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How To Build A Kick-Ass Advertising Agency

Peter · April 19, 2024 · 1 Comment

Yes, Buy How To Build A Kick-Ass Advertising Agency.

Go Here Now to Buy The Book & eBook On Amazon.

Before I sat down to write my book on how to build that genuinely kick-ass (rich) advertising agency, I asked Google’s AI tool (now Gemini – was Bard) to help me find the right person to help build the fantastic thinking that would help build a great, intelligent, high-profit agency… and then have that google friendly person write a 27-chapter, 261-page treatise on how to get the job done. Here is my conversation

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

AI: “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 AI: “Who should write the comprehensive book on advertising agency management?”

AI: “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.

Plus, Peter has over 850 blog posts on how to grow your advertising, marketing, digital or whatever agancy.”

Damn, I like Google.

Hey, Y’all, Need A Review to Help You Buy This Book?

Peter Levitan has delivered the go-to guide for building an agency. I expected HOW TO BUILD A KICK-ASS ADVERTISING AGENCY to be like most of the other agency books I’ve read—a waste of time and money. Instead, I found it to be smart, accessible and entertaining. It is filled with substance! Peter’s knowledge and experience are indisputable, yet he shares his own missteps and what he learned with wit and grace. My only “complaint” is that this book wasn’t around 10 years ago when I opened my agency.

Here’s the link again.

What Is Your Elevator Pitch

Peter · April 18, 2024 · 7 Comments

How To Build An Elevator Pitch

Remember elevators? You know, those things we rode multiple times a day to get to and from an office or hotel room? The fleeting elevator ride spawned the idea that we need a way to describe ourselves or our company in 30 seconds or less – what we call an elevator pitch. This 30-second or less exercise is very useful since in our very attention-deficit world, our world where so many of us do the same thing and can sound very much alike (“hi, we are a creative advertising agency”, yada…). You get the idea.

Let’s Get Elevator Pitch Personal

One of my ad agency clients asked me to help her quickly and succinctly describe herself for her appearance on an upcoming online seminar. By coincidence, I received an invite to a SharpSpring event and noted how a bunch of advertising agency and marketing thinker and influencer types described themselves. I noted their self-descriptions as food for thought. Food for elevator pitch thought. Just for the hell of it, here are ways that very successful marketing thinkers describe themselves.

Hype-free digital marketing and customer service strategist.

Recognized as a top 100 entrepreneur under the age of 30 by President Obama.

Leading authority on positioning and reinventing in the creative and digital space.

Internationally recognized speaker & contributor to Ad Age’s Small Agency Diary.

Ranked one of LinkedIn’s Top Ten Voices in Marketing for four years in a row.

Works with 250+ agencies every year. Latest bestseller – Sell With Authority.

NYT bestselling author of nine books and counting.

Named among the 30 best young tech entrepreneurs under 30 by Business Week.

Host of the smart agency master class podcast. The number one digital marketing agency owner podcast.

Content marketing guru featured in NYT, Mashable and search engine land.

Agency business expert keynote speaker author and virtual event trainer.

Author of 19 international bestsellers, and one of the most popular bloggers in the world.

Digital marketing pioneer, Wall Street Journal bestselling author and tiny house owner.

Bestselling author and host of award-winning YouTube series.

6 Unignorable Advertising Quotes

Peter · December 4, 2023 · Leave a Comment

Why Do People Like Advertising Quotes? Who knows. Here Are 7 (not 6) Just For Y’all.

Actually, I do know cause I use these unignorable advertising quotes all the time with my agency clients to make some points. My points are directed at their business development programs and even their personal brands. Feel free to steal them from me. I stole them.

“If everything seems under control, you’re just not going fast enough.”

Mario Andretti

My take: It is OK to drive past your comfort zone. In fact, you won’t win without doing it. Oh, who is Mario? Indy, F1, and NASCAR champ.

“If you don’t like what’s being said, change the conversation.”

Don Draper

My take: I occasionally have to remind myself not to go around and around and around. Yes, change the conversation. Or, add some new thinking.

“If you dislike change, you’re going to dislike irrelevance even more.”

General Eric Shinseki

My take: Advertising, PR, digital and mobile marketing is changing so fast that it makes me think of another go-fast quote.

“Lead, follow or get out of the way.”

Ted Turner

You do not need me to explain. Ted has been the man since the late 70’s when he won the America’s Cup. You know, fast boats. Launched CNN and married Jane Fonda. Not bad, huh?

“The world’s best selling book.”

This is from the front and back of Paul Arden’s rather best-selling book… “Whatever You Think Think The Opposite.” Of course, he is bullshitting. Or not. Paul was one of the great British Creative Directors which means, a great bullshitter. A winning bullshitter unless he is talking about whacking baby seals. As in the worst advertising agency presentation ever.

“Steal Like An Artist.”

Another book. This time from Austin Kleon who’s book cover says… “10 things nobody told you about being creative.”

OK, One More.

“The Levitan Pitch. Buy This Book. Win More Pitches.”

My book’s title. Yes, I am a bit cheeky…. well, I stole the idea of being way bold and in your face from Paul. If you want to buy this BEST SELLING book, just go to the top of this page and see for yourself.

You Got A Quote?

Go forth and find your own advertising quotes to prove your points and to grow your agency. Sometimes you just need to steal someone else’s words to get YOUR point across.

The Idiocy Of Ad Agency Christmas Giving

Peter · December 2, 2023 · 1 Comment

Yes, Most Ad Agency Christmas Giving Is Ineffectual

OK. It’s 2023 and what a wonderful year it has been. yMucho agency leaders are thinking… huh, shouldn’t we do something cool for our clients? Like, deliver a bit of ad agency Christmas giving. But, um, no, do not do that. So in honor of my magical anti-gifting thought and advice, I offer MY annual Christmas gift rant (or better yet, a strategic approach to giving).

It is that time of year again.

It is the time that many an ad agency decides that it is a great time of year to add to the upcoming ad agency (and universal) Christmas giving clutter. OY – Am I being Grinch-like? You bet.

Does your ad agency send out Christmas cards or gifts or online trinkets (or other creative ideas) to clients — even prospects? I call this practice ~~stupid~~ silly. Strong words? Sure. but, why am I saying this?

Look, I have nothing against season’s greetings. But, after working at a couple of mega agencies (including my own) and watching dozens/hundreds of agencies send out very “creative” Christmas (Chanukah, Kwanza, etc.) cards and gifts during the late-December season, I have to say this is very ill-timed even highly-inefficient outreach.