When I search for an agency to partner with I try find people who look at the world differently, have genuinely interesting ideas and give me confidence they can bring their ideas to life.
The traditional way to meet a new agency is when someone from Business Development calls me, posts a brochure or sends an html email and after regular follow ups we meet to go through their creds pitch.
If I have a genuine need for their expertise, they can clearly do what they say and the ‘chemistry’ is right, a relationship begins.
This approach worked in the past but I wonder whether it is coming to and end?
Through social media I’ve met really interesting people I would never have come across through the traditional method I’ve just described.
I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the way these ‘connections’ have happened; some have been through followers through Twitter or connections through LinkedIn and others through my followers and connections contacts.
These online relationships seem more genuine, probably due to the transparency and authenticity the web brings.
These days when an opportunity to create an employee experiences arises, I don’t need to send out a brief to find the right agency because I’m already in an ‘ongoing content relationship’ with people who would be best suited to support me.
This ongoing agency relationship, built around inspiring content, works on many fronts;
- The conversations are richer ( play vs work as described by Daniel Pink )
- The route to an innovative ‘big idea’ is faster.
- Time is more focused.
- And most of all, the opportunity to do things differently is endless.
I get excited to think the next employee experience I deliver might be from working with people I meet through my social networks.
(By the way my dad simply shakes his head in confusion when I enthusiastically describe this new way of working!!)
Filed under: Networking, creative agencies, Daniel Pink, Employee Experience, LinkedIn, Networking, relationships, social media, Twitter
