I honestly think that big integrated agencies are coming round again (this obviously has absolutely nothing do with the fact that I work for one). Client's budgets and the size of their in-house teams are being squeezed and increasingly they're asking my lot to become an extension of the marketing team - even to the extent of … Continue reading Integration – your time has come (again)
Category: Work
Exactly what is ‘a fair days work’?
In an effort to clear my desk following a hectic week I was one of the last out of the office on Friday night - but that is quite unusual for me. There are always going to be the workaholics who are the first ones to arrive in the morning and the last to get kicked … Continue reading Exactly what is ‘a fair days work’?
toolbox – the gift that keeps on giving
One of the most valuable gifts I've ever been given at work was from the retiring planning guru, who bequeathed me a powerpoint document containing every chart he'd ever used. I don't think I realised at the time just how useful it would turn out to be, both for those 'how do I show this insight in … Continue reading toolbox – the gift that keeps on giving
work where you work best
It struck me, as I was having an in-depth discussion on media strategy in the ladies' loos this morning, that some of my most productive meetings have taken place in the most unlikely locations. I'm not talking about the 'fourth floor meeting room at 10am' kind of meetings (which in my experience rarely produce the … Continue reading work where you work best
nine things I didn’t know last year
One of the coolest things about being a Planner has to be the opportunity to become semi-expert about a new subject very quickly. Nine things I didn't know last year: Aloe vera can help bolster the immune system of puppies If small, cream coloured maggots with brown heads have eaten the roots of your shrubs, … Continue reading nine things I didn’t know last year
promises, promises – a few suggestions for a better relationship
We, the clients, promise: not to call any agency contact before 9am or after 5.30pm unless it really is actually properly urgent to ask no more than five agencies to take part in any creative pitch and to make clear at the outset the number of pitch stages involved to provide hot/cold drinks and (preferably chocolate) … Continue reading promises, promises – a few suggestions for a better relationship
pitching should be a two-way process
At the Northern Planning Summit last Thursday night in Sheffield we ended up discussing what would you chose not to pitch for as an agency?, which encompassed wider issues like are they flogging booze/sub-prime finance/fags/politics (delete according to where you draw the line) and are they likely to turn into the client from hell? Which made me think alot … Continue reading pitching should be a two-way process
The perils of publishing
I’m working on a gardening project at the moment, so I popped down to the newsagents to get stocked up on the latest issues of the garden mags. It seems that Country Living (as a monthly title) is struggling to keep up with recent meteorological events: Whereas the weekly Amateur Gardening is dealing with up-to-the-minute … Continue reading The perils of publishing
respect your account handler
Due to various illness/holiday type-absences, as last-client-contact-standing I've been a lot more involved in the day-to-day running of one of my clients than I would normally. Its been a real eye-opener. Its easy to forget just how many hurdles a piece of work has to go through between concept and execution. And how many opportunities … Continue reading respect your account handler
Sheep and feigned incompetence
There is a great article by former APG chair Merry Baskin subtitled 'what do account planners do exactly'. My favourite excerpt reads: In general, planners are not very well organised. Tidy minds tend to move in a linear fashion, rather than laterally. And while some may feign incompetence so they don't get stuck delivering proofs to … Continue reading Sheep and feigned incompetence