It’s been happening. Tensions have risen at creative development firms and marketing solutions agencies. A ubiquitous, uncertain feeling has settled across the desktops, camera stands, and slack channels…and team meetings just don’t feel the same way as they used to. The often unspoken, yet always known truth of being a marketing professional resounds: when client’s…
If you’re like most digital agencies, 2023 was not a cup of tea, to say the least. As you’re looking towards 2024 amid a competitive landscape that is fiercer than ever before, with prospect’s standards higher than ever, and perhaps even margins on the verge of disappearing unless you make some tough decisions, consider what…
One of the stories that has stuck with me for years is of a professional pianist, who—upon being told by an audience member after a performance that they wished they were as good as the exhibiting pianist—replied, “No, you don’t. If you did, you would spend 8 hours per day rehearsing, drilling, and training to…
To move your marketing agency forward requires both a clear, purposeful vision and strategic execution to turn that vision into a reality. Success as an agency is largely influenced by who is sitting in which seats on the bus. Sometimes, the purposeful vision and execution can be accomplished by the same leader. Often times, you…
As you are looked to as the fearless leader of your firm, it’s natural to go through challenging phases or to encounter hurdles as you work to improve your profit margin, increase qualified leads, and grow your brand with feelings of isolation and uncertainty. The good news is that you don’t have to go it…
It’s an unfortunate reality faced by employers across industries: Sometimes, you have a difficult employee whose negative attitude is causing conflict with other teammates or even clients and damaging the workplace environment. Occasionally, the employee is facing an external problem or stressor, and by giving them patience and grace, they can work through it and…
Although the intrinsic truths of life are evident all around us, including in our agencies, it can be easy to miss the signs we should be seeing as leaders, especially with the busyness and daily demands that come with operating a company. However, when we miss the small yet important nuances of what is happening…
Clarity, focus, and boundaries are critical for you to define in all aspects of your business, and each is essential to define specifically regarding your target audience and ideal customer. Often times creative agencies and marketing services providers get excited because they have the means to service almost any business, without geographic boundaries and in…
Starting a successful creative or marketing company can be a rewarding endeavor. However, it doesn’t come without a significant investment of time, labor and passion. Not everyone who loves marketing wants to start their own agency. Nor should they. There are plenty of satisfying opportunities to work with an established agency, pursue freelancing, or do…
I’ve debated myself for weeks on whether or not to write this piece. In the end, I won, and that’s why I will share my thoughts behind whether or not you should be using AI based content creation tools like ChatGPT in the context of running your marketing agency. TL;DR: No. You should not. I…