How I built a six-figure social media marketing agency

Try out Munch for yourself (and your clients!) for 30% off with my code "KT22" 👉🏻 app.getmunch.com/signup?... | In this video I’m telling the whole story of how I got started, and how I grew my boutique social media marketing agency into a six-figure business. I’ll also be answering your tough questions: how much I pay my team members, how I do financial planning as a business owner, and how I find my clients. Let’s get into it!
📕 TABLE OF CONTENTS 📕
00:00 I have a confession to make…
01:48 Chapter 1: How I got started with freelancing
05:15 How I built my client base, how I managed my money as a freelancer + more
07:51 Chapter 2: Making my first hire (aka becoming a team!)
09:55 In-house staff vs freelancers, how much I pay my team + more
13:11 Chapter 3: Scaling is scary
15:25 Transitioning from freelance to agency, learning financial planning as a business owner
17:45 Chapter 5: Finally finding work-life balance
🗺 Sign up for The Instagram Road Map 👉🏻 www.theinstagramroadmap.com ✨
Wanna work with me? Check out my creative agency www.creatorlymedia.com
Follow us on Instagram for social media strategy tips daily! ➡️ / creatorlymedia
// WATCH THESE NEXT
⭐️ The Secret to More Likes on Instagram? [MY EXPERIMENT] geni.us/ESbAr
⭐️ Everything you need to know about TikTok: geni.us/nJWXLTq
⭐️ Don't start a podcast without watching this series: geni.us/Wplo
// FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM
/ katiesteckly
// SOME OF MY FAVES:
*some of these are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase on the site after clicking these links, I could earn a commission. thanks for supporting the channel!
🎧 where I get music for my videos: www.katiesteckly.com/artlist
💻 how I edit my videos: www.katiesteckly.com/adobe
📱how I grow my channel with Pinterest www.katiesteckly.com/tailwind
// GEAR
Vlog Camera: geni.us/dFXAVn
Big Camera: geni.us/ktsonyzve10
Lens: geni.us/Gw6rjif
Microphone: geni.us/00oT8aQ
Tripod: geni.us/kvmFbH
// ABOUT ME
Hey, I'm Katie! I make videos about social media strategy and content creation. In addition to being a KZbinr, I also run a small digital creative agency that produces content for all kinds of creators! We edit podcasts, produce KZbin channels, develop online branding and Instagram strategies and more! If you want our help or just want to learn more, check out www.creatorlymedia.com
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[@MyaSareeGray]

this video is amazing! I can relate so much as a videographer. I worked at a marketing company when I first graduated and hated it and switching to freelance and starting my own production company has truly been a blessing.

[@ellenronaldskeene5441]

Love your honesty in this. I have a small podcast agency and a lot of your story definitely resonates

[@Waverlynaomi]

This video is very eye opening to a lot of things. Ive tried to start a business while in school and it was very overwhelming because i seen my passion for social media and quickly wanted to profit from it. In that I lost my creativity because I was so fixated with the structure of business and not actual the enjoyment of my passion. Also not being financially supported it does have effects to feel like the grind which resulted rushing the results and not seeing the beauty of the process. Videos like these really give insight to what a business really consumes. Now if i had to change anything i would definitely have to say being a freelancer is much easier when trying to get your footing. Thanks so much for the transparency. I would love to see more videos like these.🧡

[@socialmediabutterflyy]

Thank you for sharing. I just started an agency and its new territory for me. This gave me some clarity 💗

[@GreeneyedAmbition]

I love your transparency! I absolutely love you platform. I’ve been following for two years. I’m in the process of creating a systems agency.

[@sarekaunique]

This was so helpful! I have been doing freelance marketing for a bit over a year now and I am starting to get to the point where I will need to hire help before I am completely burnt out and this was super helpful.

[@sonextmovie]

such a wonderful video!! with hardworking and focus you can make your dreams come true. thank you for sharing Katie!

[@NadMartineau]

You are such an inspiration!

[@lovepurple180]

Love this video so much! And I love how you are happy with where you are at but still want to grow. Thanks so much for sharing this info!!

[@entrepreneuriallyher]

This was all so helpful! Thanks!!!

[@uro5244]

im rarely influenced by paid ad's BUT MUNCH?? OMG its exactly what i needed, you dont understand how efficient it made my workflow. i had a 12 hour vod that i needed to go though and munch made something that wouldve taken me 4 days IN 10 MINUTES its insane 😭😭😭

[@etienoeloma]

Really interesting, thank you for introducing munch to us, I’ll check it out.

[@capturedbyculley]

I really love your content, it is so natural i dont feel like your throwing a pitch at me!

[@katelyngraber1658]

Great to hear from a womens point of view about a social media agency. I’ve only been seeing the hustle bros lately

[@CreatorsLeap]

So inspiring Katie. Ankit this side. I’m following your path to build my agency. I have been working as a blogger since 2010. Now started creating video content to attract potential clients. Let’s see how it goes. 😃

[@ksinty1]

One of your best videos

[@brigittabrandt4116]

Thank you, dear Katie! 🙏🧡

[@jacinnewyork]

This is so helpful, thank you so much!!

[@maiakipping]

This is so helpful! I am at the brink of scaling up to potentially looking for my first hire maybe of a VA but with this as my side job alongside my full time role makes this a hard one to know exactly when and how to scale without burning out

[@friendscallmebri]

I agree about all the guys with content saying you can build an agency in a week lol. It was hard to find something that wasn't just... fluff or a get rich quick video. Thanks for sharing an overview of your business growth! Very cool to see and very inspiring.

[@GriffinThomasMFCEO]

This is real shit right here!!!!!! As someone who’s had a channel for like 7 years and finally just found my niche’s to the point where people are asking to pay me for my expertise in my industry I get and respect the grind! Earned yourself another subscriber! Thanks so much for the great content

[@katie]

thanks so much!!

[@andreabitay]

You are a real inspiration for me ⚡️

[@ShawndaandMichael]

I had no ideas that you were not in the US! Great video!

[@OlleyThorpe]

Inspiring Katie! LFG!

[@viktoriaherzberg9519]

Very interesting and inspiring video!

[@MoradaPortfolio]

Hi! Can you please make a video about the process of building up Creatorly Media's social platforms? What do you delegate? How do you decide what content goes on your business vs personal platforms? Thanks!

[@DianaIrene]

It looks like you read my mind. I'm looking for some tools to re purpose my content. Thanks 😊

[@Blossomthecreativist]

How many clients do you typically serve in a month? What's a healthy amount for an agency?

[@workwealthandtravel]

Would love to know what your business expenses are per month :)

[@HealthtoBeautyNails]

I so appreciate your transparency! I'm in a place in my business where I'm asking myself what scaling means to me, and it's helpful to hear your journey. Every one of your videos is so jam packed with value, thank you!

[@ericw9]

Me: how I built a 26 subscriber KZbin channel

[@MKHobson]

🤣 same same

[@TheCamAlexander]

27 now

[@ericw9]

@@TheCamAlexander didn’t notice that. I did not get a new subscriber notification

[@mommyneedswine]

😂

[@Everyday.homemaking]

😂😂😂 too funny

[@YTCourtney]

Paused video 20 seconds in….”selling overpriced candles and lotions at the mall…” LOL I feeeeel that. So many jobs selling things to people and thinking “I wish I could afford it” 😂

[@freelancingwithsilvia]

I never had a "real life" job either!!

[@LexWilliamsMoney]

This video is VERY MUCH what I was looking for whilst struggling with scaling my SMMA. (The problem I'm having is too many clients, not enough employees, and I needed to hear a lot of this, especially with hiring someone to do a lot of the little stuff I'm constantly doing)

[@LifeAboutToya]

Are you hiring I need experience

[@JustJay809]

Thanks for this real video about your journey. So freshing.... I hate those videos make 6 figs in 5 mins - urgh boring

[@pkmntrainersergio]

Interesting. e_e

[@brianna_jade]

Thank you so much for this Katie!! I also have never had a "real corporate job"... As someone who has been freelancing for the last 3 years, I've been trying to grow my agency but didn't know how to take it to the next level. I appreciate your content. 🤍