Interesting client feedback via a Research buddy today – one of their clients had apologised for not putting quantitative work their way recently. He explained that his role was now more about analysing his own customer data and buying in qualitaitive insight than farming out huge ‘how many and how much’ surveys. If we accept … Continue reading Quant is dead, long live Insight?
Category: Planning
Trust me, I’m a Planner
I’ve been thinking a lot about Trust recently. In an planning/agency context, there’s a lot of Trust needed, between Planners and their Account Directors (please involve me but don’t try and micro manage my relationship with your client) and between Planners and their key client contacts (I really do have the best interests of your … Continue reading Trust me, I’m a Planner
A few pointers for workshop participants
Reflecting on workshops I’ve run or attended in the last few months, it appears that as well as the usual ‘mobiles off’ and ‘green light thinking’ reminders, we need to add some more pointers for workshop participants: No Crackberrying during workshops. Ever. Its is not OK to sit quietly all day and only pipe up … Continue reading A few pointers for workshop participants
returning to the Age of Conversation
Work on the follow-up to The Age of Conversation has kicked off over at Drew's Marketing Minute. You can even vote on which topic it should cover here. All proceeds from both books go to Variety, the children's charity. Definitely one to watch over the coming months.
Know Your Client
A bit of a work in progress this one, but here’s the beginnings of a handy guide to sussing out your client’s management team based on their choice of offices: Cavernous statement building with glass lifts and human size models of brand mascots in reception We are actually run by head office in the States … Continue reading Know Your Client
A few suggested New Years Resolutions for Planners wot Blog
I will go to the groups in Warrington on a Wednesday evening in February, even if I need a team of huskies to get me there. I will read and watch more random stuff. I will re-edit my blog entries and check spellings before posting them. I will make friends with the scariest creative/digital guru … Continue reading A few suggested New Years Resolutions for Planners wot Blog
There is no ideal
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about whether there is an ‘ideal’ way to structure a Planning department. Of course, I’ve come to the conclusion that just as there isn’t an ‘ideal’ agency model, there isn’t an ‘ideal’ Planning department structure to fit it. Looking around the net, Russell Davies has been posting about whether … Continue reading There is no ideal
Alternative job titles for a Planner (Account, Strategic or otherwise)
Seeker of Insight Chief Post-Rationaliser Head of Desk Research King/Queen of google Master of Disguise Director of Negotiation Futureologist Data Analyst Librarian Voice of the Consumer NPD Consultant Market Researcher Brainstorming Trainer Freelance Journalist Senior Vice President of Brief Writing
when market research met social networking
One of my lovely colleagues in the Research team at work introduced me to Facebook Polls the other day. Having the ability to canvass the opinions of 100 Facebook users for just $26 (complete with online results charts) and to turn it around in just 24 hours is A Good Thing. Being able to ask Prison … Continue reading when market research met social networking
Generalist or Specialist? Whose responsibility?
I was having a chat with someone with decades more agency experience behind them than me yesterday about integrated agencies and their evolving role. His take was that the problem was that an integrated model required Specialist account managers (DM, Advertising, PR etc.) but Generalist account directors who could advise their clients across multiple disciplines/specialisms/channels. The snag … Continue reading Generalist or Specialist? Whose responsibility?