Creative Friction – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode of Creative Friction, we welcome Ryan Paul Gibson.  Ryan shares his background in B2B sales and marketing, specifically in the franchise industry, where research played a crucial role. He shares his hands-on approach to gathering customer insights and how it influenced his marketing strategies, business development, and operations. Tune in to hear more about his journey and the lessons he learned along the way.

Listen in as we speak about:

• Ways customer research drives business success
• The customer journey 
• How to uncover customer pain points
• Agile research methods with AI

And much, much, more!

Also — check out Ryan's incredible resource, The Definitive List of B2B Customer Interview Questions, as a way to start bringing more qualitative research into your creative work.

Connect with Ryan:

LinkedIn

Website 

Connect with Your Hosts:

The Meade Company 

Jeff Meade

Fearless Foundry

Madeline Reeves

Thank you for listening to Creative Friction! Please leave us a rating and review if you enjoyed the show. If you want to learn more about Fearless Foundry or The Meade Company, visit our websites!

Creative Friction is a podcast for creatives and agency owners seeking honest and practical guidance on how to grow their business. Tune in for new episodes the first Friday of the month!

All audio and video recordings are owned by Madeline Reeves and Jeff Meade, recorded live every other Friday on LinkedIn, and are released once a month. Music is by Premium Beats.

In this episode of Creative Friction, Madeline and Jeff discuss the struggles that many agencies are facing in terms of generating new customers and the slow process of closing deals. They attribute this to the current economic climate and clients' hesitation to spend money on marketing. They also highlight the challenges faced by tech-related agencies and offer suggestions on how to stand out and differentiate yourself in the market.

Listen in as we speak about:

• How to build a strong sales pipeline
• The benefits of specialization 
• Effective outreach through research studies
• Why you need a marketing plan

And much, much, more!

Connect with Your Hosts:

The Meade Company 

Jeff Meade

Fearless Foundry

Madeline Reeves

Thank you for listening to Creative Friction! Please leave us a rating and review if you enjoyed the show. If you want to learn more about Fearless Foundry or The Meade Company, visit our websites!

Creative Friction is a podcast for creatives and agency owners seeking honest and practical guidance on how to grow their business. Tune in for new episodes the first Friday of the month!

All audio and video recordings are owned by Madeline Reeves and Jeff Meade, recorded live every other Friday on LinkedIn, and are released once a month. Music is by Premium Beats.

Welcome back to Creative Friction! This week we talk about the timely topic of the dos and don’ts of marketing during Black History Month. Every February, brands suddenly find they have something to say (or sell) related to Black History Month. It’s become common for brands to participate in Black History Month, but these efforts are often perceived as little more than performative activism.  

So, how can your company uplift and celebrate Black culture and the Black individuals in your community, without appropriating Black culture for likes on social media? Let’s find out. 

In this episode, we cover some “dos” such as:

- DO show support for the Black community outside of Februar
- DO collaborate with employees and elevate Black voices from your community

And some “don’ts”

- DON’T put the brunt of the work on Black employee
- DON’T celebrate publicly if you're not celebrating internally

This February, approach Black History Month with authenticity and action, but also think about how you can uplift Black communities and culture year-round. This month is more than just an opportunity to educate people. It’s an opportunity to promote positive stories, check your motives, and make some changes.

 You can also find more info about Madeline’s mastermind community, Figure 8, or join the waitlist here.

This episode of Creative Friction was produced by Fina Valenzuela.

Thank you for listening to Creative Friction! Please leave us a rating and review if you enjoyed the show. If you want to learn more about Fearless Foundry or The Meade Company, visit our websites!

Creative Friction is a podcast for creatives and agency owners seeking honest and practical guidance on how to grow their business. Tune in for new episodes the first Friday of the month!

All audio and video recordings are owned by Madeline Reeves and Jeff Meade, recorded live every other Friday on LinkedIn, and are released once a month. Music is by Premium Beats.

Welcome back to Creative Friction! This week, we’re here to talk about Artificial intelligence (AI) and how it might impact your creative business. AI has become a buzzword in the agency world, and some are worried about how it could harm the industry. We want to give you some advice on how to utilize AI to achieve maximum impact and efficiency. 

In this episode, we cover:

- Why infusing AI tools with creative talent creates a competitive advantage in cost and time savings
- Why it’s important to acknowledge that AI cannot replicate human intelligence and cultural awareness
- How to shift your mindset surrounding AI from fear to opportunity - and the potential for new business models that can come with it

And SO much more! AI marketing tools promise the allure of self-serve marketing, so how do agencies continue to highlight their value proposition when technology is commodifying their output? Listen and we’ll tell you!

This episode of Creative Friction was produced by Fina Valenzuela.

Thank you for listening to Creative Friction! Please leave us a rating and review if you enjoyed the show. If you want to learn more about Fearless Foundry or The Meade Company, visit our websites!

Creative Friction is a podcast for creatives and agency owners seeking honest and practical guidance on how to grow their business. Tune in for new episodes the first Friday of the month!

All audio and video recordings are owned by Madeline Reeves and Jeff Meade, recorded live every other Friday on LinkedIn, and are released once a month. Music is by Premium Beats.

Welcome back to Creative Friction! This week, we are tackling the beast of rescoping! Inflation is impacting every business. As creative operators, it’s crucial to ensure our work is properly priced and valued by our clients. These are the pillars of future profitability and prosperity - so let’s dive into it! 

In this episode, we cover:  

- Why profitability is more important than revenue, and how to not buy into the vanity metrics
- Why increasing prices is necessary, and how to go about calculating minimum retainers
- How to pinpoint your money makers! Figure out what you make good money off of and let go of the things that aren’t worth it. 

And SO much more! We wanted to give you this episode towards the beginning of the year so you have the tools and resources to reset your pricing mentality with clients, so you can build budgets accordingly.

This episode of Creative Friction was produced by Fina Valenzuela.

Thank you for listening to Creative Friction! Please leave us a rating and review if you enjoyed the show. If you want to learn more about Fearless Foundry or The Meade Company, visit our websites!

Creative Friction is a podcast for creatives and agency owners seeking honest and practical guidance on how to grow their business. Tune in for new episodes the first Friday of the month!

All audio and video recordings are owned by Madeline Reeves and Jeff Meade, recorded live every other Friday on LinkedIn, and are released once a month. Music is by Premium Beats.

Welcome to Creative Friction! We are so excited to dive into this podcast journey with you all, and we couldn’t think of a better jumping off point than addressing client red flags. Clients are an integral part of agency work, but we want to make sure you are working with the right clients for your business. 

In this episode, we cover: 

- Why establishing good and healthy boundaries with clients is essential to agency success
- Why a client asking to negotiate fees is a sign you should run for the hills, and how to stand up for your worth and your work
- How the scarcity mindset is overwhelming the marketing world, and how to hold true to your pricing and your value

And SO much more! We hope this episode gives you lots of insight into how we, as business owners, maintain a healthy working environment that values our time and labor.

This episode of Creative Friction was produced by Fina Valenzuela.

Thank you for listening to Creative Friction! Please leave us a rating and review if you enjoyed the show. If you want to learn more about Fearless Foundry or The Meade Company, visit our websites!

Creative Friction is a podcast for creatives and agency owners seeking honest and practical guidance on how to grow their business. Tune in for new episodes the first Friday of the month!

All audio and video recordings are owned by Madeline Reeves and Jeff Meade, recorded live every other Friday on LinkedIn, and are released once a month. Music is by Premium Beats.

In this episode, Madeline and Jeff speak with Maribel Lara of the Sasha Group, discussing how to effectively support small business clients in developing their online presence through social media. We talk about the daily routine and week-to-week tasks involved in work, and challenges faced by clients who expect the agency to handle everything. Maribel emphasizes the need for collaboration, strategy, and a focus on the clients target audience rather than just increasing follower counts. 

Listen in as we speak about:

• Supporting small businesses through social media
• How to empower small businesses
• The importance of aligning with the right clients

And much, much, more!

Connect with Maribel Lara: 

LinkedIn

The Sasha Group Website 

Connect with Your Hosts:

The Meade Company 

Jeff Meade

Fearless Foundry

Madeline Reeves

Thank you for listening to Creative Friction! Please leave us a rating and review if you enjoyed the show. If you want to learn more about Fearless Foundry or The Meade Company, visit our websites!

Creative Friction is a podcast for creatives and agency owners seeking honest and practical guidance on how to grow their business. Tune in for new episodes the first Friday of the month!

All audio and video recordings are owned by Madeline Reeves and Jeff Meade, recorded live every other Friday on LinkedIn, and are released once a month. Music is by Premium Beats.

In this episode of Creative Friction, Madeline and Jeff dive into the topic of Pride Month and the increasing corporatization and monetization of the LGBTQ+ community. They discuss the performative marketing strategies employed by brands during this time and the pushback from queer individuals. Join the conversation as they explore the challenges faced by creative entrepreneurs in staying true to their roots while navigating the commercialization of Pride.

Listen in as we speak about:

• Rainbow Washing in Pride Marketing
• How Corporations can support the LGBTQ+ Community
• Why we need to evaluate actions, not just words
• Why brands must evolve with consumers

And much, much, more!

Connect with Your Hosts:

The Meade Company 

Jeff Meade

Fearless Foundry

Madeline Reeves

Thank you for listening to Creative Friction! Please leave us a rating and review if you enjoyed the show. If you want to learn more about Fearless Foundry or The Meade Company, visit our websites!

Creative Friction is a podcast for creatives and agency owners seeking honest and practical guidance on how to grow their business. Tune in for new episodes the first Friday of the month!

All audio and video recordings are owned by Madeline Reeves and Jeff Meade, recorded live every other Friday on LinkedIn, and are released once a month. Music is by Premium Beats.

Many creatives wish to control their own destiny, to strike out on their own and start their own business. In theory, this often sounds like a dream scenario, but in reality, most people are scared to leave their day job in pursuit of something new. 

However, for the few that do take the leap forward and stick with it long term, we’ve found that there are certain skills and experiences they possess that lead to success. Entrepreneurship certainly isn’t for everyone, especially if you are going down the path of being a solopreneur in the beginning stages.

In today’s episode, we are joined by Jasmine Childress, founder of Eight Thirty Seven, a creative and technology agency that specializes in working with women-led companies to build strong brand pillars and online experiences. Listen in as we pull back the curtain on setting boundaries and expectations with clients, how to handle slow seasons, and what it takes to be successful as a creative solopreneur,

Listen in as we speak about:

• Prospecting for new clients
• Developing relationships with other creatives
• Building up your confidence in your creative abilities over time
• The courage it takes to raise your prices and how necessary this is

And much, much, more!

Connect with Jasmine Childress: 

LinkedIn

Eight Thirty Seven Studio Website

Connect with Your Hosts:

The Meade Company 

Jeff Meade

Fearless Foundry

Madeline Reeves

Thank you for listening to Creative Friction! Please leave us a rating and review if you enjoyed the show. If you want to learn more about Fearless Foundry or The Meade Company, visit our websites!

Creative Friction is a podcast for creatives and agency owners seeking honest and practical guidance on how to grow their business. Tune in for new episodes the first Friday of the month!

All audio and video recordings are owned by Madeline Reeves and Jeff Meade, recorded live every other Friday on LinkedIn, and are released once a month. Music is by Premium Beats.

If you grew up in America, you’re accustomed to entrepreneurial success stories left and right. You knew that if you worked hard and buckled down, you would be given your opportunities. But this isn’t the experience many people who grow up outside of the United States face.

Carrying unique insight and culture outside of the common lens, entrepreneurs coming into the United States can bring a fresh perspective to the companies they join and get off the ground. The challenge is, many people don’t even know that they can have opportunities outside of their lived experience. But with opportunity, also comes challenges.

In today’s episode, we are joined by Ari Krzyzek, CEO at Chykalophia, a creative technology agency that specializes in working with women-led companies to build strong brand pillars and online experiences. We discuss what it takes to grow an impact-oriented agency from the ground up, how to go about identifying and establishing a niche, and the importance of making giving back a core part of your mission as a marketing leader. 

Listen in as we speak about:

• What it takes to grow an impact-oriented agency from the ground up
• How to go about identifying and establishing a niche
• The importance of making giving back a core part of your mission
• The challenges and triumphs of being an Asian woman in leadership

And much, much, more!

Connect with Ari Krzyzek: 

LinkedIn

Chykalophia Website

Connect with Your Hosts:

The Meade Company 

Jeff Meade

Fearless Foundry

Madeline Reeves

Thank you for listening to Creative Friction! Please leave us a rating and review if you enjoyed the show. If you want to learn more about Fearless Foundry or The Meade Company, visit our websites!

Creative Friction is a podcast for creatives and agency owners seeking honest and practical guidance on how to grow their business. Tune in for new episodes the first Friday of the month!

All audio and video recordings are owned by Madeline Reeves and Jeff Meade, recorded live every other Friday on LinkedIn, and are released once a month. Music is by Premium Beats.