Together Agency

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and founder of Jenny Blake Enterprises, and I’m also an author, speaker, and broadcaster. Additionally, I’m also the host of the Pivot podcast and Free Time with Jenny Blake. My recent book is called “Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One”.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Together Agency?

I do not embark on a new project without Together Agency. They have helped me brand every iteration of my business since I first encountered them in 2012. They helped me pivot from my first book “Life After College”, to launching a brand under my own name. 

They were the ones who helped me completely brand my book Pivot. They did everything from the cover of the book, down to the visuals.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Together Agency works with me to create the brand strategy for my projects. When I’m launching into a new body of work, I bring in Together Agency early in the process. I’ll start working with them to clarify the brand values and guiding principles, even while I’m working on getting a book deal simultaneously. Our work will translate into the visual voice of the brand — they’re really a part of my biggest media projects from inception. They help shape the ideas and clear the personality of the brand. 

Take my book Pivot for example. Their work on it translated into everything — the website, the book cover, the podcast, teaching materials, licensing programs, and the diagrams in the book that illustrate the pivot method. Each of my big ideas has all these different extensions in terms of business consulting, media, and brand strategy.

Pivot launched in 2016 and right now, they’re wrapping the big strategy for my next book and podcast.

What is the team composition?

It’s not just one person so it feels very diverse and dynamic. The team could range anywhere from three people in the beginning, to 6–8 by the time the project has made it through the labyrinth.

The team would include the founder, the head of operations, regular team members, and they’ll even bring in external freelancers or contractors when needed.

How did you come to work with Together Agency?

I first met Adam (Founder) in 2012 through a referral from a mutual friend. I saw a photo he had taken and it stood out from everything I had seen. He had a bigger vision for me and my business than I ever had for myself. I have never worked for a brand strategy firm — I didn’t really even know what it was.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve invested around $75,000 in value.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since March 2013, and our partnership is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Together Agency’s brand strategy allowed me to create licensing materials for private programs, that yield six-figure contracts with companies. I felt confident going in to have a consistent brand and material, because one licensing contract could go for $100,000, just for a company to leverage the Pivot materials and run sessions within their organization.

Of course, there are also the intangibles. They say don’t judge a book by its cover, but I think Pivot has sold over 35,000 copies to date, and I think having clear brand visuals is a big part of that. Additionally, the podcast has over a million downloads cumulatively in its history.

How did Together Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform very clear. In the beginning, the communication was more frequent because we were still shaping the brand, and understanding the key creative direction. By the time they have started the brand guidelines, they got to do their thing and produced all the assets.

Moreover, they're always willing to jump on a phone call if there are things that we need to talk through, or feedback that they want to give or receive.

I always feel like I’m in such great hands because they have a very dynamic team. They curate the most skilled, interesting, and passionate people to work on the brands, so I’m always grateful that they're such a strong team.

They go so far above and beyond what I even ask for, even when we’ve already agreed that certain deliverables are final. They’ll put in another 20 hours into perfecting them in a way that really satisfies my inner design eye as well. I really appreciate that they treat every project as if it’s their own.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I completely trust their process. I know for sure that they will not ship work that’s not exceptional, and that’s why I feel confident going through the messy part of the creative process. It’s not always easy, but there’s always a period with any brand strategy project where you don’t know if it’s going to resonate, if it’s going to sing, or have a soul.

Together Agency is just so committed to excellence and committed to utterly delighting and connecting their clients to the outcome. I feel like if I work with a different agency, I might get two revisions, which will be part of the deliverables, whether I like it or not. Together Agency wants to knock it out of the park every time and they don’t accept anything less.

With them, I actually feel like I have people who care about my project as much as I do. This is really hard to find when you’re hiring an external firm.

Together Agency really helped me see what’s possible with making a big investment. Since I’m a small agency, I’m making a substantial investment upfront, and I didn’t realize how crucial it would be. Much of what I do are ideas in my mind. They’re not visual, they’re through words, whether it’s my books, podcast, or from speaking.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think they’re so good at what they do, that I almost feel lost in this ongoing implementation type of relationship. I think having some kind of retainer partnership at varying levels of investment would be super helpful.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust the process and be open to new ideas. Partnering with Together Agency is worth the investment. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and owner of a new company in the equestrian space. We launched last year, and we’re doing a soft product launch later next month. We offer bags specifically designed for equestrian riders. We also have an apparel collection that we’ll launch later on, and we’ll eventually move into lifestyle products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Together Agency?

We need an agency that can help us build the look and feel of our brand as well as our brand story. I was raised in the world of retail brick-and-mortar distribution. However, in today’s world, there are much more direct-to-consumer interactions online where businesses can control their stories better. That’s where we need a company like Together Agency.

Having worked with the biggest manufacturers in the world, I also know when a product is a top-drawer. We want to make sure that our company’s presentation to the world is equally top-drawer. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

To build out a platform and work on our story, Together Agency first needed to become an expert in our area. As a result, they spent the first months working with us by researching the equestrian field. They needed to come up with their own ideas and understanding of the industry separate from ourselves. They then circled back to us, and we put our heads together. 

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with around seven people. Adam (Co-Founder & CEO) and Marisol (Co-Founder & COO) manage our account. At any number of times, there are 2–3 designers working on our website. Then, there’s a couple of people working on the copywriting tasks. 

How did you come to work with Together Agency?

I tend to work with business associates that I have known or worked with in the past or with someone that has been vetted thoroughly. However, Together Agency had the desire to fully understand our business, and I’ve also known Adam prior to this project, so we hired them. 

I got introduced to Adam many years ago. He was brought on by a mutual friend to a project that I was working on. I found that he had the desire to fully understand the brand, and he became a true partner in building it. 

For this project, I also interviewed a number of other agencies. However, Together Agency had the sincerity factor, while others weren’t actually interested in or didn’t care about the equestrian world. Adam’s team wanted to know the business, and they showed they very much cared about it, so we chose them.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve invested around $400,000–$500,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

I approached them in December 2019, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

The branding initiative has been launched. I’ve launched a number of brands in my many decades in the business, and this project is by far the most successful. We’re already established in the equestrian space as a competitive brand. We’ve pre-sold a number of products, which is amazing considering that the products won’t arrive until the latter part of this year. 

Together Agency has done a phenomenal job in terms of creating a brand story that gives us credibility in this space. People who have come across the site also describe the branding as classy and professional — that’s their choice of words. When they visit the website, they know that there has been a tremendous amount of effort poured into all aspects of the design and branding. 

Moreover, one article from a magazine noted our logo. They looked at the website and logo from a design perspective and from a non-equestrian standpoint. The website itself is entertaining and not just about selling a product, and the way it’s been packaged is first-rate. 

How did Together Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

The main tool we use to communicate is Slack. When we were starting out, our initial communication was more direct. We were talking via emails, phone, and Zoom meetings several times a week for the first few months. Once we were established and in the groove, we shifted everything over to slack, and it’s been a great tool to keep everybody connected. 

We also do offline chats. If there are any misunderstandings, there’s a one-to-one check-in between me and Adam to make sure that we’re immediately addressing any issues that arise. It allows us to get everything on the table so that when we have our next meeting, we won’t have to discuss large issues. It’s a more personable approach. 

Adam does this not because we’ve known each other but because it’s his style. It’s extremely good because people often hesitate to bring up things that may or may not be working in a group environment. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The values that Together Agency brings are impressive. They’re not the least expensive, and they’re not the most expensive agency out there. However, they have the ability to put forth a bold plan and then exceed our expectations. 

We’ve been very happy with the results. What Together Agency has accomplished over the years is very good and helpful. They don't simply ask us to tell them what we think — they do their homework. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Treat them as a partner. When customers are working with Together Agency, they’re working with a team — not just an individual. There may be an account manager, but that management involves a team. There’s nothing wrong with creating a business with Together Agency, so customers should share their stories with them. The team works best when they’re treated as a partner.