2010 new business survey

2010 New Business Survey

Agency Perspective

www.rswus.com
513-559-3101

Background

The purpose of this study is to help Agencies improve their internal new
business development efforts by offering insights/perspective based on
feedback from other Agency executives.

Our hope is that the following key findings and implications from this study can
be of value to you as you build, or work to improve your own Agency new
business program.

Overall, there are some interesting findings about the new business processes
being used by Agencies: some insight into what’s working and not working;
some interesting facts about the use of social media in the Agency new
business process; and some enlightening perspective on the perception/value of
hiring new business managers to help build business.

The samples came from databases of 6,000 marketing service companies that
range in size from under $5M in capitalized billings to over $50M.

In an attempt to add value and help you improve your own efforts as you work to
plan for 2011, we have prepared the following report for ease of reference and
perspective/implications relative to some of the key results in the study.

If you would like to reproduce any of our findings in any format whatsoever,
please give us a call (513-559-3101) or drop us a line. If you would like to
discuss any of the information below, please feel free to reach out:
mark@rswus.com.

If there is any interest in talking with RSW/US about how it can help you build a
stronger lead generation/business development program, feel free to give us a
call.

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Copyright RSW/US, GP 2010-2011 www.rswus.com

Overall Survey Findings & Implications

• Agencies are a lot more positive about obtaining new business this year relative
to last year. 65% of Agency executives surveyed last year believed that it was either
“harder” or “a lot harder” to obtain new business than it was in 2008. This year, only
48% believe this to be true as compared to 2009. In 2008, 51% believed it was harder
than 2007 and in 2007, 40% believed it was harder than 2006.

Implications: Things seem to be opening back up. We’re seeing it among the Agency
clients we are representing both in terms of meetings set and their business won. If
you aren’t pushing your new business program forward now, you need to get on it –
especially as we head into the 4th Quarter of the year – a time when Marketers are
spending the dollars they have left – and a time when Marketers are re-thinking and re-
evaluating their support for 2011.

From a big picture perspective, finding new business has not gotten markedly easier for
Agencies – and probably won’t get any easier in the near term. With the pool of
companies shrinking, bigger Agencies going after smaller opportunities, and the dollar
volume of opportunities declining (as we’ll see later), the need to constantly stay on top
of new business is key to the life blood of any Agency.

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• Interestingly, as you look at the trends over the past three years, it appears that as
Marketers are increasingly stretched to do more with less, the ability to bust through to
them gets harder and harder. In 2008, 44% of Agency executives stated that “harder to
break through” was the primary reason why new business was tougher. In 2009, the
number was 46%. This year, 63% of Agencies cited this as the biggest roadblock
to generating new business.

• As Agencies face similar cut-backs, we’re seeing the rise in “less time to do it” as a key
reason why Agency executives are having a harder time prospecting. In 2008, only 7%
of Agency executives cited this as a reason why. In 2009, 17% stated this as a reason
why. This year, the 22% of Agency executives feel that their lack of time is partly to
blame for limited success in new business.

Implications: With it getting harder and harder to bust through to increasingly busy
Marketers - and Agency executives finding it harder and harder to find the time to
manage prospecting, something has to break the vicious cycle.

Whether it’s assigning someone inside your Agency to manage the process or hiring a
group on the outside, do something. If you’re going to go at it on your own, there are
some simple (very minimalistic) things you can do to help the effort – like e-campaigns
and social. While not the, be all, end all, it’s at least a start. The key is maintaining
consistency of reach-out. It can’t be a start and stop exercise. Today, someone might
be fine, but tomorrow they may wake up and realize they need some help. You need to
get on their radar and stay on their radar – and the only way you can do that effectively
is by always being there in some shape or form.

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• Year-to-year, the sources for obtaining new business have not changed. While
social media has certainly been the talk of the Agency community, its impact on new
business has remained relatively limited (we’ll see this play out later in the study as
well). “Referrals”, “Business from existing clients”, and “Networking” continue to be big
drivers of new business growth for Agencies.

Thinking about how you obtained new business, what have been the top three sources
for new business?

Source of New Business 2010 2009
Referrals 69% 68%
Business from existing Clients 63% 61%
Networking 58% 54%
Clients switching to new companies 20% 24%
Cold calls 18% 20%
Presentations/Speaking 12% 15%
Social media 9% 6%
Email campaigns 9% 7%
Organic search 9% 9%
Paid search 5% 0%

Implications: While the more traditional means for obtaining new business continue to
rank highest on the list, we are seeing more and more agencies experiencing a
dramatic slowdown in the number of opportunities surfacing via these sources. With
corporate consolidations on the rise, and corporations paring back staff, there are fewer
companies and fewer marketers to tap into for networking purposes – so you have to
employ new approaches to connect with prospects.

In recent Marketer surveys, the top ways in which Marketers find out about Agencies
(after referrals and past relationships) is “a timely approach by an agency” and
“general, un-attributable awareness” of an agency. This suggests that you need to
always be there if you’re going to be successful.

If you’re seeing the slightest slowdown in networking or referral opportunities – and you
don’t have a new business outreach program in place – develop one! If the patterns we
see in other Agencies are representative of what’s happening to most Agencies, the
need to proactively reach out to prospects will sooner rather than later, be the new
normal in business development.

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• Another important reason to keep your Agency in front of prospects today more
than ever – is because Marketers are parsing more assignments out in pieces
(versus AOR assignments). While the dollar volume of opportunities appears to be
on the decline (38% of Agencies state that the dollar volume of opportunities are
decreasing), the NUMBER of opportunities are on the rise (with 39% saying the
NUMBERS of opportunities are increasing).

Dollar volume on decline
# of opportunities increasing

Implications: One implication of this shift in numbers versus dollar volume is if
business is going to become more and more project oriented, the need to keep the
pipeline full of potential opportunities is only going to increase. And with the dollar
volume of potential opportunities on the decline, managing new business in a smarter,
and more cost efficient manner will be necessary. Hiring the $100k+ new business
hunter and building multi-dimensional mailers that cost the agency excessive financial
and time resources aren’t a good use of limited pools of human and financial capital.

The other implication if this becomes the “new normal”, either you or your account
people will need to get more aggressive at building business organically. I’ve seen too
many Agencies land a project opportunity then do a poor job of leveraging that
relationship into other areas of the company – or into other facets of that brand’s
business.

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• Consistent with the data on the previous page, Agencies are seeing fewer and fewer
AOR assignments handed out. Those full service opportunities that are making
themselves available are more often than not, being managed by search consultants –
or pushed out in “cattle call” RFPs.

• As noted in the Appendix of this report, Agency executives note in open-ended
responses that they believe the trend to fewer AORs is driven by a number of factors –
among which include: 1) Marketers’ greater need for specialization; 2) Marketers’ fear
of putting all their eggs in one Agency basket; 3) Marketers finding it less expensive to
buy “a la carte”; and 4) A more fragmented marketing mix.

• Also as noted in the Appendix of this report, Agency executives cite the economy as the
primary reason why we’re seeing an uptick recently in the number of accounts shifting
to agencies that have ties to executives from past relationships. Marketers simply
aren’t as willing to take a risk with a new, unproven agency. They have a need to move
the needle more quickly today - and with a known quantity that will better get what they
need faster.

• Implications: Many implications fall out of these findings. If you want more of the
“prize”, you need to show the Marketer that you have the talents in specialty areas like
digital, in order for them to consider you in a broader context.

One way to alleviate the fears and concerns of Marketers is by sharing some of the risk.
I recently interviewed an Agency for our RSW/AgencySearch
(www.rswagencysearch.com) business that has a partial pay-for-performance model
where the Marketer and the Agency identify key programs and appropriate metrics to
measure and assess success. A program like this could be offered on a starter basis
with a new potential client.

And of course if the Marketer is nervous about making a move with your firm because
they don’t know you, offer to do part of the assignment to show the Marketer you can
be trusted and deliver to their needs – then push hard to win more business.
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• Regardless of your approach to win the business, the first step is getting in the
door and to the table. One way to keep your Agency on the radar is to hire a new
business manager inside your agency. The key is finding the right person (with the
right set of talents) and keeping your new business manager focused. The number of
Agencies hiring an internal new business manager hasn’t changed a whole lot over the
years. In 2007, 48% of Agencies hired someone inside. In 2008, that number dropped
to 36%, only to rise slightly in 2009 to 42%. As noted below, the number has stayed
relatively constant this year, with 39% of Agencies hiring a new business manager in
the past three years.

Implications: Hiring in today’s economy can be tricky business – particularly given
the amount of time it takes to develop a solid, self-sustaining new business program. If
you do bring someone on board, make sure you’re well prepared to cover their costs for
an extended period of time. As we’ll see later, the churn in the world of internal new
business managers is similar to the churn of CMOs. We’ve run across agencies that
have been through multiple new business managers over a very short period of time.
While sometimes it’s an issue with the skill set of the new business manager (e.g. not
bringing any marketing or agency experience to the table) most of the time it is the
agency’s fault for not giving the new business manager enough time and/or piling too
many assignments on so they aren’t focused on what they need to do: sell and market
your agency.

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• Those that haven’t hired a new business manager on staff have not done so for a
variety of reasons, primary of which is “expense”. As noted below, a number of
Agencies note other reasons why, including outsourcing the function as an alternative.

See below for sample of
“other” reasons

All of the above. They lack principle passion. However, now might be the time to reconsider that. The economy is coming
back and we need to get our piece of the action.

Hired part-time

Can't afford the ongoing investment without any guarantee of success

Haven't justified the need...yet

President of agency is new business director

Hired RSW as an extension of our internal programs

That's my job

Our sales pitch is unique and somewhat complex, so we need to do it ourselves, or the message doesn't seem to resonate.

We are taking charge our self and have developed creative ways to go after new business

Hunter model is not part of our company culture. Account Supervisors are our hunter/gatherers and work with AEs to
manage client services.

Implications: Regardless of how you do it, key is doing it. And just like marriage or
having kids…there’s a never a perfect time to start. When things are really good, the
excuse is you have no time and things are really good. When things are tough, you
can’t afford it. Don’t let things get so bad – or wait too long to make the move.

This is particularly true if you’re one of those Agencies with the single, big client. Don’t
keep putting off the inevitable as we’ve seen Agencies wait too long to make a move –
then suddenly they are scrambling to bring in business that’s needed – to survive.
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• As noted on the previous page, if you do bring someone on board, make sure they
have all the right skills and make sure you keep them focused on the primary
task at hand: selling and marketing your Agency. As noted below, there is a
tendency for Agency principals to see a body in the Agency and then give them many
responsibilities because they aren’t making the sale.

• It can be a vicious cycle – the more you pile on a new business manager that isn’t
central to their job of finding you business opportunities, the more likely they are to fail.
This is likely the reason why in this year’s survey (and in surveys in the past) Agency
principals tend to move through new business managers at a rather fast pace.

• Implications: We often suggest to Agencies that want to build an internal program, to
assign tasks to different people in the Agency to support the new business effort – if
possible. Have someone responsible for building collateral, another for building lists, a
digital person to create and manage the social and e-marketing campaign. This way
your new business hire can keep focused on what you need him/her to do – make the
calls and find the opportunities.

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• When your new business manager is absent of focus, and absent of the right skill
set, you end up with useless meetings: meetings with the wrong people, meetings
that are forced, meetings that have no chance of continued discussion. You also end
up with someone representing the Agency that can potentially make it look like the
Agency doesn’t really understand the Marketer’s world.

• Implications: When we hire, we look for people that have marketing experience,
sales experience, and have either worked directly for an Agency or have worked on the
client side with an Agency. We have seen Agencies hire ex-pharmaceutical sales
people because they wanted to build a pharma practice – or hire the guy with the
Rolodex – who has been at three other Agencies with the same Rolodex. In the end,
it’s about being smart, strategic, and value-added in your approach to outreach. It’s
making the conversation relevant – and showing the Marketer that you have some
understanding of their business and their problems – by showing them you’ve dealt with
similar situations with your clients.

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• Another approach to keeping your Agency on the radar is social media. But key
is using it wisely and bringing it to life. While there are some who tout social media
as the be-all-end-all to solving the world’s challenges related to bringing on Agency new
business, our perspective is a bit more balanced.

• Social media is important, and it should be used, but finding the sweet spot in its use is
tricky. We’ve seen some Agencies get so enamored by it that it becomes all they do –
and we’ve seen others who with good intent – start, then stop – only to make their
social front face to their prospects’ worlds look pretty bad.

• As noted below, the use of social media for new business is there. 38% of Agencies
rated 7+ on a scale of 1-10 (Never/Often) when asked to what extent they use social
media to prospect for new business.

Implications: If you use social media, three things need to be considered: 1) Stick
with it. Don’t start and stop otherwise you’ll look bad; 2) Don’t let it consume you. As
we’ll see on the next page, social media isn’t going to drive that much business in the
grand scheme of things; and 3) Activate it. Don’t just blog and let it sit. Make sure you
have a well thought out strategic plan on how to orchestrate all media, and how to push
it out to prospects so they can appreciate the value you’re bringing to them.

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• Even among those that use social media more often, the amount of new business
generated from this approach isn’t significant. 60% of Agencies that are
aggressive social media players only generate 20% of their business from this
approach. As noted below, 65% of all Agencies surveyed say that 10% or less of the
business is generated via these social media methods.

• Implications: Key is finding the balance. We at RSW/US recently put together a
social media training module for existing clients. The intent is to help Agencies
determine their likely levels of involvement in social media (given all else that goes on
in their world) and then building a program that can realistically be met given these
limitations.

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• If time is spent anywhere, spend it on LinkedIn – the one tool that most Agency
executives note that helps them the most on the new business front.

Implications: Use of LinkedIn can be beneficial on the front and back-end of
prospecting. It can be a great tool to search through companies to find prospects, it
can be a great tool to share value with communities of prospective clients, and it can
offer insights into a prospect you’re trying to engage.

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• As the world of new business changes, so changes the world of search
consultants. While 46% of all Agency executives surveyed have participated in a
search via a search consultant, it appears based on a recent Adweek article that those
numbers may be on the decline.

• As the economy continues to struggle, the Adweek article indicates that more
Marketers are circumventing search consultants and managing the searches on their
own. This could be partly driven by the types of assignments they are looking to fill
(e.g. more specialized versus AOR assignments) and could be also driven by other
factors.

• Agency executives in our survey noted a number of other factors that could be driving
Marketers to look for alternatives to traditional search consultants. Among them are:

- Economic pressures making the cost of hiring a search consultant too great
- Limited value (relative to the dollar spent) that search consultants provide
- Consultants have conflicts of interest
- Consultants slow the process down

Implications: If you get involved in a search, know what you’re walking into. Ask the
tough questions – and don’t just be flattered that you’ve been asked. Is the incumbent
involved? Is the Marketer really serious about a new Agency? Why are they looking?
How many other Agencies are involved? All fair questions for an Agency executive to
ask a search consultant. If you’re feeling at all uneasy about the search, don’t be afraid
to pull yourself out – diplomatically and respectfully. Don’t burn bridges and explain
why you’re a bit concerned. If the search consultant is worth their weight, they’ll
understand and likely respect you for making the decision you’ve made.

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• Without question, the world of new business has changed. No longer is it a game
of networking and referrals. And no longer is it a game of schmoozing search
consultants. It has become a world of much more aggressive outreach.

• While social media has become an important part of the overall outreach
strategy, it is by no means the be-all-end-all. Social media is important but it must
be ACTIVATED and it must be part of a more fully integrated marketing program.

• Regardless of the media used in ANY program, the messaging must be value-
added, must be consistent across media and must be presented in a consistent
manner. A stop and start program and/or a program that doesn’t present a consistently
themed message will fail – just like a poorly executed ad campaign. It’s no different.

The following pages contain open ended comments made by agency executives on
specific questions asked during the course of the survey.

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Appendix (Open-Ended Comments)
(Note: Responses not proofed for grammar or spelling)

According to a recent article in Adweek, there has been an uptick in accounts shifting
to agencies that have ties to executives (from past relationships). What is the
primary reason you think this uptick is happening today?

Response

Trust and lower risk - they know what they'll be getting; Job security - because of the prior two
reasons, the executives who now have less job security go with someone they trust and know what
they'll deliver.

Fear of the unknown

no

Not sure - what we see is companies still agreeing to high-dollar agencies even though we pitch to
their desired needs of being more budget-conscious than last year!

less risk for executive

Fear of the unknown. We have front row seats to the biggest changes in marketing in the past 60
years. That breads a tremendous amount of anxiety from clients as to what or who to turn to. Having
a prior relationship reduces that feeling.

Trust and familiarity

Trust

Companies hire the "people" they like.

TRUSTING A PERSON IS MORE IMPORTANT IN THE AGE OF "SOCIAL MEDIA"

average loyalty can be measured typically in 18-23 months cycles in most aspects of our "society".
As the channel gyrates... relationships migrate through the funnel

Familiarity in an unsettled economy. if they were happy with the relationship portion of the business
they will gravitate to keeping what they know and feel comfortable with, intact. It is something they
can control.

no margin for bad choices errors

Convenience and a level of comfort based on previous performance of agency for executive who
had relationship with agency.

Trust is a big issue. If they've had a positive result in the past it's easier to convince yourself that you
will have a positive result again. Success begets success.

Executives are more interested in performance and less in the flash and glamour of a dog and pony
show.

Nothing new here. Agency executives have a rolodex of people they know and who trust them. They
will get the nod 80% of the time.

It's all about relationships -- the known vs. the fear of the unknown

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The FUD factor.

confidence from prior relationships

Executives have faith in those with whom they have worked in the past.

Working with someone you trust is more important than ever now.

A little more optimism about the future, so advertisers want to be ready. Start getting ready today for
what hopefully will occur twelve months from now.

kickbacks?

Takes less time to enable an agency transition, also less risk in going with a known entity.

People are realizing the benefits of networking and maintaining deep relationships with the C-suite.

Speed is so important. If an existing relationship enables a bond of trust to already be established,
the client and agency can get right to work.

trust factor

Executive are comfortable with old contacts, those contacts seem less risky.

you get the benefit of a new agency with a fresh outlook on an account...with the safety and comfort
level of working with an account manager or executive you KNOW (and presumably, have faith in).

Budgets

They feel like they will get more from you by promising new work, while working with someone they
are comfortable with.

Agree

Known quantity and prior success together.

Perceived security in knowing the contact.

Marketing officers are being transitioned much more frequently.

Perceived safety driven by fear.

Have not seen an uptick in this trend. It has always been a factor. I would guess if it is increasing, it
is due to marketing executives becoming more risk averse during difficult economic times.

Smarter clients and hunger for social media/digital counsel

Trust, perceived increase in value

Possibly the movement of CMOs and their corresponding relationships with agencies.

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"Trust" "Familiarity" We just went through this. A client we met with liked our knowledge and abilities
but since another agency has worked with this person at two other locations, they went with that firm
and then asked us to do a joint venture with that agency.

Unsure

Matters of trust and the sense of returning to a better time.

Relationships actually have a better chance of succeeding than a spec pitch.

'Hope' that things are getting better

trust and existing knowledge of their brand

The agency business (at least on a local level here) has always been a relationship business, so it
only makes sense that in a down or stagnate economy clients want agency relationships they feel
they can trust, and past relationships with execs feel more stable and secure in that regard.

Same as always - comfort with relationship

With tighter budgets, clients want some assurance--the security/confidence that comes with
previous relationships

PEOPLE FINDING JOBS WERE THEY CAN AND USEING OLD CONTACTS. PEOPLE THEY
CAN TRUST

Relationships are important. Need for immediate sales/fresh approaches!

CMOs have less time to grow their business, they want to use people they trust.

Makes the process go faster if a senior exec can vouch for the agency.

It's all about trust and relationships. Always has been, but when times get tough and stakes get
higher, trust is even more vital.

Trust - existing sense of trust and respect; also less time consuming to go with what is most likely
percieved to be more of a known entity - someone you know and have worked with previously.

Trust and proven performance are more important than large and noteworthy. Executives have to
make every dollar count and there's not leeway for doing things the way they've always been done
or just going with the brand name nationals because it's safe.

less risk to change, lowered cost to change or explore a new agency

familiarity and trust

People want to take less risk, so they are going with who they know, which i suspect means they
believe there are better odds of success

Complexity

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With so much uncertainty in the economy/market, clients are playing it safe and doing business with
"known" entities - i.e. people they've worked with in the past.

Relationships are key- even more so in a competitive environment. It's a valued connection and a
value in itself.

Industry knowledge

its all about relationships

comfortable relationship and knowledge

Relationships

There's so much new (and frightening) stuff going on, people want the familiarity of at least knowing
who they're working with.

It is an extreme risk for (marketing) executives to bring on board an agency they do not trust can do
the job they need done because they will be personally blamed for it (by the C-level) when the
"unqualified" agency fails.

More trust in these relationships.

Networks have become more important as resources shrink. You want to business with people you
know and trust during questionable times.

Established relationships are key. Also, the agency ecosystem is changing and evolving, making it
tougher for clients to make an agency switch.

More movement on the client side

the industry is moving and changing so quickly, you want to limit the amount of people who actually
know how stupid you are, so you stay in your comfort zone to protect your job.

A successful professional relationship exists so it's possible to tackle the opportunity or issues
without having a preliminary warm-up act.

Don't know.

Accountability, Trust Hoping they look out for them and will give them a better rate structure.

Saves ramp up time and training costs.

Last year's financial turmoil caused turnover in the marketing ranks.

Comfort in the investment being made.

Fear of making a mistake. Rely on someone you know and trust.

Trust issues and the importance of relationships.

Not sure

People trust people they know or are recommended or referred.

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the trust factor - track record, less risk with someone that you know

Existing relationship and trust

companies are more interested in exploring small agencies like ours with solid core competencies.
and we are asked to clean up some messes. However, in both cases clients are wanting far less
than they were expecting from their larger firm or than they paid their agency who created the mess.

"Ties to executives" implies historical relationships which translates to certain level of preexisting
confidence (i.e reduced risk for the company) in the hired agency.

Trust

Mostly due to trust through relationships. With so much executive hopping around over the past
year, makes sense that there is an uptick.

People are more fluid in moving from job to job.

They know your work and they need to trust who they are going to work with.

I think that people are looking to remove risk from their decision on who to hire and previous
experience with an individual helps. Also, the pressure for immediate results is increasing, so
beginning where relationships and chemistry already exists helps to bring the relationship up to
speed quicker.

It is a safer situation for them

SPECULATION: known, trusted relationships in uncertain times.

Trust

Confidence - With the challenges and uncertainty of the economy, and the lasting nature of the
economic downturn, executives are seeking security by working with Agencies that have performed
for them in the past.

Building and maintaining long-term relationships is more key now.

In troubled time people migrate to what they know is safe.

Safety or fear of something completely new

Shorter time to generate results so clients want to move quickly versus long involved search for
agency

People are more mobile in the job market.

By working with the familiar they have immediate repoire, trust and maybe even fun. Less energy
needs to be spent building a relationship and you can focus on business and delegate more
because you trust them.

Haven't seen this.

Trust issues. Agencies over promise and under deliver as a general rule to win business. Past
relationship come with some credibility you can do the job.

Complexity. Where/How best to spend limited dollars. Going with people who have delivered in the
past.

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experience with that person; more control; no surprises

Trust. They already know how you think/work....and you know what they want/expect.

more movement of executives and agencies understanding of relationships at the C Suite level

Agree with ADWEEK'S take

Trust is more important than ever and people trust those with whom they've already worked.

companies are looking for ways to improve performance in a tough economy

Trust

To much turnover in agencies makes client loyal to a face, not the agency team. Also, no contact
with staff doing the work for client.

Business/Enterprises are arriving at the point that hunkering down can only last so long. They need
to build the top line - there is only so much bottom line cutting that is left to cut.

People are more comfortable with a "known" quantity. They are being held even more responsible
for results and fear screw-ups. So going with an existing relationship feels safer than taking a
chance with a new agency and putting their heads on a potential chopping block.

They know what they are getting

Change in marketing leadership at clients Search for agency solutions beyond holding company
agencies

there may be an element of trust and integrity within top management

Loyalty to former executives.

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According to a recent Adweek article, there also has been a recent reduction in the
number of reviews managed by consultants - clients (marketers) are doing it
themselves. What is the top reason why you believe this is happening - that marketers
are bypassing consultants and managing the searches themselves?

Response

Cost to value ratio - more than ever, marketers are questioning value in every decision; if the value isn't
far outweighing the cost then they won't pull the trigger - saving money. I would also assume they are
now being held more accountable so they want control of the process and decision.

1. Budgets 2. Apparently the value did not exceed the price

1:1 relationships

Trying to save fees and money is their excuse.

not sure

Cost

Cost, plus the previous answer about trust and familiarity. Only "known" agencies are being invited to
bid.

smaller margins on accounts means less profit which means agency budgets are tighter

They understand their own business better and it saves them money.

AGENCY SEARCH CONSULTANTS ARE A THING OF THE PAST, ANOTHER USELESS COST

I am finding "finish line" reviews followed by bouts of hesitation based on uncertainty of the economy.
Confidence has been shaken since late April

Lesser perceived value of the consultant being fueled by marketers having more time on their hands
and figure they can do it themselves.

Cost

Cost and the fact that so many accounts seem to go into review on a more frequent basis. Are
consultants designing obsolescence into their agency recommendations in order to generate more
consulting work in a few years?

Budgets are tighter and internal people are feeling the need to show their value to company leadership.
If they can cut a piece out and still be successful they will.

Consultants don't know the company well, and neither do the agencies. An inside person may have a
better understanding of the client and its needs and its cultural fits.

More pressure to find effective, long-term relationship while dealing with tight budgets that preclude
hiring of non-core functions such as a search firm.

Perception that searches are "rigged", compensation is pro-client and agencies get screwed, too
expensive based on process.

We almost never go through reviews...reviews are pretty well pre-wired

As we have not had any experience with consultant-managed searches, I can't really answer this
question.

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number of reviews managed by consultants - clients (marketers) are doing it themselves.
What is the top reason why you believe this is happening - that marketers are
bypassing consultants and managing the searches themselves?

Clients perceive (correctly) that consultants have not demonstrated their value.

Cost

I expect it's nothing more than cost-avoidance, not wishing to incur the cost of a consultant.

Money is scarce and consultants are probably one of the first things to go.

Looking for independence. I believe marketers may feel the consultants are biased to their "camp" of
agencies and they (the marketers) may not get presented the full playing field of agencies.

No money to pay consultants so marketers are actually have to do their jobs these days

probably to save cost

Unfiltered feedback from agencies and why pay a middle man?

I believe that's about cost. I hear Dell's old campaign "eliminate the middleman" in my head.

costs for consultant

Consultants are viewed as an unnecessary expense.

Cost, primarily. And also, CMOs who have the experience and ability to run their own reviews can use
that to increase their own value to their CEOs, COOs and Boards. They're likely saving the company
money by managing it internally, AND they're showcasing this additional skillset.

cost, egos

keeping expensives low to win the bids

don't know

To save money.

Can't afford the consultants.

Marketing budgets have dropped and they are saving money doing it themselves.

Cost of process.

To reduce cost.

Potential clients are getting smarter about new business - we participate in almost NO competitive
RFP-style reviews and absolutely no reviews that involve procurement or outside agency search
consultants.

Social media

Overall, we have seen a strong movement for marketing companies to internalize MANY tasks or
functions that have historically been the responsibility of agencies -- part of their cost saving/reduction
initiatives.

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cost

Consultants are paid. Referrals are organic.

Consultants bring little, if any value to the process.

Consultants seem to have their fingers in too many pies - conflicts of interest

budget

It appears to be simply a cost-cutting move.

Ease of searching Internet, blogs, social

save money--there's a DIY mentality out there in many arenas

CAN NOT AFFORD

Save $.

The search consultants always pick from the same small pool of large agencies. It's difficult to justify
the expense of a search consultant - where's the ROI. In this tough economy, a search consultant is
an unnecessary luxury

Consultants slow things down and structure their service to maximize their own revenue. A barrier, not
a help.

If they are seeking agencies/people with whom they already have relationships, I don't know why they
would need a search consultant. In addition, they may simply feel better having their own hands on the
wheel.

Magic two - Time and Money Possibly percieve that consultants add to both - longer time lines / added
costs

Cost.

consultants muck up the process, the processes they create overly complicated for all involved, as far
as i can see they must be paid by the question in order to justify their engagement.

save money

They are getting cheap - don't have the money to spend on consultants, or don't want to

Relationships

So much information on agencies is now available on the internet, they don't see the need to pay
consultant

Because consultants cost money.

The influence of social media

getting smarter as organizations to handle themselves perhaps

Costs

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The middleman has always, always been a problem for agencies. It's great that clients have figured
out that consultants get in the way more than they help.

Can apply more of their variable marketing budget to other company priorities and personal career
agenda.

Reduces cost.

Cost.

search consultants don't really add much value for the client that I can see, and definitely none for the
agency.

They believe they know what they want and can save dollars by doing it themselves.

again, people want job security and don't want to have to go to their superiors and tell them that they
are not qualified to find an ad agency.

Save money

Consultants are not objective but have been largely necessary up till now (like traditional retailers have
been to consumers). Clients are better able to identify potential agencies themselves and are finding
they can often find a better fit themselves (like consumers using Amazon). And when these clients do
reach out directly, it’s easier to get agencies attention in tighter times – agencies will respond directly
to prospects more responsively now because they are hungrier than ever.

Yes. Due to the extra cost and in most cases bias reviews anyway.

Probably to save money. Hiring third parties to select agencies is a relatively recent phenomenon.

Cost and more powerful procurement.

Too much as stake and the relationship between client and agency is too important to leave to
someone else.

Cost.

Because the consultants are not seen as providing sufficient value and have encumbered the new
business search with process instead of guiding a process that truly helps ascertain whether there is a
good client/agency fit and chemistry.

Reduce consultant costs

one-on-one relationship building is key to successful partnership

cost - corporate accountability

Cost

I don't have enough experience here to answer

Cost

Financial

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Consultants have their own agenda and the economy is down.

Too many cooks in the kitchen and clients want the hands on, face to face prior to the pitch

Reducing expenses and feeling a greater accountability to the decision. Getting more involved in the
process can give a greater sense of chemistry and fit than being removed from the process by having
consultants involved.

Cost and time required

Don't know.

Consultants make the process more difficult than it needs to be and isolates the client from what
needs to be THEIR relationship.

Time spent by internal resources is being devalued as marketers are expected to do more with less,
and work days get longer as competition for positions remains higher. Marketers are being held strictly
accountable for budget expenditures, and need to be able to justify the monetary return (vs. softer
time savings / efficiency returns).

Dollars

Save money

Cost

Costs

Clients get to know the agency personnel and personalities.

Number one driver is probably cost and with the economic slowdown clients probably have the time to
do the search as new product launches are down (my observation).

Also haven't seen this.

Clients can be cheap and don't recognize the value of such a process so they aren't willing to pay for
it. Clients often think they can do things on their own and it often back fires.

If you spend a lot of money on consultants, you probably feel that you need to follow the advice
given/the direction in which they take you. For a variety of reasons, it doesn't always work and you can
be down the road a long ways before you realize it's not working. And then you've got to do it all over
again. Besides, you're paying the VP Marketing a lot of money. Make him/her do the job and take the
responsibility for doing the job. It's not about the fee.

more control; smaller budgets

Lack of funds to pay consultants

cost and the agency chose needs to "connect" with the client team.

Costs of consultants

Budget.

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According to a recent Adweek article, there also has been a recent reduction in the number
of reviews managed by consultants - clients (marketers) are doing it themselves. What is
the top reason why you believe this is happening - that marketers are bypassing
consultants and managing the searches themselves?

Fees

Cost and cost and cost.

Consultants add very little value. (Based on client feedback and conversation) Very few allow true
interaction and agencies get picked based on "presentations" rather than fit and chemistry. Consultants are
barriers and don't want the wall of secrecy unveiled.

To save money.

budget constraints and clients have more time due to lower budgets and fewer new product introductions
and promotions

Cost to client of consultant led search Client confidence that they have a good handle on agency resources

streamlining the process

The economy.

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