A simple way to improve marketer & agency productivity
The productivity expectations that executives face have never been tougher. We are always on and daily technological advances seem to make our workday harder and longer rather than easier. This avalanche of expectations has led to a self-defeating problem: there is an epidemic of wishful thinking in industry today. Objectives are too lofty, priority lists […]
How Clients Shape the Agency They Choose
Agency selection is one of the highest-stakes decisions a marketing leader will make — period. The pitch process may feel like an audition for agencies, but here’s the industry truth: how you show up as a client doesn’t just predict what you’ll get – it actively shapes it. If You Want the Best, Start Acting […]
Secrets of Prospect-Friendly Agency Websites Webinar February 5, 1-2pm EST
Your agency’s website is an essential marketing tool. It is critical to an agency’s success. Is yours helping you succeed? Research has shown that 80% of B2B prospects identify potential partners independently before the provider even knows the prospect is looking. Their first stop in their search? The agency’s website. We see this daily in […]
Why Agencies Lose Pitches
Drawing from decades of running agency reviews, the Boehlers explain why clients can’t name agencies, how “about us” thinking sabotages pitches, and why strategy—not creative alone—is the real differentiator. Listen
3 Strategies for greater CMO success
The world needs more great CMOs. And the CMO position is one of the toughest jobs imaginable these days. It’s a job with low tenure and relatively high turnover rates relative to the rest of the C-Suite. Not only does a great CMO need to partner with the rest of the C-suite and be totally […]
How to Pitch and Win in 2026
How to pitch and win in 2026 with Robin and Steve Boehler, Founders @ Mercer Island Group. From the Question Everything Podcast with Ashley Walters. Listen
CMOs need our help
Chief Marketing Officers need our help. Heck, all marketers need help. CMOs and marketers already have one of the toughest jobs imaginable. They are expected to do so much. Build the brand, drive sales, increase market share, evolve their organization, lead companywide transformations and deal with AI. And that is just a start. Unfortunately, many […]
Holiday gifts that build an agency’s brand
Once again a number of thoughtful year end gifts arrived at Mercer Island Group from agencies and clients. It’s a nice touch. And as our readers know, as appreciated as these gifts are, the best gifts a client or agency can give most often directly relate to the working relationship and how each partner can […]
It’s Not About You: Winning New Business in a Crowded Agency World
In a landscape filled with over 15,000 agencies in the US – some estimates suggest even more than 37,000 – it’s clear that competition is fierce. So, what are the keys to securing new business in this crowded space? After nearly thirty years of research into how agencies win and lose business opportunities, we’ve compiled […]
Why It’s Not About You
What if the reason you’re not winning more new business has very little to do with your talent… your portfolio…or even your credentials? What if the pitch you’re preparing is focused on the wrong thing? Here’s the hard truth: winning pitches aren’t about you. Listen