I’ve been unsuccessfully hunting for a new horse since January (my current one has been retired due to arthritis). In the process I've discovered that there’s a lot of language in horse ads that needs decoding, for example would suit experienced rider means ‘the horse is a total nutcase’ and if you read spooks occasionally … Continue reading decoding the creds deck
Category: agencies
erm, what is it exactly that Planners do again?
I had a very disconcerting conversation with a Partner in a (what counts for medium sized up here) agency recently. This person knew that they needed some Planning, but didn’t really know what Account Planning was or what a Planner does. It was a bit of a wake-up call when I had to explain the … Continue reading erm, what is it exactly that Planners do again?
Northern agency Recession Watch
As a freelance, I inevitably get about a bit. So I hear an awful lot about how well (or otherwise) businesses and individuals round my way are doing. I can’t comment on the daily media stories about how the economy is getting better / worse / becoming more unpredictable by the day, but I certainly … Continue reading Northern agency Recession Watch
why do we promote people out of what they’re good at?
ITIABTWC posted last week about whether a great Creative was made up of the same stuff as a great Creative Director and therefore whether seeing one as the natural progression of the other was actually a sensible idea. It strikes me that it’s the same in lots of other disciplines, including Planning. It’s a good … Continue reading why do we promote people out of what they’re good at?
deck the halls with festive ranting
What I want for Christmas (apart from a Range Rover Evoque and a horse with legs that work) is for the last wave of agencies to finally grow up. They need to wake up to the fact that it isn’t 1995 anymore. That having a full time staff of 40 while claiming to be experts … Continue reading deck the halls with festive ranting
…or whatever it’s calling itself this week
I recently noticed that a Planner mate on LinkedIn had updated their entry to list them working at: [agency’s new name] (or whatever it’s calling itself this week). Yes, their agency had just rebranded. Again. I had a think back and between them the three agencies I’ve worked for managed eight full rebrands and another … Continue reading …or whatever it’s calling itself this week
what’s with all this obsession with cool (and by extension, youth)?
Sometimes, when I meet someone at a party and they find out I work in advertising (and especially once I explain what a Planner does) a flicker of surprise crosses their face. I suppose I don’t seem the type, perhaps like someone more likely to be a teacher or accountant. You see, I’m not cool. … Continue reading what’s with all this obsession with cool (and by extension, youth)?
why clients and their agencies need to look back to the future
Apologies for the recent silence but I’ve been busy trying to get my head around a new client. This particular organisation and it’s challenges has required speedy generation one of those Planner’s To Do lists where the short term and long term To Dos are very similar, but the urgent stuff will have to be … Continue reading why clients and their agencies need to look back to the future
FAO agency MDs – you’re running a business, not an agency
There has been a depressing wave of news of agencies in trouble round my way over the last couple of weeks, which reminded of this post I wrote about how the people who run an agency actually need to know how to run a business. I’m not suggesting that every agency that fails does so … Continue reading FAO agency MDs – you’re running a business, not an agency
with social media lowering the bar, are some businesses doing themselves more harm than good?
There are an awful lot of businesses and brands out there doing the whole Social Media thing rather badly. Getting Marketing Wrong isn’t a new phenomenon, I only have to look at the dross which drops though my letterbox from Indian takeaways, landscape gardeners and cleaning services to see that there are a lot of … Continue reading with social media lowering the bar, are some businesses doing themselves more harm than good?