How has Drift – a web-based, live-chat tool for salespeople and marketers – managed to differentiate itself in a challenging environment? A thought-provoking article on Medium by Andy Raskin for any business operating in a market crowded with similar offerings….i.e. design agencies (and their clients?). Leverage these 5 elements to; shape your compelling strategic story, differentiate your offer and achieve breakout success.
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I’ve always proposed and used carefully targeted email marketing for clients, and still believe that (handled correctly) it remains one of the most effective ways to make meaningful connections. This Marketing Week article explores how email marketing is undergoing something of a “rebirth” as brands explore increasingly sophisticated ways to reach consumers and drive ROI.
...Abbey National, Mazda, Hyundai, GM Daewoo, RNID, Anglia Ruskin University, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Clerkenwell Green Association, Odgers Ray & Benrdtson, Green Alliance, Broadleaf, The Corps, Global Action Plan, Martek Marine, ActionAid, Age Concern, Goldsmiths University, NATFHE, Network Rail, Cadogan Tate, Lombok, Community Service Volunteers, Lansons Communications PR, Phipps PR, National Benevolent Fund for the Aged, London Borough of Sutton, Resource Alliance, Alternative Flooring, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Earthwatch Institute, Sky, Channel 4, Associated Press Television News, Ambition PR, redhead PR, MTV Networks Europe, Plantlife International, EMAP Advertising, Alma Home, Oliver Burns Interiors, Attenborough Saffron PR, ICAS PR,...
Not all my work is with designers. In 2016, through a design industry contact, I was invited to handle a ‘client-side’ project. In this case, a repositioning and business development exercise for an SME that was struggling to grow. The journey is not a short one, but the story so far is outlined below. Background I was referred by leading British furniture designer Simon Pengelly to a UK manufacturer (Gen-Fab) of contemporary wood burning stoves (Future Fires) in South Yorkshire. Simon had previously designed three stoves to help establish the Future Fires brand around 2009, and mentioned that the business...
I recently met with a design agency to explore their challenges and discuss how we may be able to work together. During our conversation they made reference to having ‘consultant fatigue’ which has made me question how the land lies for consultants. I’d like to hear how owner-founders and leaders feel about engaging a consultant or coach to help them develop and grow their business or address other challenges. What are the preconceptions, and are firms more interested these days in hiring such experience into their firms on an employed basis rather than consultative?
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Running a design firm can be a rewarding but sometimes lonely experience when you’re at the top. Do you have a coach or adviser to turn to and share the challenges of leadership? Someone to check in with, as and when required, that understands the business of design and how to bring out the best in design agency leaders? The tangible value derived from my external perspective can be gauged in these testimonials from some owners and leaders of firms I’ve worked with since 2003. If you could use another voice in the room to help you reflect, plan and move...
Before I get to why I see Radley Yeldar (RY) as a role model agency, a quick recap on the purpose of teer Role Models… In a time starved world, communicating brief insights on those we see in our industry that serve as role models – whether for their behaviours, actions, tools, intellectual property they create, etc – is one way of constructively expressing ourselves, communicating some value, standing out, and building positive perceptions. Driven as-and-when by observations, inspiration and day-to-day experiences, teer Role Models aims to trigger thoughts and ideas and to provide useful guidance from a business development perspective. Designers may...
I’m inviting owner-founders and leaders of small design firms to explore with me, in a 1:1 conversation, what aspect/s of your design firm could work more effectively in 2018. Why? Well as we head into Q4, it’s time to think about and plan how you shape next year. And time perhaps to review how you might gear your firm in 2018 to be more exploratory and proactive by nature across three specific client groups – your past/dormant, present and future/new clients. Sceptical, or maybe confident you have everything covered? There’s no catch, just a one-off chat during October that gets...
Today, there’s a wealth of free resources and advisers in the market offering growth-related support and strategic guidance to owner-founders and leaders of the many small firms in the design industry. Some of the many invest time and money exploring these resources and/or engaging an adviser to help them develop a strategic growth plan which is all well and good for those firms that are going to ensure they do manage to successfully implement the plan. My day-to-day conversations with these size firms frequently reveals just how many struggle to implement a growth strategy in the ongoing consistent manner that’s...
A recent development I’ve organised for my client Future Fires – moving their beautifully contemporary wood burning stoves into the Augmented Reality space… Thinking of buying one of our wood burning stoves but having trouble imagining what it will look like in your home? Using the free Android and iPhone app Sayduck, you can now view a 3D model of our Panoramic FX1, Panoramic FX2 and Bollente stoves, in your choice of our six standard colours. Sayduck is free, easy to use, great fun and helps you instantly visualise whether our stoves will be a good fit and how they’ll look in...
