Small Agency Diary

The Big Problem With 'The Pitch': It Portrays an Outdated Business Model

The Big Problem With 'The Pitch': It Portrays an Outdated Business Model

"The Pitch" can be fun to watch, but it portrays an outdated business model.

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When Big Ideas Come from Small Companies

When Big Ideas Come from Small Companies

The freshest marketing ideas don't always come from big-budget marketing departments. They come from entrepreneurs who use their ingenuity to stand out.

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A Wise Word for Obama and Our Profession: Transparency

A Wise Word for Obama and Our Profession: Transparency

When political supporters and consumers are left largely in the dark, negative assumptions spread in the public.

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Small Agency Awards Deadline Extended One Last Time: Entries Due May 7

Small Agency Awards Deadline Extended One Last Time: Entries Due May 7

Ad Age has extended the deadline for entries into its Small Agency Awards competition until May 7.

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If You Want a True Community on Social Media, You Have to Create It

If You Want a True Community on Social Media, You Have to Create It

Social media give marketers a chance to build a real community of customers.

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Report from Social-Media's Front Lines

Report from Social-Media's Front Lines

The best way to stay ahead of the fast-changing social media and digital-marketing ecosystem is to go to its Mecca.

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A Great Way to Re-Energize Your Creative Batteries

A Great Way to Re-Energize Your Creative Batteries

Creative Week is an annual celebration of creativity in advertising, design, digital media and arts. It brings fresh thinking to all aspects of our business.

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When One Agency's Ideas Show Up In Another Agency's Work

What happens when you lose a pitch--but your work ends up in the client's campaign anyway?

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Don't Underestimate How Much Preparation Means to Success

Don't Underestimate How Much Preparation Means to Success

We are often so caught up in details that we forget to draft a simple plan of execution that will guide us from start to finish and prepare us for challenges that may arise.

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Treat and Court Your Current Clients As If They're Potential New Business

Treat and Court Your Current Clients As If They're Potential New Business

A devastating loss for an AOR pitch gives a team fresh insights.

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Mining Your Partners' Partners to Build Your Client Base

Mining Your Partners' Partners to Build Your Client Base

With the right strategic business partners in place, you can connect directly to their networks.

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The Big Guys Have Reams of Research; Now You Can Too

Large agencies leverage big research resources. One company is using social-media data to help small firms compete affordably.

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Smaller Shops Get Creative in Luring Talent From Bigger Agencies

What many small shops can boast that their larger brethren cannot is more flexibility, transparency and quality of life.

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If Ideas Are Fuel for Your Business, Here's a Book to Help Fill Up Your Tank

If Ideas Are Fuel for Your Business, Here's a Book to Help Fill Up Your Tank

"The Book of Doing" could unlock the sense of "spontaneity and freedom" you felt as a child, and affect your business in positive ways.

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Is Your Shop Ready for Health-Care Reform?

Is Your Shop Ready for Health-Care Reform?

Ad Age scoured government advisories and spoke with health-benefits experts to address the most common questions.

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Lessons From Dad: Tips for Running the Family Ad Agency

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How to Cut Through Tech Clutter and Decide Which Systems You Really Need

How to Cut Through Tech Clutter and Decide Which Systems You Really Need

For a small business, figuring out what systems you have to invest in and what can be put off is a necessary, difficult task.

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What to Know Before Selling Your Small Business

What to Know Before Selling Your Small Business

The decision to cash out will be an easy one for many entrepreneurs. But selling your business to a larger company and sticking around comes with a whole different set of issues. I sold my digital agency two years ago, and here's what I learned in the process.

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The True Promise of Social Media Drowned Out by Self-Promotion

Technology that promised to change how we talk with each other is now mostly used for self-promotion.

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Ad Age Opens Registration for 2012 Small Agency Awards

Ad Age Opens Registration for 2012 Small Agency Awards

Registration for Advertising Age's 2012 Small Agency Awards is open. Deadline is April 20.

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