Comments on: Don’t learn social media at the expense of your client

By: marc meyer

marc meyer — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:39:24 +0000

In a perfect world..

By: Mark Trueblood

Mark Trueblood — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:34:56 +0000

Or, you can pay the mechanic to train you, and enlist his help until you can fix the starter yourself.

By: Box Scores: June 22-28 “Trust, dominos, and pick-up basketball” | Deep Bench

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:15:06 +0000

[...] -“Don’t learn social media at the expense of your client” [...]

By: marc meyer

marc meyer — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:38:56 +0000

@ Frank, that’s absolutely classic!

By: marc meyer

marc meyer — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:37:52 +0000

Whats the line Tom, the harder you work, the luckier you get? Great example you provide about doing your homework behind the scenes..

By: marc meyer

marc meyer — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:36:48 +0000

Thanks Adam, I’m finding I get more work by just saying whether something is within my realm or not. As much as I want the work- it’s better to be a realist than a surrealist.

By: Adam Cohen

Adam Cohen — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:12:04 +0000

There’s a great book anyone in a professional services role should read, called “Let’s Get Real or Let’s Not Play.” The premise you outline Marc holds true for any service being provided. Be honest and candid about what your experience is or you risk the ability to deliver on quality and expectations. Sooner or later it comes back to bite you.

That said, with the right approach agencies can develop new skills (by hiring or practicing) and can start to build up an offering in a given area with some clients who trust and have a willingness to make the leap based on the strength of the partnership. It’s a very careful balance, but duping and selling a bill of goods is just flat out wrong. Great thought provoking post as usual Marc.

By: Frank Martin

Frank Martin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:08:10 +0000

Along those lines I had a Agency colleague call me the other day and want a price for focus groups. One of their staff was going to be the “mediator”.

Unless they are setting up a fight, what he meant was Moderator.

Think that client is going to get a good return on his research investment?

By: Tom Martin

Tom Martin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:02:41 +0000

Marc,

From your lips to the ears of agencies and clients around the world I hope.

Our firm spent more than a year in quiet “beta” mode learning, testing, trying before we ever so much as whispered to a client that we could help them with their SocMe needs.

Hundreds if not thousands of man hours were invested by the firm. It was hard, painful (usually those hours came after 5 and before 9) but in the end, we are able to honestly say (IMHO) that we get it and can help guide them.

Yet I still see firms that are all talk no substance. I feel sorry for their clients who are being sold a bill of goods.

@TomMartin