10 Ways to Establish Order in Your Advertising Agency

via Marketing Agency Insider

It’s no secret: Most advertising agency owners come from inside the advertising industry.Naturally, they’re very good account executives, copywriters or art directors, but they’re not always seasoned businesspeople.

Like most creative people, they’re not interested in restrictive, formulaic systems and processes to guide workflow, even though they’re necessary. Unfortunately, this misstep can singlehandedly create chaos in a busy advertising agency.

Common Ad Agency Mistakes

Most agencies rob themselves of income when they don’t track and bill work correctly. With these small additional revenue streams, the average agency could grow its bottom line by several percentage points every year—if not more.

In addition, without continuous revenue growth, it’s tough to keep hiring and training, which can lead to increased turnover and stale ideas. Ultimately, that can result in an agency that isn’t a creative force any longer. It’s simply a production house, rather than a generator of innovation.

In today’s environment, this is a risk that most agencies simply can’t afford. With a mix of employees and freelancers working together in different cities and time zones, process and project management become vital to ensuring proper billing, communication and project completion.Otherwise, details are dropped, deadlines are missed, clients leave and the bottom line takes a sharp dive into the red.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

10 Tips for a Competitive Advantage

Here are 10 ways to give your advertising agency a streamlined process and a competitive edge.

  1. Have a production process, and honor it. It’s important to create clear, easy-to-follow workflows for every kind of project. This ensures that steps aren’t missed and that the final product has been vetted at each essential stage.
  2. Create a culture that won’t honor workarounds for anyone—even the owner. Make sure that the production process applies to everyone, no matter what rank they carry. If clients insist on special treatment or believe they don’t need the expense of extra steps, they’re not giving you the opportunity to provide your best work.
  3. Encourage critical system implementation. Make it worth your employees’ time to use the right systems to accomplish their tasks. Efficiency and productivity boosts benefit both your employees and your bottom line.
  4. Hold regular, mandatory traffic meetings to stay updated on project statuses. Traffic meetings aren’t optional. They keep projects on time and on budget. Use them to your advantage.
  5. Create templates for frequently used processes and tasks. Make it as easy as possible for your team to ensure there’s uniformity in your information and methods.
  6. Leverage technology to make processes seamless and easy. There are many good software tools out there. Be sure togive your company and employees the tools they need to do the best job they can.
  7. Stop giving money away. Track time accurately, and issue change orders when your clients’ deliverables change. Don’t throw money after goals that have already been put to bed.
  8. Bring the client into your process planning. Your clients are an integral part of your process planning. Find out what frustrates them about working with you. Remember, the way that your agency operates isn’t just an internal issue. It impacts clients as well.
  9. Make training a priority. Most agencies don’t invest enough time or money to train staff and leadership teams. Without it, your agency will become stagnant. Fit training into your budget, and fund it well every year.
  10. Set goals for your operational weak spots. Communicate those goals to your entire team, and then track and report operational metrics based on those goals.

Many agencies are great at what they do, and they cringe at the thought of “boxing” work into a streamlined process. The catch is that without such a process, their work fails to hit on every cylinder, leaving clients and employees wanting something more.

The benefits are clear: Completing projects—on time and on budget—helps you create a more profitable agency with lower turnover and happier clients. All you need now are the tools to make it happen, and the dedication to build a seamless process to guide you forward.

Competitors vs. Denver Advertising- A top 25 largest ad agency

When it comes to competitors vs. Denver Advertising, there are so many to look at. When you are dealing with Denver Advertising, you are getting a advertising agency that has been recognized by The Denver Business Journal as One of the Top 25 Largest Ad Agencies, recently featured on the front page of The Denver Post and won many awards; but most importantly have helped businesses grow for over 19 years.

We believe when choosing an agency make sure you consider:

1. Do you like your agency personally?  Whoever said business is not personal was lying. Your agency and you will spend a lot of time and as the client you are going to need to be able to trust that your agency “has got your back”.  What can be more personal then when you are writing checks to your agency and either getting the results you expected or worse, not getting the results and still writing the check. I guarantee, it gets personal then!

2. Do they have your vision? Not theirs! Our job is to make you successful with your vision. Now our approaches might be different then yours, that is where number one (above) is so important when it comes to trust. Denver Advertising will fulfill your vision successfully.

3. Is the agency out for you or them? It’s a business and yes, we need to make sure the bottom line is solid and we are not taken advantage of, but at Denver Advertising, we are here to serve you. We will be there with our swords drawn and swinging to win the battle of building your business.

4.  Is the creative fresh and well thought out?  Look there are many freelancers and one-man bands that have great ideas but have no clue how to fulfill them. We have over 19 years of helping businesses grow throughout the nation.  There is no sense in introducing campaigns that we can’t fulfill.

5.  Do they know Search Engine Marketing?  If not, stop what you are doing and pick up the phone and call us.  In today’s competitive market, your agency has to be a full service agency that can fulfill every aspect of your marketing and advertising including and especially THE INTERNET. This way you receive a comprehensive advertising and marketing approach that looks and operates congruently.

6. Are you growing?  At the end of the day, is your business growing?  Bottom line. We don’t care how great the campaign looks, how perfect the copy was or how well the navigation on your site functioned at the end of the day, did we build you more business?

Here is a list of ad agencies to compare. We hope you find the perfect agency to meet your needs and we hope it is us.

‘grey advertising’
‘Cactus Communications’
‘Information Design’
‘Creative Media’
‘JWT’
‘Ripcord’
‘Launch’
‘Barnhart’
‘Embroidme’
‘Money Mailer’
‘Arrow Advertising’
‘Yellow Book’
‘Denver Advertising’
‘Professional Marketing’
‘Business Times’
‘Fast Track Marketing’
‘CTSI’
‘Gene Pool’
‘Allegra Print & Imaging’
‘Primary Objective’
‘Lamar Outdoor Advertising’
‘Allied Advertising’
‘Captivate Network’
‘Sterling-Rice Group’
‘Yellow Book USA’
‘Quad/Graphics’
‘Media Solutions’
‘Vanguard Communications’
‘Graham Advertising of Colorado’
‘Summit Graphics’
‘Wandel Press’
‘Hampden Press’
‘Concepts Unlimited’
‘Peak Creative Media’
‘Henry Gill Advertising’
‘McClain Finlon Advertising’
‘Network Affiliates’
‘Integer Group’
‘Black Diamond Concepts’
‘Hanson Group’
‘Cactus Marketing Communications’
‘Sears Portrait Studio’
‘Crispin Porter & Bogusky’
‘leopard communications’
‘Morning Falls’
‘Lorem Ipsum’
‘Media Team’
‘Magna Group’
‘Signature Advertising’
‘Insight Marketing’
‘First Movement’
‘CBS Outdoor’
‘Valpak’
‘All Over Media’
‘Porter Industries Inc’
‘leopard communications inc’
‘leopard communication’
‘Factory Design’
‘Network Affiliates Inc.’
‘Lighthouse Printing’
‘Documart’
‘Thayer Media’
‘O’Brien Advertising’
‘SC Advertising’
‘Amelie Company’
‘factory advertising denver’
‘juice advertising denver’
‘Rck Advertising’
‘Ultimax Advertising’
‘Cultivator Advertising’
‘sukle advertising denver’
‘o brien advertising denver’
‘Lundwall Communications’
‘cactus advertising denver’
‘Winter Advertising Group’
‘level five marketing’
‘Asset One Marketing Group’
‘Aspire Marketing Group’
‘bayard advertising agency denver’
‘Bayard Advertising Agency Inc.’
‘henry gill communications’
‘Sukle Advertising and Design’
‘signature advertising denver’
‘mcclain finlon advertising denver’
‘PGM Integrated’
‘Aero Designs’
‘Milesbrand Inc.’
‘integer advertising denver’
‘Sadler & Dorchester’
‘pure advertising denver’
‘Level 5 Marketing’
‘obrien advertising denver’
‘Advertising Production Resources’
‘Juice Communications’
‘barnhart advertising denver’
‘level 5 marketing denver’
‘Another Color Inc.’
‘Droy Advertising’
‘Avocet Communications’
‘miles advertising denver’
‘Cohn Marketing Group’
‘United Advertising Corporation’
‘BK Media Group’
‘Aim Direct Marketing’
‘Allied Advertising Public Relations’
‘strada advertising denver’
‘Stratecom’
‘Strada Advertising’
‘Miles Advertising’
‘Davey Coach Sales Inc’
‘Hill & Co’
‘Product Development Corp’
‘marketing agencies in colorado’
‘Suzanne Jalbert’
‘Clifford Group’
‘Shine Inc’
‘Winter Group’
‘Hanna Design’
‘Visual Image Advertising’
‘National Cinemedia Inc’
‘Howe Creative’
‘Memolink Inc’
‘Adex Media Inc’
‘Graham Advertising’
‘Aor Inc’
Vladimir Jones
‘Swartz Commercial Photography’
‘Amelie Co’
‘BETTINGER Photography’
‘Rich Clarkson & Assoc’
‘Keech Design Studio’
‘Montano Communications’
‘Benson Communications LLC’
‘New Wave Promotions’
‘Jacor Broadcasting of Colorado’
‘Porcupine Signs Inc’
‘Rising Graphics & Printing Inc’
‘Morey-Evans Advertising Inc’
‘Tangram Design LLC’
‘Showcase Marketing Inc’
‘Sadler & Dorchester Inc’
‘Morey Mahoney Advertising Inc’
‘Advertising Group Intl’
‘Faction Media LLP’
‘Conifer Copies Inc’
‘Integer Group LLC’
‘360 Media’
‘Design & Image Communications’
‘TMP Directional Marketing LLC’
‘KEAR Stevens Creative’
‘Mighty Fudge Studios’
‘Darcy Communications Inc’
‘USA One Interactive Inc’
‘Robertson Advertising Inc’
‘Zealous Media’
‘His Kingdom Come Inc’
‘Noble Erickson Inc’
‘Instant Access Media LLC’
‘Privilege Flyer’
‘U Creative Group’
‘Souders Studios’
‘Mc Clain Finion Advertising’
‘Piare Mohan Portraits’
‘Castalian Music LLC’
‘Matter LLC’
‘Cultivator Advertising & Dsgn’
‘Attache International Mktg Inc’
‘Spin Creative Studio’
‘Ornery Tiger Press’
‘CK Media LLC’
‘Atlas Destination Real Estate’
‘Barnhart CMILC’
‘Infrared Professionals’
‘Nextmedia Group Inc’
‘Karsh & Hagan Inc’
‘Leanin’ Tree Museum-Wstrn Art’
‘Scream Ad & Pr’
‘Xylem Digital’
‘Prime Time For Seniors’
‘Media Strategies & Research’
‘Yema Hispanic Advertisement’
‘Comcast Spotlight Inc’
‘Proconcepts Intl’
‘Western Dairyfarmers Promotion’
‘Condit Marketing Communication’
‘Lucid Dimensions’
‘Anderson Mc Kibbon Creative’
‘Vanthomas Agency’
‘Outdoor Promotions Inc’
‘Design & Print Cs’
‘Stortz Design’
‘Affiliated Business Conslnts’
‘Valpak Direct Mail Advertising’
‘Weaver Design Inc’
‘Terri O’Brien Advertising’
‘Baum Arensmeier &Talent Inc’
‘Winter Advertising Group Inc’
‘Twist Design Group’
‘US Media Services’
‘3 Roads Media’
‘Matrix Creative Group Inc’
‘Tomlin Advertising’
‘Cactus Communications Inc’
‘Movingads Inc’
‘Fine Line Signs Graphics’
‘Keeplan Winter Sports’
‘Century Advertising & Services’
‘Brian Marks Photography’
‘Graham Group Inc’
‘Tucker Wells Advertising Inc’
‘Wirestone advertising’
‘Trueffect Inc’
‘Media Stragegy Group’
‘De Sciose Productions’
‘Hytec advertising’
‘Katalina Group’
‘Page 1 Solutions LLC’
‘Oblique Design’
‘Karsh and Hagan’
‘Spark Creative LLC’
‘TKA Advertising & Design’
‘Vermilion Inc’
‘Arthouse Design’
‘Heinrich Marketing Inc’
‘Larry Cobb & Associates Inc’
‘Platinum Ppc Marketing Inc’
‘NAS Recruitment Communications’
‘Longmont Printing Inc’
‘Burks-Communication’
‘Grfx Communications’
‘Vista Marketing Network’
‘Marketing Etcetera Inc’
‘Color Pro Print Of Colorado’
‘Apre Designer Portraits’
‘Retail Design Group Inc’
‘Tj Enterprises’
‘Kirkland Photography & Design’
‘Creative Instinct’
‘Splash Mobile Media’
‘Source Unlimited Inc’
‘Bawmann Group Inc’
‘Sterling-Rice Group Inc’
‘Ubquity Design’
‘Creative Alliance Inc’
‘Creative Dimensions Inc’
‘Sage Marketing Group Inc’
‘Creative Baraka’
‘Candid Wedding Photographers’
‘Monster Worldwide Inc’
‘Lauren Graphics Inc’
‘Westar Media Group Inc’
‘Christopherson & Co-Mktg’
‘Longs Peak Communicators’
‘Signtech Inc’
‘EGG Strategy Inc’
‘Good Neighbor Press’
‘Groves Associates’
‘Idearc Media’
‘James Mc Cory Photography’
‘Anabliss Design’
‘Susan Passmore Creative’
‘Ad Edge LLC’
‘Multi-Net Marketing Inc’
‘Bowman Publication’
‘Rabbit Hill Graphics’
‘Graphic Directions & Advg Inc’
‘Spillt LLC’
‘Tda Advertising & Design Inc’
‘Rush Media & Communications’
‘Young Electric Sign Co’
‘Archetype 5’
‘Advertising Production Rsrcs’
‘In Line Media Inc’
‘Mile High Outdoor Advertising’
‘Studio Strimbu’
‘Elevation Outdoor Advg Inc’
‘Twin Visions Digital Design’
‘Cameron Christopher & Thomas’
‘Oswego Creative Inc’
‘Uli Creative’
‘R P Alpha Group’
‘Olympian Marketing Group’
‘Kostka Gleason Communications’
‘Hoffman Advertising’
‘Location3 Media Inc’
‘Griff SMC Inc’
‘Red Letter Publishing’
‘Newell Ledbetter Advertising’
‘Leopard Communications Inc’
‘Tri-Lakes Advertising Guild’
‘CBS Outdoor Inc’
‘Sage Creative’
‘Basis Group’
‘Action Innovations Inc’
‘Carousel Productions Inc’
‘Ayers Advertising & Marketing’
‘New Maturity Media’
‘Merchantcirlce Marketing’
‘Marquette Group Western Region’
‘Littell Studio’
‘National Marketplace Inc’
‘Lange Graphics Inc’
‘Dex Media Inc’
‘Tool Studio LLC’
‘Third & Main Photography’
‘Nuf Said Advertising’
‘Print Buyers International Inc’
‘Publication Design Inc’
‘Sam Cooper Design Co’
‘Showcast Talent Source LLC’
‘Andy J Kosley’
‘Ryden & Assoc’
‘Assiette Enterprises Inc’
‘Extra Strength Marketing Comms’
‘Yesco Outdoor Media’
‘Studio Signorella’
‘Admobile Of Colorado Springs’
‘Kevin Medina Group’
‘Duran’s Demo Works LLC’
‘Roger Reynolds Digital Imaging’
‘Technology By WBMB’
‘Zemi Photographics’
‘Henry Gill Inc’
‘Young & Rubicam Inc’
‘Big League Graphics’
‘Allegory Advertising’
‘Imagetek’
‘J Walter Thompson USA Inc’
‘Wise River Co’s Inc’
‘Guzofsky Communications Inc’
‘SC Advertising LLC’
‘Creative Strategies Group’
‘Colorado Adventure Guide’
‘Rocky Mountain Reader Service’
‘Clay Pot Creative’
‘Thomas Taber & Drazen’
‘ADS Publishing’
‘Explore Communications Inc’
‘Street Source Marketing & Comm’
‘Liquid Graphics Inc’
‘Communique Group Inc’
‘CTK Software’
‘Vitesse Advertising’
‘Mountainview Lighting Group LL’
‘Starboard Media Group’
‘Watermark Advertising’
‘Creative Advertising Group’
‘Interlink Advertising Services’
‘O’Brien Advertising Inc’
‘Ecollective’
‘Intermundo Media LLC’
‘Sandia Advertising & Design’
‘Origin Communications Inc’
‘Ellen Bruss Design’
‘Choices advertising’
‘Tesser Inc’
‘Pro Promotions’
‘NETNEWSDESK.COM’
‘Ellish Marketing Group LLC’
‘A Better Agency’
‘Ad Publishing Source Inc’
‘Worldways Inc’
‘Premier Source Delivery LLC’
‘Beightol Photo Media’
‘Military Cable Ads Inc’
‘Berkeley-Lainson’
‘Penn Schoen & Berland Assoc’
‘Old Mutual Investment Partners’
‘Generations Fine Photo & Dsgn’
‘Walt Klein & Assoc’
‘Lamar Advertising Co’
‘Freedom Interactive Media of’
‘Center Partners Inc’
‘Atlas Advertising LLC’
‘Milesbrand Inc’
‘PCI Advertising’
‘Webolutions Inc’
‘Visiontrust Communications’
‘Resort Marketing Services Inc’
‘Avocet Communications Co’
‘S & S Signs’
‘Colorado Photographics’
‘2020ad Net Inc’
‘Network Affiliates Inc’
‘Him Creative’
‘Westphal West’
‘Ron’s Printing Ctr’
‘Hero Design Studio Inc’
‘Velocity Media’
‘Randall’s Photography’
‘Extra Strength Marketing Comm’
‘Lee Reedy Inc’
‘Max Advertising’
‘Ontargetjobs Inc’
‘Karsh & Hagan’
‘Henry & Mc Kee Advertising Inc’
‘T M Design’
‘MICROSOFT Corp’
‘Carter Design Inc’
‘Lasik Advertising Network’
‘United Advertising Corp’
‘Creatively Affordable Mrktng’
‘Innovative Promotional Prdts’
‘Amperstand Creative’
‘Mobile Advertising Designs’
‘Visual Designs’
‘Vrbocom LLC’
‘Val-U-Ads’
‘Emmerich Photography’
‘Marketing Solutions & Results’
‘Lance Jackson & Assoc’
‘Ballantyne Marketing & Adv’
‘Sporthorse Advertising’
‘Stephen Koblos Imagery’
‘Braintree Marketing’
‘O’Hara Photography’
‘AOR Inc’
‘James Frank Photography’
‘Pure Brand Communications’
‘Acadia Graphics Inc’
‘Kf Printing’
‘RGW Communications Inc’
‘Hsr Business To Business Inc’
‘Communication Arts Inc’
‘Four Winds Interactive LLC’
‘Visual Image Solutions’
‘Thomas Taber & Drazen LLC’
‘Names & Numbers’
‘Thayer Media Inc’
‘Riester Corp’
‘Booyah Network’
‘Performance One Media LLC’
‘Targeted Automotive Products’
‘T V Fanfare Publications Inc’
‘Tribute Manufacturing’
‘Southeast Media Group’
‘5 Stone Advertising LLC’
‘Lewis Direct Inc’
‘Mark Mock Design Assoc Inc’
‘Cukjati Marketing Intelligence’
‘Amphion Group’
‘Terry Hines & Assoc’
‘Hunt Media Group’
‘Applied Recruitment Techs’
‘J B Islander’
‘Bie Media LLC’
‘Holcombe Photography’
‘Lyon’s Productions LLC’
‘Event Networks Inc’
‘Medina Communications’
‘Barnhart CMI Advertising’
‘World Wide Partners Agencies’
‘Amg Creative Inc’
‘Saatchi & Saatchi North Amer’
‘Linden advertising’
‘Bayard Advertising Agency Inc’
‘Realities Foundation’
‘Huebner Petersen Marketing’
‘Adrenalin Design Group Inc’
‘Sukle Advertising & Design’
‘Western Slope Wheels & Deals’
‘Outdoor Ads Inc’
‘Outdoor Promotions LLC’
‘Randi Swisher’
‘Annan Team’
‘Verbena Design’
‘Mighty Karma’
‘Group Davis Design’
‘Gyro HSR LLC’
‘Psa Worldwide Corp’
‘Digital Dawgs’
‘Automotive Services Inc’
‘Target Marketing Comms’
‘Marcom Engineering’
‘Strada Advertising LLC’
‘Sukle Advertising Inc’
‘Bragdon & Co’
‘A Better Brand’
‘Sullivan Direct Mktg Advrtsng’
‘Next Media Outdoor Inc’
‘Drew Graphics & Design’
‘Kelly Rizley Advertising & Pr’
‘MGA Communications Inc’
‘Power Sharp Advertising Inc’
‘X Design Co’
‘Texture Media’
‘Creative Logic Marketing’
‘Vladimir Jones’
‘McClain Finlon Advertising Inc’
‘Lawyer Marketing Systems’
‘Firm Graphics’
‘Proxy Partners LLC’
‘H B & A’
‘Saatchi & Saatchi Dfs INC’
‘Ultra Management’
‘Barker Design’
‘Moxie Sozo’
‘Strategic Market Development’
‘Baker Advertising & Enter’
‘Shift advertising’
‘C P & I Marketing’
‘Band advertising’
‘Furniture Row Marketing’
‘Mc Ginty Inc’
‘Bks Advertising’
‘Flying Horse Communications’
‘Snappy Print’