As an agency, we’re pros at building brands, launching jaw-dropping campaigns and crafting killer creative. But when was the last time we turned that expertise inward? If we’re out here preaching about marketing while neglecting our own brand, we’re basically a CrossFit trainer who eats Cheetos for breakfast.
The truth? If you’re not treating your own business like a paying client, you’re dropping the ball. Here’s how to take our advice, boost your credibility and flex your marketing muscles on your own business.
Practice What We Preach
Clients hire us because we know our stuff — but if we’re out here serving up top-tier social strategies while our own Instagram looks like it’s been on a year-long hiatus, what kind of message are we sending?
Let’s put it this way: would you hire a personal financial advisor who can’t manage their own money? If they can’t demonstrate smart investments in their own finances, why would you trust them with yours? The same goes for marketing.
If we’re promising the highest level of strategy and execution, we better be showing it off firsthand.
A sleek website, well-curated social media and a bold PR strategy aren’t just things we create for clients; they’re the baseline for ourselves.
Which leads us to the golden question: What is your brand identity? Before any company can successfully market itself, it needs to define who it is, what it stands for and how it wants to be perceived.
Who Are We, Really?
Successful brands have a clear identity — so why do so many companies ignore their own? Just like we help clients nail down their messaging and brand guidelines, we need to do the same for ourselves. If your brand identity is a half-baked afterthought, don’t be shocked when no one takes you seriously.
One of our favorite ways to keep our brand razor-sharp? Keyword exercises — an exercise used to identify the most relevant words and phrases that customers use as it relates to your brand.
We don’t just lead our clients through them; we subject ourselves to the same soul-searching. Who are we? What do we stand for? Are we still aligned with our values, services and industry trends? Or are we just vibing with outdated messaging from 2018?
Brand identity isn’t just about words — it’s about the full brand experience. That’s why we audit our website, social media and creative assets every year to make sure we’re not out here looking like a 2007 MySpace profile. Every single asset that has your name on it should be aligned in design, tone and messaging.
Me-Time
Between client meetings, strategy sessions and paid media campaign launches, it’s so easy to push our own marketing to the bottom of the to-do list. But if we treated our clients the way many companies treat their own brand, we’d probably get fired.
So we schedule quality time with ourselves — because self-care isn’t just bubble baths and face masks. We’ve dedicated actual hours (and money) to our own “client” account, ensuring we don’t get left on read. We strategize, set KPIs and hold ourselves accountable. “We were too busy” isn’t an excuse our clients would accept so we don’t accept it from ourselves either.
Like any great client relationship, communication is key. We meet regularly with our leadership team to check in on performance and make adjustments when needed.
Because Data Doesn’t Lie
If there’s one thing we’re known for, it’s our reporting. Clients love us for it. But here’s the thing: if we’re not tracking our own performance with the same level of obsession, we’re just winging it. And winging it is not a marketing strategy.
From weekly status updates to monthly, quarterly and annual reports, we keep receipts on everything. Website traffic? Checked. Social media engagement? Monitored. Lead generation? Tracked. If something’s off, we pivot. If something’s working, we double down.
At the end of the year, we’re sure to analyze any growth trends, review our biggest wins (and facepalm moments) and set new goals to level up. Just like we do for clients, we ask: What’s working? What’s flopping? Where do we need to step up? Because if we’re not evolving, we’re falling behind.
Walking the Walk
Here’s the deal: If you’re constantly putting your own brand on the back burner, don’t be surprised when people forget about you. When businesses treat themselves like their best client, everything shifts. Credibility skyrockets. Visibility increases. Growth becomes inevitable.
Ready to walk the walk and not just talk the talk? We’re here to help. Let’s make sure your brand gets the attention it deserves!
