Don’t Wait for the Fire Drill: Building Agency Relationships Before You Need Them

Most agency searches begin with urgency: a priority shift, a launch date appears, and suddenly, you’re writing an RFP at midnight. In that scramble, you invite too many firms, ask the wrong questions, and end up choosing based on pitch theater instead of day-to-day fit. The fix isn’t a better RFP template. It’s time - specifically, the time you spend getting to know agencies before you need one.

Marketing Industry/TrendsSetup - marketing matchmakersOctober 16, 2025agency evaluation framework, RFP development, rfp, agency selection, agency selection processComment

Opinion | Brands: There May be a Better Way than the RFP to Find an Agency

The RFP process tends to be stale and can neglect the factors that usually make relationships sustainable and mutually beneficial. As advocates of connection and matchmaking, we believe an investment in discovery around the people-element (chemistry, communication, and capabilities) is equally crucial when determining a future agency partner.

Marketing Industry/TrendsSetup - marketing matchmakersJune 23, 2020RFP-Alternative, RFP development, RFP templates, RFP alternative, rfp, RFP, RFP-Resource, issue rfpComment

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