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? […]
Agencies: treat your people well; they may run a future agency review
The agency business is a tough business. Clients expect a lot. Agency economics are strained. And staff often move around for promotions. It’s hard to run a successful agency. In this tough environment, agencies that lose sight of one specific principle can doom themselves: this is a people business. The cost of an unhappy workforce […]
How to evaluate agency proposals
Very few marketers are taught how to evaluate an agency proposal, whether it is a formal written response to an RFP, a presentation or some other format. We’ve reviewed thousands of agency proposals and are often with clients in “the room where it happens”. We’ve learned a lot and had deep conversations with many of […]