Marketing Re-Imagined: Jahna Eichel Of The Creative Agency On How We Can Re-Imagine The Marketing Industry To Make It More Authentic, Sustainable, And Promote More Satisfaction
An Interview With Drew Gerber
If you are authentic and genuine, you will serve your clients from a place of meaning.
From an objective standpoint, we are living in an unprecedented era of abundance. Yet so many of us are feeling unsatisfied. Why are we seemingly so insatiable? Do you feel that marketing has led to people feeling unsatisfied and not having enough in life? If so, what actions can marketers take to create a world where people feel that they have enough, and they are enough? Can we re-imagine what marketing looks like and how it makes people feel?
In this interview series, we are talking to experts in marketing and branding to discuss how we might re-imagine marketing to make it more authentic, sustainable, and promote more satisfaction. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Jahna Eichel.
As CEO and Founder of The Creative Agency, Jahna Eichel is a proven expert media strategist. Jahna has over 16 years of experience driving sales growth for her clients. She was credited, alongside Mark Cuban, as one of New York Weekly’s top 10 hardest-working CEOs of 2021 and has been highlighted in Business Insider, LA Times, Disrupt Magazine & more for her business acumen.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to know how you got from “there to here.” Inspire us with your backstory!
I always knew I wanted to be a businesswoman. I knew that I wasn’t going to be the next Steve Jobs or Elon Musk, but I could be my own kind of entrepreneur. So, after exiting my corporate public relations role to be a mom, I started an agency in 2017.
I had already been working with luxury service providers and products, so it was easy for me to figure out how to launch and expand my own brand. I developed a cutting-edge marketing process that can be duplicated for every one of my clients.
What lessons would you share with yourself if you had the opportunity to meet your younger self?
You don’t need to do it all. Every entrepreneur starts with the idea that they can be a one-woman show. But to make money, you need to be willing to be venturesome.
The truth is, if you want to build something sustainable, you need help. You’re going to need people who are willing to work hard and not just jump ship when things get tough. You’re going to need people who can take your vision and make it a reality — and this isn’t always easy.
But there are ways to find these people: use your network! If you know someone who is good at what they do and has a good attitude about work (or even if they don’t), ask them if they’d be interested in joining your team!
None of us are able to experience success without support along the way. Is there a particular person for whom you are grateful for that support to grow you from “there to here?” Can you share that story and why you are grateful for him or her?
Jason and I have always been business partners. He’s the one who keeps me grounded when I get overwhelmed by all of the work that needs to be done, and he’s also my biggest cheerleader when things are going well.
What day-to-day structures do you have in place for you to experience a fulfilled life?
I’m obsessed with staying on top of everything. As a marketer, it’s my job to know everything that’s happening in the world and understand how it affects my industry. I also make sure to have a full range of knowledge on all platforms so that when I talk about something, I can speak from more than just my own perspective.
But even though I’m always working — and usually putting in more hours than most people — I love what I do because it allows me to learn about things outside of my industry, too. By reading articles about things that interest me, I get to work while still absorbing content that interests me!
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think it might help people?
We’re always working on new ways to help our clients capture new leads.
Our proprietary technologies are always evolving. We’re using some really innovative data forensics tools that will help our clients capture new leads at a rapid rate.
Ok, thank you for sharing your inspired life. Now let’s discuss marketing. To begin, can you share with our readers a bit about why you are an authority on marketing?
It’s hard to find a company that can do it all. My mission is to help businesses grow and scale no matter how big or small.
I won’t be satisfied until every one of my clients is happy and successful — and their new brand reflects that commitment.
Throughout history, marketing has driven trade for humans. What role do you see that marketing played to get human societies where we are today?
Marketing is an essential part of the world we live in today. Without it, capitalism would not exist, and without capitalism, we wouldn’t be able to provide the goods and services that make our lives better every day.
Marketing has been around for centuries and can even be seen in hieroglyphics. It was a way of building businesses and even played a part in building America. For centuries marketing has played an essential role in building businesses and even played a part in building America.
I work in marketing so I’m very cognizant of this question. What role does marketing play in creating the human experience of “I don’t have enough” even when basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing are met?
The “I don’t have enough” culture is built by the excess of information we see online and on social media. We either want what others have or want them to want what we have. Marketing strategies are largely built around this idea because let’s face it, it’s a good way to get consumers to buy products.
You might not be able to change how much stuff you see online, but you can change how much you consume! Take a little time each day to reflect on what really matters to you.
What responsibility do marketers have when it comes to people feeling that they aren’t enough?
It’s true that the internet has made marketing much more powerful than it was even just a few years ago. Marketers are able to reach a lot more people with their messages, and they can do so in a way that’s more personal than ever before. That said, I think marketers are actually responsible for creating positive experiences with brands.
Marketers use emotionality to facilitate brand connection and loyalty. The use of emotion is meant to end in a positive outcome for both the brand and the consumer. The exposure to so much information online can be overwhelming — and it can lead us to feel like we’re not enough or like we don’t know enough about something. Balancing what and how much you consume is the way to protect your mental health as it relates to the internet.
Many 21st-century marketing professionals in a capitalistic society will discuss solving human “pain points” as a way to sell products, services, and other wares successfully. In your opinion or experience, has aggravating pain points led to more pain?
As a business owner, my job is to identify a “pain point” ( I use the word problem) in your customer’s life and then provide a solution for them. That’s what makes businesses successful — we help solve problems.
Different cultures view trade/marketing differently. While some may focus on “pain-points” others may focus on “purpose-points”. How do other cultures differ in how they approach marketing? Please give examples or studies you may know about.
I’m a problem solver- I’m not worried about the jargon of the day.
Okay, fantastic. Here is the main question of our interview: It seems as if we have never stopped to question marketing. In your opinion, how can marketing professionals be more responsible for how their advertising shapes our human experience of feeling safe, secure, and knowing that we matter? Based on your experience or research can you please share “Five Ways We Can Re-Imagine The Marketing Industry To Make It More Authentic, Sustainable, And Promote More Satisfaction”?
- If you are authentic and genuine, you will serve your clients from a place of meaning.
- A deep understanding of a client’s industry, business goals, and culture is imperative to client satisfaction.
- Be passionate about helping people.
- Focus on organic traffic and leads versus keeping your clients tethered to the rat race of pay-per-click advertising.
- Use systems that can be easily transferred or client-led. I’d love to see more marketing agencies NOT lock their clients into systems they can’t use.
For you personally, if you have all your basic needs met, do you feel you have enough in life?
I work incredibly hard. Basic needs is not enough to keep me entirely satisfied yet I am grateful for even the simplest pleasures in life.
I believe that everything in life can be accomplished with hard work, dedication, and passion. If you have these three things, then anything is possible.
Do you have any favorite books, podcasts, or resources that have inspired you to live with more joy in life?
As a self-development junkie, I am always reading and listening to podcasts and books. I love Andy Frisella, Andrea Crowder, Amanda Frances, Gary John Bishop, and Gary V.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I think entrepreneurship is rewarding but it’s not easy. I love the freedom that comes with being your own boss, and I also love being able to set my own goals and achieve them in my own way.
But in order to achieve those goals, you have to be willing to work hard and put in a lot of effort — and that’s not always easy! It takes a lot more than just having an idea or having the money to start a business: it takes discipline and commitment.
So, if I could start a movement for everyone to at least try developing even a small side hustle so they can become financially autonomous? That would be amazing.
What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?
Web @ https://www.thecreativeagencyco.com
Insta @thecreativeagencyco
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.
About The Interviewer: For 30 years, Drew Gerber has been inspiring those who want to change the world. Drew is the CEO of Wasabi Publicity, Inc., a full-service PR agency lauded by PR Week and Good Morning America. Wasabi Publicity, Inc. is a global marketing company that supports industry leaders, change agents, unconventional thinkers, companies and organizations that strive to make a difference. Whether it’s branding, traditional PR or social media marketing, every campaign is instilled with passion, creativity and brilliance to powerfully tell their clients’ story and amplify their intentions in the world.
Marketing Re-Imagined: Jahna Eichel Of The Creative Agency On How We Can Re-Imagine The Marketing… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.