Client Newsletters

Whatever the case, check and "fix." Under Construction errors are no more palpable than a lie. As our recent survey revealed, clients (those searching for ad or pr firms) look to us to uncover and present the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

CLIENTS SHARE THEIR INNERMOST SECRETS

We've been helping clients manage their searches for so long (beginning 1997) that we tend to forget that our registered agencies, particularly when they receive an invitation to compete, don't always understand the extent to which we converse with our advertising or public relations clients (those conducting the search).

Al Ries (The Fall of Advertising & the Rise of PR) makes the point that your company needs to be Number One in your category, and if you're not, create a new category! That's precisely our case. We're nothing like an on-line directory, but it's apparently easy to confuse us as such. We OWN our category, but admittedly haven't made enough noise about that.

Our client conversations and consulting interactions are as extensive as those that take place with Search Consultants you know and read about in the press. Agencies prefer our process though - our objective is to help each client identify and then formally invite just those agencies extremely well qualified, generally eliminating the need for the infamous RFP. We're not a filter either, so we step aside after the invitations and mandate direct communication between invited agency and client decision-makers.

Since our "official" role ends at the invitation, we want to make certain each agency has received theirs. In case their new business contact is traveling, not only do we fax the invitation and confirm by e-mail, but we telephone. We're looking to confirm that they received the invitation, answer any questions (about process or the client), then learn if they plan to proceed. If not, for reason of conflict, budget or "other", we'll convey that polite response to the client. But connecting is not an option - it's necessary. That way, everyone is happy when they know the facts.

Clients share confidences with us to the same extent they would if working with a hired and compensated Search Consultant. After more than seven years, I'm proud of our unblemished record protecting the fiduciary responsibility we have - to maintain confidences on both sides of the client and agency fence.