Great Onboarding: The Secret to 88% Employee Retention

employee retention ad agencies

How to cut employee turnover in half. This is a guest article written by John Paul Strong, the owner of the Birmingham-based advertising agency, Strong Automotive Merchandising.  John Paul has developed a very robust onboarding process that I wanted him to share with you. Their original roster of 10 employees and eight clients has exploded […]

8 Primary Problems for Ad Agency New Business

Problems for Ad Agency New Business

  Agencies have lots of problems when it comes to new business. Almost my entire career in advertising was spent in business development. I’ve been a consultant to advertising, digital, media and PR firms for over ten years. I’ve worked one-on-one with over 270 agencies. From my experience, new business is becoming more complex and […]

Agency New Business Has Dramatically Changed

Michael Gass Fueling Ad Agency New Business

   This is My Personal Story In Leading Ad Agency New Business I wanted to publically thank my good friend, Ken Henley, who is a Nashville artist that created my new caricature. Ken and I have known each other for years. We’ve seen a lot of changes within the advertising industry, but none as great as what […]

Why are ad agency new business executives performing so badly?

Rainmakers who were good at new business in the past are struggling today. According to a recent Agency-Marketer Business Report from RSW/US, the tenure of a new business director is 2 years or less. Only 26% of new business directors were viewed as successful. Why? I’ve worked face-to-face with more than 200 advertising, digital, media and […]

Ad Agencies: Guides for Creative and Marketing Salaries

advertising agency salary guide

Online information makes researching salary ranges easier than it has ever been in the past. For agencies to grow new business, they have to attract and retain talent. The turnover rate within the industry is over thirty-percent. It’s time for agency owners to get serious about inspiring their employees and keeping them happy. And, according […]

IBM Study: Social media is about to transform the C-Suite

connected CEO

“The most effective leaders throughout history have been great communicators, yet the vast majority of modern-day CEOs and C-Suite executives are conspicuously absent from social media channels.” Ann Charles, CEO BRANDfog We are living in the information age. More people share information from more sources more frequently that any other time in history.  People are sharing content […]

RSW/US Brings New Business Opportunities to Ad Agencies

Mark Sneider, owner, president RSW/US

Guest post written by Mark Sneider, Owner/President of RSW/US. I see Mark at a lot of major agency events each year. I always enjoy spending some time with him and his business development director, Lee McKnight. Mark and I both spoke at the Mirren New Business Conference in New York recently. I asked him to […]

Is the financial bonus what really motivates your ad agency’s salesperson?

compensation and bonuses for ad agency new business

  Raising the discussion about compensation for those charged with ad agency new business. It is time to re-think how we compensate those “odd ducks” who do what no one else wants to do, selling the agency’s services. The motivation for creating new business opportunities is thought to be fueled primarily by financial rewards, the […]

Resume Tips that Earn Return Phone Calls

Four resume tips for agency new business development positions that get noticed. By Steve Congdon From time to time you will find yourself looking for an ad agency new business development job. Either you’re at an agency and unhappy. Or, you’re on the streets, trying to find your next position. From time to time I […]

12 Initial Steps for Ad Agency New Business Directors

12 steps new business directors

If you are charged with developing a new business program for a small to midsize advertising, digital, media or PR agency, then this article is for you. I’ve often found that new business development people often lack experience. They also usually have responsibilities other than developing new business. If this is your situation,  I’ve pulled […]

Seven Cons About the New Social Media Platform Threads

It is necessary to understand the potential downside and limitations using Threads for new business. 

I recently wrote an article about the powerful benefits of Threads, taunted as the next-generation social media platform. While Threads brings a host of benefits to the table, it’s important to consider some potential drawbacks or challenges associated with the platform:

  1. Limited Reach and Exposure: As Threads focuses on specific topics and communities, it may limit the reach and exposure of users’ content.
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Threads: Unveiling the Powerful Benefits of the Next-Generation Social Media Platform

Exploring the myriad advantages of Threads, highlighting how it is reshaping the landscape of social media.

In an era where social media has become an integral part of our lives, new platforms are continually emerging, aiming to revolutionize the way we connect and communicate. Among these innovative platforms, Threads is rapidly emerging as a frontrunner, offering a unique and enriching experience for users.

Streamlined and Focused Communication:

Threads sets itself apart from traditional social media platforms by focusing on streamlined and efficient communication.… Continue reading

Ways That Artificial Intelligence Will Impact Ad Agency New Business

artificial intelligence for ad agency new business

Artificial intelligence can make business development easier and efficient.

AI offers a wide range of benefits across a variety of industries and applications. It has the potential to transform the way that businesses, leading to increased efficiency, accuracy, personalization, and innovation.

AI, is still a relatively new technology but it’s time that ad agencies carefully evaluate its potential benefits and drawbacks from a new business perspective.

Here are a few examples of the practical ways AI will enhance your agency’s business development:

  • Improved Lead generation: AI can analyze large amounts of data to identify potential new business leads more efficiently than traditional methods.
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Community Development Comes Before Business Development

Community Development Comes Before Business Development

 

Building an engaged online community should NOW be a core responsibility for business development.

The battle for new business is online which makes community development indispensable for marketing your agency. Knowing how to build an online community has become an important skill-set.

How to Build an Online Community of Prospects

1. Create a Niche

Since I started my consultancy in 2007, I’ve advocated creating a niche blog for agency new business. I’ve helped launch over 450 personal blogs for agency principals.… Continue reading

Most Ad Agencies Have No Plan for New Business

The Cobbler's Children for Ad Agency New Business

Having a written marketing plan makes new business easier and much more consistent.

I wanted to share, from my personal experience, one of the typical challenges of small to midsize advertising, digital, media and PR agencies. They are often described as the cobbler’s children who have no shoes.

The most common positive trait among these agencies is that they know how to take care of their clients. But what is their most common negative trait?

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The 8 Word Mission Statement for Ad Agency New Business

ad agency mission statement

Your agency’s mission statement can have new business value and measurable results.

A mission statement is a statement of the purpose of a company, organization or person, its reason for existing. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a path, and guide decision-making. Wikipedia

The mission statement captures the heart of an organization, what it stands for and why it exists.

Here are some examples of the mission statements of popular digital businesses: 

  • Google.
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To be an effective writer, spend more time planning and less time writing

content marketing for ad agency new business

Successful writers spend 75% of their time in the preparation and editing process and only 25% of their time writing the content.

There are big rewards from content marketing, but it’s also a big challenge. Writing is a process that takes time and effort. Even the best writers have difficulty putting their ideas into words.

Most of us aren’t born with the gift for writing. We have to work at it. 

According to a study conducted by McLuhan and Davies, a Toronto based consulting firm specializing in communications training, effective writers spend:
  • 40% of their time planning
  • 25% of their time writing
  • 35% of their time revising

Less effective writers usually spend:

  • 20% planning
  • 60% writing
  • 20% revising

Here is an easy to follow formula that will help fuel your writing:

1.

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Blair Enns: 12 Revolutionary Proclamations for Ad Agency New Business

blair enns win without pitching ad agency new business

How to win new business without pitching, reclaim control of client engagements and stop giving away your thinking for free. 

My friend, John Sharpe,  has spent nearly forty years in the ad agency business and the last twenty in business development exclusively. He is a personal friend and mentor with an impressive resume. So when John tells me that he has just read one of the most influential business development books in his lifetime, he had my attention.… Continue reading

3 Things An Ad Agency New Business Director Needs for Success

ad agency new business training

How ad agencies acquire new business has changed dramatically and that effects the knowledge and skills new business directors need to make it happen.

People who have done this job in the past are struggling. The tenure of a new business director is now two years or less. In a recent survey conducted by RSW/US, only 26% of new business directors were considered successful.

A 4A’s report sited that 90% of agency staff say they have to figure things out on their own due to the lack of training.… Continue reading

Ad Agency New Business 101: Conduct a SWOT Analysis

SWOT Analysis for Ad agency New Business

A SWOT analysis is a good starting point for someone who is charged with creating new business opportunities for a small to midsize advertising agency, PR firm or digital shop.  

Part of Steve Jobs’ 12 Rules of Success: Perform SWOT analysis. As soon as you join/start a company, make a list of strengths and weaknesses of yourself and your company on a piece of paper.

This strategic planning method, when used properly, can be  a valuable tool for making decisions, setting strategy, and evaluating courses of action.… Continue reading