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

Katherine, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Talk to us about building your team? What was it like? What were some of the key challenges and what was your process like?

Starting my marketing agency solo was both exciting and challenging. Initially, I wore every hat—strategist, graphic designer, content creator, you name it. It was a learning curve that taught me the ins and outs of the industry while also solidifying my vision for the agency.

As the client inquiries grew, I realized I needed to expand. I aimed to hire individuals who not only had the right skills but also aligned with the agency’s culture. Personally, I cared less about someone’s credentials and more about their portfolio, work ethic, and personality. What surprised me the most was that crafting job descriptions, reviewing resumes, and conducting interviews took significant time and energy away from my workload. However, I was determined to build a strong team!

Once I brought on my first few employees, the dynamics shifted. Each person had their own unique personality, work style, and approach to challenges. This diversity, while beneficial for creativity, also introduced issues. Managing different personalities truly requires patience and adaptability. I often found myself navigating conflicts, balancing various communication styles, and ensuring everyone felt heard and valued.

My best advice is that a team is only as strong as its leader. It’s necessary to invest in the time commitment to manage these relationships, From team meetings to recurring 1:1 sessions, it’s critical to foster collaboration and address any issues early on. I learned the importance of creating a cohesive environment where each team member felt empowered to contribute.

Despite the challenges, the growth of the agency made it all worthwhile. I truly thought the largest trouble I would encounter would be revenue, but in reality, it’s been finding the right people to grow your business with. The journey taught me that building a successful agency isn’t just about the work; it’s about cultivating a team that thrives together.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Social Design Agency is a female-owned boutique marketing agency based in Dallas, Texas. As a full-service marketing agency, we have worked with businesses of all sizes in various locations across the United States. We specialize in branding, growing social media accounts, and modernizing small businesses.

Digital marketing agencies are a dime a dozen, so what makes Social Design different? It’s simple. We are a one-stop shop for all things marketing, eliminating the hassle for our clients to communicate and work with multiple vendors. The result? Saving our clients time and energy to focus on what’s more important than marketing – Running their business.

I grew up overseas attending Singapore American School, and moved to the United States for college. Five years ago, I started my journey in the marketing industry while finishing university. With a keen eye for content trends and a dedication to delivering impactful results, I learned how to utilize artificial intelligence to drive exceptional results for brands. After leading numerous campaigns and freelancing opportunities, I created Social Design Agency to grow, teach, and empower a team of women to join my passion for marketing!

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Three words: Word of Mouth. The best and most reliable source of new clients at Social Design Agency has been our clients who are satisfied and share their experiences with other entrepreneurs and business owners. This may be controversial, but I do stand behind the fact that bad clients do exist, and they can make the work challenging and draining. I’ve learned that the nature of the client relationship can significantly impact not just the day-to-day operations, but also the overall success of the agency.

In my opinion, word of mouth is one of the best tools in the marketing industry. When you foster positive relationships with your clients, they’re more likely to recommend you to others who share similar values and expectations. This leads to a network of more trustful and easy-to-work-with clients, creating a smoother workflow and a more enjoyable working environment. The ideal client appreciates collaboration, communicates openly, and is invested in the process. This mutual respect allows us to cultivate long-term relationships that often lead to repeat business and referrals. It’s far more rewarding to work with clients who understand and appreciate the value we bring, rather than just chasing random leads that may not align with our agency’s vision.

In the end, focusing on building a solid reputation and nurturing positive client relationships not only enhances our work experience but also leads to sustainable growth for the agency. I live by the fact that quality over quantity truly makes a difference!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

At our marketing agency, we pride ourselves on our commitment to honesty and transparency. We believe that open communication is the cornerstone of any successful partnership. From the initial discovery call to the final deliverables, we aim to keep our clients informed and engaged every step of the way.

When mistakes happen, and they can, we take full responsibility and make it a priority to set things right. Our clients appreciate the proactive approach and our willingness to address any issues head-on. Not to mention, we are one of the only marketing agencies that offer a 30-day money-back guarantee because that’s how confident we are in our commitment and services.

Over time, this commitment to transparency has become a cornerstone of our reputation. Clients know they can rely on us for clear communication, ethical practices, and a genuine desire to see them succeed. We believe that our success is tied to theirs, and we work hard to ensure that every client achieves the results that they need to flourish.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.socialdesignagency.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialdesignfirm
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/socialdesignagency/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/socialdesignagency/

Image Credits

Heather Nicole Johnson