Intro Today, we’ve invited Kurt Kleidon to discuss the significance of celebrating creativity and participating in award cycles within the marketing industry. He explores the value of pursuing awards, the cynicism surrounding them, and their overall impact on agencies. Kurt also shares his experience with the Addy Awards and sheds light on the effort and time involved in pursuing such awards.    What you will learn in this episode:    What marketing agency awards are and why they are important. How to actively pursue agency awards to improve industry recognition.  The benefits of attaining awards within the marketing industry.  How to celebrate your work achievements and creativity, even when you don’t win. How the resources produced for award submissions can be repurposed effectively.     Bio   Kurt Kleidon is the President of Kleidon & Associates, a marketing communication agency in Akron, Ohio. Kurt has more than 15 years of experience in marketing, communications, and branding. He was the founding editor of Akron Life magazine and has also served as a college professor.   In his professional capacity, Kurt focuses on marketing strategy and helping his clients find the right balance between digital opportunities and traditional marketing effort. With a background in storytelling, he truly enjoys developing new ways to convey a message within all the possibilities that are possible in social media and digital marketing.   As the host of his own podcast, Three for Three, Kurt interviews business owners on tips and tricks that have helped them build a successful business.   Kurt is avid in his volunteer work in the Akron area and has a passion for helping organizations that aim to improve the lives of children. He currently serves on the board of Summit Artspace and the Akron PRSA chapter. He is also a published writer and photographer with more than 100 articles and photos that have appeared in print in various magazines and journals. Resources:   Website: www.kleidon.com Facebook Business: https://www.facebook.com/KleidonandAssociates LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/214248/admin/feed/posts/ Twitter: https: //twitter.com/kleidon  

In today's episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast, we talked with the visionary Nicole Mahoney, the Founder of Break the Ice Media, a PR and digital marketing agency specializing in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry, and also serves as the CEO of Travel Alliance Partners.  Nicole joined us to share the game-changing impact a dynamic vision has made on her agency's growth trajectory and spills the secrets of transforming podcast gold into a rich vein of thought leadership content. Tune in to hear how Nicole's strategies have not just grown her agency, but also created a community and a presence that stands out in the crowded world of travel and tourism. What you will learn in this episode:  Why a clear vision is crucial for guiding agency growth and how it can be a compass during times of opportunity and uncertainty. The transformative power of thought leadership and how investing in it can enhance your agency's profitability and industry authority. Strategies for measuring the return on investment for thought leadership and navigating the challenges that come with these non-traditional marketing efforts. The innovative approach to repurposing content effectively across different platforms, including blogs, white papers, books, and virtual events. Insights on the practical impacts and growth potential when expanding an agency's reach beyond traditional geographic boundaries and client bases. Tips on how to confidently increase agency rates in response to enhanced team abilities and market respect. How integrating and aligning multiple brands within an agency model can create diverse revenue streams and insulate the business from industry fluctuations. Bio   Nicole Mahoney is an entrepreneur, speaker, and podcast host with a passion for business. She’s the Founder of Break the Ice Media, a PR and digital marketing agency specializing in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry, and also serves as the CEO of Travel Alliance Partners. In her weekly podcast, Destination on the Left, launched in 2016, she interviews tourism professionals from all over the globe on creativity and collaboration.   She commissioned a first-of-its-kind research study in 2020 to examine what makes partnerships successful and explore the role collaboration is playing in helping the industry recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. Those results, her recorded conversations with more than 300 podcast guests, and her personal experience formed the basis of her book, Stronger Together: Building World-Changing Business Collaborations. Nicole resides in Canandaigua, New York.   Resources:   Website: https://nicolemahoney.com/ Destination on the Left: https://breaktheicemedia.com/podcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolemahoney/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BreakTheIceMedia Twitter: https://twitter.com/Break_TheIce Tap Into Travel: https://www.tapintotravel.com/ Research: Collaboration in the Travel, Tourism, & Hospitality Industry: https://breaktheicemedia.com/collaboration/  

Intro Today's episode of The Innovative Agency dives into the importance of account management skills for agency owners and leaders. Our guest, Jenny Plant, discusses the common focus on new business rather than nurturing existing client relationships. By listening, you will discover why caring for current clients is crucial for agency success.    What you will learn in this episode:    A brief description of what account management means in agency environments.  How account managers can identify qualified talent.  How to grow specific accounts using account management techniques. The best ways to leverage different skill sets in specific roles.  How to plan effective strategy sessions with your clients.  What it takes to grow accounts organically as an agency.    Bio Jenny Plant left Publicis LifeBrands (a global healthcare communications agency) as General Manager in 2010 to start Account Management Skills Ltd, a training company dedicated to helping agency account management teams retain and grow existing client relationships. Her client retention and growth for agency training has been running since 2016, promoted and endorsed by the Pharmaceutical Marketing Society.   Jenny’s career in account management spans 30 years and includes working in both network and independent agencies.   It also includes agency acquisition management, relationship audits for agencies and her current role as agency board advisor for strategic branding agency Made Brave. She has worked client-side in marketing for a pharmaceutical company in Barcelona, Uriach and Iberia Airlines in London.   Jenny spent three years as a student of Sandler sales training and has a CIM Diploma in Marketing and BTEC Diploma in Business & Finance. She is an authorized partner for Everything DiSC by Wiley.   Jenny hosts the “Creative Agency Account Manager” podcast dedicated to helping agency account managers improve their account management skills. Resources:   Website: https://accountmanagementskills.com/ LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyplant/ LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/school/account-management-skills/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AccountManagementSkills/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennyplant  

Intro   Today on the Innovative Agency Podcast we welcome Steve Mudd from Talentless AI. He shares his insights on how AI can be adopted by marketing agencies, setting the stage for a conversation about the risks and benefits of this evolving technology and how agency owners can navigate them. He also talks about the content creation tools offered by Talentless AI and their scalable and adaptable business model.   What you will learn in this episode:    The impact of synthetic media on the modern agency landscape. How to set effective guardrails for synthetic media production.  The necessity of authenticity in the marketing space.  How to leverage AI in creative industries.  The potential challenges and opportunities presented by leveraging AI.    Bio   Steve Mudd is the Founder and CEO of Talentless AI, a new Austin-based creative agency that uses real and artificial intelligence to deliver provocative content with synthetic media. He’s also currently the host of AIAF, a next-gen creative podcast featuring artificial conversations about real intelligence. Steve has a long history as an IT storyteller, he most recently ran strategic messaging and content marketing for NetApp and previously worked for Ogilvy on brands such as IBM, Lenovo, Level 3 Communications, and Iron Mountain. He was also the host of the popular Ogilvy Podcast.   Resources:   Website: http://www.talentless.ai/ LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevemudd/ LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talentless-ai/  

Intro Today we’re joined by Jim Scott, CEO and Co-Founder of Mono, an award-winning agency in Minneapolis. The conversation explores agency culture as well as Mono's accomplishments and the hard work that led to their recognition in the industry. Through this episode, expect to learn how to leverage business partnership, scale your agency’s culture, and truly have an impact. What you will learn in this episode:    How agencies are uniquely positioned to move culture and commerce forward. The importance of setting clear expectations with clients and employees. The value of establishing boundaries within an agency.  How to develop impactful initiatives for BIPOC communities. How to position your agency to have an impact within its community. Bio   Jim Scott has established MONO as a nationally recognized agency known for punching above its weight while earning Small Agency of the Year recognitions from Ad Age and the 4As five times. Having seen the inside workings of some of the most admired brands in the world— Apple, Google, PepsiCo, Harley-Davidson, and Target—he leverages a breadth of industry experience to help the curated list of clients navigate the toughest business challenges. Along with growing and managing the agency, Jim is deeply involved in leading MONO’s clients through the reinvention of tired advertising models.   Jim is also passionate about giving back to the industry and was instrumental in creating MONO’s Brand-In-Residence Accelerator Program, designed to help diverse entrepreneurs in the Minneapolis/St.Paul area scale their businesses.   Resources:   Website: https://mono-1.com/  LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimscott3/ Linkedin Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mono/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MONOadagency/

Intro In this episode, Jhana Li discusses the importance of efficient operations for marketing agencies. She highlights how effective operations can be a competitive advantage and shares insights from her experiences working with small to midsize agencies. Jhana emphasizes the fact that operations should not be seen as a burden or a hindrance, but rather as a way to enhance agility and scale. Tune in to learn how to optimize your agency's operations for greater profitability and success.   What you will learn in this episode:    How profitability is directly tied to operational workflow.  How to integrate artificial intelligence in agency operations.  The importance of leveraging artificial intelligence in agency leadership.  How to manage the shifting priorities of agency team members.  Which technologies are impacting agency operations in 2024.    Bio Jhana Li first became COO for a 7-figure agency while making her way through North & South America. Later, as COO & Head Operations Coach at Agency Lab, she coached hundreds of companies scaling towards 7 & 8-figures. After seeing countless founders stall out & trap themselves without the proper Operations, Jhana decided to start her own company, Spyglass Ops.   Through Operations consulting, recruitment, and training, Spyglass Ops empowers founders to simultaneously scale their businesses while regaining their personal freedom. Resources:   Website: https://spyglassops.com/ LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhana-li/ LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spyglass-ops/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejhanali  

Intro In this episode, Tory shares her perspective as a woman in the industry and how she felt disconnected from the traditional advice given to entrepreneurs. She challenges the notion that success is only achieved through sacrificing oneself and emphasizes the importance of finding fulfillment along the way.    What you will learn in this episode:    The dangers of burnout. The role of effective communication and transparency in client relationships. How to attract top talent by being flexible.  The core aspect of running a service-based bus. The importance of hiring individuals with specific skill sets for remote work. The value of hiring individuals who possess empathy, care, and passion for their work.   Bio   Tory Gray is a digital marketing consultant who helps businesses scale through user-generated content strategy. She leverages data to master strategic SEO and digital consumer intelligence for long-term success, effective market research, and growth. In a highly dynamic and sometimes ambiguous industry, Tory brings a refreshing combination of SEO knowledge and a growth-minded perspective rooted in kindness, compassion, and proven results. Before starting The Gray Dot Company, Tory has spent over 13 years engaged in SEO and growth strategy, serving product and marketing roles for both in-house startups and reputable agencies. Resources:   Website: https://thegray.company/ Linkedin Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/torygray/ LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/graydotco/  

Intro   We invited Joe Koufman from Setup to discuss the misconceptions agencies have about the client-agency match process. He emphasizes the importance of chemistry in client-agency relationships and also shares his criteria for pursuing new business while highlighting the need for agencies to demonstrate their desire to win a client's business. Tune in for examples of how agencies can show empathy and understanding to build chemistry with clients.    What you will learn in this episode:    The importance of building chemistry with clients in the agency-client relationship. The need for agencies to clearly define their ideal client profile and not deviate from it. The criteria agencies can use to determine whether to pursue new business. The evolving expectations of clients in the agency selection process. The importance of demonstrating desire and showing clients that the agency truly wants their business. The value of being a challenger agency that brings unique insights and pushes clients to be bolder and more creative in their marketing efforts.   Bio   Joe Koufman is a natural connector, who has brought together three married couples and fostered countless fruitful business relationships. In 2014, he transformed his passion for connecting people into a remarkable venture called Setup, a marketing matchmaker focused on connecting marketers with the best agencies and resources.    Before embarking on his entrepreneurial journey, Joe dedicated six years to leading business development and marketing at Engauge, a renowned agency acquired by Publicis Groupe in 2013 and merged with Moxie. As the Senior Vice President of Business Development and Marketing, he played a pivotal role in forging strong partnerships with prominent clients such as Cisco Systems, Newell Brands, AMC Theatres, Hanesbrands, Hershey's, Food Lion, Georgia-Pacific, Supercuts, Turner Broadcasting, and Chick-fil-A. Prior to that, Joe spent eight years driving the growth of strategic accounts at KnowledgeStorm, a company acquired by TechTarget in 2007. He began his career in the dynamic world of retail, working in five states for Abercrombie & Fitch and Eddie Bauer.   Joe has been giving back to the marketing community for many years by serving on the board of directors of the American Marketing Association (AMA Atlanta), the Atlanta Interactive Marketing Association (now Fuse), and the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. He also volunteers weekly at Everybody Wins! Atlanta. Resources:   Website: https://setup.us/ LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joekoufman/ LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/setupsays/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SetupSays

Intro In this episode of The Innovative Agency, Kurt Uhlir discusses how agency leaders and owners can get unstuck and propel their businesses toward the next phase of growth. Kurt shares his insights on the role of leaders in motivating their teams and emphasizes the impact that individual agency leaders can have on the overall success of their organizations.    What you will learn in this episode:    The critical impact of leadership styles on agency growth. The value of servant leadership.  How to create a safe environment and culture within an agency.  How to identify long-term goals for your teams.  Common blindspots that hold agency businesses back.  The importance of documenting standard operating procedures.    Bio Kurt Uhlir is a globally recognized marketer, operator, and speaker. He’s built and run businesses from start-up to over $500M annual revenue, assembled teams across six continents, been part of the small team leading an IPO ($880M), and participated in dozens of acquisitions.   He was at the front lines creating several of the marketing channels we all use today, including social media management, influencer marketing, and location-based marketing. In recent years, he has focused on helping individual business owners and marketing agencies, with a heavy focus on real estate. Resources:   Website: https://kurtuhlir.com/ LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtuhlir/ LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/expworldholdings/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShowcaseIDX/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/KurtUhlir  

Jacob Beckley, EVP of Technology, Product, and Innovation at Fusion 92, discusses the importance of cultivating a culture of innovation in agencies. Topics include thinking broadly about innovation, the value of diverse thinking, scaling team participation, taking calculated risks, and monetizing innovation practices.