When it comes to picking an agency, chemistry between brands and agencies is often overlooked in the selection process, but it’s one of the biggest indicators of long-term success. Yes, you need a business partner with the right capabilities and experience, but when it comes down to the final candidates, chemistry is what truly sets long-term partners apart.
Read MoreThe path to growth for marketing Agencies in 2025 is no longer about simply acquiring new Clients; it’s about scaling effectively. With evolving Client demands, technological advancements, and increasing competition, Agencies must focus on strategies that enable sustainable and efficient expansion.
Based on insights from Setup’s research, expert advice, and industry trends over the last 10 years, here are five key strategies to help Agencies scale effectively in 2025.
Read MoreAs competition intensifies and Clients get more selective about what they want, Agencies must navigate hurdles that directly affect their ability to meet Client expectations and learn to adjust. Let’s dive into the core obstacles Agencies are tackling this year, why they’re critical to address, and practical strategies to stay ahead in an ever-changing industry.
Read MoreChoosing the right marketing Agency in 2025 is about more than finding a vendor—it’s about building a partnership that can adapt to your needs, communicate effectively, and drive long-term results. Start with clear goals, leverage trusted referrals, and prioritize compatibility and communication. Remember, the right Agency won’t just execute campaigns—they’ll act as an extension of your team, helping your Brand navigate challenges and seize opportunities.
Read MoreWhile our previous blogs recapping the Marketing Relationship Survey highlight key communication tactics and needs to sustain and improve the Agency-Client relationships, today we’re simply asking: What kind of work is getting noticed and needed by Clients, and what should Agencies prioritize?
Read MoreAt Setup, we live in the world between marketing agencies and brands, connecting the two and consulting them on how to work effectively together. In any partnership, it’s important to understand and articulate the expectations one group has of another.
The following list includes five notable traits marketing leaders from Great Clips, Atlanta Hawks, Randstad, CrowdStreet, and NCR expect from their marketing agency partners.
Read MoreWhat we know from love in movies and real life is that chemistry cannot be manufactured or taught. However, since marketing is a human-to-human business, and it is more effective for brands to select the right partner the first time, brand and agency representatives can learn to invest in people and develop objectives to form better partnerships.
Here are the steps to developing chemistry in a business partnership:
Read MoreThere are a number of paths a marketing executive can take when determining who and what will guide a marketing strategy. Choosing a marketing agency partner can depend on multiple variables including team capacity, capability, and situation. Though the rapid growth and evolution of marketing has blurred the lines of different “agency” types, it's still helpful to note the key differences between them.
Read MoreMarketing is all about communication, which is why the often-disconnected Agency-Client relationship is so paradoxical. Without a doubt, there’s culpability on both sides of the equation, but, like most breakups, a lack of communicating needs is often the reason for an ending.
Clients can take action to prevent this kind of disconnect, and it all starts with working on improving your communication!
Read MoreAgencies and brands come from different worlds so they have a complicated relationship, but it doesn’t have to be. Setup works as the bridge, connecting and matchmaking agencies with brands. Here are some resources to ensure a healthy relationship between the two.
Read MoreWhen it comes to those working in the creative communications, advertising, marketing, and related fields, there is no better place to discuss agency-client relationships than at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity global event. “The Naked Truth” explored themes from the Agency-Client relationship which brought to light the themes we explore through our Agency Assessment process.
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