How to Evaluate Your Agency Partner’s Performance

The average agency-client relationship lasts less than three years. Agency “breakups” generally happen when an advertising agency fails to communicate, respond, or provide results to their clients. However, sometimes clients stay with an underperforming agency. This is because hiring a new agency is a labor-intensive (and sometimes costly) process that involves countless pitches, endless planning, and tedious RFPs.

How can marketing leaders most effectively navigate evaluating their agency partners?

Marketing Industry/Trends, Marketing ResourcesSetup - marketing matchmakersApril 30, 2019agency scorecard, agency evaluation framework, agency partner evaluation, gaps, breakup, Agency 101, agency-client relationship, positioningComment

5 Things Clients Wish Agencies Knew

The agency-client relationship is tricky - while some agencies dream big with grandiose ideas for executing a project or campaign, a brand may be constrained by strict guidelines and a limited budget. The absence of communication leads to a tense business relationship, and, potentially, a break-up.

Strong relationships are maintained by constant conversations about objectives and expectations. Here are 5 things clients wish their agency partners knew…

Marketing Industry/TrendsSetup - marketing matchmakersMarch 19, 2019scorecard, breakup, Agency 101, agency-client relationship, marketing continuing education, positioningComment

5 Things Agencies Wish Clients Knew

The agency-client relationship is a two-way street that requires constant effort and a deep understanding of the other party. The best agency-client relationships have a healthy commitment to teamwork, communication, and the overall success of a project or marketing initiative. Sometimes it is difficult to see the operating reality of the other partner…That’s why Setup™ spoke with several agency partners to gather their perspective on what they wish their clients knew.

Marketing Industry/TrendsSetup - marketing matchmakersMarch 12, 2019scorecard, breakup, Agency 101, agency-client relationship, marketing continuing education, positioningComment

The Different Types of Marketing Agencies

There 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.

Marketing Industry/Trends, Marketing Career AdviceSetup - marketing matchmakersFebruary 26, 2019Marketing Agency Relationship, marketing agency, agency-client relationship, scorecard, gaps, breakup, Agency 101Comment

Finding Your First Marketing Agency

When do you need to stop using your in-house team for every project and hire a marketing agency? Finding an agency who is an expert in your industry with a hefty skill set may be difficult at first, but with the proper guidance, it is just what you need to succeed.

Marketing Industry/TrendsSetup - marketing matchmakersJanuary 8, 2019types of agencies, agency-client relationship, scorecard, gaps, breakup, Agency 101, dataComment

Alternatives to the RFP Process

Most of the time, companies view the Request for Proposal (RFP) as the only option for seeking help with a marketing project, program, or initiative. RFPs are not the only solution and can often be a waste of time, money, resources, and effort for both clients and agencies.

Clients want solutions to problems but, more often than not, the RFP does not provide answers to the difficult problems the client faces. Consider the multiple alternatives to the RFP Process before jumping in…

Marketing Industry/TrendsSetup - marketing matchmakersSeptember 25, 2018rfp, request for proposal, RFP, RFP-Alternative, RFP-Resource, issue rfp, first agency, types of agencies, agency-client relationship, scorecard, breakupComment

The Do’s and Don’ts of the RFP Process

When clients have marketing challenges, they often look to an agency for help. Often the best way to determine if a marketing agency is qualified to deliver quality work on time and within budget and scope is through a Request for Proposal (RFP).

Here are the Do’s and Dont’s to making a RFP successful…

Marketing Industry/TrendsSetup - marketing matchmakersSeptember 18, 2018rfp, request for proposal, RFP-Resource, issue rfp, New Years, first agency, types of agencies, agency-client relationship, scorecard, breakup, Agency 101Comment

The Five Marketing Agency Compensation Models for Brands

If a brand is considering hiring a marketing agency, it is important to set aside appropriate budget. Depending on the scope of needs, some financial plans are more necessary than others but, ultimately, it is up to the client and agency to decide how they will price fees during their agency-client partnership. Read more about the pros and cons of different compensation models in the agency-client relationship.

Marketing Industry/Trends, Marketing ResourcesSetup - marketing matchmakersSeptember 4, 2018budget, paperwork, tax, woman, money, report, accountant, calculator, paper, concept, pen, accounting, home, closeup, statistics, table, economics, economy, bureaucracy, corporate, business, income, success, copyspace, finance, calculate, balance, female, close-up, macro, earnings, lifestyle, desk, planning, bookkeeper, fill, person, professional, company, credit, workplace, work, investment, job, office, financial, expenses, hand, savings, counting, budget, paperwork, tax, woman, money, report, accountant, calculator, paper, concept, pen, accounting, home, closeup, statistics, table, economics, economy, bureaucracy, corporate, business, income, success, copyspace, finance, calculate, balance, female, close-up, macro, earnings, lifestyle, desk, planning, bookkeeper, fill, person, professional, company, credit, workplace, work, investment, job, office, financial, expenses, hand, savings, counting, RFP, RFP-Resource, first agency, types of agencies, agency-client relationship, scorecard, gaps, breakup, Agency 101Comment

The Evolving Pitch Process - Why Brands Should Approach Agency Selection Differently

Finding “the one” is stressful, time consuming, and, to be honest, extremely hard. A romantic relationship is not exactly congruent to an agency-client relationship, but there is something to be said about agency selection and the evolving pitch process...

No need for romantic gestures with boomboxes, dance numbers, or flowers, but a sit-down conversation where the agency can interview the brand and the brand can interview the agency.

Marketing Industry/TrendsSetup - marketing matchmakersApril 11, 2018agency vetting and review, agency selection process, agency-client relationship, agency selection, agency of record, brand agency relationship, brand marketers, brand, Advertising Agency Selection, RFP, first agency, scorecard, breakup, marketing continuing educationComment

Why do Brands and Marketing Agencies Breakup?

A relationship between a marketing brand and marketing agency is similar to that of a romantic partnership. But, sometimes they don't last.

It may be because they are not the right fit for each other. Or perhaps it is a minor detail that could easily be resolved. Continue reading to find why brand marketers choose to discontinue their relationship with their agency partners. And what steps they should take to avoid the breakup...

Questions Brands Should Answer Before Selecting A Marketing Agency

Here at AgencySparks we think a lot about how brands and agencies connect with each other and subsequently work together. Before we make connections for brands/clients with potential agency partners, we like to understand the brand needs. Here are questions brands need to answer to understand their own needs and what they require from potential partners.

The Ultimate Onboarding Guide for a New Agency

Avoid messy breakups by selecting the right agency the first time. Find and select a marketing agency using this free and detailed Agency Onboarding Guide.

Marketing Industry/Trends, Marketing ResourcesSetup - marketing matchmakersJune 17, 2015agency match, agency onboarding guide, agency-client relationship, Advertising Agency Selection, types of agencies, scorecard, breakup, Agency 101, positioningComment

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