marketing

Advertising Agency Names For Your Agency

Peter · September 9, 2015 · 8 Comments

Advertising Agency Names and SEO Terms

This is an update to a 2015 post about advertising agency names. Yes, 2015. It was a hit at that time and subsequent blog posts about how to name an advertising agency have done well… as well. Here is an example post (a two-parter) on how to name an advertising agency.

I thought that I’d update this because I took a look at the agency names from some recent award shows – OK, Cannes Lions. I think that names matter:

The Monkeys
adam&eveDDB
GUT
SMUGGLER
Uncommon Creative Studio
Special

Back To Advertising Agency Names From 2015

Before I begin, I just want to apologize for the clickbait headline. Obviously, this headline is silly:

Unbelievable Advertising Agency Names For Your Agency.

But if you hang out on the web these days, you will see clickbait headlines all over – as in ad nauseam (I love the definition: Ad nauseam is a Latin term for a discussion that has continued so long that it has continued “to [the point of] nausea”.) The subject of the proliferation of clickbait, even by major advertisers and publishers – vs. delivering consumer value vs. trickery – is a worthy subject for another post. But, let’s get back to advertising agency names.

SEO

On the left is a list of some of the top search terms that people have used to wind up on my website. I only include these (and they are a bit wonky, and at best directional, ’cause they are from WordPress stats.) However, it is interesting (well, to me) that it appears that there are a lot of searches for ‘how to name an advertising agency.’ Advertising agency people really dig this subject and they spend hours thinking hard about selecting the perfect name.

They also spend hours thinking that they need to redesign their website. And, many should.

Note: If you read to the bottom, you will see that agency names just might not matter. But, first…

I renamed my ex-agency twice.

I admit it, I’ve been a re-namer too. When I bought my agency in 2002 it was Ralston Group (named after the founder); then we moved to Ralston360 in 2004 (we were becoming more digital and direct responsive.) A few years later we switched to Citrus after we bought the design firm Citrus and expanded our presence in the Portland market. We simply liked their name more than ours (and, as you might expect we also got tired of the 360 thing, 360 got way overused) so we took Citrus on.

What’s Your Agency Name?

Google History & Your Advertising Agency

Peter · September 2, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Think About The History Of Google & Your Advertising Agency

Google launched in 1997. From Wikipedia:

Google.com registered as a domain on September 15. The name—a play on the word “googol,” a mathematical term for the number represented by the numeral 1 followed by 100 zeros—reflects Larry and Sergey’s mission to organize a seemingly infinite amount of information on the web.

Google has become such a big part of our online and offline life that I’ve forgotten all that they have accomplished over the past 18 years. A reason to dig the Google history video. When Google launched, I was in my second year as an Internet publisher. I had fled advertising because I did not think that it had the juice of what I saw happening in the digital world. Today, the advertising industry is deep into this world. Is your agency juicing it up? Or, are you just riding along?

Watch the Google History video below. Then think about your business.

What is your mission?

What are your business goals?

What type of advertising, digital, branding, PR, whateva agency do you want to be?

What types of clients do you want? Do you deserve them? Yet?

Are you set up to make real money?

Are you delivering something different?

Are you planning to be different?

Do you have the right people onboard?

Should anyone notice you?

Are you using the social tools available to make you famous?

Do you have a cogent business development plan?

Are you famous or invisible?

If you made a video about your advertising agency… what would it say?

OK… Go… Evolve

4 million plus people saw this in the past 24 hours.

Some Sweet Free Consumer Research Tools

Peter · August 24, 2015 · Leave a Comment

I Love Free Consumer Research Tools

I wrote about the new world of free (or virtually free) consumer research on LinkedIn. I discussed how I used Google Consumer Surveys to answer the question, “Have you ever considered retiring in Mexico?” The survey took about 10 minutes to set up and less than 24 hours for me to get 500 responses from my target group of 45 to 65-year olds. Surprisingly, 13% of this target group said yes.

OK, OK, it did cost me $50. But, really 50 bucks for a real survey is virtually free. (Yes, I know that serious researchers will have lots of questions about how Google runs these but, go with the flow.)

Another Google tool I use often (it is especially valuable to prove points in new business pitches) is Google Trends. Google Trends displays search history across the Google world view. Need to convince your client that she should hire Khloe Kardashian for its next social media program? Let Google Trends show you our wonderful world’s interest in this highly talented young woman.

There’s MoreFree Research Just For You

I am sure you know about Survey Monkey. Here are a couple of newbies.

Typeform is an online survey and form builder. From Typeform:

Online forms are an integral, if often unflattering, part of any modern business. By matching your style, both verbally and visually, typeforms transform the way you collect data, so you can put your stamp on what you ask.

What if there was a medium that can be both your promo flyer and your application form? A single tool that builds all sorts of competitions, with the perfect looks for social media. That’s what a typeform is.

Time and resources for developing landing pages, microsites and product presentations are scarce. Your project deserves to make a great first impression, and be ready to interact with visitors from the off.

Free Survey Creator. Surveys… fast.

Tally creates instant polls. Here is an example.

Need Some Help?

I’ve written about the power of research in new business pitches and how-to maximize effectiveness in my book, The Levitan Pitch. Buy This Book. Win More Pitches. By the way… Buy the book and win more new business.

An August YouTube Quickie

Peter · August 17, 2015 · Leave a Comment

A YouTube Quickie? No, This Isn’t That Sexy. But…

And, yes, this post is kinda random. I’m just hanging out at my desk wondering if I want to work today. We are day something like 60 for mostly rain-free Portland Oregon. Crazy summer out here! It helps that we are America’s beer capital.

A friend turned me on to this video from YouTube Advertisers: Go Behind The Scenes with David Droga and Emily Anderson. Nice idea to get us thinking about how YouTube advertising isn’t same old same old TV. But, you know that so it’s unfortunate that this video tidbit doesn’t deliver any decent info or inspiration (sorry, David but TV pre-YouTube wasn’t a cul-de-sac for real creative folks. My late 80’s Saatchi teams won sweet awards for two broadcast clients that went way beyond your reference to Formula 1. Pleaaaase… the good old days were actually good and demanded the type of thinking you do today. Thinking big not start in 2005 when YouTube was born.)

But, the video did introduce me to Ogilvy’s Emily Anderson, which makes it all worth while. Watch the video and then read on.

Emily Anderson

Droga we know. Anderson? So, I dug in a bit and found a Creative Director who could have a super dream job of creating high-budget long-form content. And, the work and energy is damn good. Check out her CV website below.

After the work and personal energy, the thing I most dug is her URL: www.littleenglishgenius.com/ The English are much more cheeky than we are. They are also not afraid to promote themselves. If you are a genius, tell your clients. Droga and Anderson do that. Trump does that. Just like the American electorate, clients are a bit short of time and need to have YOU tell them that you are a genius. Just tell them that – they want to hear it. Yes, I am a genius too.

Last thought:

It’s summer so go visit Emily’s Montauk. Note, you won’t have to screw around with combat L.I.E. traffic to get there.

21 Ad Agency Business Development Must Do’s

Peter · July 24, 2015 · Leave a Comment

What Every Ad Agency Must Do To Grow

A simple fact: You have to decide to work at business development and then do the work.

Here are 21 ad agency business development actions that will absolutely result in growth.

Have clear attainable (or even audacious) business objectives – and, while you are at it, write a business plan to get there.
Nurture an agency business development culture from the CEO on down (or, is it up?)
Craft a business development plan with clear-cut objectives and strategies.
Have an effective sales pitch based on something your agency owns or can act like it owns.
Have an action-oriented hook that generates client interest and meetings. If not, go back to number 4 and work it out.
Make business development an integral part of your agency’s daily life.
Manage business development the same way you treat a client job. Have a process.
Know who is responsible for what and have a calendar.
Make sure that everyone in the agency knows that new business is everyone’s business and that no new business growth = staff reductions and possibly, I am afraid to say this, no new foosball table.
Have a list of the top clients you want and create a compelling sales pitch. I stress: compelling.
Design a sales-oriented agency website for that client who is only going to give you 8 seconds to make an impression. Your goal is getting them to contact you.
Use the website to deliver some human chemistry vibes. Please use video to bring your agency to life. A brief video.
Have a short list of the top clients you want, create personas and build a compelling sales pitch just for them. I stress: compelling. Put yourself in their shoes. They want to succeed at their jobs too.
Stay in touch on a reasonably regular basis via email (gently) or some other form of direct marketing.
Use social media correctly. That means having an objectives-driven LinkedIn, Twitter, blog, Facebook etc. strategy and the will to keep at it. Kill the program if you can’t keep it up. Dated blog posts are worse than no blog posts. I don’t even want to discuss having an empty aging Twitter account.
Consider concentrating on (and owning) a specific client category or becoming a media or technology or creative specialist. Pick one.
Learn to pitch like Steve Jobs (you already know this.)
Learn to negotiate like Steve Jobs. Most agencies have no clue how to negotiate.
Take this offer and contact me. I’ve been there and done it.
Buy my book.
Get a good night’s sleep.