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#482 – Pia Silva – Small Branding Agencies

by | Jul 4, 2025 | Podcast | 0 comments

Pia Silva joins Kevin Appleby and Graham Arrowsmith on The Next 100 Days Podcast

Small Branding Agencies

Pia Silva coaches small branding agencies to scale profit and freedom without employees. She advocates for a project-based, high-ticket branding model vs. ongoing retainers.

Pia Silva, NYC, Small Branding Agencies, The Next 100 Days Podcast

Summary of the Podcast

Key Takeaways

  • Pia coaches small branding agencies to scale profit and freedom without employees
  • She advocates for a project-based, high-ticket branding model vs. ongoing retainers
  • Effective branding requires confidence, strategy and standing out, not just design skills
  • AI and cheap labor are threats to commodity design work, but not strategic branding

Pia’s Small Branding Agencies Business Model

  • Coaches small branding agencies via online training/coaching program
  • Teaches her “No BS Agency Mastery” model developed in her own agency
  • Focuses on project-based branding (e.g. $40k for 2-day intensive) vs. retainers
  • Emphasizes profitability and lifestyle over top-line revenue growth

Branding Philosophy

  • Brand = “What people say about you when you’re not in the room”
  • Badass brand: Magnetically attracts ideal clients, repels others, charges premium
  • Focus on strategy, messaging, design that stands out vs. generic corporate branding
  • Ask “What do you stand against?” to uncover differentiation

Evolution of Branding Trends

  • “Badass” and edgy messaging became mainstream, diluting impact
  • Rebranding example: Financial firm evolved from edgy to sophisticated positioning
  • Need to continually evolve brand as market changes

AI and Industry Threats

  • AI/cheap labor threaten commodity design work
  • Strategic thinking, leadership, client trust more important than ever
  • Opportunity to curate and guide AI-generated options based on strategy

Clips from the Podcast

Pia’s Day Job / Elevator Pitch

 

Why Her Clients Want to Work With Her

 

Stay Focused

 

Testimonial

The Next 100 Days Podcast Co-Hosts

Graham Arrowsmith

Graham Arrowsmith, Headshot, Co-host, The Next 100 Days Podcast, v2

Graham founded Finely Fettled ten years ago to help business owners and marketers market to affluent and high-net-worth customers.  Graham founder of MicroYES, a Partner for MeclabsAI, where he introduces AI Agents that sit on websites, to increase engagement, dwell time, leads and conversions.

Kevin Appleby

Kevin Appleby, Headshot, Co-host, The Next 100 Days Podcast, V2

Kevin specialises in finance transformation and implementing business change. He’s the COO of GrowCFO, which provides both community and CPD-accredited training designed to grow the next generation of finance leaders. You can find Kevin on LinkedIn and at kevinappleby.com