Ad Agencies: Audience Development Comes Before Business Development

build an audience for ad agency new business

Building an engaged online community should now be a core responsibility of business development. Inspiration for this article came from Duct Tape Marketing’s founder, John Jantsch,  from his recent podcast interview with Jeffrey K. Rohrs, Vice President of Marketing Insights for ExactTarget,  Jeffrey is also the author of AUDIENCE: Marketing in the Age of Subscribers, Fans and Followers. […]

Why are ad agencies so bad at new business?

ad agencies are bad at new business

Business development doesn’t have to be so hard for small to midsize agencies.  I’ve spent almost my entire advertising  career in business development. I can tell you from my experience that agencies are historically bad when it comes to marketing themselves. It’s as if they lose their marketing minds. They tend to forget the very […]

Email Marketing Compliance for Ad Agency New Business

email newsletters can spam act

Can I buy email addresses and email those people that haven’t opted-in? – The List of do’s and don’ts on CAN-SPAM Guest article by: Dave Currie, CMO, The List and CEO, Catapult New Business This is probably the most commonly pondered and asked question by new business teams contemplating the implementation of a proactive new business […]

Study: 12 Tools That Most Ad Agencies Use for New Business

guide to ad agency new business tools

A helpful resource for any agency owner or employees involved in agency new business. RSW/US and Mirren Business Development co-sponsored a study of tools for new business. They surveyed over 300 agency principals and senior executives to better understand what tools agencies are using and which are the most effective. “New Business Tools: The Definitive Guide,” […]

Creating A Website That Works for Ad Agency New Business

How to simplifying the web design process and provide creative focus specifically for new business.  Your agency’s website is an important tool for new business. It is the primary platform for your agency’s credentials, capabilities and case studies. It is the primary platform to showcase your creative work. But, from my experience, most agencies are […]

Study: What Users Want from Mobile Sites

10 best practices mobile websites

A recent survey leads to 10 Best Practices for Ad Agency New Business. A mobile-friendly site can help your agency connect with customers and increase new business opportunities but a bad mobile experience can drive your prospects to your competition. Mobile users actively seek out and prefer to engage with mobile-friendly sites. It is now a critical […]

10 Tips to Supercharge Your Energy for Ad Agency New Business

energize ad agency new business

Agency new business does not come from burning ourselves out, grinding ourselves down or using ourselves up. Last year I felt lethargic. I went to my doctor for a checkup. Beyond being overweight and overworked there was nothing physically wrong with me. What I needed was a change of direction. I did a thorough self […]

Be Sure to Backup and Protect Your Agency’s Content Marketing Investment

VaultPress advertising agencies backup

Don’t wait for a catastrophic loss of data to start properly backing-up and protecting your content marketing investment. I’ve been writing for my agency new business blog for 5 years now. It is my passion and livelihood. But it took an event of lost data to make me as passionate about securing my investment. I […]

Pixar: 10 Tips for Creating Appealing Stories for Ad Agency New Business

story shots for ad agency new business

A powerful story is your secret to connecting with prospective clients. Developing the ability to craft compelling stories is an important skill set for agency new business. Stories engage attention and inspire action. I have witnessed my fair share of agency presentations. Most provide thorough content based upon good research, but what is often lacking is […]

16 Systems to Simplify Ad Agency New Business

systems for ad agency new business

Every agency needs detailed methods, procedures and routines for consistency and success in new business. Small to mid-size agencies have common problems when it comes to new business: They often excuse their inconsistency by being the cobbler’s children who have no shoes. It’s time to visit the shoe store! Acknowledge the importance of new business and […]

Thought Leadership Study for Ad Agency New Business

Thought Leadership for Ad Agency New Business

Thought leadership influences prospects to help agencies win, retain and even grow client business.

A recent study, by Edelman and LinkedIn, of 1,201 U.S. business decision makers, reveals that thought leadership is more powerful than marketers think. It not only helps attract new business, but strengthens relationships with existing clients.

Definition: A thought leader is an individual or firm that is recognized as an authority in a specialized field and whose expertise is sought and often rewarded.”

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How to Spot Brands On the Brink of Agency Review

Winmo ad agency new business

There are important shifts that signal a brand will soon be shopping for new agencies on a permanent or per project basis, and the key is to strike at the earliest sign of opportunity.

But how do you know when the iron’s hot?

Predicting these timelines is part art, part science.

You might not have time to monitor 17 variables, but let’s take a look at a few of the key triggers you should be weighting heavily when prioritizing your own new business outreach, plus real life examples with article briefings courtesy of Winmo.… Continue reading

Do this ONE Thing to Build Your Agency’s Brand

Content for Ad Agency New Business

Owners of small to midsize advertising, digital, media agency and PR agency’s need to WRITE

Owners of small to midsize advertising, digital, media agency and PR agency’s need to WRITE! 

This isn’t a new discovery for me. Since starting my new business consultancy, I’ve written my way into a thriving business. Creating helpful content has provided me with a consistent flow of inbound leads. In over eleven years, I’ve never had to make a single cold-call for new business. … Continue reading

Preparing, Practicing and Improving Your Next Presentation for Ad Agency New Business

Presentations for Ad Agency New Business

Be prepared to capitalize on speaking engagements to win new business.

Having an opportunity to speak in front of a highly targeted, interested group of prospects is a very effective form of lead generation. Even if you are speaking for free, the opportunity often times outweighs a fee when it comes to the potential for new business and establishing you and your agency as thought leaders.

But, it amazes me how often these opportunities are wasted due to a lack of preparation and poor speaking skills.… Continue reading

Best Practices of Highly Social CEOs for Ad Agency New Business

Social Media and Ad Agency Owners

Agency owners should be part of a “New Group of Executives” that are using social media to attract clients, generate exposure for their companies and acquire new business.

The importance of social media on business has dramatically escalated. It is a primary force that is redefining the role of the men and women who oversee the world’s largest companies. It is also redefining the role of the owners of small to midsize advertising, digital, media and PR firms.Continue reading

Content Marketing Benefits Ad Agency New Business

Michael Gass Ad Agency New Business

Agencies talk about the value of content marketing but few are doing it and even fewer do it well.

I spoke recently, for the first time, at Content Marketing World Conference & Expo. There were over 4000 marketers from 50 different countries that participated. But, where were the ad agencies? They were noticeably absent from the largest content marketing event in the world.

Content marketing has exploded over the past four years. Especially after Coca Cola’s announcement of their global advertising strategy moving from creative excellence to content excellence.… Continue reading

Content Marketing World for Ad Agency New Business

Ad Agency New Business Conference

Content Marketing World conference and expo will be filled with sessions and information that specifically address key topics that agencies should know more about. 

Even though this conference is huge, there are definitely a number of sessions that are specific to agencies to help them understand the content marketing for their own new business plus the strategies and tactics they should be using for their clients.

“Clients want traditional advertising as well as content marketing, so it’s time you become the amazing integrated agency your clients need and expect!

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50 Tips for Ad Agency New Business

Tips for Ad Agency New Business

New business helps for Advertising, Digital, Media and PR Agencies.

Since 2007, I’ve conducted over 350 new business workshops for agencies in North and South America and Europe. No matter what country, I find there are many common problems when it comes to business development that makes it harder than it needs to be.

I’ve put together collection of 50 quick tips that I hope will help make your new business easier. Note: Each tip has a link to additional relevant resources.Continue reading

Research: Content, Shares and Links for Ad Agency New Business

content shares and links for ad agency new business

What we learn from examining 1 million blog posts.

It seems that everyone has now jumped on the content marketing bandwagon. But just  because everyone is doing it, doesn’t mean that they are having success.

Only 9% of B2B marketers consider their content marketing efforts to be “very effective. Content Marketing Institute

For many agencies and businesses, content marketing isn’t working.

Their content isn’t producing traffic and without traffic they aren’t achieving new business leads.

Two companies, BuzzSumo and Moz that are experts in SEO, teamed up to evaluate over one million articles and determine why the majority of online content was ignored.… Continue reading

Revise Your Ad Agency’s Website for New Business

a website for ad agency new business

Your website’s key role is to generate business for the firm

Research shows websites influence 97% of clients’ purchasing decisions. 

I’ve often said that agencies are in a perpetual state of re-branding and re-designing their websites. Neither should be so difficult.

A website is an important online platform to showcase your agency’s credentials, capabilities and case studies. It is the primary platform to display your creative work. But for most agencies, redesigning their websites has become a difficult process.… Continue reading