Every great idea starts somewhere, and for me, that place is usually a blank sheet of paper or a scribble in a notebook. Those messy, unpolished thoughts laid the foundation for what would become Talent on Tap, a marketing agency designed to give small businesses the freedom to build custom, scalable marketing packages. But the journey from idea to startup wasn’t something I did alone—it was a collaboration with my co-founder, whose design expertise helped bring the vision to life, and every step brought us closer to creating something truly unique.
The spark: Where it all began
The idea for Talent on Tap started with a frustration I’ve seen countless times: small and medium-sized businesses struggling to access high-quality marketing services that fit their specific needs and budgets. Hiring an in-house team is expensive, and most agencies offer rigid packages that don’t allow the flexibility these businesses need to grow.
That’s when it hit me—what if marketing could be as flexible as their goals and budgets? What if businesses could build their own marketing subscriptions, choosing exactly what they need and scaling it up as they grow? That idea became the heartbeat of Talent on Tap.
But we weren’t just looking to create a tool for businesses. We had a second goal: to build a space where talented, creative individuals could come together and work on exciting projects for our clients. We envisioned Talent on Tap as a platform that empowers both sides—businesses to control their marketing and professionals to showcase their creativity.
Scribbling ideas: Refining the vision
In the early days, I spent a lot of time sketching out ideas and refining the core concept. My friend & Talent on Tap’s co-founder, Geoff, was instrumental in bringing clarity and simplicity to those ideas through his design approach. He transformed rough concepts into a clear, approachable brand that reflects who we are as people—down-to-earth, collaborative, and always focused on helping businesses succeed without the smoke and mirrors.
Together, we worked through the messy process of turning our vision into reality. His talent for breathing life into a brand was key. He shaped everything from the user experience to the visual elements, ensuring that Talent on Tap felt welcoming and approachable—whether you’re a startup or a more established business. Thoughtful design choices, from our bright color palette to the clever logo, all contribute to a brand that feels open and unintimidating.
Overcoming challenges: Erasing the doubts
Like any startup, we faced our share of challenges. One of the biggest hurdles was getting people to understand and embrace our vision. Would businesses really want to build their own marketing subscriptions? How would we balance offering enough flexibility with keeping things simple for our clients?
There were moments when we questioned whether we were on the right path. But every time we faced doubt, we went back to our goals. We stayed focused on the two key things we set out to achieve: giving clients full control over their marketing, and creating a space for talented individuals to do what they do best. Our designs played a huge part in communicating this vision—making it feel less like a daunting task and more like a friendly collaboration with clear, achievable outcomes.
The build: Making it happen
Once we had a clear direction, it was time to build Talent on Tap into three key parts:
- The Public Front-Facing Website: This is where clients can design their own marketing packages. There’s no checkout process; instead, clients submit their custom package, and we follow up with a kick-off meeting to assess their needs and set everything up. This keeps the process personal and flexible.
- The Client Hub: A dashboard for clients to manage their marketing subscriptions and projects. It’s where they oversee one-time or recurring packages, track deliverables, and provide feedback. This space is designed to give clients full transparency and control over their marketing efforts.
- The Talent Hub: This is where the magic happens behind the scenes. Our team of talented freelancers and employees log in, view client projects and tasks, upload assets, and track their work. It’s not just a place to get things done; it’s a collaborative hub for creativity and productivity, where talent thrives and every project gets the attention it deserves.
We also introduced the Marketing Package Builder, a tool that gives clients complete control over their marketing services. The platform was designed to be intuitive, transparent, and easy to use. Clients can mix and match deliverables—social media content, emails, ad campaigns—while having full visibility on pricing, ensuring that they get exactly what they need, when they need it. It’s marketing on your terms.
The launch: Bringing the vision to life
After months of refining and building, the day came to launch Talent on Tap. It was exhilarating and nerve-wracking all at once. Would people understand our vision? Would they see the value in having the freedom to create custom marketing subscriptions?
The early feedback was promising. Clients loved the idea of being able to choose exactly what they needed, and our creative team was excited to work in an environment that celebrated flexibility and collaboration. Of course, there were things to tweak, but seeing the pieces come together in real time was incredibly rewarding.
Looking forward: What’s next?
Talent on Tap is still evolving, and there’s always more to improve and refine. We’re continuously adding new features to the platform and finding ways to better serve both our clients and our talented professionals. We’re excited to keep pushing boundaries and finding new ways to make marketing accessible, transparent, and effective for businesses of all sizes.
We set out to achieve two things: give businesses the tools to control their marketing, and create a space for talented individuals to shine. And while we’ve made great strides, there’s still more to build—and that’s the exciting part.
Curious to see what passion and hard work can create? Check out Talent on Tap and explore how we’re helping businesses bring their boldest ideas to life.