IMA Blog

Bang for your buck.

gail — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:56:26 +0000

Your agency is worth every cent you pay them if:

• They answer the phone when you call and you have their office and mobile numbers
• They actually speak with you and use email as a secondary means of communication
• They make time for you, making you feel like their most important customer
• They really listen to you and work with you, not forcing their ideas as the only way (unless they have a damn good reason to do so and then make them explain their concept until you are comfortable with it too)
• They are honest with you, even if it isn’t always what you want to hear
• They consistently suggest alternative ways to promote your business, especially when funds are tight – they get the most out of your budget
• They stay on the cutting edge of new technology only suggesting those alternatives that are right for you rather than pushing you into something because it is trendy
• They know and understand media and manage it so you don’t have to
• They bid every outside purchase with at least three different suppliers to get the best price and schedule
• They deliver on time – always
• They work within your established budget – this is non-negotiable!

The long and short of it … they work with you as if they were advertising their own business and spending their own money to do it.

So you call yourself full service?

gail — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:57:46 +0000

On an almost daily basis I scratch my head and chortle (love that word) when I read about yet another new “Full Service” Advertising Agency opening in the local market. As any agency person worth anything would do, I immediately go online to check them out. Invariably, I find absolutely nothing or when I Google the telephone number provided it is registered to a home address. That’s not such a big deal, I understand firms cutting costs wherever necessary in order to stay afloat, but it is usually an indication of one person marketing himself or herself as a Full Service Agency. This is the pool I find myself swimming in every day – firms with no overhead, minimal support, no consistency and proposal numbers that, quite frankly, any agency with actual staff can’t come remotely close to competing against. Of course the creative output and level of service provided suffers with this new breed of snake oil salesmen. And all of us that have been around for any period of time and truly are full service are always swimming upstream against the damage done by these non-agencies. Make sure you do your research … check out any agency you plan to do business with, they need to be a fit and be able to support you as only a Full Service agency can do.

My Blog is better than yours!

admin — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:07:31 +0000

Why does everyone have a blog? Yes, I spent time designing and making sure we had a blog like every good advertising agency should, but I am referring to the personal blogs. People who spend endless time posting entries, links, photos and videos about their life or their family. As of June 2008, Technorati indexes 112.8 million blogs. I know it’s the trend but what do these people do? Do they not have a job, house, family, activities? I’m obviously jealous I don’t have that kind of time, but I’m not sure I would want to write everything that is going on in my life, or post photos of my children for the world to see. The people who need to know, get updates through normal old fashioned ways like the telephone and emails. But I guess if I had more time, I would be right there along with them posting away! I know the some blogs can serve a genuine service by helping people in many ways. One blog I read is Constant Positivity by a person with PKD who underwent a kidney transplant. It is a true inspiration because my husband has the same disease.

I just don’t think people would have any reason to want to read my blogs including family or friends because mine would more than likely be called Constant Problems. And who wants to read about that?

Where is Miss Manners when you need her?

gail — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:33:54 +0000

I am more and more amazed by the total disintegration of manners – not just saying please and thank you or holding open a door for the person coming in behind you, but by the complete lack of courtesy in the business world. I cannot count the number of proposals I have submitted or calls I have made that get no response. I only submit proposals when I am asked to by a prospective customer, so it is quite baffling. My other favorite all-time rudeness is centered around mobile phones. Why would anyone believe that answering a call, or even worse (in my mind at least), an email, during a meeting is even remotely within the realm of acceptable behavior? Are we becoming like the machines we rely on so heavily? The answer is for all of us to return that call. Thank someone for taking the time to submit a proposal by giving them feedback (good or bad – just respond) and for goodness sake turn your mobile off when going into a meeting or better yet … leave it in the car.

Cell Phone Etiquette in the Office
Cell Phone Do’s And Don’t During A Meeting
Returning your phone calls

English 101.

gail — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:33:21 +0000

Okay, my absolute biggest pet peeve is the use of certain words and the correct spelling for them in specific scenarios. I have a couple that drive me crazy – words that are plural as they stand like anyway and toward – there are no circumstances where anyways or towards are acceptable – they are not real words. Another issue that is akin to nails on a chalkboard (do they even have those anymore?) for me is words that are used in the wrong context, especially the words stationary and compliment. Stationary means to stand still – stationery is something you use to write a note. I find this blunder on more agency sites than I can count – if I saw that during a research phase when looking at a new agency I would certainly think twice before hiring them to polish my brand image. Now to the other word: compliment vs. complement – a compliment is praise and complement is all about balance. So you can’t have a full compliment of services.

Are we becoming a society of hermits?

gail — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:34:01 +0000

It seems as if we are all moving toward relationships that will be based solely on electronic modes of communication. Go figure. Way too George Orwell for me, I still prefer a mix of all forms of contact but still feel the need to pick up the telephone more often than not. Don’t you find that it is so hard to judge the mood or tone of an email? And many times I find myself reacting (or over-reacting) to what I have read only to find that the intended meaning was totally different from how I interpreted it. I also feel the need to follow up any important email I send with a call to confirm that it was received. News flash … sometimes emails do not go through, are misguided or go wherever they go when they don’t get to you. I hope this electronic phase is just that … a phase and with a bit of luck we will end up with a harmonious mix of email that works as a complement to the good ol’ fashioned telephone call.

SWFL Real Estate Market

admin — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:57:02 +0000

Is this going on everywhere in the country?