Clients want Agencies with a "thorough understanding of the marketplace"

Interesting story in Adweek that I believe is relevant in many industries, not just marketing, advertising and PR.

--John

New Study Reveals What a Client Wants in an Agency

A thorough understanding of the marketplace leads the wish list

Dec 15, 2008

-By Andrew McMains

NEW YORK Clients said "having an understanding of their marketplace" was the most important criteria for selecting an agency, according to a new survey that probes how clients view agencies from consultancy Reardon Smith Whittaker.

Grasping the company's strategic direction as well as the creative work presented were tied for the second-most important factors cited in the report titled, "A Client's View of Agency Performance." This was followed by "offering something fresh and new." ... http://tinyurl.com/57fx5v

Big Hit: Auto Bailout on Fox Business

We booked our client Mario Murgado of Brickell Motors on Fox Business last night. He squared off with anchor Neil Cavuto regarding the auto bailout. Murgado offered his own solution: a $10,000 credit to anyone buying an American car during the next three months. He suggests putting the money in the hands of the people to help save the Big Three. Cavuto was skeptical, but Murgado made some compelling points. Click below to watch.

--John

There's No Ink like Inc. Magazine Ink

Big hit today for our client Chris Hurn of Mercantile Commercial Capital in Orlando. The lead story on the Inc. Magazine Web site features a Q&A with Chris on the U.S. Small Business Administration and small business lending.

Frankly, I love offering up this url to direct someone to a story. Just go to the first item on inc.com.

We pitched Chris as an excellent source to discuss what the Obama Administration should do for small businesses during the first 100 days.

Take a look at Chris' interview. Pretty good stuff.

--John

More on Herald sale

I was pleased to see the Miami Herald acknowledge the "for sale" rumors in today's print and Web editions. The business desk was clearly in a tricky position yesterday, and I'm glad the editors and the execs found a way to get the story in the paper. The Perez angle also gives them a nice leg up.

http://www.miamiherald.com/business/story/805091.html

--John

Herald Sale Not Yet "News" Here

The New York Times, and a bunch of other outlets, are reporting that the Miami Herald is for sale. However, one wouldn't know it by reading the paper itself or its Web site.

In another twist, Herald.com includes a story on the Tribune Co. (owner of the Sun-Sentinel) bankruptcy filing. Talk about an elephant in the room.

Is it just me or is this a major South Florida news story? Two major dailies facing hurdles that threaten their existence, but the folks at One Herald Plaza are staying silent. Since when has a company saying that it "doesn't comment on speculation" keep the story off the front page?

Here's a link to the NY Times piece: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/06/business/media/06paper.html?em

(Full disclosure: Bob Norman was on this over the weekend while I was watching football. http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/)

--John