Marketing strategies changed drastically in the switch to all-remote work, and the return of in-person activities requires a mid-year pivot. In this #ContentChat recap, the community explores how their clients’ needs have changed and what marketing activities we expect to gain traction.

Q1: Let’s start with a quick celebration. What recent client project(s) are you most proud of? Can you share a link?

The community has a lot to celebrate, including a Fast Company article placement, website redesigns, rebrandings, and growth in their brand networks.

A1: I’m going to have to go with working with the amazing + inspiring @jerrehian on her recent Fast Company post: https://t.co/yLBzmQyRwG https://t.co/MkOoCEb0gE
— Erika Heald | Content Marketing Consultant (@SFerika) May 16, 2022

A1b: It’s also exciting to see the @Ripple website redesign I worked on live! #ContentChat
— Erika Heald | Content Marketing Consultant (@SFerika) May 16, 2022

It’s always exciting to see a new website or overhaul go live.
Then there’s the google analytics anticipation to be sure you didn’t make the #SEO overlords angry. #ContentChat
— Tod Cordill (@todcordill) May 16, 2022

Website builds can be so fun! Especially when you know they’re a massive improvement. We’re working three or four of them as we speak. #ContentChat
— John Cloonan | Audacity Marketing (@johncloonan) May 16, 2022

A1: I’d have to say our ongoing in-depth blog content in a difficult industry has made me proud. We’ve been blogging for a collections agency weekly for over 7 months. https://t.co/zW0WEUsupY #ContentChat
— John Cloonan | Audacity Marketing (@johncloonan) May 16, 2022

A1b: Though we’re also on the cusp of launching two rebrands, which of course I can’t show!#ContentChat
— John Cloonan | Audacity Marketing (@johncloonan) May 16, 2022

A1: We’ve managed to add some new members to our content distribution network.
Come join free! All agencies welcome.https://t.co/8VIRnapH8G
#ContentChat
— Sweepsify (@Sweepsify_) May 16, 2022

Q2: How have your clients’ marketing needs changed this year? What is top-of-mind for the business executives you partner or speak with?

Have you considered creating your own marketing agency? It can be enticing to cut ties with an employer to pursue your own business interests, but there is also a considerable risk involved with starting an agency. However, by conducting the right research and thoroughly planning your new agency, you can be better prepared to weather the initial hurdles of business operations and chart a path for sustained success.

In this #ContentChat, we’re joined by John Cloonan (@JohnCloonan), longtime #ContentChat community member and co-founder of Audacity Marketing, to discuss what it takes to build a marketing agency. Read the full recap below, where our community of marketers and agency founders explains why they launched their own marketing agencies, how to find the ideal business partner for your marketing agency, operational hurdles to address in the early months, and general tips for creating a new agency.

Q1: If you have launched your own marketing agency, what was your main reason for doing so? Why did you feel like it was the right move to make?

John shares his journey below. Much like John, many marketers explore a mix of in-house and freelance working arrangements before officially launching an agency.

A1: This is the 2nd time I’ve launched an agency. I built Realize Marketing from 2008-2010, and then sold it to go back into corporate marketing a while. #ContentChat
— John Cloonan (@johncloonan) June 28, 2021

A1b: I spent 10 years as a corporate marketing exec, led an employer branding agency, and then took a contract with a huge consulting firm, which was coronakilled.
A month later, I turned 50. #ContentChat
— John Cloonan (@johncloonan) June 28, 2021

A1c: I bring up that milestone because it caused me to think about my career. Did I want to tie my fortunes to one client? That’s what a corporate job or solo consulting contract does. #ContentChat
— John Cloonan (@johncloonan) June 28, 2021

A1d: (Sorry for the long thread)
I sat it on it for a while, then went on a really long solo motorcycle ride to reflect – from Georgia to Maine and back.
When I came back, I launched Audacity.
No more would I tie myself to one client. #ContentChat
— John Cloonan (@johncloonan) June 28, 2021

A1e: (Will this ever end?)
Starting my own agency allows me to:
– Live & work on my own terms
– Diversify my income streams
– Build a company free of corporate bullshit that focuses on what’s important#ContentChat
— John Cloonan (@johncloonan) June 28, 2021

There are many benefits to launching an agency. Our community says that it can give you complete (and potentially much-needed) freedom to conduct your work, enables you to explore new passions or interests as possible, and your agency brand can elevate your personal profile (and vice-versa).

A1: launching my own agency started out as a response to getting laid off and ended up as a partnership to help make me better and more resilient. Honestly, I was bored at my day job and the move was the right one to keep me engaged #ContentChat
— Maureen Jann (she/her) (@NeoLuxeMo) June 28, 2021

a1b: I left the world of building marketing departments from the ground up, and my hobbies were running small boutique businesses, so when I left, I was ready. #ContentChat
— Maureen Jann (she/her) (@NeoLuxeMo) June 28, 2021

A1: Although I have a design agency, we have a heavy focus on marketing + work with other marketing agencies on their design work. I founded the co. straight out of art school after freelancing b/c I didn’t want to go work for someone else! #ContentChat https://t.co/a8ocgV4JQe
— Sherry Holub – Wizard of Design (@jvmediadesign) June 28, 2021

A1: While I didn’t officially put out my shingle as a consultancy (my flavor of agency) until 5 years ago, it had long been my goal. I wanted to have the variety + control over my work, and to focus on the stuff I do well & get excited about (not maintenance mode). #ContentChat https://t.co/UrR8AvwjmC
— Erika Heald | Founder @ErikaHeald Consulting (@SFerika) June 28, 2021

A1: I always wanted to be my own boss. I was coming out of the music industry with some creative skills and I wanted to serve clients with those skills. It was the right entrepreneurial move for me in 2010. #contentchat
— Chris Craft (@CraftWrites) June 28, 2021

Q2: What research do you recommend someone conduct before starting to plan their new marketing agency? How do you know if this is the right career path for yourself?

May 16, 2022 Content Chat Recap: 2022 Marketing Agency Roundtable

Q1: Let’s start with a quick celebration. What recent client project(s) are you most proud of? Can you share a link?

The community has a lot to celebrate, including a Fast Company article placement, website redesigns, rebrandings, and growth in their brand networks.

Q2: How have your clients’ marketing needs changed this year? What is top-of-mind for the business executives you partner or speak with?

June 28, 2021 Content Chat Recap: So You Want To Start A Marketing Agency

Q1: If you have launched your own marketing agency, what was your main reason for doing so? Why did you feel like it was the right move to make?

John shares his journey below. Much like John, many marketers explore a mix of in-house and freelance working arrangements before officially launching an agency.

There are many benefits to launching an agency. Our community says that it can give you complete (and potentially much-needed) freedom to conduct your work, enables you to explore new passions or interests as possible, and your agency brand can elevate your personal profile (and vice-versa).

Q2: What research do you recommend someone conduct before starting to plan their new marketing agency? How do you know if this is the right career path for yourself?

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Q1: Let’s start with a quick celebration. What recent client project(s) are you most proud of? Can you share a link?

The community has a lot to celebrate, including a Fast Company article placement, website redesigns, rebrandings, and growth in their brand networks.

Q2: How have your clients’ marketing needs changed this year? What is top-of-mind for the business executives you partner or speak with?

Q1: If you have launched your own marketing agency, what was your main reason for doing so? Why did you feel like it was the right move to make?

John shares his journey below. Much like John, many marketers explore a mix of in-house and freelance working arrangements before officially launching an agency.

There are many benefits to launching an agency. Our community says that it can give you complete (and potentially much-needed) freedom to conduct your work, enables you to explore new passions or interests as possible, and your agency brand can elevate your personal profile (and vice-versa).

Q2: What research do you recommend someone conduct before starting to plan their new marketing agency? How do you know if this is the right career path for yourself?

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