It Was Never Just About The Fee
New WFA research widens the lens from how agencies are paid to the full commercial cycle. The results, contrary to popular belief, find that the strongest drivers of agency performance have little to do with money. Here’s what brands should do about it. For as long as I’ve been in this business, the conversation about […]
The Hour Is Up
From labor to output: the profound changes reshaping agency compensation—and the actions brands must take now to pay for what agencies deliver, not for how long it takes them to deliver it. For decades, the math behind agency compensation was simple. Count the people. Multiply by their hours. Add overhead and a margin. Negotiate hard […]
It’s Not The 50% You Get Right That Matters
Agency reviews rarely come out of nowhere. Learn how to use performance evaluations to catch warning signs before a costly review.
4 Questions That Changed the Rules of Marketing Procurement
What marketing procurement leaders asked in recent years—and why the powerful answers changed everything The advertising industry crossed a line—and there is no going back. Momentum stacked on momentum. Assumptions cracked. New realities took hold. Tech innovation like artificial intelligence moved decisively from promise to power, reshaping how work is done, partnerships are built, and […]
10 Hard Truths Every CMO Must Confront to Lead Fearlessly
A candid look at the choices, challenges, and convictions that define modern marketing leadership in a new partnership era In today’s hyperconnected business world, every decision sets off a ripple that can amplify strengths or expose weaknesses across an entire ecosystem. Among all the partnerships that shape a company’s destiny, few are as consequential as […]
3 Key Industry Shifts Redefining the Future of Client–Agency Partnerships
The rules of engagement are being rewritten, and transforming what partnership truly means. Advertising is evolving at an unprecedented pace, perhaps faster than any other industry today. As the industry transforms, the very fabric of client–agency relationships—the foundation on which marketing is built—is being rewoven. At Agency Mania Solutions’ recent Client Consortium in Kirkland, WA, […]
Four Types of Risk Profiles When Working with Agency Partners – What’s Yours?
Featured on Producers & Procurers iQ: How much risk are brand advertisers willing to take with their agency partners? And what impact does it have on their overall performance? — Read the published article by Producers and Procurers IQ — From choosing what stock or bond to purchase to deciding whether you should travel or […]
How Much Risk Brand Advertisers Are Willing to Take With Their Agency Partners, and What Impact It Has on Their Overall Performance
What’s Your Risk Profile? From choosing what stock or bond to purchase to deciding whether you should travel or shake hands during the Coronavirus epidemic, the everyday decisions we make are based on our individual risk profiles, or what is often referred to as risk tolerance. Financial institutions have mastered the artform of asking customers […]
Martech Podcast Interview
Featured on MarTech Podcast: Choosing the Right Marketing Agency. — Watch the MarTech Podcast — Bruno Gralpois chats with Benjamin Shapiro about how to identify the right agency partnership and how technology can aid in this process on the MarTech Podcast. Part 1 Bruno’s Background – (02:17) I have been in the marketing space for […]
Brand Advertisers Must Constantly Assess and Reflect on the Important Role They Play in Managing Their Agency Partnerships Effectively and Responsibly
CMOs: What Should You Ask Yourself and Your Organization? Self-reflection is an important part of personal development. We can’t grow and mature until we ask ourselves tough questions, reflect on what we’ve done, learn from it, and apply ourselves to improve. This is equally as true in professional settings and in our industry. If you […]
To Increase Agency-Client Trust, Align on Incentives
Featured on Ignition Consulting Group: — Read the published Ignition article — The level of mutual trust between agencies and their clients is at an all-time low. There are many culprits, some historical and perennial, some temporary and episodic. The current debate over media “transparency” is a manifestation of the erosion of trust in agency-client […]
The Uneasy Truth About Being a Client and What It Means to Build Lasting Partnerships in Today’s Cut-Throat Environment
Client Agency Relationships: Confessions of an Ex-Client: I’d like to confess. Actually, I have multiple confessions to make. Four to be precise. No worries. This is not a remake of “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” (2002), so they won’t keep you up at night. But if you’ve ever been a client, you too would have […]