We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Andy Lassiter a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Andy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about your team building process? How did you recruit and train your team and knowing what you know now would you have done anything differently?

Like many creatives, I started as a team of one. For the first couple of years every facet of the business was my responsibility. Although there were many late nights, during that time I was able to build strong client relationships and also gain the “10,000 hours” of practice that has given me a deep understanding of the industry. My first hire was actually an office manager and marketing assistant, which in hindsight was the right decision. That created the space I needed to focus on producing the best work, and then training additional photographers and editors. It’s definitely scary for small businesses to take the leap of faith and hire full time employees (not just contract help). In our case that actually led to a wonderful team culture and highly consistent results for our clients. So my recommendation is that if you are serious about your craft, invest in yourself and your business early!

Andy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Keen Eye Marketing is a Charleston, South Carolina based agency specializing in media production. That’s all we do. As a full time team we serve a variety of clients – primarily in the real estate, hospitality, and professional services industries. Our headquarters on Folly Beach is home to project managers and editors who handle all of our post-production, as well as a state of the art studio where we film everything from products to podcasts. I think our clients really appreciate the efficient way we operate, while still providing a true agency experience. Everyone from project coordinators to photographers are really good at their jobs, which is an advantage in this industry. Consistency has been the key.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

People forget that a good old fashioned phone call is often the best way to actually build your business. I think it’s almost a lost art these days. We’ve made a point to personally call to check in with our customers and keep in touch over the years. It makes a difference.

Any advice for managing a team?

Building a great team is not just about salary and benefits, but culture too. Good communication and transparency is key. As a small agency, hiring based on personality and team fit is equally if not more important than experience. On top of that, building rapport with your team is part of your job as an owner and team leader. I like to make a lot of jokes, step in quickly to handle difficult situations, and try to lead by example. We’ve been really lucky over the years to build a company that often feels more like a group of friends than a commercial entity. That energy translates into positive experiences for our customers- so it’s a win win for everyone.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.keeneyemarketing.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keeneyemarketing
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeenEyeMarketing/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/keen-eye-marketing/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/KeenEyeMarketing