Whether it’s juggling multiple accounts or perfecting brand voice for different brands—working in an agency is never a dull experience. Unlike many other workplaces, agency life can be full of twists and turns.
In this week’s #SproutChat, we were joined by Sprout All Star Elite, Kellen McGugan of BigWing Agency. We talked best practices for communicating to clients, time management and important traits needed to succeed in any agency.
Take Time for Growth
We know that when you work in social media, no two days ever look the same. So it’s good to have a routine of daily tasks and also allow yourself time to grow professionally. Find easy ways to stay on top of current affairs and marketing trends.
A1: Wearing lots of hats! Most of my day consists of engagement and social listening, ad optimization, and talking to potential clients about the power of social and what it could do for their business! #SproutChat
— 🏀 Hoodie Kelo 🏀 (@kellNworldpeace) November 8, 2017
Q1: Sort of difficult to answer, because I work in a transitioning PR agency, that is growing its capabilities. But typically, it’s making sure to hop on big news in the morning, and big projects throughout the rest of the day. Campaigns, plans, etc. #sproutchat
— Ryan Crowe (@doctorcrowe) November 8, 2017
A1: No matter what your roll in the org, you end up being involved in multiple phases of the strategy, planning, and creative from beginning to end #SproutChat
— Jeff Higgins (@ItsJeffHiggins) November 8, 2017
A1: A typical day is scheduling social media posts, recording social analytics, engaging with trending posts, and preparing for the next day. #SproutChat
— Digital Addicts (@digitaladdicts_) November 8, 2017
A1: Our team is focused on SEO and I handle social along with SEO. I’d say it’s lots of scrolling to keep up with social, creating content calendars and images. Also participating in Twitter chats! #SproutChat
— Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) November 8, 2017
Q1.2: I think the mornings have to be about preparing clients for the news of the day. Newsjacking opportunities. Being aware of national happenings or big stories and then helping them figure out where they belong in that newscycle (IF they belong). #sproutchat
— Ryan Crowe (@doctorcrowe) November 8, 2017
Keep Track of Time
Every client will be different and you won’t always be performing the same tasks for each account, but it’s important to know where you’re spending time. There are a multitude of tactics and tools for this process. Find what works best for you and your style of work.
A2: This all depends on what we’re doing for them. Ads creation, monitoring and optimization is normally a big focus. I try to break it down really by what we do for them and when I can be most effective. #SproutChat
— 🏀 Hoodie Kelo 🏀 (@kellNworldpeace) November 8, 2017
A2: Client communication is another big thing with how I manage time. I always love setting phone calls to talk to my clients to get the week’s action items all set. #SproutChat
— 🏀 Hoodie Kelo 🏀 (@kellNworldpeace) November 8, 2017
A2: It’s mostly down to scheduling. Allotting a set amount of time each week to schedule the bulk of each client’s tweets goes a long way toward time management! #SproutChat https://t.co/sPMhhxCcQE
— Houndstooth Media (@houndstoothmg) November 8, 2017
You’re like Muhammad Ali. You need to stay on your toes and be able to take the punches (or throw them) when necessary #SproutChat pic.twitter.com/prEe8bysm2
— Daniel Bailey (@DaJoBa) November 8, 2017
Q2: We used to use @harvest but now our PM’s are responsible for how they allocate the creatives time. #SproutChat
— Dave Macdonald (@rdavemacdonald) November 8, 2017
A2: Allocate time each day to devote to each client. However, since social never stops, you have to periodically check in on their site throughout the day. For tracking/billing I like Harvest. #SproutChat
— Maria Marchewka (@_MariaMarchewka) November 8, 2017
A2: I manage my time with a beautiful system called @asana. It lets my priortize tasks and also track time/bill for them (through the plug-in Everhour). It keeps me and the rest of the team on track with projects and is honestly such a lifesaver. Highly recommend! #SproutChat
— Taryn Grisham (@taryn_grisham) November 8, 2017
Less Data, More Examples
Clients may have a hard time getting a good grasp on what your offerings look like with data and metrics. Get creative and dig a little deeper in your presentations. Show a mock-up of a campaign and offer a solid taste of what you can provide.
A3: Hitting them over the head with data CAN work sometimes, but i’ve found that showing them a bit of advanced targeting and multi-level campaign strategies works pretty well also. #SproutChat
— 🏀 Hoodie Kelo 🏀 (@kellNworldpeace) November 8, 2017
A3: If you’re solving a pain point that your target audience is dealing with, let them know. Tell them how your offering will help so they can see the value. #SproutChat
— Express Writers (@ExpWriters) November 8, 2017
A3: #storytelling . Doing it as elevator pitch , publishing it over #socialmedia , #EmailMarketing . #SproutChat
— Benny Gelbendorf (@BGelbendorf) November 8, 2017
A3: Put your product/service out in the wild and how it can be valuable to your target audience. When you SHOW them and don’t TELL them. #SproutChat
— Maria Marchewka (@_MariaMarchewka) November 8, 2017
A3: In a B2B space you need to showcase ROI… anything from beating KPIs to how many leads you’ve generated is a good start #SproutChat
— Daniel Bailey (@DaJoBa) November 8, 2017
A3: People like to see quantifiable numbers/stats, presented in a simple & clear way. We like creating easy-to-read and understand charts & graphs that visually illustrate the value. #SproutChat https://t.co/9IDFLznDG6
— Houndstooth Media (@houndstoothmg) November 8, 2017
A3: Show prospective buyers what they’re actually getting. Share product demo videos or photo slideshows. Encourage clients to be highly-engaged on social via comments. Answering someone’s question could easily lead to a sale. #SproutChat
— Taryn Grisham (@taryn_grisham) November 8, 2017
Be Adaptable
Adaptability is a key trait in order to be successful and grow at an agency. Scopes of projects and demands can be in flux often, so having the ability to flex to those needs will help you immensely.
A6: Creativity, Organization, Adaptability. Things can get wild, so it’s important that your head is always on a swivel and you stay organized while at the same time bringing bold, new ideas to your clients. #SproutChat
— 🏀 Hoodie Kelo 🏀 (@kellNworldpeace) November 8, 2017
A6: 1) Organization skills. 2) Good writing skills. 3) The ability to stay calm, especially when social is used as customer service. #SproutChat
— Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) November 8, 2017
A6: I think you need to have a passion for social media, you need to be dedicated to learning and getting better at it, and you need to be creative. #SproutChat
— Express Writers (@ExpWriters) November 8, 2017
A6: Be organised, Be diligent & be able to thrive under pressure. You need to be capable of getting the job done! #SproutChat #SproutPartner
— Daniel Bailey (@DaJoBa) November 8, 2017
A6: Patience. Creativity. Quick-thinking. #SproutChat
— Taryn Grisham (@taryn_grisham) November 8, 2017
A6: I think being an excellent communicator, having thick skin and having grace under fire are all essential traits for a social media professional. #SproutChat
— Dave Macdonald (@rdavemacdonald) November 8, 2017
A6: 1. Creative, open-minded socially driven energy & enthusiasm. 2. Willingness to get their hands dirty on a project containing tasks & objectives they’ve never dealt with before (hands on experience is the best class room) 3. Use @SproutSocial #SproutChat pic.twitter.com/M0voigg5Pa
— Russ Palmer (@RussPalmer) November 8, 2017
Join us next Wednesday, November 15th at 2 p.m. CST, to chat with Sprout All Star, Lexie Kimball of Netvantage Marketing, about the relationship between SEO and social media.
Can’t make the chat? Join our Facebook community to connect with others in the industry and stay on top of upcoming events.
This post #SproutChat Recap: Overcoming Challenges in Agencies originally appeared on Sprout Social.
