It’s slowly dawning on me that it’s not just the large-ish integrated agencies I used to work for that get seriously messed about in tenders and pitches by clients. Every agency I go into seems to be in the throes of some kind of new business related angst. Take, for example: The client’s tender where … Continue reading abandon hope, all ye who pitch (or tender) round here
Category: clients
when the brief is more away-with-the-fairies than ‘challenging’
We’ve all been there at one time or another. The client pitch brief that asserts their ambition for the brand to be seen as the country’s leading X or most aspirational Y. When you know full well that the brand has more baggage than Terminal 5 on a BA strike day, is right up there … Continue reading when the brief is more away-with-the-fairies than ‘challenging’
The other side of the fence
After a few, shall we say, challenging emails from one of my clients over the last couple of days, it would be very easy for me to write a ranting post about how the ideal client would actually read and action contact reports, make decisions rather than simply forwarding emails and have at least some … Continue reading The other side of the fence
The twelve month marketing plan vs. real agency life
Over the last few years, I’ve worked on several campaigns where the objectives and/or the budgets shifted substantially between the insight and planning process and execution. In some cases, we were communicating to a different audience, or with a different message, or with a quarter of the original budget. How can you build anticipating that … Continue reading The twelve month marketing plan vs. real agency life
Client quotes of the day
feedback on creative brief sent over for client approval: “it shouldn’t say anything in Tone of Voice as the character won’t actually be speaking” re: brand launch campaign: us: “and of course digital will be very important” client: “yes and I’d like a website too” sigh…
Harder, better, faster, stronger
by gaptone on flickr Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger is my predication for what AgencyLife is going to be like – no, HAS to be like - if the industry is to adapt to the realities of life in 2010. Harder After 2009’s redundancies and cost cutting, there will be less people around to do more … Continue reading Harder, better, faster, stronger
Clients – can’t live with (some of) them, can’t push them off a cliff
Following a few rather trying client meetings recently, I went home and unburdened myself to my aforementioned lifetime-in-retail Dad. He talked me down from my slightly hysterical state by saying that the way he’d always seen it, in retail it was all really a game and in the end (no matter how difficult the customer), … Continue reading Clients – can’t live with (some of) them, can’t push them off a cliff
never mind the groups, what about the catering?
I was at a viewing facility on Monday evening where they seemed to be hell bent on fulfilling their duty of care to clients and moderators in making sure we were looking after ourselves properly. As well as the usual fruit basket and fridges filled with water, Coke and Red Bull, they offered fruit juices and no less … Continue reading never mind the groups, what about the catering?
a brief message for European marketing directors
I seem to have spent a fair chunk of the last four years engaged in indirect battles with the marketing directors of the European parent companies of some of my UK clients. On the off-chance that any of that illustrious group are reading this, you are (indirectly) paying my agency a lot of money based on … Continue reading a brief message for European marketing directors
Hurry Up and Wait
Following on from my bullet pointed rant about the pitch process, it now seems clear to me that the entire attitude of the UK marketing industry could be summed up as Hurry Up and Wait. From fast turnaround pitches that result in weeks of client indecision, to urgent meetings cancelled at the last minute and … Continue reading Hurry Up and Wait