Organization and focus are key in the advertising world. So why not periodically take the time to de-clutter your agency? By identifying the key aspects of your agency’s business, you can streamline your efforts and reach greater success. As an industry, we are consistently evolving and transforming on a daily basis. To adapt to the changes, we must constantly monitor and edit our own processes and systems and our role with our clients.
Agencies who experience growth undoubtedly add new functions, positions and titles. What is your agency’s process? Where does social media fit within the organization? Who is the target audience? When it comes to conceiving campaigns, who is heading the creative department? Who works with whom? Where do account planning and account service play the biggest roles? More importantly, who is involved in what parts of the process? How do you balance creativity and innovation with time and financial limitations? How do you avoid creating internal conflict and company confusion? How do you align with the rest of the world’s goals and objectives?
The more we explore questions like this, the more we discover that there is a large grey area, rather than a single black and white answer. Role development and business processes need to be tailored to each individual situation and client, based on their unique needs and the scope of their work. It makes total sense, right? Our business is custom work based on our clients. Shouldn’t our efforts be custom tailored as well?
If you began working in the advertising industry a decade ago, your job today is completely different. If you began work in the advertising industry a year ago, your job today is completely different. If you began work in the advertising industry a week ago…your job today is probably still completely different. So, what does this mean for you and your agency? It means revisiting the roles of not just your agency’s departments, but the individuals that compose them as well. This is where a business model comes into play. How do you want your agency to run? Evaluate the strengths of your current team. Build a framework, a vision, and a concept of what you’d like your business to become. And most importantly, create a work environment that welcomes change – on a daily basis. Agencies that embrace change will become those who lead the field; those who are one step ahead of their clients and their consumers, those who ask questions and who constantly seek insight and opportunity. These are the agencies that always succeed.
Evaluating and changing your agency at this point in time is scary and exciting, regardless of size, experience, or revenue. But with change comes innovation. What clutter stands between you and a more productive relationship with your current and future clients? What are you doing to build your success?
