#007 — Jacob Cass

Jacob Cass is a brand designer, strategist, educator, podcaster, business coach, community builder, flamingo enthusiast and the founder of JUST Creative, an award-winning branding & design consultancy that doubles as an industry-leading blog. Jacob helps grow brands strategically and has worked for clients such as Disney, Nintendo and Jerry Seinfeld however he is now focused on bringing this global brand experience to smaller businesses. For Jacob, design is a lifelong journey of continuously honing his craft, as well as empowering other fellow designers & entrepreneurs to build on theirs. JUST Creative was created to help businesses & individuals Stand The Flock Out™ in saturated markets. JUST Creative is an award-winning branding agency, industry-leading blog and vibrant creative community and we help brands Stand The Flock Out™. Specializing in Brand Strategy, Identity Design, and Growth, JUST Creative caters to individuals and businesses with a bold streak — those who ‘Dare to Flair’. Find Jacob: Website: https://justcreative.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justcreativedesign Twitter: https://twitter.com/justcreative LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobcass/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/justcreative Affiliate Links: Webflow: https://try.webflow.com/1p91anb2byd3 Bloom: https://bloom.cello.so/hXX9A7c0zQc Chapters: 00:00 The Journey into Design 08:45 Agency Life and Strategic Growth 17:05 The Evolution of Brand Strategy 24:43 Digital Products and Monetization Strategies 36:06 Navigating Product Development and Collaboration 38:54 The Journey of a Creative Drifter 41:21 The Rise and Fall of a Successful Blog 43:39 Adapting to SEO Changes and AI Influence 48:46 The Future of SEO in an AI-Driven World 55:35 Building the Brand Builders Alliance 01:00:05 Balancing Value and Pricing in Community Building 01:05:26 Future Plans and Ongoing Projects Takeaways: - Jacob's journey into design began with a high school career advisor. - He transitioned from agency life to understanding brand strategy. - The importance of digital products and workshops in his career. - SEO changes significantly impacted his business model. - Building a community requires understanding the audience's needs. - Over-delivering can lead to burnout in community management. - The Brand Builders Alliance focuses on community, resources, and mentorship. - Jacob's past ventures taught him valuable lessons about business. - He emphasizes the importance of personal branding and unique value. - Future projects include a major summit and continued community growth.