We had the good fortune of connecting with Olivia Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Olivia, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I noticed a real gap in the market when it came to marketing agencies. A full-scale agency can easily cost a business $20,000 a month. So what’s left for small businesses or entrepreneurs just trying to get off the ground? I wanted to create an agency that gave growing brands access to smart, effective marketing without the massive price tag.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I started and own a marketing agency that’s all about helping small businesses share their stories in a way that feels real and true to who they are. Most marketing agencies charge upwards of 10k a month – so what’s left for small businesses? They need marketing too!! Olive Branding offers practical prices that will actually help get you noticed without breaking the bank. I pride myself on being able to meet my clients where they are at, and grow alongside their brand.

What gets me out of bed every morning is finding ways to capture my clients’ voices so perfectly that nobody can tell it’s me writing their posts. I’ve had clients tell me their friends will rave about something they “wrote,” and when they fess up that it was me, their friends are floored because it sounds so like them. Honestly, that’s the best compliment I could ever ask for.

It wasn’t always smooth sailing. I started out flying solo, figuring things out as I went, and trying to balance the creative stuff with the strategic side. Let me tell you, it was a lot of late nights and learning curves! But I’ve learned that really listening to my clients, getting to know their stories, their quirks, what they stand for. It makes all the difference. That’s when the magic happens.

At the end of the day, it’s not about me. I’m here to make my clients’ brands feel like an extension of themselves, like they’re the ones typing every word or posting every update. My job is to amplify their voice and vision in a way that’s as authentic as it gets.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As a Buckhead native who’s lived in Atlanta my whole life, I’ve done it all and I still love showing it off. As soon as my girlfriend lands, we’re going straight to Nuevo Laredo; if you know, you know. It’s hands-down the best Mexican food in the city. No seriously, they can’t stop winning awards.

From there, we’d make our way down to the BeltLine and Piedmont Park. I lived in East Atlanta Village for most of my 20s, so some of my favorite memories are at Church (the bar, not an actual church), Ladybird, and of course, ending the night with the best skyline view of Atlanta at Sweetwater.

The next morning, we’d hit Carol St. Cafe for the best breakfast plate you can imagine and then do it all over again. Honestly, the city is endless; I’m always discovering new spots I love. But at the end of the day, give me Piedmont Park with a blanket, my husband and Shih Tzu Pepper, a picnic of snacks, and that’s still my favorite way to spend a summer day in Atlanta.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Honestly, I have to give all the credit to my husband. Back when he was my fiancé, he was the one who pushed me to bet on myself. He told me, ‘You’ve got six months to figure it out’—and that was two years ago. Without his support and belief in me, I don’t know if I would’ve had the courage to take that leap. Actually, I know for a fact I wouldn’t have.

Website: https://wwww.olivebranding.agency

Instagram: olivi_yah and olivebrandagency

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviarcole/

Image Credits
My wonderful husband, Parker Smith.

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