The Agency Game Has Changed

One of the biggest challenges facing advertising agencies today is that clients don’t see the value in paying the rates that agencies charge, and agencies are having a difficult time showing the clients the value of their rates — ROI can be a tricky story to tell.

The full-service model is still a valid one, but anyone sitting inside the walls of an agency knows that technology has changed the game dramatically. In many cases, agencies aren't just competing with other agencies for work — they are competing with freelancers, and not just on pricing either. The agency industry is full of some great freelancers and niche organizations that can beat full-service shops on both price and experience. And, they can often deliver the work faster because they don’t have work within the agency's corporate structure. 

Sure, it’s not the one-stop marketing shop that full-service agencies can boast, but then again not everyone likes buying groceries at the same place they purchase fishing equipment either. Sales and marketing managers need to decide what works best for them. 

What have we built?

We believe there is room for another model — a virtual one. It’s a model that has brought two great freelances together to provide our clients with a support network that our clients don’t have access to on their own. Our goal isn’t to replace full-service agencies. We just simply want to provide companies with an alternative option to accomplish their marketing needs.

And, we believe we can be a great resource for those full-service agencies too. We can supplement their client teams, taking on special projects or helping with overflow work.

Amber and I both have a public relations background — we believe that every brand has a story. However, our expertise extends beyond PR. We have spent thousands of hours brainstorming ideas for new product launches and customer events, helping to create clients’ annual advertising plans, working with creative teams to develop strategic marketing campaigns and assisting with brand development and strategy exercises… So, we know a few things beyond the world of PR. 

In our virtual agency model, our goal is to serve our clients’ immediate and exact needs. Think of it as an extension of an in-house marketing department. We do not have employees or a building, which means we can keep our billable rates affordable and can do more with a client’s budget.

Yep, that means I’m working in my basement (it’s wonderful), but in today’s world, most of the tools we marketers really need fit inside a bag — a computer bag. I’m just as connected with other professionals as I ever was, but now I spend less time sitting in a conference room talking about how we should fill out timesheets and more time talking with clients about what projects they need to get done. 

But what’s most important about this agency model is that it allows us to put our focus on our clients’ needs because we have eliminated distractions. 

What you can expect from our blog?

I promise that this blog isn’t always filled with ramblings about our company. Amber and I both have shared content that we hope you’ll find interesting and perhaps helpful in doing your job, as well as sharing client stories (with their permission) that will offer you unique insights into their sales and marketing successes.

Let’s talk!

If you like what you’ve read, I would love to hear from you. Perhaps we can create a brand story together.