Agency owners are, for the most part, some of the bravest people I know. They have put everything on the line to start/own their agency and every day they face and move past tough decisions. But if there’s an Achilles Heel for most owners, it’s the staffing issue, especially if your agency has hit a [...]
First, let's dismiss the idea that timesheets are somehow unnecessary. It doesn't matter how you bill, from time and materials to value pricing -- you still need accurate, daily timesheets. Timesheets actually have very little to do with billing. They're really all about effectiveness and efficiency. Let's say your agency is dropping 20% to the [...]
A couple years ago, I updated my OS on my laptop and it literally ate any email sent to/from me after 2015. I went through several weeks of trying to get back to all of the people who had emailed me and never heard back. They probably thought I had no manners but I promise [...]
I believe agencies need to shift their own (and their clients’) content creation from a cost to a money-making machine. Every agency I know is creating content but few are monetizing it. Honestly — that’s mostly because the content created is generic and lousy (did you write a post about the new Pantone color — [...]
When I started my agency back in 1995, I was the perfect combination of arrogant and ignorant. “How hard can running an agency be?” I thought to myself. Well, as you might guess, I found out in a hurry. There were some terrifying “can I make payroll?” days and even more “I wonder how we [...]
As an owner, business development should be priority No. 1. However, it’s easy to neglect development if you’re jumping from task to task, constantly managing client crises. By identifying one or two leaders who can help you focus on the bigger picture, you’ll be able to build a stronger, more successful agency. To identify your [...]
Your best brand advocates are your employees. A recent study showed that half of workers share employer-related content on social media, and one-third of them did so without being asked. It might be time that companies create employee advocacy programs that are a win for all involved. The first step of an effective internal advocacy [...]
Accountability failure is chronic in our industry; it’s a tricky culture issue that causes us to lose our best employees and revenue opportunities. As agency owners, we must implement internal systems that help us keep our promises. Trust is at the core of my agency’s culture; we’ve all learned to honestly assess our capabilities and [...]
Owning or leading an agency can feel like a never-ending high-stakes poker game. There’s always something to worry about. Too often, we’re so focused on what could go wrong that we don’t truly appreciate the things that go right. Of course, I’m not saying agency owners should stop looking at the numbers or worrying about [...]
Every time you use a digital assistant, receive a recommendation from Amazon or use an app to find the fastest route, you’re using artificial intelligence. AI has changed our lives in countless ways, but I’ve noticed most agencies still struggle to harness its power to improve their business. In truth, AI is already a part [...]
