The Agency Search Model is Broken Infographic

In today’s dynamic marketing landscape, finding the right Agency often becomes entangled in the high costs and complexities introduced by traditional Agency searches. At Setup, founded by Joe Koufman, a veteran of fostering pivotal business connections, we are pioneering a transformative approach prioritizing efficiency, transparency, and alignment.

Traditional Agency searches, frequently conducted with the help of search consultants, can involve lengthy and expensive processes. These consultants typically charge significant fees for a three- to five-month process to narrow down a large pool of eligible Agencies to a handful of qualified candidates for the Client to choose from. In contrast, Setup can achieve the same goal of narrowing down to a small group of highly qualified Agencies in as little as a week and at no cost to the Client.

Read the full blog The Broken Agency Search Model: How to Make It Right

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10 CMO Secrets for Your 2025 Marketing Strategy

The marketing world is always changing, but the core principles of great leadership stay the same. To help you navigate this evolving landscape, we’ve gathered insights from some of the top CMOs in the business from our featured 2024 CMO Spotlight interviews. These ten lessons are just as relevant now as they’ll be in 2025, offering practical advice on leading with impact and staying adaptable in a fast-moving marketplace.

From Spotify Wrapped to Cow Appreciation Day - How Marketers Leverage Consumer Anticipation

Harness the Hype: Wicked Melted Audiences With Marketing Magic

When Wicked debuted in theaters in 2024, it didn’t just break records—it created a cultural moment (some would say it defied expectations). With a jaw-dropping $164 million opening weekend surpassing other notable Broadway film adaptations like Les Miserable and Mean Girls, the beloved story featuring some of the world’s biggest stars was immediately a box office triumph and a marketing masterpiece. Behind its success was a multifaceted strategy picking out the perfect partnerships that not only thrilled fans of the original, but also reached entirely new audiences of all ages and preferences (even the musical haters).

Navigating the New Black Friday

Black Friday has undergone a dramatic transformation since its chaotic in-store origins in the 1960s. Once synonymous with one-day-only doorbuster deals and frenzied shopping, the event is now a weeks-long digital phenomenon, shaped by evolving consumer behavior, economic pressures, and innovative retailer strategies, not to mention some potential trust issues with consumers. Here’s a comprehensive look at how Brands and consumers are navigating Black Friday 2024.

Why Valuing Clients + Your Team Pays Off Big

Whether you’re an Agency or Brand marketing leader, or the point person (Account Services/Project Manager) in an Agency-Client relationship, it’s important to make people feel valued. We’ve compiled notes from countless conversations on what makes a relationship sustainable, and what can ruin it. Check it out!

CMO Spotlight | Ben Boyd - Chobani

Setup CEO + Founder, Joe Koufman, spoke with Ben Boyd, the Chief Communications Officer at Chobani, about designing your own career path, the importance of empathy and understanding as a leader, and more.

‘Tis the Holiday Season to Gather... and Build Brand Loyalty

The holiday season means show time for a number of industries, meaning Brands need to be on their A-game. With fierce competition and distractions abound, how can your company leave a lasting impression during the holidays to maintain Brand loyalty during the holidays and beyond?

How Data-Driven Decision Making Transforms Agency-Client Partnerships

At Setup, we regularly conduct Agency Assessments where we interview Agencies and their past and current Clients about an Agency's performance, strengths, and weaknesses. Surprisingly, when the results are presented, Clients tend to comment about a lack of data-driven practices, or a need for more.

If data-driven decision making is so impactful, then why are some companies lacking in data usage?

The Case of “Dark Socials” - Tracking the Untraceable

The user's ability to share content privately (or otherwise known as "Dark Social") creates a blind spot for most digital marketers, almost embodying the same effectiveness as a TV spot or a billboard on the street. So how can marketers track the clues to measure what is behind closed doors or hidden in the shadows?

Travel and Hospitality Marketing: Prioritizing the Customer Experience

The fluctuating economy leading to job and spending uncertainty, shifts consumer preferences in ways that significantly impact marketing strategies - especially in Travel and Hospitality. To stay ahead, Brands need to rethink how to engage with customers to maintain their loyalty and their business. Here are some strategies to keep in mind as marketers prepare for the holiday season and approach 2025.

6 Tips to Maximize Your Marketing Budget

With economic uncertainty, shifting consumer expectations, and evolving digital trends (AI, anyone?), it has become more of a challenge to sort budgets. Last year’s numbers may not be a great indicator of future success. One thing is certain, however: demonstrating the ROI from marketing efforts is crucial for brands to stay competitive.

Check out key budgeting challenges that marketers often face and practical solutions to help marketing leaders craft a stronger, more agile budget.

It’s Giving… Marketing to Gen Z

Gen Z is expected to have $2.7 trillion in global spending power, and its influence will only grow, projected to reach $12 trillion by 2030. They currently make up about 25% of the worldwide population. While Millennials have more established careers and spend more, Gen Z has the power to shape trends and is increasing its purchasing power as it continues to take over the workforce.

Gen Z is a big deal, and marketers need to pay attention.

What Marketers Need to Know About the Next Generation: Gen Alpha

Although Generation Alpha is not yet old enough to be purchasing leaders, this tech-savvy generation was the first born into a digitally established world, and their influence may cause marketers to change priorities and adapt to new tactics.

Is Your Agency Missing the B2B Boom While Chasing the B2C Bust?

Many Agencies focus on B2C tactics but could be missing out on untapped B2B opportunities. Learn how you can apply the same powerful B2B strategies you use for Clients to fuel your Agency’s growth.

The Expert’s Irony: Are Agencies Losing Their Own Game?

Agencies excel at helping businesses grow, but many fail to apply their own successful strategies internally. Explore why Agencies often struggle with their own growth and how to change that.

CMO Spotlight | Trish Nettleship - NCR Voyix

Setup CEO + Founder, Joe Koufman, spoke with Trish Nettleship, the Chief Marketing Officer at NCR Voyix, about understanding your “why,” the power of relationships and listening, passion, and more.

Talk the Talk: Mastering Workplace Communication + Collaboration

People overall are not feeling heard or understood. When that happens, team members don’t feel valued, and they usually leave a place of employment or end a partnership. We provide suggestions to improve culture, collaboration, and communication for marketing leaders, including our Team Building service.

The Good, The Bad, and The Mediocre: 2024 Cannes Lions

Setup’s Manager of Strategic Partnerships listed his favorite Cannes Lions campaigns from Coca-Cola to Pop-Tarts and more, and the takeaways for marketers.

CMO Spotlight | Dan Csont - Corpay

Setup CEO + Founder, Joe Koufman, spoke with Dan Csont, the EVP & Chief Marketing Officer at Corpay, about leveraging every opportunity to gain experience in your career, the evolution of U2, the power of understanding people as a leader, and more.

5 Ad Campaigns that Inspire Change

Being purpose-driven leads to stronger relationships with consumers rooted in trust, a positive perception of the Brand, excited employees and stakeholders who feel like their work has meaning, and more. By leaning into cause-driven marketing, Brands make a stronger impact, and gain more traction. Past studies show that consumers want Brands to care, especially when it comes to values that align with their own.

Through our research and discussions, we were inspired to point out a few ad campaigns that use their influence for good.

Here are five of our favorite marketing campaigns that amplify what it means to be purpose-driven:

A Marketer’s Career Journey: Transitioning from Agency to Client-Side Marketing

Navigating the marketing industry often leads professionals to stick to either the Agency or Brand side, potentially limiting their growth opportunities. In our series, we delve into the experiences of marketers who have made the jump from one side to the other. Building on our previous exploration of transitioning from Client to Agency-side marketing, this time we interviewed Allison Turner, who has transitioned from Agency roles to becoming the Marketing Copy Manager at Floor & Decor on the Client side.

This journey highlights how working on both sides can enhance a marketer's skills and adaptability, making them more equipped to handle diverse tasks and challenges.

CMO Spotlight | Mika Yamamoto - Freshworks

Setup President, Amanda Thompson, spoke with Mika Yamamoto, the Chief Customer and Marketing Officer at Freshworks, about the power of perseverance and believing in yourself, Warby Parker’s tactful and intentional experiential marketing, the importance of listening to your team for campaign input and success, and more.

The Broken Agency Search Model: How to Make It Right

Traditional Agency searches are often long and expensive, involving high fees and months of vetting. Discover how Setup simplifies the process, delivering highly qualified Agencies in just a week—at no cost to the Client.

A Marketer’s Career Journey: Transitioning from Client to Agency-Side Marketing

Transitioning from Brand-side to Agency-side marketing can be both rewarding and challenging for marketing leaders. This shift offers unique opportunities to enhance strategic thinking, creativity, and versatility while navigating the fast-paced dynamics of managing multiple Clients. Drawing on insights from marketing experts like Cami Albrecht and Elaine Fowler of Sagepath Reply, this blog provides essential advice for successfully making the switch and leveraging the benefits of both career paths.

5 Client-Side Marketing Challenges

Each year, we conduct the Marketing Relationship Survey with both Client-side and Agency-side marketers to uncover the latest insights on marketing challenges, innovative solutions, and industry preferences. This allows us to identify key marketing gaps and provide strategic solutions that simplify and enhance marketers' efforts. Reach about last year’s Marketing Relationship Survey.

What challenges are Clients currently facing alongside their agency partners in 2024?

CMO Spotlight | DeLu Jackson - ADT

Setup CEO + Founder, Joe Koufman, spoke with DeLu Jackson, the EVP and Chief Marketing Officer of ADT, about the power of collaboration, harnessing different communication styles, Apple’s innovation, and more.

What Challenges do Agency-side Marketers Face?

Agency leaders and marketers in general are dealing with worldwide challenges like adapting to and adopting advanced technology and social platforms, budget constraints and showcasing marketing’s ROI, and navigating data privacy changes.

The 2023 Marketing Relationship Survey revealed that Delivery and Business Development remained a key challenge for Agency-side marketing leaders in the last year.

CMO Spotlight | Rich Honiball - NEXCOM

Setup CEO + Founder, Joe Koufman, spoke with Rich Honiball, the EVP and the Global Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer for the Navy Exchange Service Command (which is also known as NEXCOM), about the power of taking risks and failing, true authenticity in a brand, and the importance of curiosity.

How Client-Side Marketers Find Marketing Agencies

According to the 2023 Setup Marketing Relationship Survey, Word-of-mouth and Referrals consistently remain the most frequent methods Clients use to find new Agency Partners.

This has been the case for the last five years of the Marketing Relationship Survey.

What does this mean for Clients + Agencies? How can they optimize their efforts with this knowledge?

CMO Spotlight | Joe Foster - Reebok

Setup CEO + Founder, Joe Koufman, spoke with the Co-Founder of Reebok, Joe Foster, about the foundation behind building a strong brand, the importance of listening as a leader, Winston Churchill, and more.

Agency-Client RelationsSetup - marketing matchmakersJune 5, 2024Agency Search, ConsultantComment

The Agency Search Model is Broken Infographic

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