The Churn
Ask Brandon, Vol. 3: Squad Up
Butter ATLFebruary 9, 2021
Whats up? I’m Brandon Butler, CEO of ButterATL.
People ask me for advice all the time. Not just any advice — real stuff. How do I get my career started? How should I make a budget? How do you start a creative business? Pretty much all the stuff they should’ve taught you in school… but didn’t.
Since I get so many questions, I decided to help spread these keys. Send your Qs to AskBrandon@ButterATL.com and I’ll keep answering.
Q: When you are creating a social media platform/podcast, who would you say are crucial members to have on your team, meaning, what kinds of skills and expertise are critical to creating a successful media presence?
B: When we started Butter we had a really small core team of people. We went through a couple of iterations to make sure we had the right folks on the team and we’ve evolved a lot since then.
But at a minimum, I think every new media venture should have some mix of the following people on their team:
A Words Person
You need a communicator. Someone that can take ideas and concepts and put them into words. Think of communication like a water faucet: The more clearly you’re able to communicate with your potential audience, the more quickly you’ll be able to get them behind you.
A Design and/or Video Person
Once you have those clear ideas you need someone that can bring them to life. Static images or moving images (i.e. video) are a great way to make that happen.
The old saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” and I couldn’t agree with that idea more. People remember what they see.
A clear image can communicate an idea much more quickly and effectively than words alone; the combination of great design with a clear idea is golden.
A Project Manager
Project management is one of the most critical, yet under-appreciated skills in any media or creative situation.
The best ideas and content don’t mean anything if they’re not where they should be, when they should be there. Imagine how crazy a restaurant would be with all cooks and nobody to serve the guests. As things get busier and busier, the trick is to scale with project management, not just creativity.
PS: Please adjust this to your needs. For example, if you’re starting a podcast you might need an audio person instead of a designer or videographer.
PPS: Sometimes the best people aren’t nearby, and that’s OK. The great thing about the internet is that you can build an awesome team without needing to worry about locations.
If you’re looking for help, these are some of my favorite places to find freelancers:
As CEO of Butter.ATL, Atlanta’s culture channel, Brandon Butler leads the creative vision and day-to-day operations, producing culturally relevant content. You already know. But you may not know Brandon has a Bachelor’s in Information Technology from Georgia Southern University, an MBA from Georgia Tech, certifications from Beijing University and The Connecticut School of Broadcasting (#certified), and a wealth of experiences in business. He’s also a sought-after public speaker and no stranger to award-winning accomplishments, from Webbys to Ad Age and beyond. Ask Brandon is how he shares what he’s picked up. Send questions to AskBrandon@ButterATL.com.