Chats with Chip

On this episode of Chats with Chip, he is joined by guest Chris Williams. The pair discuss time management and efficiency as they relate to running an agency. Concepts floated include bringing your clients in together and forming groups to work with them, and many other ideas from the Four Hour Workweek, written by Tim Ferris.

Chip and Jeremy discuss the agency partnership model and how it can be used as a tool for growth. They go over the benefits of partnerships for smaller specialized agencies as a way to compete with agencies who are more full-service, as well as the positives that can come from building relationships with fellow agencies.

On this week's episode, Dan Englander of Sales Schema joins Chip to talk about approaches to business development that are working for agencies today. The pair discuss what's working, what has changed, and what lies ahead.

In this conversation, Anthony Blatner of Modern Media explains how agencies can use advertising on LinkedIn to grow their businesses. Anthony offers practical tips on how agencies should think about LinkedIn advertising from the perspective of building a pipeline of prospects and increasing revenue.

The Covid-19 crisis isn't just a bump in the road for PR and marketing agencies. If you're hoping to weather the storm and see a return to normal later this year, you're likely to be disappointed.

At the same time, there are plenty of opportunities for agencies that look to innovate and adapt. Brad Farris of Anchor Advisors joins Chip to talk about what agencies should be doing right now.

The pair emphasize the importance of not thinking about the present as a "new normal" and instead looking ahead to what will become the norm in the months and years ahead. We're all still feeling our way forward and taking it day by day right now, but eventually we'll come out into a changed environment that agencies will need to handle to secure clients and execute campaigns on their behalf.

Agency leaders and their employees have fresh worries during the Covid-19 crisis. In addition to the usual human resources challenges any business faces, agencies must deal with a new wave of concerns.

In this conversation, HR consultant Patrick Rogan joined Chip Griffin to discuss how to handle a range of challenges, including:

• How to communicate with agency staff right now
• Handling furloughs, layoffs, and other changes
• New paid sick leave and FMLA requirements
• HR planning in a time of uncertainty
• Issues to consider upon reopening offices

While most agency leaders spend part of their week dealing with business development, that's what Lee McKnight Jr. and his team at RSW/US focus on all the time. Since he is out talking with and working for many PR and marketing agencies each week, he is in a great position to share how things look right now.

The Covid-19 crisis has certainly shaken up the agency world, and Lee offers insights on how sales and marketing is changing -- and how agencies can make adjustments to help their own businesses.

Part of being successful in business is being willing to ask for help. Nowadays, there are plenty of opportunities to get the insight and advice you need if you know where to look.

With the wealth of options available, it can be difficult to figure out the difference between coaches, consultants, advisers, and others who might be able to lend a hand.

Ken Jacobs has a wealth of experience as both a leadership coach and agency business consultant. He has taken his background as an agency executive and now applies the lessons he has learned in his current practice.

In this episode, Ken helps to demystify the differences in the types of advice that leaders can get and understand the value of each.

Writing lies at the heart of any public relations campaign. It takes real skill to effectively deliver the right messages in a compelling form.

In this episode, Don Bates demystifies the key elements of the writing process and offers practical tips on how agencies can get the most out of their available talent. Don is particularly generous in sharing a variety of useful resources, including an in-depth presentation he usually only shares in his paid workshops.