October 11, 2024 — Are you thinking about growing your agency? Do yourself a favor and learn from our mistakes! In this talk, we’ll focus on bringing real world insights into the growing pains of agency life. Whether you’re a solo consultant dreaming of building a team or a small agency aiming for expansion, Karena and Gina will take a look at these pivotal stages of agency development, helping you anticipate risks and avoid common pitfalls.

We will cover critical topics such as effective team growth, clarity around service offerings, and the creation of solid processes and procedures. We’ll also explore crucial financial priorities, legal necessities, and the cultivation of a workplace culture that aligns with your vision.

This presentation will be packed with actionable takeaways for the WordPress professional, offering strategies for scaling, considerations for building with an exit in mind, and a variety of tools and resources that you can apply directly to your own agency expansion efforts.

November 18, 2023 — The journey from being a solo freelancer to running a micro-agency is as exciting as it is complex. This transformation involves not only an upgrade in your service offerings but also in your operations, team management, and client relationships. This talk aims to equip freelancers and small business owners with the insights and tools needed to expand into a fully-functioning micro-agency, based on proven strategies and actionable advice.

What You’ll Learn:

– Team Building 101: How to transition from being a ‘one-man-show’ to leading a team.
– Operational Efficiency: Streamlining projects from proposal to delivery.
– Quality over Quantity: Why clarity about what you do and do not do will save you.
– Money Matters: Pricing strategies and financial metrics you can’t afford to ignore.
– Client Relationships: Managing expectations and communication as you grow.
– Legal Aspects: Contracts, compliance, and the legal groundwork needed for an agency.
– Marketing and Branding: Establishing your agency brand vs. your personal brand.
– Technological Scalability: The tools and software that can propel your growth.
– Culture and Leadership: Fostering a culture that keeps your team motivated.
Tips and Recommendations: Tidbits and wisdom you’ll need to make this transition easier.

Who Should Attend:

– Freelancers looking to expand their business
– Small business owners in the WordPress ecosystem
– Agency owners looking to refine their operations
– Anyone interested in the business aspects of WordPress development and services

Presentation Slides »

March 30, 2015 — The beauty of WordPress is in its strength of community, resources and effectiveness. But without a plan in place, our projects can slow down and stall under the weight of all those possibilities. Learn how to jumpstart your process by NOT starting from zero each time. You’ll learn about the power of frameworks, child themes, templates, design inspiration, preferred plugins, integration services and quality research to build a custom workflow that speeds up design and development. It makes for happy clients – and a happy you!

Presentation Slides »