The Laws of the Pitch Room

Even though I’m freelance I still take part in quite a few proper pitches.  I mean the full-blown strategy + creative + logistics + budget presentations in front of senior clients where they decide based on a ninety minute presentation whether or not to spend a million pounds plus with the agency. Comparing these agency … Continue reading The Laws of the Pitch Room

is it a Conflict or a Specialism?

AgencyLand has always struggled to know what to do when they’d really like to work with two businesses in the same category.  Do they decide that they’re cars or house building specialists and work with lots of brands in that sector – or do they decide that would be a conflict and only work with … Continue reading is it a Conflict or a Specialism?

stereotypes in both AdLand and HorseWorld

The marketing industry is choc-full of stereotypes. The boozy 50-something agency board member who contributes little but has a contacts book to kill for. The ambitious 23 year old account handler who will do whatever it takes to claw and clamber his way to the top. The young, blonde secretary with a surprisingly large collection … Continue reading stereotypes in both AdLand and HorseWorld

what goes around comes around in the marketing village

I’ve had a lot of ‘small world’ moments recently, from crossing paths with media types from three jobs ago to working on projects for an ex boss and bumping into old colleagues in the park. Which brought me back to an idea I’ve touched on before – that the marketing world is basically one big … Continue reading what goes around comes around in the marketing village

What do you do when your clients want to do what they’ve always done?

When the Big Thinkers in AdLand talk about clients I think they must be thinking about the kind of clients that have enormous budgets and even bigger creative parameters.  Want to roll balls down a hill to illustrate our colour telly?  Great!  Babies rollerblading to communicate refreshment?  Where do I sign? Then there are the … Continue reading What do you do when your clients want to do what they’ve always done?

why the instore environment is still the same marketing brief

I’ve been working on a lot of retail projects recently.  So I’ve inevitably been in a lot of shops.  And it keeps striking me that as agencies we devote so much time, effort and creativity to trying to get people through store’s doors – and not nearly as much on persuading them to buy something … Continue reading why the instore environment is still the same marketing brief

if it was my money…

‘If it was my money I’d…’ has to be one of my most over-used client-meeting phrases.  But there’s a good reason why - especially when you’re dealing with Outside London sized marketing budgets it’s easy for clients to try to be all things to all media channels, and master of none. I’d always advocate for … Continue reading if it was my money…