Why No One is an Agency Anymore, and Why No One Cares
Last week I came across a string of agencies trying to convince me they were anything but what they are.
Several took on the tone of anti-heros, explaining how they were great at losing pitches, and not winning awards (link withheld, just ask.). Still others picked names like Not an Advertising Agency or We Are Anti Agency, as their manifesto of difference.
Brutus, thou protesteth too much
At the moment it seems that everyone is keen to be something other than what they are, or at least different than who their competitors were last year. Even as they pursue the very same budget.
Production companies want to be ‘branded content’ producers. PR agencies want to be social media experts (here have a digital press release.) Social Media agencies (and naive SEO’s) are pitching as public relations firms.
Direct Marketing shops are now ‘integrated’ marketers, and event shops now do brand activation and brand experiences. Meanwhile digital shops seem thrilled to be picking up out-of-work ad planners from those now non-ad agencies. Half of digital spend continues to be online advertising – but no, they aren’t ad agencies either.
If you can find an ad agency, they are likely disguised as ‘idea companies’ or ‘brand building business partners’. And then there’s the MathMen, never an agency, they provide platforms to help those integrated multi-channel media partners from ever seeming Don Draperesque.
Naming vs. Helping
One of the best pieces of business advice I ever heard came from Owen Robbins of Teradyne, who on buying into our start-up gave us free reign to rename it. But just for thirty days. “Naming”, he explained, “can be a distraction.” Thirty days later we had no name, the business continued, grew, and was sold at a nice multiple of revenue with a still difficult name.
Speaking of difficult names, I like how the firm Analtech considered its name change. They emailed their clients and asked if they should change it. “Nope, make us new products instead” was the clear response from their buyers of analytical technology.
Agencies spend a huge amount of time agonizing on naming. It’s a process in which lots of people rationalize why what they do is different from others. But clients don’t shop based on a desire for difference, they invest in teams that can help solve their problems.
The difference between Heaven and Hell
Truth is, agencies are collections talented people, and so are client businesses. Either there’s chemistry and alignment, or there’s not. The difference between Heaven and Hell is who you’re with, and clients really do want to know your team.
Here’s advice the Forrester gave to agencies a few years ago, courtesy of Edward Boches blog:
- Share Ideas: note this does not mean messages or ads
- Interact: engagement, connection, community, media
- Leverage Intelligence, as in you need to collect, report, analyze and predict: if you don’t have robust analytics, you’re in big trouble
Culture and People Trump Name
Before anyone cares about your firm’s fastidious portfolio, or awards, or its name – they want to see how your people bring market insights to life, who trusts them, and if this kind of thinking can thrive inside their business.
Take my word, heavy-up on finding great people who can become a solid work culture culture will make you happier than ceaselessly spinning AdAge’s agency name generator. After all, why else would someone marry a guy whose last name is “Wieneke”? (Which I can now confide Microsoft Word suggested for years might be better spelled as “hanukkah” or “venison”)
Names don’t make us good. Sometimes, we’re good in spite of them.
The future of digital experiences will be built by strategists who grasp the full array of emerging business, social, and technical models. Specialties in user experience, branding, application design, and data science are laying the foundation for richer user experiences and business models breakthrough products and revenue based marketing.
50 Responses to "Why No One is an Agency Anymore, and Why No One Cares"
March 6, 2013
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August 7, 2013
?? ?? ?????
May 4, 2015
This doesn’t look to have occurred with VAST.
July 21, 2015
Truth truly yields accurate competiive advantage.
March 3, 2018
But sometimes the truth does not always show up…
November 30, 2020
Achievements of your agency may count but it is still different when then people inside your agency cares. Cares of every human, Listens.
January 8, 2021
It’s true! This is very useful information to help others understand the differences.
July 12, 2021
Agencies who have achieved success are still considered one of the top agencies. Name and achievement really matters in the end.
September 6, 2021
This is very interesting! Thanks!
September 23, 2021
Agencies are collections talented people, and so are client businesses. Either there’s chemistry and alignment, or there’s not.
September 30, 2021
I actually agree with you in this article.
October 11, 2021
I don’t think any university will won’t to be associated with the agency.
November 10, 2021
You actually got a point. I believe your arguments are quite credible.
November 29, 2021
This post is quite interesting.
December 10, 2021
Even as they pursue the very same budget.
February 2, 2022
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February 8, 2022
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February 17, 2022
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March 9, 2022
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March 17, 2022
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March 31, 2022
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March 31, 2022
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April 7, 2022
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April 8, 2022
After all, why else would someone marry a guy whose last name is “Wieneke”?
April 25, 2022
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May 5, 2022
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May 10, 2022
Very well written and explained content. Keep sharing.
May 26, 2022
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June 30, 2022
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July 1, 2022
Thanks for the information. It is an eye-opener for me and refreshing to get insights like this. I think agencies are always good as a stepping stone to get a matching business.
July 12, 2022
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July 15, 2022
Agencies that have gained success are still regarded as among the best. In the end, name and achievement are important.
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May be the agency has already served its purpose and no longer useful.
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November 4, 2022
Agencies spend a huge amount of time agonizing over naming. It’s a process in which lots of people rationalize why what they do is different from others.
November 13, 2022
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