Business Development

If you want to be a thought-leader agency, release proprietary research that shows prospects how they compare to their peers. According to research from one agency, U.S. CMOs are rethinking strategy as AI influences 82% of hiring decisions, signaling a shift toward smarter, tech-driven growth. The main message of the findings: “bigger budgets...

In a world where external demands can feel overwhelming, the ability to lead oneself and cultivate mental toughness becomes a cornerstone of enduring success for agency owners. While the focus in leadership often shifts to managing teams, driving results, and influencing stakeholders, the foundation of effective agency leadership begins within....

We all know that the number one way to grow almost any business is by getting referrals. It not only helps grow the business quickly, but it is inexpensive. It’s been said before that a referral from a client is the highest form of compliment. If all this is true about referrals, how can you get more of them as an advisor and business owner? Stop...

Raise your hand if you have ever thought about marketing like a thought leader. Of course, advertising, digital marketing and PR agency owners would never call themselves a thought leader. The same is true for consultants, business coaches, and high-end service business owners. That is a title bestowed on you by others. But to fill your pipeline...

If you know me, you know I am a movie buff. Many of the ad, digital, and PR agency owners I work with are movie buffs too. A favorite film is The Magnificent Seven, a 1960 American western film directed by John Sturges and starring Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen, and Horst Buchholz. The motion picture is an Old-West-style remake of Akira...

University of Minnesota Extension Specialist Michael Darger focuses on community economics and business succession. His background with economic development agencies led him to focus on business retention and expansion work, which eventually landed him at the U of M conducting and publishing important research on entrepreneurs and their exit...

Publishing a book is like building a house. This is a truth for agency owners and others who want a book for more impact and influence, such as business coaches and strategic consultants. Hard truth: self-publishing is like being your own general contractor who must hire and manage all the subcontractors. The simple way to succeed is not to find...

Agency owners who want to grow their businesses can take a lesson from a hit TV show. Shonda Rhime’s Bridgerton confidently stands as the most-streamed television series on Netflix. Season three, released in May of 2024 with an outstanding 165.2 million hours viewed globally, quickly surpassing season two’s opening weekend, despite the shorter...

Is virtual selling really new? “Many companies would have you believe virtual selling is new and constitutes a huge paradigm shift for them. But does it really?” says author Craig Lowder. “Virtual selling has been around for over a hundred years; think catalogs, newspapers, direct mail offers, late-night TV infomercials, telemarketers, and...