On today’s episode, Emily Lyman talks to Shannon, Penji’s Partnership Coordinator about her journey from finance to building a successful agency, discussing the challenges of entrepreneurship, fostering strong team relationships, and the importance of empathetic marketing for long-term brand loyalty.
Here are three things you’ll learn in this episode:
1. Building an Empathetic Agency for Lifestyle Brands: Emily Lyman, a marketer by trade and heart, founded Branch and Bramble, an agency specifically dedicated to helping lifestyle brands. Her approach emphasizes empathetic marketing to connect with audiences and drive long-term loyalty, even as she juggles the unique challenges of entrepreneurship, including moving to the Catskills and becoming a "reluctant chicken mom."
2. The Importance of Community and Boundaries in Agency Leadership: Emily highlights the often-lonely nature of business ownership and strongly advises building a trusted community or "board of advisors" for support and bouncing ideas. She also emphasizes the critical need for agencies to prioritize their team's well-being and set clear work-life boundaries with clients, arguing that confidence in your work allows for picking the right clients and avoiding employee burnout.
3. Beyond the Hype: Networking and Transparency for Client Acquisition: Emily reveals that securing large, top-tier clients (like Patagonia) primarily comes through personal referrals and nurturing those relationships, rather than simply waiting for them to "find" the agency. She stresses the importance of transparency in showcasing an agency's approach and philosophies on their website, providing value to potential clients upfront, and maintaining excellent, anticipatory communication to build trust.
About Emily Lyman & Branch and Bramble:
- Website: http://www.branchandbramble.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilylyman/
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