Tools of the Trade is an AgencySpy feature to help highlight the many tools that help make advertising and marketing folks successful. The tools can be anything that helps people perform at their top form, from a favorite drafting table to the best software program to a lucky pen, a vintage typewriter or a pair of headphones.
Next up is Emily Ward and Jess Hunichen, co-founders at global talent management agency Shine Talent Group.
What is one tool you use all the time at work, and how does it inspire your work?
By far, our favorite tool is The Thread. It provides essential features for managing a large volume of talent. Shine Talent Group executes a high volume of deals every month, and as the company grew, tracking our projects, payments and metrics was no longer possible on Google Sheets. We set out to find a project management software to support the talent manager’s workflow. However, we could only find tools that had been built for the talent’s experience or the brand/agencies’ perspectives, so we decided to invest in creating The Thread and haven’t looked back since. Not only has it allowed us to reduce errors and increase productivity for our talent managers, but also as owners, we are able to see what we need to be focusing on at a glance to optimize an opportunity or fix a challenge before it becomes an issue.
Why is it your favorite?
As co-owners, we use the tool everyday. It is the first and last thing I check to see the team’s progress, and it becomes the framework that we review for our status meetings. Talent’s billings can be tracked and invoiced in one seamless flow. We also can see the percentage of proactive versus reactive leads, which team member or talent is hitting their goals and how we are tracking our budget for the year. The Thread takes all of the factors that can heavily influence our billing strategy and allows us to see it in a clear format to make quick changes and maximize the opportunities presented to us.
How did you acquire your tool or hear about it for the first time?
It’s been a journey! We have been developing the tool for the past three years and beta testing it within our three global markets (U.S., U.K. and Canada). It is now available for limited license as we roll out the offering.
How does it help you be successful?
With the sheer volume of programs and ever-changing factors of this creator economy, having a core tool that amalgamates all the data into one streamlined platform is essential. At Shine Talent Group, we serve 3 markets and have over 70 staff and more than 250 exclusive talents; plus, we process thousands of campaigns every year. The volume every company has within their own sales data can either be an asset or a detriment depending on the ability to absorb and distill the intelligence it’s offering. The Thread is the tool that brings clarity to the insights and empowers teams to take action where they most need it.
The Thread offers a rich set of features designed to empower both talent managers and agency owners, such as:
-Campaign and Calendar Management: Create, track and collaborate on brand deals.
-Finance Integration: The Thread interfaces with all standard accounting software for easy invoicing and AR/AP tracking.
-Roster Management: A talent roster is accessible in one central hub; filter and search by demographic, category and location.
-Projections & Forecasting: Track and identify opportunities to maximize growth and billing potential.
-Talent Portal: Utilize streamlined information for campaign and payment transparency.
Does it have sentimental value?
With all the blood, sweat and tears we’ve poured into this one, you bet.
Do you think your tool could go TikTok viral? Why or why not?
We’re in the business of things going viral, so absolutely, yes. The Thread’s TikTok page: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.thread
We want to know what tools you use to make you successful. If you’d like to contribute or know someone who would want to be featured in Tools of the Trade, contact kyle.obrien@adweek.com and fill out our survey.