Episode 40 - A B!tch Session on the Agency/Client Relationship
Episode Summary
It's time for a bitch session! These days, most of us work with consultants or agencies to achieve our goals. we're either on the client side or the agency side. We can have all the tools but it's the team that handles the execution. And often, that's not just in-house people. With the gig economy too, the agency/client relationship has evolved. Staffing is so much different these days. Special guests Wendy Hu of Visual Conductor and Jason Zotara of Ten26 Media, both agency owners, join our panel and we'll have some fun with this episode, talking about why agencies suck. why clients suck. But ultimately, it's about how you can get more out of these collaborations.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
[03:43] The history of the Agency/Client Relationship and its challenges.
[04:03] When is the ideal timing for brands to consider using an agency?
[08:59] Using email marketing, creative and paid ad agencies to fill skill gaps. Agency niches are getting more prevalent.
[12:29] Getting big ideas through agencies without spending big dollars.
[13:20] How do agencies and clients work better together? Making the process leaner and becoming more agile.
[15:00] How agencies are sort of like Instagram with the hustle and the presentation of showing your perfect self.
[17:47] What’s wrong with clients (and brands) sometimes? The “I’ll know it when I see it” client who requires too many rounds and creates scope creep.
[20:30] Knowing the skill set of your team, assessing what they can and can not do before hiring an agency.
[24:16] What is Scope creep and how does it impact agency-client relationships? The scenarios where scope happens and how to avoid that scenario.
[26:19] Creating milestones and goals to help communicate and prevent scope creep. With projects, defining tasks and work ahead to control timelines.
[28:20] The importance of finding like-minded people to work with. Where there is a strong cultural fit - “doing cool things with people we like”
[29:30] A debate over the RFP process. How forward-thinking brands can avoid RFPs and traditional pitches.
[33:03] What can clients do to get better outcomes from agencies? Make sure you have your house in order first.
[36:10] The importance of having a strategy before bringing on an agency or setting up a big launch before knowing it.
[37:40] Treating the Agency/Client relationship as a partnership.
Follow our Panel: Jason & Wendy
Wendy Hue’s Creative Agency: Visual Conductor
Jason Zotara’s Digital Advertising Agency: Ten26 Media
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