In this episode of Creative Friction, we welcome Ryan Paul Gibson. Ryan shares his background in B2B sales and marketing, specifically in the franchise industry, where research played a crucial role. He shares his hands-on approach to gathering customer insights and how it influenced his marketing strategies, business development, and operations. Tune in to hear more about his journey and the lessons he learned along the way. Listen in as we speak about: Ways customer research drives bu...

In this episode of Creative Friction, Madeline and Jeff discuss the struggles that many agencies are facing in terms of generating new customers and the slow process of closing deals. They attribute this to the current economic climate and clients' hesitation to spend money on marketing. They also highlight the challenges faced by tech-related agencies and offer suggestions on how to stand out and differentiate yourself in the market. Listen in as we speak about: How to build a strong sales p...

In this episode, Madeline and Jeff speak with Maribel Lara of the Sasha Group, discussing how to effectively support small business clients in developing their online presence through social media. We talk about the daily routine and week-to-week tasks involved in work, and challenges faced by clients who expect the agency to handle everything. Maribel emphasizes the need for collaboration, strategy, and a focus on the clients target audience rather than just increasing follower counts. ...

In this episode of Creative Friction, Madeline and Jeff dive into the topic of Pride Month and the increasing corporatization and monetization of the LGBTQ+ community. They discuss the performative marketing strategies employed by brands during this time and the pushback from queer individuals. Join the conversation as they explore the challenges faced by creative entrepreneurs in staying true to their roots while navigating the commercialization of Pride. Listen in as we speak about: Rainbow...

Many creatives wish to control their own destiny, to strike out on their own and start their own business. In theory, this often sounds like a dream scenario, but in reality, most people are scared to leave their day job in pursuit of something new. However, for the few that do take the leap forward and stick with it long term, we’ve found that there are certain skills and experiences they possess that lead to success. Entrepreneurship certainly isn’t for everyone, especially if you are...

If you grew up in America, you’re accustomed to entrepreneurial success stories left and right. You knew that if you worked hard and buckled down, you would be given your opportunities. But this isn’t the experience many people who grow up outside of the United States face. Carrying unique insight and culture outside of the common lens, entrepreneurs coming into the United States can bring a fresh perspective to the companies they join and get off the ground. The challenge is, many people don...

Welcome back to Creative Friction! This week we were joined by Dominique Broadway to talk about how to use event based and experiential marketing as a way to grow your brand and create community. Dominique Broadway, is a provocative, financial literacy trailblazer on a mission to make wealth attainable for anyone. As an award-winning personal finance expert, speaker, and the founder of Finances Demystified, she has a strong passion for working with young professionals, entrepreneurs, ...

Welcome back to Creative Friction! This week we chatted about the importance of hiring slow and firing quick. Layoffs are happening all over the place, folks are looking for side work, and agencies are likely going to be in high demand in the coming months, which means you may need to grow your team to support growing work loads. One of the common mistakes we have seen many agency owners make, including ourselves, is hiring too quickly for the sake of fulfilling contracts - and that...

Welcome back to Creative Friction! This week we chatted about why we’re celebrating Women’s History Month differently this year. When we started this show, we committed ourselves to honestly addressing vital topics that we didn’t see being addressed enough in the marketing space. This year in particular, Women’s History Month feels really heavy. There are SO many areas where it feels like support for women is going backward, making many of us feel like the “celebration” of women is ho...

Welcome back to Creative Friction! This week we chatted about all things software audits! A software audit is helpful to review all the software being used in your marketing agency. The audit is designed to identify software overlap and determine which tools are still relevant to accomplish agency goals. In this episode we cover: - What to ask when auditing your tech stack - Why we believe this area has became such a blindspot for agency owners - When you should conduct a tech ...

Welcome back to Creative Friction! This week we talk about the timely topic of the dos and don’ts of marketing during Black History Month. Every February, brands suddenly find they have something to say (or sell) related to Black History Month. It’s become common for brands to participate in Black History Month, but these efforts are often perceived as little more than performative activism. So, how can your company uplift and celebrate Black culture and the Black individuals in your...

Welcome back to Creative Friction! This week, we’re here to talk about Artificial intelligence (AI) and how it might impact your creative business. AI has become a buzzword in the agency world, and some are worried about how it could harm the industry. We want to give you some advice on how to utilize AI to achieve maximum impact and efficiency. In this episode, we cover: - Why infusing AI tools with creative talent creates a competitive advantage in cost and time savings - Why it’s ...

Welcome to Creative Friction! We are so excited to dive into this podcast journey with you all, and we couldn’t think of a better jumping off point than addressing client red flags. Clients are an integral part of agency work, but we want to make sure you are working with the right clients for your business. In this episode, we cover: - Why establishing good and healthy boundaries with clients is essential to agency success - Why a client asking to negotiate fees is a sign you ...

Welcome back to Creative Friction! This week, we are tackling the beast of rescoping! Inflation is impacting every business. As creative operators, it’s crucial to ensure our work is properly priced and valued by our clients. These are the pillars of future profitability and prosperity - so let’s dive into it! In this episode, we cover: - Why profitability is more important than revenue, and how to not buy into the vanity metrics - Why increasing prices is necessary, and how t...