Relationship 101: Dating Your Creative Agency, Part 1B

Posted by Karen Renzi

Part 1B: Flirting

 

Flirting takes so many forms I had to split this into 2 sections!

 

Internet Dating

Ahh… the beauty of the Internet. I know so many couples now who have found love online. It really does work. [insert eHarmony ad placement here]

 

But seriously, online inquiries can become a significant source of leads for agencies who promote themselves online. But buyer beware! Both clients AND agencies need to approach online dating carefully.

 

My mom (yes, my mom!) gave me my first up close and personal look at the world of online dating. First there’s a lot of research – looking at profiles, interpreting the self-descriptions, deciding who was worth contacting. Then the tentative email contact – feeling it out, maybe stretching the truth about yourself a little. Then the first meeting – many a date ended right there. Sound a little familiar to the agency search process?

 

Also – for agencies, a word of caution. Know who you are doing business with. Con-men abound.

[A Little Sidebar: A few years ago I was infatuated with a lead that came in online. Many emails ensued. Such a feel-good project. An overworked ad agency doing good for a not-for-profit client in South Africa. Just needed a little help with a portion of the project. We went all the way to the proposal stage. Then they wanted to have a “U.S. investor” send us a check for the deposit. The investor wanted to fund the work, they said, but he wanted to give more and not have the inconvenience of shipping 2 checks. So would we just cash the check and forward the balance to their account? Uh-uh, I don’t think so. Never heard from good old “Johny Goody” again. (geez you’d think the name would have tipped me off!)]

 

Setups & Blind Dates

Referrals. The best of both worlds for both client and agency. Usually referrals are a strong indicator that the relationship has a good chance of succeeding. After all you have a mutual friend who knows you both and thinks you’re a good match. Of course there’s always the chance the friend doesn’t really know you well enough, or they just want to pawn you off on someone. Courtship must still follow.