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How are you investing your time?

I had a great conversation (podcast) with Andrew Dymski, the host of Inbound Agency Journey about how and where agency owners should be investing their time. We talked a little inbound but the lion’s share of the conversation would be relevant for any agency owner. Take a listen here. In the podcast, I talk about how a primary focus for any agency owner should be new business. In fact, about 50% of your time and attention should be devoted to it. How are you doing on that? To make that happen, you need to get out of the weeds of daily client work. You also need a plan of attack. Take a look at our online business course - AMI’s Agency New Business Blueprint. It just might be what you need to help you get out of the weeds. Like all AMI work, if you don’t like it, we’ll give you the money back. Check out the content here and hurry up before 2020 budgets and plans are created and you’re not part of the mix.

May 20th, 2019|

How to promote your book as part of your thought leadership strategy

With all the buzz about establishing yourself as a thought leader and the long-term value of that effort, many agency owners have written or are thinking about writing a book to demonstrate their expertise. There is assumed esteem that comes from being a published author, whether you self-publish or choose to work with a hybrid or traditional publisher. No matter how your book comes to life unless you’re James Patterson, the promotion of your book is pretty much going to be on you. Odds are you didn’t write the book to make millions of dollars, but instead to use the book to build your position as a thought leader, open up opportunities to speak, or be sought out as an expert by the media. Some agency leaders write a book merely to be used as a three-dimensional business card! No matter what your end game, you have to get your book noticed before you can enjoy the benefits of going through the hard work of writing it. Here are some ideas on how to launch and promote your book. Ideally, you’ll have time to plan for all of this before your book comes out. But many of these tactics can be effective, no matter how long ago your book was first published. Build your audience before you need it: Depending on the subject matter of your book, start creating relationships with potential readers before the book is out. Focus on growing your social reach on the channels that you typically use and where you think your core audience is hanging out. You’re also going to want to build up an email list of people who are interested in your book’s topic. Hopefully, you are already [...]

May 9th, 2019|

AMI Platinum Member Details

Thanks for becoming an AMI Platinum Member!  We're excited to have you on board and look forward to serving you and your agency. The benefits of your membership include: Everything in the silver package that includes: Invitation to webinars just for members and recorded archives of past member-only webinars Invitation to the annual AMI-only live webinar that deep dives into our Agency Edge research each year (including data that we hold back just for members) Free copy of our annual salary and benefits survey (sells for $99) Discounts on all AMI live workshops and on-demand courses Plus the gold level benefits of: The ability to participate in AMI’s group health insurance and 401K program and defined benefits programs Discounts on AMI coaching and onsite consulting Discounts to the AMI annual conference – The Build A Better Agency Summit (and the member-only family day the Monday before the conference) The ability for your team members to participate in the special interest group summits Emails from Drew on current events/opportunities etc., for agency owners And on top of all that… One seat at the Build A Better Agency Summit (complimentary) One complimentary coaching call (60 minutes) annually If you have any questions about your membership -- please shoot us an email, and we'll get you an answer.

April 18th, 2019|

AMI Gold Membership Details

Thanks for becoming an AMI Gold Member!  We're excited to have you on board and look forward to serving you and your agency. The benefits of your membership include: Everything in the silver package includes: Invitation to webinars just for members and recorded archives of past member-only webinars Invitation to the annual AMI-only live webinar that deep dives into our Agency Edge research each year (including data that we hold back just for members) Free copy of our annual salary and benefits survey (sells for $99) Discounts on all AMI live workshops and on-demand courses Plus the gold level benefits of: The ability to participate in AMI’s group health insurance and 401K program and defined benefits programs Discounts on AMI coaching and onsite consulting Discounts to the AMI annual conference – The Build A Better Agency Summit (and the member-only family day the Monday before the conference) The ability for your team members to participate in the special interest group summits Emails from Drew on current events/opportunities, etc. for agency owners If you have any questions about your membership -- please shoot us an email, and we'll get you an answer.

April 18th, 2019|

AMI Silver Membership Details

Thanks for becoming an AMI Silver Member!  We're excited to have you on board and look forward to serving you and your agency. The benefits of your membership include: Invitation to webinars just for members and recorded archives of past member-only webinars Invitation to the annual AMI-only live webinar that deep dives into our Agency Edge research each year (including data that we hold back just for members) Free copy of our annual salary and benefits survey (sells for $99) Discounts on all AMI live workshops and on-demand courses Emails from Drew on current events/opportunities etc. for agency owners If you have any questions about your membership -- please shoot us an email and we'll get you an answer.

April 18th, 2019|

AMI member only webinar series 2019

As a member -- you are entitled to attend all of our member only webinars and have access to their replay videos as well. This year, our webinar series focuses on team building, biz dev, agency paint points and creating a culture of growth in your agency.  Please invite your entire agency to participate in these webinars (you can have as many of your team sign up as you'd like or you can sign up once and watch them together!) All of the webinars are at noon central and IF you register -- you will automatically be sent the link for the replay.   February 14, 2019: Leading your team to a new level of greatness with Janet Fouts   Access the replay video   May 23, 2019: Can a CMO tenure be your secret to agency biz dev with Winmo's Dave Currie and search firm consultant Lisa Colantuono   Access the replay video July 22: Insights from our agency assessment with Drew McLellan   Access the replay video   October 12, 2019: Selling more to your existing clients with Drew McLellan   Access the replay video   BONUS: November 12, 2019: The AMI only Agency Edge research results with Susan Baier & Drew McLellan   Access the replay video

April 18th, 2019|

Stalled Projects = Shrinking Profits

You know the drill. Client or prospect calls. They have an urgent need and you drop everything to figure out how to help them. About a third of the way in — when you need something (copy, assets, information, etc.) from them, suddenly there’s a grinding halt and you wait. And wait. It’s part of agency life. Unfortunately, so is that sucking sound you hear as the profits get drained from the project because of the delay. The longer you tread water, the more the work costs you and it’s difficult to recoup the expense of trying to cajole your client into giving you what you need. The delays aren’t always on the client. Sometimes an outside force creates the lag time. But either way — your agency ends up holding the bag. You can greatly reduce that drain on your profitability if you anticipate it up front and build a contingency into your scope documents/contracts. In another blog post, I shared some language you can use to protect yourself from these delays.  Feel free to use it verbatim or modify it to fit your agency’s voice. But don’t leave yourself more exposed than you need to be. Check it out and let me know what you think. Our September AE Bootcamp is getting pretty full. If you want to send some of your crew — it would be good to get them registered soon.

April 15th, 2019|

How to Get Paid When Clients Pull the Plug

It’s annoying and expensive when clients pull the plug on a project before you can recoup all of your upfront investment. And yet it happens all the time. So much of our work requires a huge investment on our part on the front end and when a client stalls or does a 360 and cancels the work — we often get left holding the bag. I wrote a blog post about this challenge and offered some language you can include in your contracts and/or scope of work documents that will help protect you from losing money in this situation. Check it out and let me know what you think. Our September AE bootcamp is getting pretty full. If you want to send some of your crew — it would be good to get them registered soon.

April 8th, 2019|

Word of Mouth Marketing

Word of mouth marketing is the #1 way to gain clients in 95% of agencies. Learn processes to scale and leverage your word of mouth marketing. For 95% of all agencies, referrals and word of mouth are the #1 method of gaining new clients. On the one hand, that’s great. It means your clients, friends, and peers love and trust you enough to introduce you to their friends and colleagues. […]

April 8th, 2019|

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