Fueling Ad Agency New Business
Agencies have lots of problems when it comes to new business. Almost my entire career in advertising was spent in business development. I’ve been a consultant to advertising, digital, media and PR firms for over ten years. I’ve worked one-on-one with over 270 agencies. From my experience, new business is becoming more complex and […]
Why is content such a valuable strategy to help ad agencies drum up new business? I thought I would share a recent interview conducted by content marketer, Andy Baldacci. Andy hosts Hubstaff’s Agency Advantage Podcast where he helps agency owners grow their business. If you’re skeptical of the value of content marketing for your agency […]
Hosting your own events gives you control over the attendees, the agenda and the outcome. Networking and trade show events for new business is often a total waste of time. Attendees are focused on their own personal agendas. A more efficient and effective way to spend your time is to host your own events. Hosting events can benefit […]
Take a look at the most popular articles of the year. Every year we provide a list of articles receiving the most page views of the year that were published on Fuel Lines. Which topics were the most popular with our readers in 2016? Here’s the “Top Ten” list of the most-read articles. Some of them were written this past […]
The role of the agency new business executive is the riskiest position due a dramatic change in the way business is acquired and the skills rainmakers need to make it happen. Business development has been dramatically altered. There are many people who have done this job in the past who do not know how to do it well […]
Only 26% of agency new business directors are viewed as successful. According to the same agency-marketer report, the tenure of a new business director is 2 years or less To help better understand why agency new business executives are struggling and what they can do about it, I wanted to share a recent Webinar,“Selling Less to Win More […]
Believe it or not, most small to midsize agencies have no consistent process for generating online leads. Business development doesn’t have to be so difficult. With a little forethought and the creation of simple steps and processes, you can create a system that will make it much easier to kick-start your online leads. Here are […]
Those charged with new business often neglect to plan their work and work their plan. Agencies are great at analyzing and planning for their clients. But, when it comes to planning for their own new business they balk. It is strange, but often occurrence. When an agency starts focusing on themselves, it causes their marketing minds to […]
Building an engaged online community should NOW be a core responsibility of business development. The battle for new business has moved online which makes community development indispensable in marketing your agency online. Knowing how to build an online community has become an important skill-set for those charged with agency new business. Community development comes before business development. How to Build an Online […]
Leverage SEO and expert positioning! Based on Google patents and documents, which explicitly state that Google prefers experts and authorities. John McDougall, the author of Web Marketing On All Cylinders and The Big Dog Authority Marketing Checklist, will show you how positioning your agency and team members as thought leaders is critical to digital marketing success. One of the […]
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.
… Continue readingDefinition: 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.”
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
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
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
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
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
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.
… Continue reading“Clients want traditional advertising as well as content marketing, so it’s time you become the amazing integrated agency your clients need and expect!
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
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
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
Michael Gass, Business Development Consultant | Speaker | Author of Fuel Lines
Fuel Lines provides new business resources for Advertising, Digital, Media and PR Agencies.
It has been rated among the top 100 marketing blogs in the world, according to Ad Age’s Power 150.
Since 2007, Michael has helped pioneer the use of social media, inbound and content marketing strategies specifically for agency new business.
Read more about Michael
An essential component to your agency's new business program is a prospective client data base.
In my opinion one of the most accurate online database of marketing and advertising decision makers is Winmo. I highly recommend them.
I'm Michael Gass, I'm an author, speaker and a new business consultant to advertising, digital, media and PR agencies.
Since 2007, I have helped pioneer the use of social media, inbound and content marketing strategies specifically for agency new business.
Fuel Lines is my social media 'home-base. It has been ranked among the top 100 marketing blogs in the world, according to Advertising Age’s, The Power 150.
Learn more about me