Creative Agency Success Show

By: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders
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  • Summary

  • Has your business scaled beyond $1 million in annual revenue? Do you employ a staff of 20 or more people? If so, you've likely experienced a whirlwind of highs and lows that come with growth. You're not alone in your journey. Since 2002, Summit CPA Group, now Summit Virtual CFO Services by Anders, has helped businesses and creative agencies across America and the globe by providing Virtual CFO Services, cash flow management, business tax planning, financial forecasting, and much more. We've also performed hundreds of 401(k) audits and provided CPA firms with accounting outsourcing services and Virtual CFO consulting. This podcast seeks to help service-based business owners dive deep into the financial side of their business to achieve growth and financial success. Tune in bi-weekly as our hosts—Jamie Nau, Director + Virtual CFO, and Jody Grunden, Partner at Anders CPAs + Advisors—interview special guests to share knowledge in the digital and creative agency industry, as well as Jody’s experience as a service-based business owner and entrepreneur.
    2023 Summit Virtual CFO by Anders
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Episodes
  • The Most Essential Tips for Personal Branding on LinkedIn with Donna Serdula

    The Most Essential Tips for Personal Branding on LinkedIn with Donna Serdula
    Sep 9 2024
    “If you sit down and really make sure that your profile resonates and is truly you, it feels good, and you smile. Ultimately, you become a person who doesn't have to look for a job. Jobs find you. You become a person whose phone rings because there are opportunities, because people know you, remember you, have worked with you, and they want to work with you again.”—Donna Serdula The finer details of this episode:Importance of personal branding on LinkedInShift in perception of the platformChallenges of creating and maintaining a professional presence on social mediaControlling one's personal brand and its impact on career opportunitiesShowcasing values, actions, and descriptions to create a strong and memorable brandBalancing professionalism with personal authenticity on LinkedInImportance of consistency and cadence in posting content on LinkedIn Episode resources:Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletterDigital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success, is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddchttps://Donnanaserdula.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/toDonnana/ Timestamps:The importance of personal branding on LinkedIn (00:01:13)Discussion on the psychology behind personal branding and deliberate control of perception. The shift in perception of LinkedIn (00:02:07)The change from a passive networking platform to a more active and personal branding platform. The challenges of maintaining a professional presence on social media (00:02:44)Struggles with the perception of LinkedIn as a purely professional platform and the fear of being too personal. The evolving concept of professionalism on LinkedIn (00:04:25)Debunking the traditional image of professionalism and the need to move away from the concept of a suit and tie. The importance of personal branding for career growth (00:08:08)Emphasizing the significance of personal branding for career development and the need to control one's brand. Strategies for personal branding on LinkedIn (00:09:49)Discussion on the vision, mission, and consistent portrayal of oneself to create a strong personal brand. The value of personal connection in professional work (00:12:49)The significance of bringing one's whole self to work and the impact of personal connections in professional settings. The time and effort required for effective LinkedIn utilization (00:15:49)The need for strategic planning, time investment, and iterative work to create a strong LinkedIn profile. Overcoming psychological barriers to posting on LinkedIn (00:18:16)Dealing with the negative psychology and vulnerability associated with posting on LinkedIn. The positivity of LinkedIn (00:19:08)Discussion about the positive and professional atmosphere of LinkedIn compared to other social media platforms. Building a professional network (00:20:08)The importance of surrounding oneself with positive and empowering connections on LinkedIn. Creating an authentic LinkedIn profile (00:21:06)Encouragement to take control of one's image on LinkedIn, making the profile authentic and aligned with personal goals. Utilizing LinkedIn for professional relationships (00:22:00)The significance of researching and checking out profiles on LinkedIn for business interactions. Starting and maintaining a LinkedIn profile (00:24:43)Encouragement for individuals to start their LinkedIn journey and the emotional component of personal branding. Success on LinkedIn and real-world relationships (00:26:23)Emphasizing the importance of moving beyond LinkedIn to build real-world relationships for professional success. Consistency and storytelling on LinkedIn (00:33:42)The importance of consistency in posting and sharing on LinkedIn, drawing parallels with a story from "The Little Prince." Balancing positivity and authenticity on LinkedIn (00:37:01)Encouragement to not overthink posting on LinkedIn and to share authentic experiences without worrying about being too cringey. Personal Branding on LinkedIn (00:37:50)Donna discusses the importance of posting on LinkedIn to develop personal branding and shares tips for creating engaging content. Encouragement and Personal Growth (00:40:43)The hosts and Donna share personal experiences and offer encouragement for those feeling behind in their professional journey. Expanding Your Network on LinkedIn (00:43:08)Donna advises expanding the LinkedIn network to gain diverse perspectives and avoid feeling stuck in comparison. Investing in Personal Branding (00:45:18)Donna emphasizes the value of investing in personal branding and recommends utilizing free resources for self-improvement. Personal Life and Interests (00:46:38)Donna shares personal insights about being a mother and having a son with special needs, offering a broader perspective for her work.
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    50 mins
  • "How Can Agencies Achieve Better Alignment Between Sales and Project Management?:" with Rachel Gertz

    "How Can Agencies Achieve Better Alignment Between Sales and Project Management?:" with Rachel Gertz
    Aug 26 2024
    "Alignment is going in the same direction, fighting for the same things, and looking at the same big picture together.” – Rachel GertzThe finer details of this episode:● Importance of project management and operations in digital agencies and creative studios● Challenges in project management and the need for alignment between sales and project management● Solutions to improve communication and alignment between departments● Importance of understanding client goals and business objectives during the sales process● Concept of time in the sales process and optimizing operations for long-term efficiency● The three questions of project management: "Where are we? Where are we going? Are we okay?"● Importance of ongoing alignment, regular check-ins, and alignment exercises for client satisfaction and project successEpisode resources:● Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/● Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter● Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success, is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddcConnect with Rachel here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-gertz-trainer/Check out Louder than Ten here: https://louderthanten.comTimestamps:Welcome to the Creative Agency Success Show (00:00:00)Introduction to the podcast and anticipation of the upcoming discussion with Rachel Gertz.Insights from Rachel Gertz's Interview (00:00:14)Discussion about the valuable tips and insights shared by Rachel Gertz in the podcast episode.Improving Client Onboarding Process (00:00:36)The importance of implementing new client onboarding strategies and the potential impact on client efficiency and improvements.Implementing Advice from Rachel Gertz (00:01:11)Encouragement to implement the advice shared by Rachel Gertz and the anticipation of positive outcomes from the episode.Introduction of Rachel Gertz and Hannah (00:02:10)Introduction of Rachel Gertz as the guest and Hannah as the special guest host for the episode.Rachel Gertz's Background and Passion (00:02:35)Insight into Rachel Gertz's background, passion for project management, and the focus of Louder Than Ten.Rachel Gertz's Transition to Project Management (00:03:15)Rachel Gertz's transition to project management, her background in teaching and education, and her passion for the softer side of project management.Common Ailments in Project Management (00:05:14)Identification of common challenges in project management and the impact of misalignment between sales and project management.Improving Communication Between Departments (00:06:50)The significance of communication between departments and the need for solutions to ensure effective communication among all departments.Sales Process and Project Management Handover (00:07:43)The impact of rushed sales processes and the importance of aligning project goals with business goals for successful project delivery.Optimizing Sales Process (00:09:00)Strategies for optimizing the sales process, including vetting criteria, involving subject matter experts, and aligning project goals with business goals.Project Management Alignment Exercise (00:15:36)Recommendation to use a client fit matrix for alignment exercises and the importance of regular check-ins to maintain alignment throughout the project.Weekly Team Check-Ins (00:17:57)Flexible approaches for weekly team check-ins, including the format, cadence, and the incorporation of project-related health questions.Guiding Conversations and Asking the Right Questions (00:19:33)The importance of framing questions to guide conversations and ensure the right answers during check-in meetings.Each topic title is followed by the starting time of the segment in the podcast episode.Project Management and Change Management (00:19:48)Discussion about handling changes in project scope, involving project managers, account managers, and sales.Flexibility in Project Scoping (00:21:46)Exploring the idea of designing projects with flexibility and adaptability, and the impact on pricing and project direction.Believability and Billability of Project Management (00:24:19)Addressing the struggle of getting project managers and account managers billable, and their role in the project's success.Post Project Evaluation and Continuous Improvement (00:26:28)Importance and process of post-project evaluation, including setting a window for project closure and conducting lessons learned sessions.Favorite Concerts (00:32:38)Casual discussion about the hosts' favorite concerts and musical interests.Final Thoughts and Contact Information (00:35:28)Guest's final thoughts on project management, operations, and the importance of slowing down, and sharing contact information for further resources and ...
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    38 mins
  • VCFO Deep Dive: Jason Swenk

    VCFO Deep Dive: Jason Swenk
    Aug 12 2024

    “Standing out is great, but conversion is crucial.” – Jason Swenk

    It’s hard to build a business if you don’t invest in systems.” – Jason Swenk

    The finer details of this episode:

    • Analysis and insights on building a strong email list
    • Sales cycle and close percentage
    • Unique marketing strategies
    • Importance of systems in building a successful business
    • Concept of "land and expand"
    • Effectiveness of email marketing campaigns
    • Providing quick financial statements with industry comparison
    • Importance of creativity and innovation in marketing strategies

    Episode resources:

    • Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/
    • Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter
    • Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success, is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc
    • Catch the full episode of What All Successful Agencies Have in Common: How to Separate from the Pack, with Tim Condon here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-all-successful-agencies-have-in-common-how-to/id870206013?i=1000653823029
    • Check out Jason here: https://jasonswenk.com/

    Timestamps:

    The welcome (00:00:00)

    Introduction to the show "Creative Agency Success Show" and its purpose.

    Discussing Jason Swank's podcast (00:00:15)

    Introduction to the podcast "The Smart Agency Podcast" and its relevance to the speakers.

    Analyzing the podcast episode (00:00:43)

    Introducing the episode featuring Tim Condon and discussing its potential impact on the audience.

    Building a strong email list (00:02:20)

    Discussion on the importance of building a strong email list and the shift in the agency's marketing strategy.

    The importance of conversion (00:04:52)

    Emphasizing the importance of conversion in marketing efforts and its relevance to the audience.

    Sales cycle and close percentage (00:06:11)

    Analyzing the sales cycle and close percentage, comparing industry standards, and sharing insights on reducing the sales cycle.

    Unique marketing strategy (00:11:15)

    Exploring a unique marketing strategy involving leveraging established brands to generate leads and its implications.

    Best piece of advice for leaders (00:12:30)

    Discussing the best piece of advice for leaders, focusing on utilizing assets and generating what is needed.

    Using current assets for sales process (00:14:03)

    Sharing an example of using current assets to establish credibility and aid the sales process.

    Campaign carnival (00:16:53)

    Discussing a unique marketing campaign involving giving away free pizza to generate leads and its success in achieving lead opportunities.

    Building a Business with Hefty Systems (00:18:08)

    Discussion on the importance of investing in systems for scaling and duplication in marketing and sales.

    Developing a Sales Process (00:19:13)

    Insight on creating a sales process and thought leadership approach for client acquisition.

    Effective Email Marketing Campaign (00:26:44)

    The effectiveness of targeted email marketing and the innovation of using a pizza giveaway program for email acquisition.

    Land and Expand Sales Strategy (00:29:00)

    The concept of quick sales to establish trust and expand client relationships, with a focus on providing a low-cost financial statement as an entry point.
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    33 mins
Leadership Economics
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