Today, we’re talking to Carrie Kerpen of Likeable. Her agency was one of the early firms to lay claim on social media expertise and her business exploded with the trend. But she says that early and fast growth covered up a lot of problems she had to work through and learn from.
Carrie tells us about the power of having a clear vision for your agency and why you should think about selling your agency even if you aren’t ready to sell your agency. She says building it to sell will make your agency stronger, whether you sell it or not. And she has a great tool to help you determine how sellable your business is today, called the Whisper Score.
I loved this conversation. Carrie is full of energy. I learned a lot here and know you will, too.
Show Links:
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Rapid growth, while seemingly positive, can mask underlying issues within a business, such as staffing missteps, structural flaws, or incorrect pricing strategies. It's crucial to identify and address these problems rather than letting growth obscure them.
To sustain an agency's success, especially in a competitive market, it's essential to clearly define what makes the business different and what unique value it provides to clients. This brand promise helps the agency stand out and innovate.
In a professional context, money often equates to power. For women, gaining financial control through profitable business ownership is crucial for driving systemic change, investing in other women, and challenging existing power structures.
Even if not immediately planning to sell, building an agency with the mindset of making it saleable forces a focus on fundamental business soundness, profitability, and creating a sustainable asset. This approach, outlined in the "Whisper Method" (Why, How, Income, Secret Sauce, Profit, Exec Team, Roar Factor), strengthens the business and empowers the owner.
When selling a business, fear of appearing unintelligent can prevent owners from asking crucial questions, particularly about complex financial aspects like working capital. This fear can lead to missing out on significant financial gains and undermines one's power at the negotiation table.
