A network of advertising agencies can improve your agency’s new business through collaboration, strategic alliances and training.
Whenever I speak, I’m often asked to recommend an agency network. There were very few online sources that had collected this type information in one place, so I decided to compile my own list that I hope you find helpful. I’ve included a brief synopsis of information, along with web links, contact information and Twitter accounts for each.
Feel free to share others you would like to see included.
A strong agency network can:
- Help with new business introductions and attract new business internationally
- Provide new business training for agency staff
- Enhance best practices
- Provide peer groups
- Improve agency operations
- Create channels for outsourcing work
- Assist in implementing research
- Provide access to common media and research s
- Arrange annual conferences, workshops and seminars
- Provide access to the expertise and specialized capabilities of network partners
- Arrange for group insurance plans, legal services, etc.
- Create and share results of business and salary surveys
The Top 14 List of Advertising Agency Networks:
4 A’s (American Association of Advertising Agencies)
Headquarters: New York, NY
Website: www.aaaa.org
Mission of AAAA: To improve and strengthen the advertising agency business in the United States by counseling members on operations and management, by providing the collective experience of the many to each, by fostering professional development, by encouraging the highest creative and business standards,and by attracting excellent people to the business.
Nancy Hill, President and Chief Executive Officer. For more information on membership, benefits or events, click here
Follow the 4As on Twitter: http://twitter.com/4As
AMR (Agency Management Roundtable)
Headquarters: Surprise, AZ
Website: www.agencyroundtable.com
Helping Agencies Grow to the Next Level
Agency Management Roundtable (AMR) is a management consulting business that specializes in helping owners of small- and medium-sized marketing communication companies (less than 30 employees) move up to their next performance level—and keep improving.
For additional information you may contact Dave Wood, email
AMIN (Advertising and Marketing International Network)
Headquarters: Viola, KS
AMIN is a global alliance of independently owned advertising agencies. The alliance spans the globe, with member networks in North America, Europe and Asia.
For additional information contact, Janna Sperry Sundby, Membership Manager, AMIN Worldwide: jsundby@aminworldwide.com
Follow AMIN on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AminEurope
ComVort Group
Multi-national clients demand and expect a full breadth of services from their global agencies. The ComVort Group is the only marketing communication organization that offers capillary services on a global scale.
Headquarters: Barcelona
Website: www.comvort.com
Our agencies leverage the ComVort network’s unique structure – as well as their own extraordinary commitment toward their clients – to create custom-tailored solutions that helps our clients succeeds.
If you want to get more general information about the ComVort Group, in English, Spanish and German you can contact ComVort’s Global COO | Brando Brandstäter
ICOM
Headquarters: Rollinsville, CO
Website: www.icomagencies.com
ICOM is one of the world’s largest networks of independent advertising and marketing communications agencies.
- Revenues: (US) $2.4 billion
- Members: 70+ agencies based in 50+ countries
- Coverage: 95% of the world’s markets
- Clients: 2000+
- Offices: 87
Curious about membership? Have some more questions? Click here for the contact page
in’ agencies
Headquarters: London
Website: www.in-advertising.com
in’ agencies work for more than 1500 brands on a domestic, regional, multi-domestic or global basis.
10 out of the 20 most famous brands, as named by Interbrands, work with one or more IN agencies. Many brands use a local IN agency for their domestic business, and other agencies from the IN network for work abroad.
For contact information: click here
INBA
Headquarters: Farmington, CT
Website: www.inba.com
INBA is a global network of independently owned, mid-size, marketing communications firms. INBA is represented by 23 members and affiliates in 25 countries.
INBA is international. But not global. That may sound like a contradiction, but we think it’s a distinction. We’re located in key markets around the world. That makes us international. But, unlike mammoth global agencies, we aren’t mirror images of each other. Each of our member agencies has its own personality and capabilities. Each is steeped in the culture and business practices of its home country.
For additional information contact: Peggy Thompson
Intermark Agency Network (IAN)
Website: www.intermarketnetwork.com
A different concept in agency networks.
IAN (Intermarket Agency Network) is a forum for leaders of noncompetitive marketing agencies to openly exchange knowledge in a collaborative setting. A nationwide association of carefully selected agencies, its members meet twice annually to freely discuss important issues like new business, financials, HR, creativity, growth and much more. No topic is off limits.
For details about joining IAN, contact Ed Kleban, Executive Director, at ekleban@juicecoms.com
MAGNET Global Network
Headquarters: Pittsburg, PA
Website: www.magnetglobal.org
MAGNET is a collaborative network of the world’s top marketing and advertising agencies. MAGNET and its member agencies represent more than 800 clients worldwide with total annual billings of more than $1.6 billion USD.
For additional information, contact Cheri Gmiter, Executive Director
Follow MAGNET on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MagnetGlobalNet
Second Wind Network
Headquarters: Wyomissing, PA
Website: www.secondwindonline.com
Second Wind is a powerful information resource designed with one thing in mind – helping smaller and midsize advertising agencies, design firms and related businesses to be better.
Second Wind was founded by former agency owner and entrepreneur Anthony P. Mikes. Mr. Mikes owned and operated design studios and agencies for twenty-five years before launching Second Wind in 1988.
Follow Second Wind on Twitter: http://twitter.com/secondwindbuzz
TAAN
Headquarters: Boston, MA
Website: www.taan.org
We are one of the world’s oldest, largest and most successful networks of carefully selected independent advertising agencies. Today there are TAAN member agencies operating on every continent, in more than 47 markets worldwide.
TAAN is an association of carefully selected, highly talented, independently operated marketing communications agencies in the U.S., Europe, South America and Asia/Pacific. Each TAAN agency is well-recognized in its home market and represents leading marketers in its area.
The TAAN network is built with the concept that shared knowledge and intelligence creates powerful insight in addressing the goals of agencies and marketers throughout the world.
For additional information you may contact TAAN President, Peter Gerritsen
Follow TAAN on Twitter at twitter.com/TAANnews
T-CAAN
Headquarters: Toronto, ON
Website: www.tcaan.ca
T-CAAN is the oldest and largest network of independent Canadian agencies and has developed strong working relationships with similar groups in the U.S.A., U.K., Japan, Jamaica, Europe and Hong Kong.
Every agency within the T-CAAN network operates as a branch-office, providing fast, top-quality and dependable service for all member agencies. Assistance can vary from the provision of backup services and field assistance to the exchange of creative ideas, research data, or financial information. The objective is to make each member stronger through the free flow of information and resources.
For additional information you can contact the Executive Director (Alice Zaharchuk) by e-mail at marketingmonkey@sympatico.ca
thenetworkone
Headquarters: London, England
Website: www.thenetworkone.com
We provide the major advantages of belonging to an international agency network, at a price every agency can afford. Membership benefits include: access a custom-built international network on-demand; an insurance policy, don’t lose pitches because you can help the client in other countries; a proactive opportunity to target new international prospects and receive partnership requests from other member agencies.
The major part of our activity will continue to be the introduction of new business to independent agencies.
For questions you may contact Julian Boulding, President julian.boulding@thenetworkone.com. For membership info, click here
Worldwide Partners
Headquarters: Denver, CO
Website: www.worldwidepartners.com
Founded in 1938 the Worldwide Partners network now the world’s largest owner-operated agency network: $3.4 billion in billings, 93 agencies, 55 countries across Asia, EMEA, Latin America and North America.
Our mission is clear: We’ll give you more leverage, resources, out reach and firepower than you have as a stand-alone shop without giving up ownership. Whether you have international business or not, we can help you with virtually every aspect of your business.
For additional information contact, Al Moffatt, WPI’s President and CEO, alm@worldwidepartners.com
Missing Opportunities:
I found that most of these groups are missing a prime opportunity in utilizing social media to enhance communications and collaboration within their “ready-made network” of agency members. But hopefully they’ll soon see the what a valuable communication’s channel they are failing to tap into.
Click here to view a list of Independent International Advertising, Direct Marketing, Media Buying, and Public Relations Networks
If you feel that any other agency association/network should be added to this list, please add them through the comments below.
Michael:
This is a great piece on the value of networks but you missed the network to which our agency has belonged for 25 years, the Intermarket Agency Network. The website is intermarketnetwork.com. Although the group is small, the very competitive dues make it a great value and I can tell you the members are incredibly supportive of one another. Also, I think your readers would be served by a discussion of the differences between an association and a network. Associations like 4As and 2nd Wind fill a very valuable role but they are essentially open to everyone. Conversely, networks are more like a 20 group that includes agencies that are not directly competitive and thus the exchange of information can be much more candid and forthcoming.
You missed a great one – agency management Roundtable. We’ve been a member for over 10 years and it’s changed our business!
Http:www.agencyroundtable.com
Drew
McLellan Marketing Group
Thanks Drew. I’ll add it to the list.
Thanks Thom. I’ll be sure to add Intermarket to the list as well.
As a member of T-CAAN, included in your list here, we at Copeland can vouch for the value of this Canadian organization. We utilize our network partners constantly and not a day goes by when one of us is not in touch with a member agency asking advice, seeking information, sharing contacts.
As our founder Bill Whitehead Sr puts it (and he’s still at the helm 48 years in) “T-CAAN only works if you work it.”
Nice to see it included here Michael.
I’m sure readers will appreciate this personal insight Doug. Thanks for sharing.
Great list, Micheal. You are always posting such great info. I was wondering if you knew of any other independent networks that are more focused for newer agencies. Maybe one more centered around constant collaboration instead of annual meetings.
Michael:
You left out AHAA, The American Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies which includes the majority of US Hispanic agencies.
Send me the info for AHAA Hector and I’ll be glad to include them as well.