CityCentral’s Post

The big agency model is completely broken. It's archaic. Big agencies continue to charge insane fees and produce unacceptable results. Big agencies may be feeling the pain as brands get smarter about advertising budgets and turn to smaller agencies. It's not about fancy office space, expensive tools, or extravagant dinners. That's a thing of the past. Brands are looking for problem solvers and partners to tackle challenges together. Brands want nimble teams that are brave to be quirky, yet strategic with execution. Brands want to work with agencies that don't waste time on office politics, red tape, nepotism, or incompetence. Yes, Fullmoon is that small agency! Yes, I am totally biased because I am confident of the team we have built. And yes, we deliver excellence for our clients. So, if you are a brand that is brave enough to work with the underdog, have desire to forge meaningful relationship, and collaborate to win together, then I would love to talk to you! 🤙 #chewonthis #adagency #creativeagency #contentagency #mediaagency

10 ways to get work out of your ad agency that builds brand and drives business… 1. Determine what the creative bar is before you start looking at work (ie. what’s your definition of “great work” - what are the subjective and objective measures). 2. Study advertising together. Talk about it. What is your favorite work? Why? 3. Don’t date your agency. Get married. Project work can get you some ideas, but a team that is built for the long term will be fully invested in your business and create sustainable growth for the brand. 4. Make team retention a KPI. 5. Stop doing creative presentations. Having the agency think they are there to “sell ideas” through “ta da meetings” at the front of the room is super limiting for the work. Setup time with a small group of idea people to jam and build the ideas together. Cut formality from the process. 6. Develop a “yes, and” culture for ideas vs. a “no” culture. Let the agency make some calls. Make sure the brand team’s ideas get executed. 7. Make More. Meet Less. Make the idea, put it out and get feedback from the market, then regroup and talk about what to do - conference room debates can only get you so far. Set aside budget for proactive ideas to get executed. 8. Invest in relationships. Get to know each other outside the office. Having a real relationship will allow you to say anything to each other with candor as you build ideas. 9. Celebrate the work – champion the wins internally and externally. 10. Bring media and creative together as one unit. #advertising #marketing #adagency #creativity #team

I’ve been noticing a trend lately… small agencies are popping up and taking clients from big agencies. A while back we won a large well-known tech client from a big event agency because we were more agile, more personal, and had fewer layers. The role we play is small and drumbeat level - regular business to employee engagements. They wanted an agency that could feel like an extension of their team without layers of people and therefore layers of chargeable hours. They wanted high quality attention to detail for good value rates. When you work with a small agency you regularly talk to the business owners. That's a big win. I’ve noticed this across different types of agencies and industries (#events, #advertising, #branding). Something is happening! I also keep hearing about big agencies rejecting more experienced and 'expensive' staff for the young guns. Probably to save money, a bit of ageism. But do they not realise they should keep the experienced staff to mentor these young guns? I watched a webinar recently where 🌈 Cherie Clonan was telling Ryan Kelly about how The Digital Picnic just landed a big client that they didn’t think would go with a small agency. She said the best way for teams to get the most out of their external agency is to look at who is doing their strategy. She talked about the “sweatshop” mentality of some big agencies. Lots of junior employees who are stressed out, overworked, and not very inspired. (By the way you should watch the webinar - it’s excellent! I’ll pop the link in comments) Lots of similar themes going on. Obviously, I think these are good reasons to switch to a small agency… Here's a snapshot why: 🚀 The ability to be quick and nimble 🌟 The level of service 🤝 Face time with senior staff 💡 Positive work culture 💰 Cutting unnecessary costs in a difficult economic climate Has anyone else noticed this? Why do you think this is happening? #agencies #bigagency #smallbusiness"

People say Marketing agencies are everywhere— everyone seems to be starting one. True to some extent, but here’s the real story that people don't talk about. What does it actually take to build an agency? Let's decode that: The Good Side: It's a Passion-Driven Work: 🌟 You wake up excited every day because you genuinely love creating marketing strategies and seeing them succeed. Storytelling Mastery: 📖 Crafting a captivating brand story for a client that resonates with their audience, increasing their engagement and loyalty. Creative Problem-Solving: 💡 Developing an innovative campaign that turns around a client's struggling product launch, boosting their sales and market presence. Diverse Projects: 🌐 Working with clients from various industries, such as fashion, tech, and hospitality, keeps your work dynamic and exciting. Client Impact: 🚀 Helping a small business grow into a well-known brand through your strategic marketing efforts, witnessing their success firsthand. The Not-So-Good Side: Relentless Hustle: 🕰️ Frequently working late nights and weekends to meet project deadlines and manage client expectations. Team Management: 🧑🤝🧑 Spending significant time and effort on recruiting, training, and resolving conflicts within your team, sometimes at the expense of other tasks. Financial Stress: 💸 Facing cash flow issues during slow periods, struggling to pay salaries and cover operational expenses without dipping into savings. Sales Pressure: 📞 Continuously pitching to potential clients and facing rejection, which can be mentally and emotionally taxing. Client Demands: 📅 Dealing with demanding clients who expect rapid results, requiring constant communication and sometimes unrealistic adjustments to projects. Running an agency is a blend of passion and pressure, creativity and challenges. There are no shortcuts—make your decision wisely, based on what truly fulfills you. What unique strategies do you employ to balance the highs and lows of this dynamic industry? 🌟💡🚀 Comment Below #Digitalagency #Digitalbranding

Ditch the ping pong table, focus on marketing! It's the real lifeline for businesses of all sizes. Why? Check out the full post to find out! ➡️ [https://lnkd.in/gy3m5DhR] #marketing #marketingstrategy #marketingtechnique #beyondgtm #marketingagency

Explore the importance of investing in tools to simplify your life and business operations. Learn valuable insights on leveraging tools while maintaining personal engagement and brand consistency.

Our Gareth Hoyle's #productivitytips were featured in Brands & Agencies' Agency Hacks! 👏 Some of his top tips include: ☑ Start your day with a to-do list 🍅 Try the pomodoro technique ⏸ Take regular breaks! Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eCUQ-9Nj #Creativity #PRtips #DigitalPR #Productivity

In the dynamic world of in-house agencies, the surge in project requests is a testament to the growing importance of creative, marketing, and digital services. 🚀 Saying 'no' to opportunities can be challenging, but it's often a matter of resource allocation rather than a lack of capability. To turn these 'nos' into 'yeses', consider leveraging a partnership that expands your bandwidth and expertise. 🤝 🌎 Planet Interactive specializes in providing top-tier talent to Fortune 1000 companies, ensuring that your in-house agency can meet demand without compromising on quality. Let's schedule a chat this month to explore how we can support your growth and help you say 'yes' to more projects... you might even get to meet my office🐶 buddy!! 💼🌟 . . . #InHouseAgency #CreativeTalent #MarketingStrategy #DigitalInnovation #PartnershipOpportunities #ResourceManagement

Does the team size of the creative agency affect your decision to partner with them? If the team size is smaller, is it a setback for you? (Keeping aside their performance) When deciding to partner with a creative agency, the size of their team can be a factor, but it should not be the dealbreaker. While larger agencies might have more experience, there are strong reasons to consider smaller agencies too. ⚫ Cost-Effective Solutions: With leaner operations, smaller agencies often provide high-quality services at more affordable rates. ⚫ Communication is easier. Less people means less confusion about what needs to be done. ⚫ Personalized Relationships: You connect to every team member in the smaller agency which is not possible in larger agencies. ⚫ More Passionate: The intimate environment of a smaller agency promotes enthusiasm and strong teamwork. ⚫ Collaborative Knowledge: In smaller agencies, everyone in the team is well-informed about every client project. So, don't dismiss smaller agencies just because of their team size. Their unique advantages can be just what you need for your growth. It's a myth that only large companies can drive success. Sometimes, the personalized touch of a smaller team can make all the difference. #CreativeAgency #TeamDynamics #GrowthMindset

The delicate balance between peacocking and productivity 🦚 We're all aware that creativity is the lifeblood of successful marketing. Those innovative campaigns, attention-grabbing visuals, and out-of-the-box ideas are what set us apart in the crowded digital landscape. But have you ever paused to reflect on how much of your precious marketing time is truly dedicated to peacocking your brand? 🤔 In the hustle and bustle of our daily tasks, it's easy to get lost in the sea of administrative duties. Tracking metrics, analysing data, and scheduling posts – while these are undeniably important, they can sometimes overshadow the magic of creative brainstorming and innovative thinking. So, let's ask ourselves: Are we investing enough time in the activities that truly make our brand? Are we carving out a generous portion of our schedules to let our creative geniuses roam free? Peacocking isn't just about flaunting feathers – it's about proudly showcasing the uniqueness of your brand, capturing attention, and leaving a lasting impression. It's those awe-inspiring campaigns that make people stop mid-scroll, those designs that make them double-tap, and those ideas that spark conversations. It's about making your brand an unforgettable spectacle that stands out in the noisy digital parade. So, here's a challenge for all you fellow marketers: Let's make a conscious effort to strike that balance. Allocate dedicated time to nurture your creative side, to let those wild ideas take flight, and to truly peacock your brand's personality. 🦚 Remember, administrative tasks are essential to keep the wheels turning, but it's the peacocking moments that truly propel your brand to new heights. #marketing #creativity #productivity