Insights

How To Build A Kick-Ass Advertising Agency

Peter · June 2, 2023 · Leave a Comment

Do You Want To Build A Kick-Ass Advertising Agency? Here’s The Book

I am sure that the answer is yes. Who does not want to build that winning advertising agency?

So, I asked Google Bard’s AI tool to help me find the right person to help you… and then have him write a 261-page treatise on how to get the job done.

Peter to Google Bard: “Does the marketing world need a new book about how to run a profitable and happy advertising agency?”

Bard: “It’s difficult to say whether the world really needs a new book on how to run an advertising agency. However, if the book offers unique insights, valuable advice, and practical tips, it will be an invaluable resource for people in the advertising industry or those interested in starting their own agency.”

Peter to Google Bard: “Who should write the comprehensive book on advertising agency management?”

Google Bard: “The best candidate to write a book about how to run and grow an advertising agency would be someone who has a deep understanding of the advertising industry, someone who has run an agency and can provide practical, actionable advice to those looking to start or run their own successful agency. It would also help if that person was also an advertising agency client.

According to my assessment, that person is Peter Levitan.”

Buy the world’s most comprehensive multi-subject agency how-to book HERE.

The 88% Interest Message: Use Video Marketing

Peter · June 2, 2023 · Leave a Comment

Video Marketing Drives More Interest & Leads. Like 88% More Interest.

(Side note… Keep reading to find out why Gandhi is in the pic above…)

Here are a couple of paragraphs on how to build a great/powerful advertising agency website from my book. It is amazing how few agencies use video marketing to tell their own brand story.

It is a long detailed chapter, this is just a tidbit. I’ll get personal below.

Video, Please

Too few agencies include brand-building video on their website. If they do, there’s a high degree of chance that it will be a sizzle reel.

I prefer a video that helps deliver the agency’s USP. The digital agency HawkSEM opens with an animated video that clearly states the agency’s mantra and client benefits—in 10 seconds:

“We could start by talking and bragging about award this and featuring that, but who cares? We believe in results. At the end of the day delivering measurable marketing results, predictable revenue, and high ROI is what matters.”

Another approach is to put a real human in the video. Why not have an agency leader deliver the message, and while they’re at it, also deliver some agency soul? You can make a compelling video introduction. You are creative.

Videos engage, are more memorable, are better at brand recall than text and… increase buying intent.

Still with me? MarketingProfs reports that “the average user spends

88% more time on a website with video than a website without one.” How can one ignore this 88% finding?

Ok. I admit it. I haven’t used enough video enough.

I spent some time today looking at how to use Apple’s video apps. If I can do it, you can. And, yes, there are ways to make your videos better… from editing to including subtitles. Let me know and I can turn you onto some new AI tools and a smart video production company that is waaaaay affordable.

The video that Mahatma Gandhi made for me!

Check out even more thinking on advertising agency video marketing: HERE

Plus why haven’t you bought my Guide to Building A Kick-Ass Advertising Agency book?????? It is a paperback & eBook.

The Most Important Marketing Question

Peter · May 20, 2023 · Leave a Comment

An Important Marketing Question For Advertising Agency Leaders

To help you set your mind in a groove for future marketing planning (as in agency positioning, business development, and even business development) ask yourself:

If you were a client, would you hire you vs. your competition?

Honest answers include:

If yes, great.
No, oops, better start to rethink your agency’s master business model and/or biz dev marketing. I
If you don’t know. Yikes.

OK. One More Marketing Question.

If you wanted to sell your agency, would you buy you?

Both of these questions (and way more) are addressed with detailed thinking and data in my new book…

“How To Build A Kick-Ass Advertising Agency.”

Improve Your LinkedIn Profile Fast (2023)

Peter · May 19, 2023 · Leave a Comment

Go To My LinkedIn Profile To See How To Improve Your LinkedIn Profile In Five Minutes

See it here.

You can have one of your own little powerful baby speakers in your LinkedIn profile to tell the world what you do or who you are — go to your profile and the edit section.

You will see “Your Audio Recording” — Well use it for an audio message.

2 More Things.

Pass this newsletter on. I need more subs. Please. Pretty.
2. Buy my new book: “How To Build A Kick-Ass Advertising Agency”

How to Build A Winning Advertising Agency New Business Program

Peter · May 16, 2023 · 27 Comments

An Advertising Agency New Business Survival Guide

A minor (OK, big) update… If you want to run a kick-ass advertising agency new business program that stands out, makes more money, and is happy, then buy my new book. Its 27 chapters cover every aspect of agency management and business development. Even your very own personal branding. Go here: “How To Build A Kick-Ass Advertising Agency.”

I admit it, this blog post… “How to Build A Winning Advertising Agency New Business Program” has been read by your competitors over 50,000 times. Glad you stopped by.

Advertising agency business development is a 24/7 operation that requires the right agency positioning, strategies, action, and high efficiency. I help my agency clients get there faster.

The post’s popularity is due to three key factors:

1. It directly addresses a major marketing pain point: how to build a winning and efficient advertising agency new business plan.

2. The post is well optimized for search engines, delivers high value, and, therefore…

3. Google loves it. FYI, my number two trafficked post is, “How To Name Your Advertising Agency – Part One” at 30,000 + views. While always rethinking their website, advertising agencies also obsess about their name. By the way, this post is also a very good cheat sheet on naming that you can steal if a client ever needs a new brand name.

“How To Build…” is all about the most important thing an advertising agency can do (while it is nurturing its current clients)… run a new business program that ensures that the agency will keep growing. Agencies are like sharks. They must keep moving forward to eat or else.

Your potential clients have over 4,000 marketing communications ‘agency’ options (other agencies, new consultancies, freelancers, even your ex-creative director…).

Therefore, any form of business development passivity on your part – sucks. If you think you are doing everything right, you probably are not. How can I say this? I never thought that all was well whilst running business development at Saatchi & Saatchi and when I owned my own agency.

Here’s my “ad”: I suggest that you give me a shout and take me up on my Corleone offer – It’s hard to refuse.

OK, Let’s Go… The 24/7 Business Development Plan = Advertising Agency New Business

I moved from New York to Bend Oregon in 2002 to buy a very successful advertising agency (and raise a family 20 minutes from a ski lift).

Citrus grew to add a Portland office and national accounts including Dr. Martens, Harrah’s, Leagalzoom, Nike, Providence Health, Montana Lottery, and the UN.

I woke up every day as if a client like Nike was going to walk out the back door along with its revenues. I bet as an ad agency owner or manager you have rough nights too. One of the things I knew I could and should do was to manage this back-door issue was to have an active, I stress active, new business plan in place.

Here are some (I stress some) of the elements of my marketing plan. They helped me grow Saatchi & Saatchi and my agency Citrus. I hope my insights help you grow your agency.

Execution Rules.

When I set out to write this advertising agency new business post I didn’t think that it would be this long – a warning to the ADHD types. But, advertising agency new business planning is complex and is getting more complex every day due to the rapid changes in our industry and technology. That said, the devil in business development, you know what’s coming, is in the detail. Success is all about execution.

For example, running a successful inbound biz dev program that attracts market attention must be based on a sound strategy and smart agency process if you want to run a 24/7 sales program. Staying the course is critical.