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A Wild & Crazy Journey into Entrepreneurship

July 28, 2022
freelancer to agency owner erica vander sande

I’m Erica: agency owner, girl mom, and ultimate hype girl for female business owners.

I’m starting this podcast to teach you the actuals of how to start a marketing agency.

Learn how to start your own successful marketing agency and strategically outsource immediately – yes, that means you don’t have to do everything on your own, even as you’re just starting out!

This episode is all about me (yikes!), but I think it’s important for me to tell my story despite the discomfort I feel in recording a full episode about myself! I love learning about other people, hearing their stories, and discovering how they tackled all they’ve accomplished. So today I’m documenting my own journey into entrepreneurship; it’s one riddled with trauma and grief but also with so much joy and growth. 

If you’re interested in hearing how one agency owner got started, tune in! 

What drove me into entrepreneurship was a time when both my work and personal life came crashing down, from caring for a sick parent to a complicated pregnancy and even getting laid off, it felt like my world was ending…so I had to create a new one. 

My first step? I made a list. I made a list of local businesses that I loved and saw potential in, got vulnerable, and asked if they would consider letting me do freelance marketing for them. 

I didn’t have business cards, a website, a portfolio, anything! I started simply with what I had and gave my ALL to the clients who would take me. The most amazing thing? It worked! 

Despite the blows that life continued to throw at me (and trust me, there were a LOT!), I slowly grew my client base and, eventually, a full agency. But truthfully, the only reason that this business survived and grew in the way that it did was because of the structure I set up in those first few months. The structure is what saved me when life was too much, and THAT is what I’m aiming to teach any freelancer who dreams of owning their own agency. You deserve to have both financial and time freedom, and friend? It is truly possible; it’s not just a pipedream. 

My goal is to get you to make the leap to agency owner. If you feel scared, trust me, I get it! When I got started, all I had was a spreadsheet, a resume, and a prayer; if I can do it, you can too. 

Listen to the Podcast Episode!

Links mentioned: 

1:1 Freelancer to Agency Owner Coaching

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We’ve been deep in the work lately. Building websites that convert. Elevating brands to match the level of expertise behind them. Making thoughtful refinements that create steady, sustainable momentum.

This is what happens when strategy, capacity, and growth goals are aligned from the start. If you’re ready for clarity in your next phase of growth, let’s start the conversation.

#MarketingStrategy #WomenOwnedAgency #AlignedGrowth #StrategicExecution #TheMinaCompany
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We’ve been deep in the work lately. Building websites that convert. Elevating brands to match the level of expertise behind them. Making thoughtful refinements that create steady, sustainable momentum. This is what happens when strategy, capacity, and growth goals are aligned from the start. If you’re ready for clarity in your next phase of growth, let’s start the conversation. #MarketingStrategy #WomenOwnedAgency #AlignedGrowth #StrategicExecution #TheMinaCompany
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From brand identity to website development to launch strategy, this project was designed to help the Collective grow with clarity and credibility from day one.

If you're a fractional interested in more visit @elitefractionalcollective 

#FractionalLeadership #ModernBusiness #WomenInLeadership #BusinessStrategy #TheMinaCompany
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We’ve been working with Elite Fractional Collective on a new brand identity, website, and social launch strategy, and we’re excited to share it. Elite Fractional connects businesses with experienced fractional professionals across leadership roles, giving companies access to high-level expertise without traditional hiring. From brand identity to website development to launch strategy, this project was designed to help the Collective grow with clarity and credibility from day one. If you're a fractional interested in more visit @elitefractionalcollective #FractionalLeadership #ModernBusiness #WomenInLeadership #BusinessStrategy #TheMinaCompany
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Clear positioning.
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Paid ads aligned with the customer journey.

Because clarity builds confidence.
And confident clients take action.

Strategy first. Always.

If your website feels unclear, it’s rarely a design issue.
It’s a positioning and strategy issue.

And yes — we can help with that.

#WebsiteStrategy #FinancialBrands #ConversionDesign #StrategicMarketing #TheMinaCompany
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The best brands don’t just look good. They remove friction at every step. We partnered with The Financial Edit from the ground up - creating a new logo, a strategic website, and conversion-focused ads designed to help her launch with clarity and momentum. Because when you’re building a financial brand, trust isn’t optional. It’s everything. We simplified complex financial conversations without watering them down. We built structure that guides instead of overwhelms. We created messaging that feels human but authoritative. And we developed ad campaigns designed to convert — not just generate traffic. Strategic brand identity. Clear positioning. Conversion-focused website flow. Paid ads aligned with the customer journey. Because clarity builds confidence. And confident clients take action. Strategy first. Always. If your website feels unclear, it’s rarely a design issue. It’s a positioning and strategy issue. And yes — we can help with that. #WebsiteStrategy #FinancialBrands #ConversionDesign #StrategicMarketing #TheMinaCompany
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With Jo Leda Martin, this wasn’t just a quick website.
It was a full brand alignment.

We partnered on:

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• Logo and visual identity
• A custom photo shoot to capture her presence and depth
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When your brand matches your expertise, everything feels cleaner.
Your messaging sharpens.
Your confidence increases.
Your clients feel it immediately.

If your brand has outgrown your website, it might be time for alignment.

Let’s talk.

#BrandStrategy #ExecutiveBranding #WebsiteLaunch #WomenInBusiness #TheMinaCompany
There’s a difference between having a brand…
and having a brand that matches the level you operate at.

With Jo Leda Martin, this wasn’t just a quick website.
It was a full brand alignment.

We partnered on:

• Brand strategy and refined positioning
• Logo and visual identity
• A custom photo shoot to capture her presence and depth
• A fully rebuilt, SEO-optimized website
• Google Ads structured for the right-fit clients
• Print materials that carry the same executive clarity offline

Jo is an executive coach and counselor who works with leaders navigating pressure, identity, family strain, and high-level responsibility. Her work lives in that rare space between clinical depth and boardroom insight - and her brand needed to reflect both.

This wasn’t about aesthetics.
It was about alignment.

Her new digital presence now speaks directly to high-level leaders while preserving the warmth, steadiness, and authenticity that make her such an extraordinary guide.

And truly — she is one of those clients who just clicked. Clear vision. Deep trust. Thoughtful collaboration. The kind of partnership that makes the work better.

When your brand matches your expertise, everything feels cleaner.
Your messaging sharpens.
Your confidence increases.
Your clients feel it immediately.

If your brand has outgrown your website, it might be time for alignment.

Let’s talk.

#BrandStrategy #ExecutiveBranding #WebsiteLaunch #WomenInBusiness #TheMinaCompany
There’s a difference between having a brand…
and having a brand that matches the level you operate at.

With Jo Leda Martin, this wasn’t just a quick website.
It was a full brand alignment.

We partnered on:

• Brand strategy and refined positioning
• Logo and visual identity
• A custom photo shoot to capture her presence and depth
• A fully rebuilt, SEO-optimized website
• Google Ads structured for the right-fit clients
• Print materials that carry the same executive clarity offline

Jo is an executive coach and counselor who works with leaders navigating pressure, identity, family strain, and high-level responsibility. Her work lives in that rare space between clinical depth and boardroom insight - and her brand needed to reflect both.

This wasn’t about aesthetics.
It was about alignment.

Her new digital presence now speaks directly to high-level leaders while preserving the warmth, steadiness, and authenticity that make her such an extraordinary guide.

And truly — she is one of those clients who just clicked. Clear vision. Deep trust. Thoughtful collaboration. The kind of partnership that makes the work better.

When your brand matches your expertise, everything feels cleaner.
Your messaging sharpens.
Your confidence increases.
Your clients feel it immediately.

If your brand has outgrown your website, it might be time for alignment.

Let’s talk.

#BrandStrategy #ExecutiveBranding #WebsiteLaunch #WomenInBusiness #TheMinaCompany
•
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There’s a difference between having a brand… and having a brand that matches the level you operate at. With Jo Leda Martin, this wasn’t just a quick website. It was a full brand alignment. We partnered on: • Brand strategy and refined positioning • Logo and visual identity • A custom photo shoot to capture her presence and depth • A fully rebuilt, SEO-optimized website • Google Ads structured for the right-fit clients • Print materials that carry the same executive clarity offline Jo is an executive coach and counselor who works with leaders navigating pressure, identity, family strain, and high-level responsibility. Her work lives in that rare space between clinical depth and boardroom insight - and her brand needed to reflect both. This wasn’t about aesthetics. It was about alignment. Her new digital presence now speaks directly to high-level leaders while preserving the warmth, steadiness, and authenticity that make her such an extraordinary guide. And truly — she is one of those clients who just clicked. Clear vision. Deep trust. Thoughtful collaboration. The kind of partnership that makes the work better. When your brand matches your expertise, everything feels cleaner. Your messaging sharpens. Your confidence increases. Your clients feel it immediately. If your brand has outgrown your website, it might be time for alignment. Let’s talk. #BrandStrategy #ExecutiveBranding #WebsiteLaunch #WomenInBusiness #TheMinaCompany
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