Just learned that the major trade magazines for pharma advertising are rejecting ads inviting entries for the new CLIO Healthcare Awards. They say the CLIOs compete with their own award competitions. That’s true–in a big way. After all, would most advertising creatives prefer a Manny or In-Awe award over a CLIO? Still, does that...
A recent (2008) survey of 184 marketing decision makers conducted by Reardon Smith Whittaker showed that the "quality and content of agency Web sites" was the fourth-leading factor influencing clients' choices of agencies to meet. It stands to reason, therefore, that the agency's site should reflect state-of-the-art thinking in Web usability, interactive savvy, and...
“I’ve lost three bids so far this year because of price,” a good friend in the marketing communications business told me recently. “That’s never happened before. Maybe I’m too expensive?” More agencies than ever are facing the challenge of competing against low-cost competitors, and looking for effective strategies to do so. The current economic...
Dear PitchSmarter: At my old agency, everyone in creative and anybody free in account services worked on every New Business pitch. But now my new agency just has a small team working on it. Which is best? Madison Avenue Madelyn Dear Mad Maddie: Some ad execs think you get a broader range of thinking...
