Small Agency Diary

Not In a 'Major' Market? Impress the Interns Enough to Come Back

Portland Agencies Put Aside Difference, Let Students Get to Work

Posted by Doug Zanger on 10.08.09 @ 05:30 PM

Doug Zanger

Ed Herinckx, president of HMH, was impressed by the scope and depth of the talent. Kent Lewis, president of Anvil Media, was awed by the passion of the talent and agencies. The interns themselves felt as though they were getting a profound opportunity to learn and contribute at the same time. The client was thrilled at the level of work it received.

Like It or Not, You Have to Behave on Twitter

Defending Your Company Is One Thing, Insulting a Consumer Is Another

Posted by Doug Zanger on 08.25.09 @ 02:03 PM

Doug Zanger

Twitter is all fun and games until someone puts an eye out -- or loses you business. I think one thing we at agencies or otherwise in the business of customer service need to remember is that our use of social media does not allow us to say anything we please at any time. Like it or not, there are -- or should be -- constraints in our social-media conversations, especially if we're Twittering or Facebooking as an official representative of a company. Something happened in radio land this week that reinforces this point.

The Three Hardest Words to Say

They Ain't 'I Love You'

Posted by Doug Zanger on 07.09.09 @ 10:35 AM

Doug Zanger

Just saw a tweet from @martindave: "The three most difficult words for managers to say out loud are 'I don't know.' This is the beginning of learning, the way to leader from mgr."

One Simple Trick for Better Radio Spots

'Fusilli, You Crazy Bastard'

Posted by Doug Zanger on 06.24.09 @ 03:58 PM

Doug Zanger

We just finished up another round of radio spots. Just like the last round, they were well-written, which made them pretty easy to produce. The difference between the two sets of spots was one morning here in Portland with a great voice coach (and talent), Tom Chantler from San Francisco.

Can We Ban the Breakfast Meeting?

Ketchup Doesn't Belong on My Creative Brief

Posted by Doug Zanger on 05.15.09 @ 01:11 PM

Doug Zanger

I don't mind breakfast sessions. In fact, I rather enjoyed the breakfast fare at a recent RAB conference. What I'm not overly fond of is the "breakfast meeting." This is that one-on-one or group meeting where a bunch of people want to get a jump on the day and dive in to some serious stuff. For some reason, it never works out that way.

How One Specialty Shop Is Evolving With Its Medium

Or, Why It's Hard Sometimes To Explain What We Do

Posted by Doug Zanger on 05.04.09 @ 11:47 AM

Doug Zanger

Most of the wonderful people on the Small Agency Diary are part of shops that are easier to define. But, here I sit, the crazy guy from Portland who talks about radio all the time. It occurred to me that it would probably make sense to talk about what, exactly, we do.

Our Young Agency Gets More Aggressive

Is It a Sign of Aging or a Sign of the Times?

Posted by Doug Zanger on 04.02.09 @ 12:12 PM

Doug Zanger

I'm not sure if it's the economy, being basically a start-up, the new kid or just plain old getting older, but I'm noticing that I'm changing the way that I approach business. I've never really had a "killer instinct," but it feels like I'm starting to get more aggressive. I don't think it's necessarily bad, but it is a zone that I am not exactly familiar with. I keep going back to what Phil Johnson told me about Small Plate Radio: "Great model, but you need a business mind behind it." I took it to heart and have suddenly shifted my mentality a bit.

Even in Radio, Small Might Be Good Bet for Your Clients

Navigating the Radio Chaos: Part 3

Posted by Doug Zanger on 03.23.09 @ 12:27 PM

Part 1. Part 2.

Doug Zanger

Someone in the radio industry recently asked me why we were taking everything in the direction of Small Plate Radio. They said it seemed as though I was diverting from the path that I had tread for 13 years. They also mentioned that it seemed as though that I was "abandoning" radio and running head-first into the digital world. In some cases, I can see the point. But, when you look closely, we are doing anything but running away from the "traditional radio" world. A few issues we discussed:

When It Comes to Radio, Think Beyond Ads and Rates

Navigating the Radio Chaos: Part 2

Posted by Doug Zanger on 03.05.09 @ 01:36 PM

Doug Zanger

As I keep digging into some radio "enlightenment," I feel like it's a good chance to dispel some of the myths and perceptions that people might have about the medium. (Read Part 1.) Radio, like everything else, can be an effective tool for advertisers. Right now, there is abundant opportunity to leverage the intimate connection and value that radio delivers. A couple of thoughts:

What Is Radio, Now? And How Can It Help Your Agency?

Navigating the Radio Chaos: Part 1

Posted by Doug Zanger on 02.27.09 @ 02:33 PM

A friend of mine back in Boston is interested in learning more about the radio business. Like most people, he likes radio and, as an advertising professional, knows just enough to be dangerous. Additionally, when he hears the term "radio," he knows that there are new innovations and platforms, but it always seems to come back to the speakers in the car. Radio is still likely an important part of the mix for most regional clients. And, like every other medium, radio is continuing to change rapidly and there is quite a bit to digest. This is how things look from our perspective.