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The Big Advertising Agency Resource List

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Advertising Agency Resource List – Updated Often

advertising agency resourceThe advertising agency resource was recently updated with three new AI information tools. I use them.

My Advertising Agency Resource List is often curated to help advertising, digital, design, and PR agencies easily find the inspiration and industry resources to help you build killer agencies and careers.

FYI: According to Google, people spend mucho minutes perusing this long list.

If I were you, I’d grab a glass of Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 (LOL only $150 or a nice craft beer – a bit less expensive) and check out all of these links. I guarantee that at least one of these websites and/or tools will help you or your team grow your agency.

A kudo from David Ogilvy: “I wish I had this advertising resource list when I was in the ad biz. All I had was my brain.”

OK, one more. Go here: Corleone offer. 

New Resources.

AI Related… Websites + A Podcast Just For Marketers + YouTube

Marketing Intelligence Institute: From Paul Roetzer (super smart marketer for eons) on how to use AI in marketing and advertising. Read it, attend their seminars, and listen to their “Artificial Intelligence Show” podcast. Do it!

Decode: A daily news and info resource. Decode “unlocks exclusive access to Decode’s ultimate AI tool book, with 500+ verified, vetted, and powerful tools across 40+ categories.” Includes AI tutorials, lists of what’s new, etc. A smart one.

Superhuman: Yes, more info and news. Their words — “Learn how to leverage AI to boost your productivity and accelerate your career. Join the world’s biggest AI newsletter with 650,000+ readers from companies like Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and more.”

AI Tool Report: Yes…. More… “Learn AI in 5 minutes a day. We’ll teach you how to save time and earn more with AI. Join 500,000+ free daily readers from Tesla, Apple, A16z, Meta, & more.”

Matt Wolfe: A rather beyond-decent YouTube channel dedicated to AI.

A Short But Sweet List of The Best AI Directories For Marketers

We are all a bit (understatement) overwhelmed with the barrage of new AI tools. To help sort this overload, here is a list of what I think are today’s easiest-to-use AI directories for marketers. Note, this is a short list.

Futurepedia – From Google Bard: “This directory is one of the largest and most comprehensive, with over 3,000 AI tools and resources listed. It’s a great place to find AI tools for a variety of tasks, including machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision.” Just today… 18 new tools. Yikes.

Zain Kahn’s Superhuman – The world’s biggest AI newsletter with 350k+ readers.

Marketing AI Show –  THE best AI podcast for marketers.

iLib – AI websites listed by popularity.

Product Hunt – As they say: “Product Hunt surfaces the best new products, every day. It’s a place for product-loving enthusiasts to share and geek out about the latest mobile apps, websites, hardware projects, and tech creations.”

Crunchbase – A comprehensive list of AI startups. Wowzer, this is a hot venture universe. Go find your new marketing agency client here.

GPTE – Just in case you need MORE!

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Advertising Agency Target Market Persona

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My Advertising Agency Target Market

Advertising Agency Target MarketThanks to Andy Crestodina (I interviewed him in my book “How To Build A Kick-Ass Advertising Agency” and read him religiously on LinkedIn), I built this target persona prompt for my advertising agency consultation target market.

Adjust this prompt to build a persona for your advertising agency’s target market.

My ChatGPT Persona Prompt…

Build me a persona of an advertising agency owner with leadership role at marketing agency]. This person is looking for help with business development and is considering hiring a consultant List their hopes/dreams, fears/concerns, emotional triggers and decision criteria for hiring/contacting a advertising agency management consultant.

Sure, let’s build a persona for an advertising agency owner with a leadership role at a marketing agency who is considering hiring a consultant for business development.

Here You Go — My Advertising Agency Target Market

Persona: Jane Doe, Advertising Agency Owner

Background

Name: Jane Doe
Age:45

Role: Owner and CEO of a mid-sized advertising agency
Experience: 20 years in the marketing and advertising industry
Location: Major metropolitan city

 Goals and Aspirations – Hopes/Dreams:

– To expand the agency’s client base and increase revenue
– To become a leader in innovative advertising solutions
– To improve operational efficiency and productivity
– To establish the agency as a thought leader in the industry
– To build a strong, cohesive team that delivers outstanding results

Fears and Concerns

– Losing market share to competitors
– Struggling to keep up with rapidly changing industry trends and technologies
– The risk of making poor business decisions that could harm the agency
– High turnover rates among key employees
– Maintaining a consistent and strong brand reputation

 Emotional Triggers

– Passion for creativity and innovation in advertising
– Commitment to client satisfaction and long-term relationships
– Desire for recognition and prestige within the industry
– Frustration with operational inefficiencies and missed opportunities
– Concern over financial stability and sustainable growth

 Decision Criteria for Hiring a Consultant

– Proven Track Record:** Evidence of successful business development strategies implemented for similar agencies
– Industry Expertise:** In-depth knowledge of the advertising and marketing landscape
– Cost-Effectiveness:** Reasonable fees and clear ROI projections
– Client Testimonials and Case Studies: Positive feedback from previous clients
– Customized Solutions: Tailored strategies that address specific challenges and goals of the agency
– Communication Skills: Clear and transparent communication throughout the consultancy process
– Flexibility and Adaptability: Ability to adapt strategies based on the agency’s evolving needs
– Compatibility: A good cultural fit with the agency’s values and work style

Additional Insights

– Preferred Channels for Contacting Consultants:
– Recommendations from industry peers and professional networks
– Research through industry conferences and events
– Online reviews and consultant websites
– Direct outreach from consultants with a personalized pitch

Evaluation Process:

– Initial meeting to discuss needs and potential solutions
– Review of proposals and assessment of their feasibility
– Checking references and past performance
– Trial projects or short-term engagements to assess compatibility and effectiveness

This persona provides a comprehensive understanding of the advertising agency owner’s motivations, concerns, and criteria for hiring a business development consultant.

Yes, some of this might be obvious. But, hey, why not go for confirmation to define your Advertising Agency Target Market?

 

ChatGPT Loves Me. Does ChatGPT Love You?

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ChatGPT Loves Me. Does ChatGPT Love You?

After years of hammering SEO to make Google love us, we are now confronted with how to make AI and ChatGPT love you, me, and us.

A few days ago, I congratulated what might be the most awarded advertising agency today on its array of awards. I mentioned to one of their leaders that while today’s awards are way cool, one must think three (at least) business-oriented chess moves ahead to stay ahead of the pack and the business in general. I lived this as I reinvented my West Coast agency three times before I sold it a few years ago.

I am going to write about my thoughts on agency chess moves soon.

LOL. Warm Feeling.

In the meantime, just for the hell of it, I went to ChatGPT and You.com and asked for their “thoughts” about the future of advertising and marketing agencies. I was surprised to see that I was cited in the answers. This gave me a warm feeling because, along with most of you, I think that SEO as a way to find me (and you) is going bye-bye. Thank you, Google.

It does beg the question… How does AI find Y’all if traditional SEO is ‘changing,’ and how can you manage that? Frankly, I’ll bet that many of the old SEO rules still apply. But, yup, I am sure that we will all need some new strategies and tactics.

In the meantime…

Some “Me” Love From ChatGPT4o

I asked… “If I had a successful advertising agency what would be the three business moves I should be thinking about to remain successful?”

As you can see, a blog post of mine was cited by ChatGPT. I am the middle image, as in “How To Build…”

Does ChatGPT Love You

Even More Love From You.com

I asked… “How can an advertising agency plan for the future?”

 As you can see, the same blog post of mine was cited. I am feeling some warmth.

Does ChatGPT Love You

That’s all for now.

So, does ChatGPT love you? Are you being found by AI? Cherished?

AI Information Resources

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AI Here. AI There. AI Everywhere.

AI Information ResourcesAre you overwhelmed with AI Information? Of freakin course. Here are five sources for new AI information that I use to stay ahead of the daily barrage of AI news. I devote about 10 to 15 minutes a day—max to learning and keeping up.

Since the last thing you need is too much information, here is a short list.

Daily AI Information Resources: Emails & Websites + A Podcast Just For Marketers + YouTube

Marketing Intelligence Institute: From Paul Roetzer (super smart marketer for eons) on how to use AI in marketing and advertising. Read it, attend their seminars, and listen to their “Artificial Intelligence Show” podcast. Do it!

Decode: A daily news and info resource. Decode “unlocks exclusive access to Decode’s ultimate AI tool book, with 500+ verified, vetted, and powerful tools across 40+ categories.” Includes AI tutorials, lists of what’s new, etc. A smart one.

Superhuman: Yes, more info and news. Their words — “Learn how to leverage AI to boost your productivity and accelerate your career. Join the world’s biggest AI newsletter with 650,000+ readers from companies like Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and more.”

AI Tool Report: Yes…. More… “Learn AI in 5 minutes a day. We’ll teach you how to save time and earn more with AI. Join 500,000+ free daily readers from Tesla, Apple, A16z, Meta, & more.”

Matt Wolfe: A rather beyond decent YouTube channel dedicated to AI.

Want To Go AI Nuts? (Oh, and dazzle your network). Go ….

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A Zoom Cartoon Just For You

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A Zoom Cartoon About A Zoom Pitch Problem

Pitch MistakesTo help illustrate the “mistakes” that often accompany the act of an advertising agency’s new business pitch, I included 12 pitch mistake cartoons in my book “The Levitan Pitch. Buy This Book. Win More Pitches.”

I love the fact that cartoons are a fast way to reach overloaded brains and evoke emotion. A cartoon can be remembered well past fleeting podcast interviews and blog posts like this. 

Possibly the most memorable Internet meme is the 1993 (!) cartoon “On the Internet, nobody knows you are a dog,” by Peter Steiner in the New Yorker. To help my GenX readers, it’s at the bottom.

Zoom CartoonMy Zoom Pitch Cartoon Just For You

Here is a Zoom cartoon I commissioned from master cartoonist and brilliant Creative Director Steve Klinetobe. Steve was a CD at my Portland agency Citrus. 

Steve’s nostril cartoon illustrates one of the worst uses of Zoom. It’s about where people put their camera in relation to their face. In this case, it is the camera that sits below a face and looks into your buddy’s (or future agency client’s nose. YUCK!

When Zooming, pay attention to camera placement + lighting + sound quality + your background. You know this right?

That said, I too often look up way too many nostrils.

Here is the most famous Internet cartoon. No Nostrils.

On the Internet nobody knows you are a dog