Making Omnicom/IPG lemonade: 1 month later

It’s hard to believe that more than a month has already passed since the announced Omnicom acquisition of IPG. Much has been written. Much of it likely accurate! And yet, there are important topics that have not been well covered, like “what does an Omnicom or IPG client do right now” and “what do I […]
Win more business with strategic insights! Workshop in Denver March 11 & 12

The biggest account wins and the best campaigns are often driven by the best strategic insights. We see this daily in our work with agencies and clients. But… compelling insights are rare. A data point is not an insight. It’s data. Analysis of data is not an insight. Analysis is interpretation. It’s what you think […]
Be a better marketer by following these experts

The world is changing at such a crazy rate that it is hard to keep up with changes in technology, marketing, media and consumers. Topics like marketing, creative and media effectiveness, transparency, AI and attention are just a sampling of the areas that are challenging for any one marketer or agency exec to master. Luckily, […]
Year-end gifts clients & agencies really want

The year is about to wrap and pretty much everyone needs a break before diving into the new year and its challenges. Small gifts of chocolate, coffee and a spirit or two have been arriving at Mercer Island Group. So thoughtful and so unnecessary! Clients and agencies will often treat their partners to year end […]
How senior agency & marketing execs can find their next great job

How does a senior agency executive or marketer find “what’s next”? Finding a job when you’re fresh out of college or have limited experience is a pretty straightforward task. There also is a ton of advice readily available including some really fine books. Alas, no such guidance is readily available for the marketers and agency […]
Marketer checklist: effective agency relationships

Marketers have never been busier or had longer “to-do” lists. In such a stressful environment, it’s easy as a marketer these days to lose sight of some basics. And doing well at the basics can mean the difference between success and failure. Managing the agency roster involves a number of basic skills and practices, and […]
The best clients ask agencies the best questions

Great clients get great work. The simple corollary to that statement is if you want great work from your agency, be a great client! Here is a list of questions that the best clients routinely ask their agencies. How can we be a better partner to the agency? What should we be doing more of, […]
Thanksgiving to marketers and agencies

Thanksgiving in the US is just a few days away and it is a perfect time to be grateful. There is much to be grateful about! The economy is essentially at full employment, inflation has subsided, and consumers have been spending. We can work from anywhere and often still enjoy the distinct benefits of an […]
20 Ideas for marketers & agencies

Can you imagine working daily with the smartest, most successful CEOs, CMOs, and marketers? Or interacting daily with the very best agencies in the world – of all sizes and shapes – and across all disciplines (creative, media, PR, digital, etc.). That’s my job and I love it. I’ve learned a lot, seen a lot […]
Free Research to Help Agency Growth Planning

How are your fellow agency execs thinking about – and what are they doing about – the changing marketplace for agency services? Our friends at Agency Core are working on the answer, and you can help: participate now in a one-of-a-kind research survey and you’ll get the report, for free. What Will The Research Cover? […]