Have you considered making a move to a fully remote agency? Do you think your agency team could benefit from more creative freedom? As agency owners, we’re always looking for ways to grow a successful team and build a successful brand. What if you found out you can do both, just by providing a rockstar culture?

In today’s episode, we’ll cover:

• How freedom and flexibility increase team productivity.
• Why agency culture is so important.
• How your agency can survive the battle of the bands.

Today I had the opportunity to sit down with Angel Gonzales, CMO, and co-founder of Snappy Kraken, an automated marketing platform exclusively for financial advisors. Angel’s agency consists solely of remote team members and they’ve created a business model where they don’t just survive, they thrive. Angel is on the show to share how and why his agency’s virtual office is the key to their success.

How Freedom and Flexibility Increases Team Productivity

Who doesn’t want the option to work from home in their pajamas? Okay, maybe not some of you crazy extroverts. But for many of us in the agency space, one of the main reasons we do what we do is to have a level of freedom and flexibility.

At Snappy Kraken, every single person who works for the agency does so remotely. There is no office or main hub. Team members are literally scattered throughout the U.S. So how did Angel know a virtual agency was the right choice for his agency? He says it all comes down to their key values, freedom, and flexibility. Angel says freedom is defined by the number of choices you have. It’s simple, the number one way to give your agency more freedom is to provide more choices, such as where they work.

Why Agency Culture is So Important

If you have a traditional office, you may be wondering how you keep everyone connected. Angel says it’s quite simple, and it’s a component I stress so much in any agency setting. When you build an agency, you have to focus on culture.

Even in a virtual environment, a toxic person is like cancer. Culture is the glue that keeps you all together and allows you to stay focused on the same goals. Angel looks at culture as what you as an agency celebrate, and what you stigmatize. This goes beyond your team. Creating the right culture includes choosing the right clients that support your vision. When you all have a common goal, you’ll have no problem staying connected.

Bonus tip: If you find yourself doing a lot of communication through emails or other written applications, consider throwing in a few emojis to make sure your tone comes off the way you intended it.

How Your Agency Can Beat the Competition

Did I forget to mention before starting his agency, Angel was in a band? Because of this, he says you need to approach projects like you’re writing a pop song. What does this mean? Basically — leave your ego at the door.

Think of it as a “Battle of the Bands”:  One band is a group of musicians, all trying to get their 15 minutes of fame. They don’t work together but instead lead with ego and try to stand out on their own. Another band, however, balances each other out and works to make sure they’re making good music together. In the “Battle of the Bands,” band number two wins.

The lesson:  when you stop worrying about being the star and come together as a team, you’ll win against your ego-focused competition.

Your success as an agency relies on a variety of factors. When you provide choices, create a rockstar culture, and focus on the team, you’re bound to find a winning combination.

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