In our most recent podcast, we had a discussion with Chris Simmance, the Founder of the OMG Center. The purpose of the Centre according to Chris is to accelerate the expansion of digital companies through consultancy, mentorship, training, and support. He was also the Chairman at Optus Digital, where he constructed a search-based digital agency and grew the agency to offices in London and Manchester. He had a fascinating story to tell about this.
Chris had an unsuccessful stint working in travel sales for a ski resort, but he was determined to push himself and he taught himself SEO. This eventually landed him a job with a digital agency in London, and since then he has become a major driving force in the digital marketing industry. He’s renowned for his wide range of knowledge in digital strategy and has kindly shared his story and the knowledge he has accumulated from establishing several of his own businesses.
Agency leadership
Do you have what it takes to be a leader? It’s been reported that over 75% of workers leave their jobs due to a bad manager. Leadership is more than just managing a team – it requires taking personal responsibility and accountability. The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated managers to take on a more leadership role, due to the restrictions of remote working. This is something we need to keep learning, as it appears that working from home is going to be the norm.
Knowing the numbers
Are you aware of the figures that have an influence on your venture? Are you letting go of attention to client loyalty? With the competition in the agency market growing and the global economic downturn around the corner, this is an area where business owners should have a good knowledge of themselves. As Chris explains, the conventional agency system isn’t in disrepair, but certain components of its implementation can cause issues. By concentrating on customer retention and having a thorough understanding of what is needed operationally in the future, agencies can reach a better balance and improve their profits.
Customer retention
Research has revealed that client-agency relationships now tend to last an average of three years. Chris believes this is often not due to a lack of satisfactory results, but because expectations haven’t been managed properly. It is essential for agencies to make their capabilities known and to manage expectations properly from the outset. He proposes the ‘rule of seven’ for agency advisors and the need to measure success and scale.
Training your team
Is your group of employees adequately trained? Research has indicated that approximately 70% of marketers feel they lack the knowledge to tackle the ‘big data’ challenges. With a surplus of new graduates entering the industry and fewer opportunities due to the present economy, Chris accentuates the significance of ongoing knowledge acquisition and staying abreast of sector trends. Furthermore, he implies that it would be advantageous to locate a mentor or coach to support you through the struggles of running an agency since, at times, you may not be aware of what you are unaware of.
Podcast creation with Prohibition
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