Every owner (or CEO) of a small marketing agency knows that the right software is an invaluable help with day-to-day work. There are many areas in business where we would lose a lot of time and money without the help of trusted software. We have come to rely on some excellent programs for things like […]

Does this sound like you? A friend of mine recently complained that because her clients were so often late in paying, she was having difficulty carrying the costs of projects between sending out the invoice and receiving payment. She was even finding it challenging to pay her personnel on time. Worse, the constant stress was […]

Time tracking is one of the biggest challenges for small agencies. Although it is one of the simplest and most effective ways of making a profit, many agencies don’t like or don’t want to measure time. Some rationalize this by saying that they sell their services not on an hourly rate, but on a fixed/project, value-based, […]

We all know that it is easier and cheaper to turn an existing customer into new business than to acquire a completely new customer. This is as true for agencies as it is for other businesses, though we often forget this Of course, we know that client retainer management is not the only challenge small […]

Time is vital to the success of creative agencies. It takes time to talk through and solve problems, time to search out new clients, keep current clients happy, and check estimates, creative work and billing. Without the large employee base that bigger agencies enjoy, there are only so many hands to help, which puts small […]

Project Management has come a long way over the past few years. No longer are we constrained by highly structured planning methods, where everything must be decided before a project can begin. Nor are we left to our own devices, adjusting to an ever-changing environment of emerging problems, feedback loops, options, and adaptations. The challenge […]

Over our long career in this business, we have learned several things that have become a credo for agency success. Agency principals remove themselves from daily account service. They become managers, not doers. Do they still have contact with accounts? Certainly—as account supervisors. Do they still participate in the creative function? Of course—but as creative editors. By achieving […]

How well is your agency prepared for new business this year? Take a look at the following checklist and see how you score. Do you have a unique story for your agency? Most agency qualifications are similar: you need something special—a brand promise or claim of distinction—to present to prospects. YES NO Do you have […]

In your mind, list all of the important metrics you’d like to track about your agency. Now tie each metric to one specific gauge, and your financial dashboard might look the illustration. That’s what the cockpit looks like in the Piper Lance where I’ve built a bunch of flying time. At first glance it can […]

You reinvent your firm one new client at a time.  Any agency leader should have a strategic vision of what success looks like a few years out. That vision will include the obvious financial metrics of revenue and profit, but also the type of clients on the roster, the nature and value of the work […]

FunctionFox is proud to announce its multiple award-winning streak in 2022 by Capterra, a free online service that helps organizations find the right software. FunctionFox is recognized in Capterra Shortlists in multiple categories in 2022. Capterra Shortlist is an independent assessment that evaluates user reviews and online search activity to generate a list of market leaders […]

Almost everyone is interested in being more productive. Busy-ness and an obsession with performance are key elements of our culture, and most people are constantly looking for ways to work smarter. There are countless articles out there about how to be more productive. The problem is that much of that information is outdated, incorrect, or […]

As a business consultant who works with many leading creative firms around the globe, I’m excited to move into the new year and start anew. It’s been a trying last few years, both personally and professionally, for all of us. But, going into 2023, I hope that we’ll continue to take the learnings and insights that have […]