The Business Development Life
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Why September Planning Wins
Why September Planning Wins After working with more than 50 agencies of all shapes and sizes, I’ve learned that the key to consistent growth is simple: early planning. And September is the ideal time to take control of your agency’s future. Yes, September. Why? Because it’s the bold approach that sets successful agencies apart. Agencies…
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Is AI Coming For You
Is AI Coming For You As an ad agency owner, you face tremendous competition. Google the term “Ad Agency” and you get 4,570,000 results. Google will likely show you only 40 pages of results. I feel bad for the agencies and related companies that make up the rest of the results, which will never be…
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10 BD Problems and How to Bury Them
10 BD Problems and How to Bury Them If you’re running an agency in 2025 and your new business pipeline feels thin, inconsistent, frustratingly quiet, or deceased, you’re not alone. I talk to agency owners every day who say some version of the same thing: “We used to win more. Now it feels like we’re invisible.”…
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Some Agencies Are Winning Now: How About You
Some Agencies Are Winning Now: How About You Let’s not sugarcoat it. 2025 tested every agency leader’s grit. Margins are under pressure. Marketers are in triage mode. Headcounts are leaner. Budgets are delayed. And the RFP pipeline? For many, it’s either stalled or nonexistent. What is the right agency business development strategy in 2026? But…
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The New Ad Agency Search
The New Ad Agency Search If you’re an ad agency owner or business development leader, now’s the time to rethink how you’re tracking and engaging in the search process. While legacy consultants hold on to a declining share of rigid RFI/RFP routines, marketers are increasingly opening the door through less formal and often more revealing…
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Your Ad Agency Prospecting Platform
Your Ad Agency Prospecting Platform Reach more prospects. Guide the journey. Make decisions with data. Track your progress. Convert more clients. Affordable. Easy to use. Powerful. Backed by 20 years of new business experience. All configured to the way your Ad Agency does business development. According to the 4As, about 96% of agencies use some…
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3 Essential Steps: Awareness, Understanding, Trust
3 Essential Steps: Awareness, Understanding Trust Ad agency business development is easy. The first thing to do is make your future clients aware of your agency. “Yes. I’ve heard of that agency,” says the CMO. “Didn’t they do the main hall takeover at CES? Aren’t they the ones who do the random satirical LinkedIn posts;…
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Why Most Agencies Waste Money on Consultants (And How to Be the Exception)
Why Most Agencies Waste Money on Consultants (And How to Be the Exception) Many believe this will be a big year for the ad industry. Budgets are up. Enthusiasm is up. Technology is revolutionizing the game. You know it will be a good year when holding cos are merging and gobbling up agencies, and PE…
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Agency Growth Strategies for 2025
Agency Growth Strategies for 2025 The start of a new year means excitement, anticipation, and the thrill of better times ahead. This year, all the signs are good. The economy will keep growing. Marketing budgets will increase. And new business opportunities will be more plentiful. If last year was a good year for your agency,…