn
06:54 Engaging with the LinkedIn Algorithm
09:26 Types of Content that Work on LinkedIn
11:16 Bringing Authenticity to LinkedIn
13:56 Building Relationships and Trust on LinkedIn
17:07 Breaking Through the Noise on LinkedIn
18:24 Optimizing LinkedIn Profiles
20:18 Having an Abundance Mindset on LinkedIn
23:15 Personal Favorites and Tools
27:39 Invaluable Business Advice

Jared lives in Chicago (with his wife and two kids 5,7) where he is well-networked within the Chicago business community.

He co-founded a company called Outworks. They work with B2B CEOs, Entrepreneurs, and Sales & Marketing leaders who are looking to generate revenue through LinkedIn. He's a big believer in the power of networking on the platform to generate warm leads and has built a healthy engagement system that focuses on relationship-building over pushy sales tactics.

He's spent his career building and scaling businesses using these growth marketing and selling systems and decided to take that experience and provide the same value and support for other small to midsize businesses.

Connect with Jared on LinkedIn or on the Outworks.io website.

Ep 061 – Brooke Sellas, B Squared Media – Connecting Conversations

Featuring: Brooke Sellas, B Squared Media

In this episode, I got to interview Brooke Sellas, CEO of B Squared Media, a boutique digital marketing agency. We discuss Brooke's journey of starting her agency, the importance of social care, and bridging the gap between marketing and sales. Brooke shares valuable insights and advice for agency owners from her book, “Conversations that Connect.” and insights on how they leverage social care for their clients. We also briefly touched on navigating the intricacies of working side-by-side with a spouse.

Key Takeaways

• Starting an agency requires taking risks and seizing opportunities.
• Social care is about acquiring and retaining customers through social media.
• Social engagement is crucial for building brand loyalty and trust.
• Bridging the gap between marketing and sales is essential for business success.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
03:00 Starting B Squared Media
06:00 Working with Spouse and Team Dynamics
09:00 Brooke's Role as CEO and Visionary
12:00 Defining Social Care
16:00 The Importance of Social Engagement
20:00 Bridging the Gap Between Marketing and Sales
28:00 New Hobbies, Tools, and Business Advice

Brooke Sellas is shaping the future of digital marketing, one conversation at a time. As a CEO, she's the visionary behind B Squared Media, a boutique digital marketing agency that's redefining 'social care' for industry giants like Brother International, Endless Pools, and BCU. With her groundbreaking 2022 book, "Conversations That Connect," she's charting a course for authentic digital interactions. Dive into her insights on the Marketing Agency Show podcast, or from one of two courses she teaches at the University of California, Irvine.

Contact Brooke and download B Squared Media’s 2023 Social Care Report here.

Ep 060 – Rahul Raj, 5&Vine – Living Your Niche

Featuring: Rahul Raj, 5&Vine – Living Your Niche

In this episode, I got to talk with Rahul Raj, founder of 5&Vine. They help challenger brands win. It’s in their DNA and their whole reason for showing up each day. Our conversation dug into the nuances of living in your niche, how to define the edge of that niche, and how they evaluate wavering outside of the laser focus of who they work with. Rahul spoke about the inherent risks of being too deeply niched what tier diversification means to them, and how they define it. We went on a side tangent about the lack of authenticity in personal communication, specifically on social media.

Takeaways

• Building a purpose-driven agency focused on helping challenger brands make a positive impact in the world
• The importance of authenticity, community, and engagement in brand building
• Challenges of staying true to a niche and the risks and opportunities presented by AI
• The responsibility of leveraging privilege to help others

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
01:10 The Journey of Five and Vine
05:23 Building Brands that Better the World
06:18 Staying True to a Niche
09:27 The Importance of Authenticity and Learning from Mistakes
11:18 Diversification and Engaging the Team
14:51 The Role of AI in Branding
22:41 Navigating Risks and Opportunities
26:09 Final Thoughts and Rapid Fire Questions

I help Challenger Brands win.

I started 5&Vine to help build, launch and grow meaningful brands that disrupt categories and better society. To date, our impact has helped our partners close over $1.6B in follow on financing, and two have gone public.

My expertise in Challenger Brands was born from my time as CMO at ecobee, where I helped transform the brand from relative obscurity into the #2 thermostat brand in North America with a 30% share and developed a playbook on how Challengers could take down industry incumbents.

I know what a brand needs to take on Goliath. Prior to ecobee, I ran an incubator for Walmart in San Francisco. After seeing an opportunity to extract more value out of products that already existed, I built a refurbishing infrastructure that turned costly customer returns into a multi-billion dollar revenue stream. For these efforts, I was honored with Walmart's Innovation Champion Award, a fellowship with the Aspen Institute, and by GOOD magazine as 1 of 100 people pushing the world forward.

My commitment to bettering the world started when I was young. At the age of 17, I founded and developed Meal Exchange to build healthy, just and environmentally sustainable food systems across Canada. Our work has been recognized by TIME magazine as "revolutionary”.

Today, alongside my work at 5&Vine, I'm actively engaged in inspiring and empowering others to make their own positive impact. As well as being on the Design Team of the Aspen First Movers fellowship, I mentor entrepreneurs at First Round Capital, Tech Stars, the American Marketing Association, the University of Toronto’s Venture Mentoring Program, the Presidio Graduate School, and delivered a TEDx talk on the power of Challenger Thinking.

Contact Rahul at www.5andvine.com

Ep 059 – Aalap Shah, 1o8 Agency – The Spirit of an Agency

Featuring: Aalap Shah, 1o8 Agency

In this episode, I sat down with Aalap Shah from 1o8, a minority-owned digital agency. Aalap shares his journey to agency ownership, starting with his background in accounting and e-commerce. He discusses how he fell in love with marketing and eventually started his own social media agency. Aalap also talks about the recent acquisition of Heart Creative, which adds content production capabilities to 1o8. He emphasizes the importance of the pillars of values that his organization stands for, how culture and community are imperative in his agency, and the value of certifications like being a minority-owned business. Aalap also shares his passion for giving back and his love for running and nature.

Key Takeaways

• Agency ownership can happen by accident, as it did for Aalap Shah, who started his agency after realizing he wanted to work for himself
• Acquiring another business can help fill gaps in services and provide new opportunities for growth
• Building a strong culture and community within an agency is essential for success
• Certifications, such as being a minority-owned business, can open doors and lead to new business opportunities
• Giving back to the community and being involved in philanthropic efforts can be a valuable part of an agency's mission
• Finding a hobby or activity, like running, can provide personal fulfillment and balance in the midst of running a business

Chapters

00:00 Accidental Agency Ownership
05:35 The Meaning Behind 1o8
09:35 Building Pillars of Expertise
13:36 Driving Consumer-Based Traffic
22:33 The Power of Looker Studio for GA4
26:27 The Value of Niching Down

Aalap Shah is a Chicago-born entrepreneur, public speaker, philanthropist, and the founder of 1o8, a fresh digital marketing start-up focused on deepening brand awareness and increasing sales for amazon + e-commerce companies nationwide. Aalap and his team at 1o8 have worked with companies like Gildan, Sweet Leaf Tea, Vetnique Labs, OHi Superfood Bars and Tio Gazpacho—just to name a few.

Aalap happily shares his personal entrepreneurial story and his passion for crafting digital strategy, creating content, navigating the ever-evolving digital marketplace, and captaining the entrepreneurs’ life at events far and wide. As a registered CPA and the child of Indian immigrant-entrepreneurs, business is a key part of Aalap’s DNA and integral to his own personal American Dream. Aalap started his first business, a toy store, at the age of 23. Maneuvering the marketplace while building his business’ brand awareness sparked a love of marketing and promotion. Aalap worked in digital marketing for years thereafter, and is now the strategic brain behind 1o8, an amazon and ecomm focused growth agency in Chicago.

He has served as a keynote speaker, workshop moderator, and panelist at engagements with the National Business Education Association, Clickz, Social Media Week, Media Post, and Bloggers Week Summit and for companies such as Sears, Northwestern University, and DePaul University.

 

Contact Aalap on his website for 1o8 Agency, Heart Creative, or on LinkedIn.