Learn from the experiences of social media marketing agency owner Karlyn Ankrom as she shares her insights on scaling a business and managing growth.
Running a small business comes with its fair share of challenges, and growing a marketing agency is no exception. In this article, we explore the journey of Karlyn Ankrom, owner of Oh Snap! Social, as she navigates the ups and downs of scaling her agency. From accidental entrepreneurship to intentional growth, Karlyn shares valuable lessons on scaling with intention, crafting efficient systems and processes, and avoiding burnout. Join us as we delve into the world of agency growth and discover how to overcome the challenges along the way.
#1: Learn to Scale Intentionally:
Karlyn Ankrom’s agency experienced explosive growth in 2021 as businesses recognized the importance of digital marketing in a post-pandemic world. However, the excitement of scaling quickly led to operational challenges. Karlyn advises agency owners to scale intentionally by limiting new business to a manageable number of clients per month. By setting realistic expectations and ensuring sufficient systems and staff are in place, agencies can grow with ease and less stress. Karlyn emphasizes the importance of empowering the team to think outside the box and focusing on being a visionary rather than an implementer.
#2: Craft Efficient Systems and Processes:
Creating efficient systems and processes is crucial for the scalability of a marketing agency. Karlyn hired an operations manager to focus on documenting procedures and automating processes. By shifting into a visionary role and relying on her operations manager, Karlyn ensures that client contracts are honored, budgets are maintained, and her own boundaries are respected. Hiring team members with different skill sets is essential for success, and Karlyn emphasizes the importance of streamlining communications processes to free up client service hours for actual service delivery.
#3: Avoid Comparison and Burnout:
Avoiding burnout while growing a sustainable agency is a constant challenge. Karlyn shares her experience of chasing arbitrary milestones and comparing herself to others, which led to a near burnout. She emphasizes the need to stay focused on one’s own race and avoid comparing oneself to others’ curated success stories on social media. Karlyn urges agency owners to mute or unfollow individuals who perpetuate the bounce-back culture and instead focus on maintaining, refining, and simplifying their own agency. By simplifying processes and choosing the right clients, agency owners can create a healthier work-life balance.
Conclusion:
Scaling a marketing agency requires careful planning, efficient systems, and a focus on personal well-being. Karlyn Ankrom’s journey as an agency owner offers valuable insights into overcoming the challenges of growth. By scaling intentionally, crafting efficient systems and processes, and avoiding comparison and burnout, agency owners can build sustainable businesses that thrive in the ever-changing world of digital marketing. Remember, success is not measured by arbitrary milestones, but by finding the right balance that allows for growth and personal fulfillment.
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