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What Does Your Advertising Agency Charge?

Peter · April 12, 2016 · Leave a Comment

What Does Your Advertising Agency Charge?

There, I’ve said it twice. Why? Because if you are an agency owner or partner or business development director or creative director and you have no clue how to charge for your advertising agency’s services, you are way screwed my friend.

As an agency owner and CEO, I participated in all large pricing surveys. Why wouldn’t I? Throwing darts at the wall of agency fees is not a good plan. It won’t help you win new accounts and will undoubtedly not help you become more profitable. Most of the RFP’s you deal with demand that you get your pricing right. Also, I’ve occasionally used these numbers with existing clients to show them that my agency’s fees were in line with the world of competitive agencies.

This industry-wide survey will immediately become a “best of” because it comes from our friends at HubSpot and the results will represent a huge number of agency respondents. Here is the link to the Agency Pricing & Financials Survey and here is what HubSpot is saying…

How do you determine the price for your services and track the profitability of your agency?

Some might call it an art, but that might be because many agency leaders are forced to get creative with their approach. They have very little industry data and best practices to tell them how to price their services, what metrics to track, and how to improve their business practices. 

In addition, profitability in agencies has become a more difficult thing to achieve. Margins are shrinking, and clients can ask for more for less because of the number of competitors. 

Do It. It Takes Ten Minutes.

Taking this survey will help all of you agency leaders better understand what pricing models to use.

The survey takes ten minutes. You’ve got ten minutes to get into your competitor’s heads, right?

 

 

Resources: Legal Advice For Advertising Agencies

Peter · March 14, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Easy Advertising Online Legal Resources

download masonLawyers cost money. Yes, this is way true. And, advertising agencies need lawyers. But, before you make that $300+ call, here are some websites to head to before you start down the per hour rat hole.

Agency Legal Protection. Sharon Toerek answers important legal questions like this: “What should we do to protect the agency during a new business pitch?”

Cornell University’s Library. Dig databases? You’ve arrived at a long list of legal databases by subject..

Legalzoom. From wills (get one!!!) through incorporation (for your new agency). Legalzoom is the leader in online legal docs. They are an ex-client of my agency and I have been using then for years. Know what, way back when, they were a great client and they loved to eat well in L.A.

Docracy. Open source legal documents.

Docusign. Legal online signatures. No more inky hands.

Find Law UK. Employee rights for UK workers.

4A’s On Compensation Agreements. Read this before you marry that new client. Consider this prenup advice.

Right Law. Employee rights explained. Yes, you have rights.

Shake. Quickly create, sign and send legally binding agreements.

More & More Online Resources

Just one more element of my Big Advertising Agency Resource List. Let me know if I am missing anything.

More and more is coming. Stay tuned.

It Might Be Time To Start Your Own Ad Agency

Peter · September 22, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Yes Folks, You Can Start Your Ad Agency – And Succeed

Screen Shot 2015-09-22 at 8.37.50 PMGreat article in the U.K.’s The Drum from London Advertising’s CEO Michael Moszyinski on what might just happen if you bailed from your ad agency and decided to go out on your own. Sure, it’s scary. Sure, you might not succeed. Sure you are putting your career on the line. Sure you’ll miss the other hundred’s of people you drink with at Ogilvy or Droga5 or 72andsunny.

But, you know you want to do it. You know that you can do a better job than the management of your current agency. You know that you have super special smart ideas that you’d like to share with high-profit clients. You know that your time may be running out. You know that you might even be able to steal one of your clients.

“Confessions of an indie agency start up: Seven years in”

Take a good read of Michael’s agency launch story on The Drum. It will be enlightening, repeat enlightening, and should get your entrepreneurial juices flowing. Here is a brief energizer from London’s history for you to get you packing up… [Read more…] about It Might Be Time To Start Your Own Ad Agency

Who Would Invest In Your Advertising Agency?

Peter · August 18, 2015 · 1 Comment

pablo bWho Would Invest In Your Advertising Agency?

Sorry. Probably No One.

 

 

You are not alone. The vast majority of agencies are not worthy of investment. Would you invest in your competitors? Probably not.

OK, that’s them. What about you? Let’s solve this because a low-value agency to a prospective investor or buyer is a low-value agency to a prospective client. You are not alone if you are a me-too low-value agency. Unfortunately, it comes with the territory of the 2015 ad agency business model. The way out is to be different. Think you can’t do that?

G5 Did.

G5   Digital Marketing For Apartments  Storage   Senior LivingWay back in 2013, I wrote about Bend, Oregon’s specialist ‘advertising agency’ G5. I wanted to show you, Ms. Agency CEO, that there are advertising agency business models that actually…:

Attract high-margin clients. These are clients that do not need to be mega pitched and really want to love your expertise.

Are more efficient than your project-based approach

Are trully category specific. This is G5’s laser-sharp pitch: “G5 simplifies digital marketing by delivering best-in-class sites, search, and social for Apartments, Self Storage, and Senior Living properties.”

Are unique in a world of me-too agencies.

Leverage the power of digital marketing tech to help client’s grow the agency’s bottom line.

And…  increase agency valuations. You do want to sell someday, right?

Way back in 2013 you had to take my word for it. Not anymore. I was right. This kind of agency attracts clients and investment.

G5 Raises $76 Million Investment Led by Peak Equity Partners

[Read more…] about Who Would Invest In Your Advertising Agency?

Bob Hoffman – The Golden Age of Bullshit – Advertising Week Europe

Peter · June 22, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Dig Advertising Bullshit?

Just watch Bob lay it out. Oh, and… Bob and I will gladly drink one of your bourbons in Nashville this fall. Right here.

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