This podcast is for you if you are managing day to day client relationships in a creative agency. The aim of the podcast is to share insights and tips to help y...
Why agencies needs a people and culture plan, with Theresa Carter
Welcome to episode 130. I’m joined by Leadership Coach and People & Culture Consultant, Theresa Carter.
Agencies are people businesses, so it's essential to the success of the agency to attract and recruit the right people with the right skills for the right roles. And this also means that, as the agency grows, the needs of the business change.
For example, you might start your agency with small national clients, and then as you expand, you might begin to serve multinational clients that are much bigger, that operate differently. You might need different team members with different skills and experience that suits the agency's evolving needs.
All of this starts with aligning your business goals with a solid people and culture plan.
In our chat, Theresa Carter shares:
· how to create your people and culture plan from your business goals
· what happens when some of your team members are in the wrong seats
· how to deal with that
· how to create some accountability for delivering your people and culture plan
· and lots more.
If you want some guidance to build a really strong and successful agency team that's totally aligned with your values, then please do get in touch with her via email: [email protected] or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresaaustin/
And if you're responsible for the retention and growth of your existing client relationships at the agency, then you can go to my website, https://www.accountmanagementskills.com and sign up for my newsletter where I share agency account management tips, strategies, mini trainings, and also key points covered by my expert podcast guests.
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43:16
Mastering client-centric account growth in 2025, with Jenny Plant
Welcome to episode 129. In this episode Jenny breaks down the three key areas to focus on if you want to maximise the growth of your existing client accounts in 2025:
1. Finding COMMERCIAL CLARITY
Agencies who predictably forecast revenue growth from existing accounts are clear where to focus their team's efforts and provide sufficient time and support for developing an account growth strategy. They have client development plans in place and work differently with 'growth' clients than ‘maintenance’ clients.
2. Having CONSULTANCY CAPABILITY
Spotting account growth opportunities and proactively developing ideas and solutions for them requires a consultative skillset and entrepreneurial mindset. Client-facing team members need to be able to have conversations about adding value and ask for testimonials and referrals comfortably.
3. Embedding CULTURAL CONTINUITY
To make account growth systematic and scalable it needs to be embedded as a defined repeatable process in the agency that’s followed by everyone. A process helps new joiners hit the ground running and ensures client-centric behaviours are ‘hard wired’ into the business.
She shares soundbites from participants of her Account Accelerator programme who provide tips and examples of how they’ve implemented strategies in each of these areas.
If you’re considering improving your client retention and growth skills, check out the training options on our website, https://www.accountmanagementskills.com and if you’d like to discuss your training needs with Jenny you can book a 20 minute call here: https://calendly.com/jennyplant/account-accelerator-discovery-call
Sign up to receive our regular newsletter where we share account management tips, and notify you of upcoming podcast guests and trainings.
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29:19
How to be a leader people want to follow, with Traci Schubert Barrett
Welcome to episode 128. This conversation is going to be particularly interesting for you if you’re keen to develop your leadership skills.
It’s for you if you’re currently in charge of the agency and leading the whole team OR you’re leading an AM team within the agency - and you want to go from being a ‘good’ leader to being a ‘great’ leader.
Founder of Navigate The Journey and author of ‘What If There’s More?: Finding Significance Beyond Success’, Traci Schubert Barrett shares actionable tips and advice on how to lead with purpose, navigate the complexities of scaling an agency, and foster authentic connections both with your team and your clients.
Whether you’re an agency owner grappling with leadership challenges or an account manager aspiring to step into a leadership role, this chat is packed with wisdom and practical takeaways to help you grow.
You can connect with and find out more about Traci Barrett here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracischubertbarrett/
Book: https://a.co/d/184VveL
Website: https://www.navigatethejourney.com https://www.tracischubertbarrett.com
If you’d like to stay updated with more tips and resources to enhance your account management skills, be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter at https://www.accountmanagementskills.com
You'll receive updates about new podcast episodes, expert guest announcements, and information about training courses designed for creative agency account managers at all levels.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast, leave us a review, and share this episode with a colleague who could benefit from these insights.
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51:11
Top 10 tips & insights from the podcast in 2024, with Jenny Plant
Welcome to episode 127. Thank you for listening in 2024. Looking back at this year, I’ve been reflecting on the superb guests I’ve had on the show. I thought I’d select a handful of soundbites from this year’s podcast episodes to share with you.
This isn’t a comprehensive list - there have been so many standout moments - but these clips include tips, advice, or insights that stayed with me. I’ve shared 10 soundbites that I hope you find as useful or insightful as I did.
Stick around until the end to hear a clip from one of the most popular episodes and one that I received the most positive feedback from listeners!
You can also read more about each of these guests by visiting this episode's page on my website here: https://www.accountmanagementskills.com/top-10-tips-insights-from-the-podcast-in-2024-with-jenny-plant
These episodes are mentioned:
1. Episode 125: Dan Pfister, "How to Win Back Clients for Exceptional ROI"
2. Episode 120 & 121: Carey Evans & Simon Rhind-Tutt, “What Your Client Don’t Tell You”
3. Episode 116: Jack Skeels, "Why Agencies Need to Rethink Project Management"
4. Episode 117: Tim Williams, "Why Time-Based Pricing Doesn’t Work"
5. Episode 114: Gareth Healey, "Stand Out or Die"
6. Episode 115: Tim Riesterer, “Why selling to client and prospects is different"
7. Episode 109: Michael Farmer, "Why the Agency Business Model Isn’t Working"
8. Episode 91: Sharon Toerek, "How Agencies Are Navigating the Legalities of AI Use"
9. Episode 111: Alison Coward, "How a Workshop Culture Builds High-Performing
10. Episode 105: Benjamin Dennehy & Marcus Cauchi, "How to Sell"
If you’d like to be kept up to date with who is coming on the podcast, the topics we’re covering, receive tips about agency account management or to be notified about trainings I’m doing, you can sign up for my newsletter at my website: https://www.accountmanagementskills.com
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25:54
Who cares about advertising? - with Brian Jacobs and Crispin Reed
Welcome to episode 126. In this episode, I chat to Brian Jacobs (Founder, BJ&A) and Crispin Reed (Founder, Skyscraper Consulting) about what’s wrong with the advertising industry.
And what specifically prompted the launch of their ‘Who Cares?’ initiative, aimed at tackling the pressing issues affecting the advertising industry today.
We cover:
· what's actually wrong with the industry itself
· the need for greater creativity and transparency in advertising
· how Brian developed the ‘Who Cares?’ idea
· how a one-off event has turned into a well-supported movement
· how industry stakeholders can get involved to collaborate on initiatives
I do hope you’ll listen to this important discussion and visit https://www.advertisingwhocares.org to find out more and get involved.
If you’re an agency owner and would like to discuss account retention and growth training and coaching options – or would like to reserve a spot for the next Account Accelerator (January 2025) - you can schedule a no obligation call with me to discuss your needs, via my website: https://www.accountmanagementskills.com/account-accelerator
This podcast is for you if you are managing day to day client relationships in a creative agency. The aim of the podcast is to share insights and tips to help you add more value to the client's business, strengthen your relationships with your clients, develop your skills in account management and grow your agency's business.
Ireland