Turning Left Podcast

Small Firm, Big Win: How Our Powerhouse Team Prevailed

• Ann-Marie Burton, Tanya Garcia • Episode 15

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Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at a dynamic marketing agency? Join us as we share the candid journey of creating our new brand video—complete with bloopers and behind-the-scenes fun! Meet our core team members, Pam, Katie, and Jess, and discover the unique roles they play in making our marketing magic happen. We promise you'll gain insights into the importance of showcasing your work and the value of putting a face to your brand.

And that's not all—celebrate with us as we announce a thrilling new partnership with a well-known Canadian brand, a testament to the power of referrals and glowing client feedback. Hear the proud moments and heartfelt stories that make Left Turn Strategy more than just a business. It’s an episode filled with team spirit, exciting milestones, and practical tips for growing businesses. Tune in, get inspired, and maybe even have a laugh at our expense!

We do agency differently - visit https://leftturnstrategy.com/

Reach out to Tanya Garcia on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-garcia-15521612

Reach out to Ann-Marie Burton on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-marie-burton/

Speaker 2:

This is Anne-Marie and Tanya from Left Turn Strategy, and you're listening to the Turning Left Podcast, the show that challenges traditional marketing by keeping things candid and cost effective for growing businesses Follow, like and subscribe for our unfiltered take and to keep us close.

Speaker 1:

Hi Tanya, hey, Anne-Marie, how?

Speaker 2:

are you today?

Speaker 1:

I'm good. We're ready for a podcast Podcast day, so we are going to talk today about some really kind of exciting news and feedback we've received, and also about our team. Yes, so why don't we invite our listeners? Did anyone see our wonderful video, our new brand video? This is what, if it was live, they would say yes, I did, yes, it did yes, yes, yes.

Speaker 2:

So we finally decided to record a brand video we've been talking about for a while and that finally was recorded, thanks, to her, even though I don't.

Speaker 1:

I you can tell from the um blooper reel and it's not my favorite thing to do it's not easy for a lot of us, but we got it done.

Speaker 2:

It turned out great um, thanks to uh, our circle partners, who help us make, make us look great um, and it's now on our website.

Speaker 1:

So if you haven't seen it, go to our home page yeah and you can and we want to highlight it because a lot of people ask us who's on your team, and that video showcases our core team. Right, you and I are on it, and then our director of client service, pam, is there, katie, who's our director of digital, and Jess, who's our director of content, are all featured. One thing that is not running through the video is our names and who we are and what we do, but it's cool.

Speaker 2:

But our bios are on the website.

Speaker 1:

Everything is on the website, but it's a it's. It's a fun little video to show our marketing agency in motion and to show what we do, which is exciting, Cause I feel like we often just keep working. Well, that's it. It's about ourselves enough.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and just a reminder like you know the, the decision to do that finally and I think we talked about this probably in the last podcast is, you know, if you, it is important to always be developing the things to build your business, and we know how busy it can be to let those things go, and when you find opportunities to actually invest the time, as uncomfortable as you may be, or the effort, it is so worth it in the end. So that was just a proof point for us.

Speaker 1:

So go to the website left turn strategycom and check it out yeah, and if you want the, the blooper reveals it's on our social yeah, which has. I mean, I I think he edited out my swear words, probably I was frustrated because you know we are called left turn for a reason and some of us like to turn left and wing it and some of us like to memorize things.

Speaker 2:

So I'll just let you know who did memorize her things and it all worked out in the end, as it always does, all right. So what does that lead us to today?

Speaker 1:

well, we wanted to showcase our team and I think that leads us to the positive news that we have. So the little story is that we recently signed a new Canadian well-known brand and we're really excited about that. Tanya led that, so woohoo for Tanya.

Speaker 2:

Yeah well, team effort, team effort.

Speaker 1:

Well and but part of the pitch and part of the communication was asking for referrals, yeah, and kind of a letter of reference per se, and so what we wanted to share was what we received, because it was positive and we felt like, wait a second, this is something that we should shout from the rooftop because it's the kind of thing we've been. We hope that our clients feel when they work with us and the kind of belief that we have in our team, but we have not yet, like, published enough referrals and that type of thing. So we wanted to read it because it made us feel quite proud of of the organization that we're building.

Speaker 2:

A hundred percent and I think you know for for the context you and I were chatting about, you know what we talk about today is, yeah, is the intention in when we started the agency and because you have, having been on client side and myself with my experience working on agency, knowing the importance of ensuring that you have a strong team that can lead clients through typically, you know, chaotic situations that are not predictable, and that it's just really important to have that right team. So we, over the last seven going now we're going to be heading into eight years have hoped you know you always hope you're doing a good job. You think so and, to your point, this reference from two different clients, one being a global organization and another being a local business, consistently said this, and I'll just read some of it that's what I think you want me to do, right, amory? Yeah, I think you should read it, okay, thank you. So, from the new client now said both presented consistent feedback in our conversation.

Speaker 2:

So both of our references said that with left turn strategy, you're going to get good bench strength, strong specialists for the tasks required. You might get the B team in a larger agency and then later, you know, was saying, but the A team with left turn strategy, a great partnership, a great depth of experience, full transparency, flexible, willing to listen and ask great questions and handles delicate situations very well. I think when we were talking to her she mentioned you know some of the feedback was around can navigate chaotic situations. Again, if you have strong bench strength and people who are experienced, they are better able to help lead clients and teams. So that was from those two people, and then you wanted to to also add something.

Speaker 1:

Well, I think in support.

Speaker 1:

The one client came back to us also to say that they were, that they had other feedback they had heard as well, and the client we were pitching said they were strongly leaning towards hiring your firm because of fit level of responsiveness and your appreciation and understanding of their growth objectives.

Speaker 1:

And here's another thing we think is interesting we obviously were being compared to other firms, and this large Canadian brand that you probably will know was talking to a large national shop, and the feedback that came back was their pitch was cookie cutter, and that client felt that they may be a small fish in a big pond. So that, for us, was really positive, because left turn has been built deliberately to be opposite, well, the large national shops who may do it a certain way, and so that was really exciting for us to hear, because there's nothing wrong with all choices are good. Yes, choices are good, like, let's just be very clear, all choices are good, but it's a very cluttered competitive space that we're in, and so it was great to hear that not only were they happy with the work we were doing, but it was being received in the way that we intended Exactly, which was like very exciting for us. Yes.

Speaker 2:

Because you always hope and you know. I mean, there's a feeling in the gut, but when you can hear it, then you know that you're making some good choices and that you know you're doing the things that you intended to do. Our vision is coming to life, and so that that was was wonderful, that was good.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and the key theme for any of one anyone listening is the experience yes, that came out. For anyone listening is the experience yes, that came out. It's experienced team members who can actively be decisive and make decisions as if they are the client. I think that's key Removing a load, taking the load off and we were talking about our next podcast. Maybe a little bit more on that topic.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I think it inspired our next podcast to really break down that a little bit more. On that topic, yeah, I think it inspired our next podcast to really break down that a little bit more. But I think you know, if we talk about key takeaway for this particular podcast or this particular topic is a, obviously we just want to remind everyone to look at the brand video we did, but secondly, Cause like it was not easy, so I want people to see it.

Speaker 1:

What do you mean? It was really hard to make me do something I didn't want to do.

Speaker 2:

It was not easy. That's what.

Speaker 1:

Tanya means Emery believes in the process and I'm doing it, but just doesn't want to be on film.

Speaker 2:

For sure. But again, when we think about our audience and who might be listening to this? Not only you know, a lot of our clients are small business owners like us. That it just reconfirmed the work that you put in finding the people you want to work with experienced individuals, great team members who understand your values, share in your values, have the experience to execute on that um and just keep um pointing towards that north star. Uh, because you do, it does work in the end, where you're doing great work, and then you get the feedback upon like after you know a number of years, to say that, hey, you know what we envisioned way back in the day.

Speaker 1:

Anne-marie is actually come to life and it's come to life beyond you and I, which I think is critical. That is very critical.

Speaker 1:

And so it's come to life beyond you and I, which I think is critical. That is very critical. And so it's come to life beyond you and I, which you will all see in the video, because those three women who are featured are fantastic, absolutely marvelous, and they are taking care of our clients as well, if not better, than you and I are, a hundred percent. So that is huge. Kudos to Pam, jess and Katie for that.

Speaker 1:

And although we do get feedback from our clients because we do seek it, but we don't get a formalized review, the way that that happened, and so that is why we're particularly cheerful.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so, yeah. So stay on Tenderhooks, because the next topic we think is going to be really Tenderhooks.

Speaker 2:

Tenderhooks. Yeah, it's like a butcher it.

Speaker 1:

Tenderhooks.

Speaker 2:

Tenderhooks. Yeah, it's like a butcher. It's so random of a statement. It's cute. Stay on tenderhooks. I've never said those words in my life and I've never heard you say that either, but that was fun.

Speaker 1:

I knew what you meant.

Speaker 2:

So that's great, stay on tenderhook hooks everybody.

Speaker 1:

There's no AC in here today.

Speaker 2:

I'm losing my mind, so our team will probably edit this part.

Speaker 1:

But if you don't, let's close it off.

Speaker 2:

We're going to tell them to stay on tender hooks until next time that we turn left.

Speaker 1:

So turn left with us next time.

Speaker 2:

Yes.

Speaker 1:

Well, no, we have to say our thing. It's the right choice for a left turn.

Speaker 2:

Yes, okay, goodbye all goodbye for more on what we chatted about today. Check out the show notes and don't forget to follow for notifications on future turning left episodes. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn, facebook or Instagram at Left Turn Strategy.