Jayde I. Powell’s Post

I have started this agency on my own. The idea of an actual social media agency took a long time to enter my head but when it did it made my heart skip a beat as it just felt so right. I have always known I do not want to live the usual life. I cannot say I have always seen myself as a business woman, but I have definitely never seen myself working 9-5 for a long period of time. So when I started with content creation some 10 years ago it led to this moment. Now as I mentioned I started on my own. Working on everything, not asking for help, trying to figure out everything on my own, not wanting to annoy other people and ask for help. Led to a nice burnout and health issues. However, that is not the way. Okay? You can and should ask for help in case you do not have all the answers, and you probably do not. Because you are just a human. When I realised this, a lot of weight was lifted from my shoulders. I have started to create relationships with people skilled in their areas to create a small group. So now I do what I know, what I enjoy and what I can manage and the rest is taken care of by freelancers collaborating with me. So no. You do not have to do everything on your own until you start making 10k a month or whatever. That is a bullshiz in my opinion. You can create a group of people, you can learn from them, they can learn from you and you grow TOGETHER. All this to say : I get so confused what pronouns to use when I create the agency content :D It is me, Nikola, the owner, creating this. There are more people working on projects. So is it I? Is it we? I am just using what feels right at the moment trying to stick to I and the agency :D What do you think? Working on your own? Asking for help and forming a team from the beginning? What is your opinion? What is your story? Let me and the agency ( :D ) know. #mcga #mcga #mcgacreations #digitalmarkeringagency #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #smallbusinesssupport #supportsmallbusiness #socialmediamarketer #socialmediamanagerlife

One of the toughest things to do as a small to medium size agency is your own positioning. First up you have to have the time to even do it. Client work that pays the bills come first. Finding who you are, what you want to do and how to communicate it to the right people the right way becomes something you “wedge in”. I’ve done more than a few of these over the years and there’s 3 key things to consider to help speed the process along: 1. What do you want to do and what do you not? This one can be tough since at times you want to sell everything so you can keep the lights on or keep growing. Success comes from weeding out the shit that’s not in your wheelhouse and taking in only the stuff you crush if possible. It also helps cut down your risk profile. 2. What’s your UVP? Unique value proposition. What do you do better than anyone else? This could be that vertical you do so well, creative approach that yields amazing results, unique offering etc. This should define how you win. Knowing this is one thing, you also need to find how to be efficient at it and how to find more of it. 3. What’s your voice sound like? Is your shop “Clint Eastwood” meets creative, or “Gilbert Godfried” meets the strategy world? How you talk about yourself and what personality and voice is vital to engagement. Tone, style, overall coms approach should be reflected across everything you do and ingrained in your team. Are you willing to take a risk to stand out, possibly losing leads who are more conservative? Maybe your offering allows you to to be more “Formulaic” and can avoid ruffling feathers. Know your goal client and aim at them with a sniper scope. Great agencies that crush new business do it by finding themselves in these tunings and then broadcasting without fear or mercy for our eye sockets. Are you a small/medium size agency that could use a point of view on your path? Don’t be afraid to say hi.

The biggest secret to success in the advertising industry is in reality... the people. Whether you're an agency owner, a freelancer, or on the client's side, people have always been, are, and will remain our most valuable asset. It's the bonds we build and the joy of working together that not only unleashes unparalleled creativity but also drives business results. I'm a firm believer that at the heart of growth, especially within the creative sector, are the people. Respect, appreciation, transparency, trust – these aren't just nice-to-have values; they're the cornerstone of a thriving creative environment. When we focus on fostering these values, we create a space where ideas flourish, campaigns resonate more deeply, and, ultimately, success follows. So, let's never underestimate the power of people and the relationships we nurture along the way. It's these connections that are the true essence of growth in the creative industry. #peoplefirst #advertising

"Don’t tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and let them surprise you with results." - General George S. Patton. I've always been naturally creative. Since my teenage years, I loved writing essays at school. I even wrote poems, dreaming of publishing my book. My grandma also noticed something interesting about me. Whenever ads played on TV, I'd be attentively watching them. (although most people disliked ads for interrupting their soap opera.) My grandma used to joke that someday I'd have my advertising agency. Throughout my career, I noticed that I gave the best input when my managers described the purpose of the campaign and its pain points. Ideas then rushed to me to me quickly. For most creative people, working on a blank canvas and eventually creating a masterpiece is a thrill. For me, it's about hearing the struggles of my clients in positioning their brands creatively. It's about them struggling to generate results with their campaigns and missing out on strategic expertise. That's where my ideas flow, and that's where I'm excited to collaborate and help brands stand out. While on the journey of building my content marketing agency, I've followed my clients' journey too. As an entrepreneur, I understand how dear every founder holds their business. My main aim has always been to support clients in overcoming their challenges and ensuring their business gains value from our collaboration. To this day, I operate by this motto: You tell me what, and I'll surprise you with results. P.S. Thinking back to your childhood, what were those quirky talents that ended up shaping your career path? For me, it was writing stories, being in front of the camera, and my curiosity about advertisements.

The biggest business risk I've taken was when I launched my agency. It took a lot of time and money, public wins and failures, and messy effort. I choose to risk making a fool of myself for the potential. So, I launched my first "agency." I got 10 new clients in a short time, tested, and built a great system that works. I tried out every service I could offer to see what would serve my clients best. And then I rebranded - suprise! - into an agency with a cohesive brand that's more personal to me. The messaging aligns with my guarantees and my core beliefs, and I offer 3 services I know I do really well with: web, brand, and social. Ive already gotten more clients, more community partnerships and more credibility. If I hadn't just jumped in and tried, I never would have learned what works for me. I did it all scared, and I don't regret any of it. So here's to messy effort 🤍

Execution is key to standing out.

Hey LinkedIn, Little introduce from us,.. Our story began as freelancers, driven by passion and fueled by a desire to make a difference in the world of marketing. We honed our skills, delivering exceptional results for various companies, but something didn't sit right with us. We witnessed firsthand how some businesses prioritized profits over people, neglecting the very customers who entrusted them with their dreams. Determined to forge a new path, we came together and founded our own agency - a beacon of integrity, empathy, and genuine care for our clients. At our core, we believe that value creation extends far beyond monetary gains; it's about fostering opportunities for growth, empowerment, and meaningful connections. Every project we undertake is imbued with this ethos, guided by our unwavering commitment to putting our clients' needs first. We don't just deliver solutions; we co-create experiences that inspire, uplift, and propel businesses toward their goals. Let's connect, collaborate, and embark on a journey of transformation together. Because at our agency, it's not just about profits - it's about forging genuine connections and building a brighter future for all. 🤝

I try to speak to as many of our competitors as I can... "Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer" right? ⛔️ Couldn't be further from the truth. I actually hate the term "competitor". It doesn't exist in my world. We're all agency owners/freelancers in our own lanes. The moment you start focusing on other agencies and label them as competitors you'll start to veer out of your lane and think quite negatively. There are hundreds of thousands of businesses out there that need our help. There's more than enough work for everyone to eat. Re-frame your thought on "competitors" and actually start speaking to other agency owners. Weirdly enough, doing this has actually secured us work in the past for businesses that weren't a "competitors" criteria. Suddenly, that's not a competitor anymore, they're now directly supporting and rooting for us as a business. Support others on the same journey as you. Stay positive and SPEAK to people. So much value in connecting with one another.

The best thing you to can to grow an agency, is to grow your people's sense of agency. Agency is the feeling that you can express yourself, solve problems, get things done. For people-powered businesses, in a ceaselessly chaotic context, that is absolutely fundamental to success. I've worked with some fantastic agencies in the last few years on strategy, narrative and internal transformation, and wherever you see this sense of agency, you know that the business can thrive. Equally, there's a feeling that maintaining and growing it is getting harder and harder. With all of that in mind, and with agencies across the industry piecing together their plans for 2024, here are some thought on how to unleash the sense of agency, in your agency.... https://lnkd.in/eBGK5JXz

Here is what I would do differently now if I was starting my agency again. 1. Make sure I maximise my tech stacks 2. Research the market value of what we do. 3. Focus on what clients I WANT to work with 4. Map out every part of the agency & how I it works 5. Understand content is king. Build habits around it. These are the 5 things that took me nearly 5 years to figure out. 1.5 years following this, business is booming and I am HAPPY. I know what I want, who I want and how I want it to work. Thanks to me figuring this out for myself, its now apart of what we do for our clients, Funny how that works out huh?