Description:In this episode of the MediaBooks Podcast, host Kristen Corey breaks down the three key things you should consider before hiring a creative, whether that’s a website designer, marketing professional, or branding expert. As accountants and bookkeepers, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by flashy pitches or high-priced offers. Kristen shares how to make smart, confident decisions so your investment in marketing for accounting firms delivers real value.---Key Takeaways1 - Know your goals before hiring a creative so you don’t waste time or money.

2 - Evaluate their process to make sure it’s transparent and aligned with your needs.

3 - Focus on value, not hype — the right creative will help you grow without the gimmicks.---Timestamps

0:00 – The Client Story & Creative Block

0:27 – Welcome & Episode Intro

1:30 – Why This Topic Matters

3:00 – The Problem in the Creative Industry

5:00 – Consideration #1: Define Your Goals

7:00 – Consideration #2: Evaluate Their Process

10:00 – Consideration #3: Focus on Value

13:30 – Closing Thoughts---Relevant Links* MediaBooks Website: https://www.mediabooksagency.com* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-corey/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mediabooksagency* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristen.corey.MB/* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mediabooksagency

Episode Description:

In this episode of The MediaBooks Podcast, Kristen Corey shares her fresh, behind-the-scenes take on Scaling New Heights 2025—recorded right from her hotel room after breaking down her booth. She dives into what worked, what surprised her, and why conferences aren’t just about leads—they’re about partnerships, networking, and building real relationships. If you’re an accountant or sponsor considering attending a conference, you’ll find actionable tips, firsthand lessons, and a candid look at what makes Scaling New Heights unique.

Key Takeaways:

1. Partnerships often lead to more clients than direct leads—don’t underestimate networking with other vendors.

2. Arrive a day early to settle in, explore the venue, and avoid feeling rushed before setup.

3. Scaling New Heights is highly organized, with set vendor hours that help attendees focus on either sessions or networking without FOMO.

4. Face-to-face conversations with decision-makers are invaluable, especially if you want to build strategic partnerships.

5. Plan your swag carefully—many sponsors overestimate quantities (Kristen learned this the hard way with leftover gum!).

Timestamps:

00:00 – 00:30 | Partnerships Over Leads – Why great collaborations often lead to better opportunities than direct conference leads.

00:30 – 01:06 | Welcome to the Media Books Podcast – Kristen introduces the episode and sets the stage for her conference review.

01:06 – 02:36 | First Impressions & Prep Work – What it was like preparing as a sponsor, from webinars to checklists.

02:36 – 04:20 | Arriving at the Conference – Lessons learned about when to arrive and why showing up early matters.

04:20 – 06:23 | Venue & Location Highlights – Marriott World Orlando Resort perks, Disney Springs dining, and why the location is great for families.

06:23 – 07:48 | Conference Organization – Structured vendor hours, session schedules, and attendee flow.

07:48 – 10:22 | Networking & Partnerships – The value of connecting with vendors, unexpected elevator conversations, and why in-person chats beat emails.

10:22 – 11:05 | Non-Linear Path to Clients – Why partnerships can be a hidden pipeline for new business.

11:05 – 12:19 | Overall Conference Experience – The fast-paced week, inspiring sessions, and vendor interactions.

12:19 – 14:11 | Community & Networking Opportunities – Lanyard badges, first-time attendee pins, and building meaningful relationships.

14:11 – 15:06 | Final Thoughts & Future Content – Kristen shares her plans for more conference tips and invites questions.

15:23 – 16:00 | Media Books Services – Quick breakdown of Media Books’ web design, audit, and advisory services.

Relevant Links:

Work with MediaBooks: https://www.mediabooksagency.com/

Follow Kristen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-corey/---

Description:In this episode of the MediaBooks Podcast, I chat with Yuri Kapilovich, also known as The Fun CPA. Yuri shares his journey from running a New Jersey-based accounting firm to becoming a social media advocate for making accounting fun, approachable, and sustainable. We dive into his new mentorship initiative, Mentors Count, and discuss how accountants can grow their careers through community, soft skills, and meaningful engagement with the profession.

🗝️ Key Takeaways:

1. Mentorship changes careers – building relationships with experienced professionals helps accountants grow faster and avoid burnout.

2. The accounting profession needs better soft skills training – technical skills get you hired, but communication and leadership keep you moving forward.

3. Accountants should embrace community and fun – building relationships and enjoying your work keeps you motivated and attracts great talent.

🔗 Relevant Links:

Connect with Yuri on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Follow The Fun CPA on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefun_cpa/

Check out Mentors Count: https://mentorscount.com/

⏰ Timestamps

0:00:09 – Introduction & Meet Yuri Kapilovich

0:01:36 – Yuri’s Journey Into Accounting & Mentorship

0:03:04 – Running a Firm & Balancing Life

0:04:29 – Getting First Clients & Unique Marketing Opportunities

0:05:54 – The Helicopter Event Story

0:07:12 – Taking Risks in Marketing Your Firm

0:08:39 – Setting Up His First Booth

0:10:12 – Networking & Building Relationships at Events

0:11:39 – The Power of Brand Awareness

0:12:57 – Mentorship, Soft Skills, and the Future of Accounting

0:14:22 – Social Media’s Role in Accounting

0:15:41 – Growing a Personal Brand as an Accountant

0:17:02 – Advice for New Accountants Entering the Profession

0:18:30 – Creating a Fun & Engaging Firm Culture

0:19:55 – The Importance of Work-Life Balance

0:21:18 – Mentors Count: Building a Mentorship Community

0:22:44 – Developing Soft Skills for Career Growth

0:24:10 – Long-Term Vision for the Accounting Profession

0:25:40 – How to Find the Right Mentor

0:27:03 – Final Thoughts & Where to Connect with Yuri

Description:In this episode of the MediaBooks Podcast, Kristen Corey sits down with Irene Seelig, CEO and Co-founder of Account Groove, to talk all things pricing strategy, proposals, and client onboarding for accounting firms. Irene shares how pricing psychology can help you land more premium clients, why most firms undercharge, and how to structure your proposals to speak directly to your audience. Whether you're building out your service packages or fine-tuning your consultation process, this episode is packed with tactical advice.

🗝 3 Key Takeaways:

- Using three-tier pricing and price anchoring can dramatically boost your close rate.

- A well-timed proposal call right after discovery prevents ghosting and increases conversions.

- Your proposal tiers should build on each other—not compete—so clients naturally upgrade.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

- Account Groove: http://www.accountgroove.com/kristencorey

- Connect with Irene Seelig on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irene-seelig/

- Price Objection Response Guide: https://www.accountgroove.com/objections-guide

- MediaBooks Website: www.mediabooksagency.com

⏱ Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

02:00 – Irene’s background and transition into pricing

03:00 – Why client onboarding needs automation

04:00 – How Account Groove was born

06:00 – Why accounting firms are shifting to advisory services

07:00 – Listing prices on your website: yes or no?

09:00 – How price anchoring nudges clients toward premium packages

13:00 – Visual pricing placement and design psychology

15:00 – Why accountants are still undercharging

18:00 – Ideal proposal call timing after discovery

21:00 – The #1 mistake firms make with three-tier pricing

24:00 – How to handle price objections without discounting

27:00 – What to track to know if your pricing is working

30:00 – Why pricing should be reviewed like your website

32:00 – Account Groove’s built-in pricing strategy tools

33:00 – Final thoughts and how to connect

Description:In this episode of The MediaBooks Podcast, Kristen sits down with Ashley Carroll, founder of Operations House and a fractional COO for accounting and creative service firms. Ashley shares her inspiring journey from growing up below the poverty line to becoming a COO and building 40% margin service firms that prioritize both people and profit. She opens up about what operations really means, how burnout is often a business model issue, and the exact steps she takes to bring calm to the chaos.

If you’ve ever felt like your systems are crumbling right when your business is growing—this one’s for you.

✨ What You’ll Learn:

- Ashley’s unconventional journey from nonprofit accountant to COO (08:32)

- Why operations is more than just zaps and SOPs—it’s your firm’s culture (40:03)

- Her “Founder Reset” method to help overwhelmed owners reclaim their time (52:12)

- Getting team buy-in for operational changes without pushback (01:09:45)

- Why burnout isn’t your fault—and how operations can fix it (01:20:16)

- Building human-first firms in a high-demand industry (01:35:50)

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned:

💻 Operations House:

https://operations.house/

🎁 Free Burnout Recovery Kit:

https://operations.house/recovery-kit?utm_source=mediabooks&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=burnout_recovery_2025

🔄 Three-Week Founder Reset:

https://operations.house/the-founder-reset?utm_source=mediabooks&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=founder_reset_2025

🤝 Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleykcarroll/

📚 Book Mentioned: The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+12+week+year+by+brian+p+moran&hvadid=694243191293&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9030693&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=15373525053237492171--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15373525053237492171&hvtargid=kwd-443426484431&hydadcr=15543_13657471&mcid=1552963dd6eb341f91b13301ceb19280&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_3ksudr83fw_e_p67

🎙️ Learn more about MediaBooks Agency:

https://www.mediabooksagency.com/

🕒 Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro to Ashley Carroll

04:33 – From accounting to entrepreneurship

12:45 – Discovering her operational superpower

20:18 – How one payment system change reduced late payments by 78%

26:11 – What is “operations,” really?

40:03 – Operations as communication glue

52:12 – What a Founder Reset actually looks like

01:09:45 – Getting team buy-in when they’re already overloaded

01:20:16 – Why burnout is a business model flaw

01:35:50 – Tech, AI & why automations are only part of the story

01:41:20 – Ashley’s parting advice and offers

📢 Like what you heard?

Subscribe to The MediaBooks Podcast for more conversations at the intersection of accounting and marketing. And don't forget to leave a review!

Episode Overview

In this episode, Kristen interviews Erin Schultz, founder of Her Personal Finance, about building a successful niche business serving women in medicine, tech, and law. Erin shares her journey from Harvard Business School graduate to personal finance educator and financial planner, discussing how she built an audience on social media and the power of niching down.

Guest Bio

Erin Schultz is the founder of Her Personal Finance (founded in 2015). She's a Harvard Business School graduate who specializes in helping physicians and research scientists balance student loan payments with retirement savings. Her online classes are offered in partnership with Mass General Hospital, and she has helped hundreds of clients navigate hospital benefits and financial planning.

Timestamps

[00:00] Introduction to Erin Schultz

[01:15] Erin's Journey from Harvard to Personal Finance

[03:54] Building a Social Media Presence

[04:58] Engaging with Content and Community

[08:19] The Importance of Niching Down

[10:33] Personal Stories and Professional Connections

[19:31] Adapting Content for Different Platforms

[22:34] Resources and Final Thoughts

Key Takeaways

1. Niche down ruthlessly - Erin's focus on women in specific high-earning professions allows her to become a true expert

2. Personal stories drive engagement - Educational content performs worse than personal narratives

3. Be approachable, not traditional - Standing out from "dusty old guys from Fidelity"

4. Repurpose content strategically - Same story, different formats for different platforms

5. Address real pain points - Fertility costs, childcare planning, student loans

Connect with Erin

- Instagram: [@herpersonalfinance](https://instagram.com/herpersonalfinance)

- LinkedIn: [Erin Schultz](https://linkedin.com/in/erinschultz)

- Website: [herpersonalfinance.com](http://herpersonalfinance.com)

- Bimonthly newsletter covering topics like car payments, 401(k)s, and student loans

Solo episode with Kristen Corey! 🎙️ Behind-the-scenes updates from MediaBooks including the Marketing Academy launch, conference season prep, and the one question every accountant should master.

What You'll Learn:

✅ Why you should announce your course BEFORE it's finished

✅ Unexpected SEO hack from hosting courses on your website

✅ Conference networking strategies (including llama avatars!)

✅ How to confidently answer "What makes you unique?"

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction

2:30 - Marketing Academy launch story

8:45 - Course creation strategy

11:20 - SEO benefits discovery

14:15 - Conference season tips

20:45 - Scaling New Heights prep

28:40 - Hiring lesson learned

35:20 - Your unique value proposition

42:15 - Media Books services

Links:

📧 mediabooksagency.com

📱 Follow @mediabooksagency on Instagram for Scaling New Heights updates

Join us for an in-depth conversation about how artificial intelligence is transforming the accounting profession while exploring the balance between automation and professional judgment. Our guest expert discusses how modern accounting firms can leverage AI technology while maintaining compliance and delivering high-value advisory services.

• How AI is revolutionizing tax preparation, audit procedures, and financial reporting
• Balancing automated processes with professional skepticism and judgment
• Regulatory compliance considerations when implementing AI tools
• Practical implementation strategies for accounting firms of all sizes

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Introduction and accounting technology overview05:32 - The current state of AI in financial services12:47 - How AI is changing traditional accounting workflows18:25 - Finding balance between automation and professional judgment26:10 - Regulatory and compliance considerations for AI in accounting34:56 - Practical AI implementation tips for accounting professionals43:18 - The future of client advisory services in an AI-enhanced practice52:04 - Q&A on accounting technology adoption58:37 - Final thoughts and actionable recommendations

KEY LINKS

• Workflows for Tax Pros Website
• Freebie Link - Website Conversion System

*Links mentioned in the podcast and in the description may be affiliate links and result in compensation towards MediaBooks.