FIR Podcast Network

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss why they have shifted their advice to agency leaders from focusing on short-term survival to building a new long-term plan. For the past few months, everyone has been focused on doing what needs to be done to get by, but it’s now clear that the disruption will not be short-lived.

Regardless of how long the health and economic effects linger, we now recognize that the landscape has shifted significantly. In-person events are likely a long way off, workplace structures are likely permanently altered, and businesses are likely to continue to be more cautious with their resources. At the same time, clients realize that they can’t remain in a holding pattern and have begun to become more active. These changes create real opportunities for agencies ready to take the steps needed to plan for the future.

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Most of us don’t go a day without someone talking about “Zoom fatigue.” Some agencies have moved to Zoom-free Wednesdays or camera-off Fridays, or other approaches to combat it.

But the problem isn’t the technology. Zoom is great. Video conferencing is a fantastic tool.

The real problem is that there are too many unnecessary meetings with unnecessary participants.

Chip and Gini discuss how to get things under control without resorting to gimmicky solutions.

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On this episode of the Agency Leadership Podcast, Chip and Gini discuss different agency pricing methodologies to help you determine which model or combination of models is the right fit for your business.

They go into the pros and cons of 9 different models used across the industry and apply their own personal experiences, providing a unique take on the topic.

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This week on the Agency Leadership Podcast, Chip and Gini discuss the drawbacks to pricing wars, and how you can extract fair value for your services as an agency. They go into the dangers of undervaluing what you provide solely to get new customers in the door, because not only will it hurt your bottom line, but it can have a negative impact on the industry as a whole.

They explain how pricing under costs sets a precedent you cannot meet in the future, and this will in turn give your clients the wrong expectation of how much it will take for you to complete a certain project. Other topics on the table include agencies who intentionally wish to undercut others and what percentage profit should you be taking.

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#466: Lauren Cohen and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

Transition your business for global expansion with ease and superior quality in planning. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Lauren Cohen (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecouncilinc/), international legal expert, global expansion and business continuity strategist, bestselling author, international speaker, and a transactional and business immigration bi-national lawyer licensed in both US and Canada. She specializes in helping clients find and vet businesses, secure visas, operate successful businesses and everything else they need to conduct their US operations and run businesses from the US and internationally.

Lauren is a strategic business advisor who works closely with clients from all around the world providing customized legal and business solutions from pre-revenue through successful operations, researching grant opportunities and creating strategies for US and international expansion. She helps savvy business owners and leaders in protecting their businesses and revenues, and avoiding costly challenges while expanding outside their region and going global.

If you’re desiring to expand internationally and you want to make sure you don’t risk violating any law or losing deals, consider reaching out to Lauren Cohen by visiting her websites https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecouncilinc/ and https://ecouncilinc.com/.

Here are a couple of AHA messages from this episode:

* Entrepreneurs and business owners who are trying to expand globally and build an international presence but afraid of being denied entry at the border should reach out to Lauren Cohen. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecouncilinc/

* Figuring out strategies to help you grow and thrive internationally without the pain and suffering is my job so you can transact and operate your business with more ease and convenience. #GoGlobal https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecouncilinc/

* My role is to help you build your footprint internationally so you don’t miss important speaking events, critical business meetings and joint venture opportunities at the risk of costing you thousands of dollars. #GoGlobal https://ecouncilinc.com/ @eCouncilInc

* My breadth of experience in immigration protocols and business visa processes, from penetrating US markets to accessing foreign capital gives me credibility to advise you how to navigate the complexities of cross-border business. #GoGlobal https://ecouncilinc.com/ @eCouncilInc

* I can teach you how to comply with immigration laws, timelines and procedures, learn business funding and deal with governmental agencies and investors globally in a competitive business market. #GoGlobal https://ecouncilinc.com/ @eCouncilInc

 

   

#467: Dorinda Vance and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

 

Profit from passion and build wealth and health opportunities for self and others. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Dorinda Vance (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorindavance/), co-founder/co-CEO of LiveKAYA (a health and wellness company), Chief Chocolate Officer of Dorinda’s chocolates, natural connector of people, gastronomic artist, results-driven leader,

This week on the Agency Leadership Podcast, Chip and Gini talk about how to make a living while doing something you love. It can be difficult to get to a place where you’re both happy with what you do, and also getting compensated well, but it’s far from impossible. They discuss their past experiences, both the good and the bad, and share what they have learned along the way.

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I recently had a conversation with a friend who said he is rejiggering his marketing and communications teams and wanted my opinion on how I would define marketing, communications, and PR—and what skillsets he would put underneath each discipline. 

What started off as a pretty tactical conversation turned into a philosophical discussion about the three disciplines and where they all sit in the middle of a fast-growing organization.

That’s what we’re going to talk about on this week’s Spin Sucks podcast episode—the differences between marketing, communications, and PR—and the skills required for each discipline.

Because of the work we do at Spin Sucks, I have the privilege of having hundreds of thoughtful conversations with communicators, entrepreneurs, and CEOs, akin to the conversation I recently had with a friend.

We discuss everything from trends, the industry’s future, career growth, business growth, networking, how to structure an organization’s marketing department, and more. It’s a very fortunate spot for me to be in because I get to hear from all of you what you’re dealing with every day—the good, the bad, and the ugly.

And there is one thing that I hear over and over again that truly bothers me.

We cannot agree on the definition of public relations or on what we call ourselves—PR pros or communicators

It drives me absolutely batty when someone says, “I’m not in PR. I do strategic communications.” Or, “We just do PR for our clients because all they care about is media placements.”

And that is what we are going to discuss on this week’s Spin Sucks podcast episode.

Resources Included

* PESO Model

* PRSA Definition

* Entrepreneur Definition

On this episode of the Agency Leadership Podcast, Chip and Gini talk about business development, sales responsibilities, and the importance of defining the roles your team members play in contributing to the growth of the agency.

They discuss how giving important growth tasks to other employees, like taking the lead on a pitch for example, can boost morale and lead to happier and more driven employees, among many other benefits. Other topics on the table include finding the right balance between sales staff and content creation personnel.

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#462: David Polinchock and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

Increase your profit by utilizing emerging technology, shopper insights, and retail industry experts. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert David Polinchock (https://www.linkedin.com/in/polinchock/), Co-Founder of a New Space for Future of Retail, VR/AR & OOH, Pioneer in Using VR for Advertising, and Co-Founder of Unified Brand Experience Lab.

David is passionate about looking for innovative ways to create compelling, authentic and relevant brand experiences. He is an early pioneer of Experiential Advertising and the use of VR in advertising and marketing. His track record includes creating the first advertising programs that use VR, and helping generate $10 million + in revenue for AT&T AdWorks by designing and running an innovative and engaging media lab experience.

If you’re in a number of different areas in the retail side merchandising stores, and you want to make sure that you don’t disappear tomorrow, you may want to reach out to David Polinchock

Here are a couple of AHA messages from this episode:

* Retailers who don’t want to lose their relevance should reach out to David Polinchock. https://www.linkedin.com/in/polinchock/

* We’re about helping companies sort through the tools, methodologies, and technologies to create relevant experiences for them. https://www.linkedin.com/in/polinchock/

* I cut my teeth right out of college being a theme park employee at Walt Disney World. The environment taught me experience because Disney is nothing but experience, learning that guests will pay a lot of money happily for something unique. https://www.linkedin.com/in/polinchock/

* Our broad focus is places that are not online. So we don’t do a lot within the the digital space but CPJ, food and beverage, fashion, consumer electronics, and places that are selling technologies in a physical environment. https://www.linkedin.com/in/polinchock/

* I spent most of the 90s travelling around the world with VR equipment that needed a van and three big guys. Watching how people interact with technology was compelling. It opened me up to a whole world that I was unaware of until I got it. https://www.linkedin.com/in/polinchock/

To learn more about Thought Leadership and how it can help you be successful, visit: https://thoughtleaderlife.com/.

 

#463: Patrick Reilly and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

Increase productivity, commitment and engagement in the workplace through change leadership consulting. His mission is to make the leaders he works with more potent and impactful. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Patrick Reilly (https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickresourcesinaction/), President of Resources in Action, Inc.,

Patrick is passionate about developing executive presence and influence skills in leaders wanting to excel. He provides executive coaching for leaders who are stuck either because they don’t tackle the tough issues or who present with an abrasive work style. As the president of Resources in Action, he has worked extensively with leaders in the technology, health care, and construction sectors for more than 25 years internationally and in the US. He gets leaders into action for both success and satisfaction.

If you have somebody on your staff, or a workmate, who is an uncoachable leader and you know they need something...

To be hired, you have to be known. Chip and Gini discuss how you can make sure that your targeted prospects know about and respect you and your team before they even become clients.

Getting noticed means figuring out where those prospects “live” and what media they consume. Then you must get creative about how you get your name and expertise in front of them.

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