How Agencies Can Succeed in Uncertain Times
On Friday's episode of Marketing O'Clock I tried to give some advice to agencies amidst these challenging times. In case you missed the show last week, you can see the clip & writeup below.
Crisis strategies for company morale
The reality of COVID-19 is setting in around the world. Uncertainty about the future is unsettling for businesses, employees, families and everyone in between. Which is exactly why I want to take a second to have an honest discussion with the digital marketing community.
Stay Positive
First off, be realistic with where you are but also focus on being positive. I think that's something that is easy to forget. Positivity is key. Things may not be as bad as they seem. Many people make their fortunes in times of crisis. I’m not saying that will definitely be the case for your business, but it is something to consider.
Find ways to add value to your clients in these uncertain times
Here are some questions you can ask yourself and your team to get started:
- How can you help your clients?
- How can you serve them better?
- What extra efforts can you provide?
- Can you be flexible with your clients?
- Is there any other services that you can help with that might be even outside of your contract now?
- What can you do with content?
- Are you going out of your way to be an irreplaceable asset to all of your clients?
- Are you doing that for your agency?
Dust off your rainy day list
You probably have a lot of things to do on your rainy day list. It's probably about to rain a little bit so you will have some time to do those things you’ve been meaning to do but haven’t had time.
Take care of your valuable assets
To the companies out there, this is one of the most important pieces of advice I have. Don't let your valuable employees or vendors go. Feel free to cut things that don't provide value. But more than ever, you should be locking down your go-to, all-star team that has been with you at all times. Keep those partnerships and keep forging ahead.
I know uncertainty is stressful. But this is actually a rare opportunity for you to look back on this unfortunate and tragic event a year from now and reflect on how your company overcame it. This gives you a chance to look back on those investments and efforts that were made while other competitors might not have taken those same opportunities. Which means that you reap the rewards.
This time might continue for 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, nobody knows. Like I said before, I'm not a doctor.
However, I do know that in times of panic, there's always opportunity.
Stay safe and healthy. As always, feel free to contact us if you need any additional help during this difficult time. We are dedicated to helping in any way we can.
Meet the Author
Greg Finn
Greg is the Head of Performance and Innovation for Cypress North's digital marketing team and one of the founders of our agency. In 2010, he and Matt Mombrea started Cypress North in Buffalo. Greg oversaw the opening of our second office in 2022, located in his hometown of Rochester.
As Head of Performance and Innovation, Greg co-manages our digital marketing department and works closely with our team to ensure all our clients achieve the best possible results. He is always looking for ways to test new digital marketing techniques and technology, and oversees all teaching and training efforts to ensure our agency stays ahead of the curve.
Greg is also a co-host of our weekly Marketing O'Clock podcast, where he and the team provide updates, insights, and hot takes on the latest SEO, PPC, and social media marketing news. In addition to weekly news shows, Greg hosts our Marketing O'Torial digital marketing tutorials and often co-hosts bonus Marketing O'Talk episodes that bring together panels of digital marketing experts.
With nearly two decades of experience, Greg is a known and trusted voice in the digital marketing community. He’s a contributor for Search Engine Land, a member of the Search Marketing Expo (SMX) programming team, and has been a featured speaker at some of the largest search engine conferences, including SMX, eSummit, and Pubcon.
When he’s not working or staying updated on the latest trends, Greg enjoys watching his kids play sports and coaching their soccer team. He’s been named the runner-up “Greg of the Year” on Marketing O’Clock’s annual Clockscars Awards four years in a row. While the coveted award has evaded him for many years, Keanu Reeves has not. Greg once saw him at Gabriel's Gate tavern in Buffalo (and noted he was very tall.)
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