AAAA Association News
Media Matters: A Sluggish Economy Will Hold Down Media Inflation in 2009
AAAA SmartBrief | Oct 10, 2008
For more than three decades, Robert J. Coen, Senior Vice President and Director of Forecasting at Interpublic's Magna unit, has presented 4A's members with his predictions for the coming year.
Consumers will continue to be concerned about high energy costs and the falling values of their homes and job security. Consumer spending will be weak again next year and few marketers are likely to spend much more in advertising to chase after sluggish personal consumption expenditures.
For detailed statistics and analysis of these important economic trends, 4A's members should read the full Media Matters Bulletin on our Web site.
Digital 3.0: Learn What's New Now
AAAA SmartBrief | Oct 10, 2008
As the digital revolution continues at breakneck speed to thread itself into the fabric of the advertising industry, the choices agencies make on behalf of their clients become more difficult, yet more important than ever.
The upcoming AAAA program "Digital 3.0," Oct. 16, in San Francisco, Calif., is a one-day, destination event featuring leading digital experts from across the country, and is designed for all agency executives who want leading-edge information to inspire, educate, and connect with knowledgeable professionals in the digital world.
Who should attend? Anyone who wants to get a leg-up on what's happening now -- or what is likely to happen tomorrow in the fast-moving future. If you are an agency principal working on how to reposition your business model, a planner, strategist or account executive trying to come to grips with what works best for your client, or a media director working on how to mesh new media choices with traditional offerings, this event is made for you.
Download a registration form today from the AAAA Web site.
Tips, Tools & Tactics Webinar: Oct. 23
AAAA SmartBrief | Oct 09, 2008
Preparing an RFP requires intelligence gathering, thoughtful planning, and creativity. Do you know what questions to ask prior to developing a proposal? Do you understand what the client is asking for and why?
The 4A's New Business Committees recommend that all member personnel with responsibility for business development, client service, or agency compensation register for the next Tips, Tools & Tactics Webinar, "Structuring Win-Win RFP's and Compensation Agreements" featuring David Beals, President and CEO, Jones Lundin Beals, on Oct. 23, 2008, at 5 p.m.
4A's members can learn more about this event and register online at the AAAA Web site.
4A's Research Services Introduces a New BUDDY
AAAA SmartBrief | Oct 09, 2008
4A's Research Services has introduced a completely revamped and sophisticated, yet easy to use, database called BUDDY (Business Demographics and Data for You). You can use BUDDY to obtain snapshots or detailed demographic data of specific geographies, create rankings by any demographic variable, find consumer expenditure data, or even create a Google map analyzing a geographic area by a demographic variable, retail sales, consumer product sales, CPI or quality of life.
BUDDY is available to AAAA Members only. Be sure to visit the AAAA Web site and take it for a spin.
AAAA Tips, Tools & Tactics Webinar: Oct. 28
AAAA SmartBrief | Oct 08, 2008
Does your agency have a game plan for working with client procurement? Clients are endeavoring to leverage efficiencies in their marketing value chain, and many marketers are involving their procurement departments in the process. What is your agency's strategy for working with procurement?
The 4A's Finance Committees recommend that all member personnel with responsibility for Client Service, Agency Management, or Agency Compensation register for the upcoming Tips, Tools & Tactics Webinar "The Procurement Perspective: Understanding Procurement and Working Collaboratively with Client Strategic Sourcing," featuring Francisco Escobar, President, JFE International Consultants on Oct. 28, at 1 p.m. EDT.
4A's members can learn more about this event and register online at the AAAA Web site.
Improve Your Communications and Watch Your Career Grow
AAAA SmartBrief | Oct 08, 2008
The Oct. 14 full-day workshop "Communicating in Writing," in Chicago, Ill., is targeted to any agency professional who needs to persuade more effectively, organize thoughts more easily, sound more professional, or avoid common grammar and punctuation mistakes. Levels range from those who are newer to business writing to those who want to feel more confident to managers who review the writing of direct reports.
Any agency professional looking to "upgrade" his or her skillset in the above areas is encouraged to sign up-levels range from those who are newer to business writing to those who want to feel more confident to managers who review the writing of direct reports.
Download a program brochure and register online at the AAAA Web site.
4A's Professional Development Seminar: Dude, Where's My Job?
AAAA SmartBrief | Oct 07, 2008
Millennials (defined as individuals 27 years old and younger) are infiltrating the workforce while managers and older generations are scrambling to understand and work with this unique crowd. Millennials are different. Not good different and not bad different -- just different.
The upcoming AAAA seminar "Dude, Where's My Job? Managing Millennials in Today's Workforce," Oct. 21 in Minneapolis, Minn., is a full-day program that will teach participants how to best work with and get the most out of Millennials by providing a new set of managerial techniques that will appeal to this group.
Learn more about this unique opportunity and register online at the AAAA Web site.
Media Matters: Updated Media Resources Discounted for 4A's Members Information Now Available
AAAA SmartBrief | Oct 01, 2008
For many years, the 4A's has issued information about media vendor discounts offered to our member agencies. Currently, there are 45 vendors offering discounted products and services in a range of categories-including audit services, competitive reports, customized research, e-business solutions, media information services, media software, media training, planning cost reports, syndicated media research, tracking services, and verification services.
4A's members can download information about all participating companies and their offerings at no charge.
Come See How Value-Based Compensation is Working in the Real World
AAAA SmartBrief | Sep 26, 2008
Many progressive agencies have stopped wondering about value-based compensation -- and have started using it! Learn how to apply value pricing in your own agency with not only practical theory, but real-world examples. Join us in November for two separate seminars that will teach you to finally bury the billable hour.
This special AAAA seminar series will be held at the Mid-America Club in Chicago, on Nov. 11 and 12, 2008. Register for one of the days or both for more comprehensive training. To learn more or to register, please visit the AAAA Web site.
2008 AAAA Institute of Advanced Advertising Studies: Chicago Edition
AAAA SmartBrief | Sep 25, 2008
For more than 35 years, the AAAA Institute of Advanced Advertising Studies (IAAS) has been training the best and the brightest in the agency business. Many of today's top agency executives are graduates, and the eight-week course is the perfect vehicle for your rising stars to learn the ins and outs of strategy development, creative and media planning and development, and the art of persuasive presentation. Best of all, students develop their skills by working on an actual client assignment. The 2008 Chicago-area program will begin on Sept. 30 and will continue with once-a-week sessions through Nov. 18. Learn more about the program and sign up at the AAAA Web site.
Save the Date: AAAA Tips, Tools, and Tactics Webinar Oct. 23
AAAA SmartBrief | Sep 25, 2008
The AAAA is pleased to announce our next Tips, Tools & Tactics Webinar, "Structuring Win-Win RFPs and Compensation Proposals," featuring Dave Beals, president and CEO, Jones Lundin Beals (JLB). JLB is a leading agency search and selection, agency compensation and agency relationship management consultancy, and Dave has provided counsel to a diverse group of clients, authored agency compensation and performance evaluation publications for the ANA, and participated in a number of AAAA conferences and events.
The webinar will feature Beals discussing the information that your agency needs to fully understand about the prospect's business goals and marketing objectives prior to preparing an RFP or a compensation proposal. Dave will also suggest techniques that you should use to ask questions, explore alternatives and aggressively differentiate between preferences and deal breaking requirements.
AAAA members should reserve their spot at the listening table today by signing up at the AAAA Web site.
4A's Professional Development Seminar: America's Best Agency Practices
AAAA SmartBrief | Sep 24, 2008
Despite differences in corporate culture and style, the truly successful agencies share some important things in common. These are the agencies that do the best work, attract the most new business, and have the best financial records. They have established the best practices in our industry and we can learn from their experience.
The upcoming 4A's workshop "America's Best Agency Practices," Oct. 1 in St. Louis, Mo., examines what America's best agencies have learned about operating their firms for optimum success. This seminar is for both the management and staff of advertising agencies. Professionals from all disciplines will benefit from this in-depth discussion about improving agency performance. It will be of particular value to department heads and those with some supervisory responsibilities.
Download the program agenda and register online at the AAAA Web site.
Media Matters: Advertising Week Media-Related Events
AAAA SmartBrief | Sep 23, 2008
Advertising Week 2008 is under way, and it promises several interesting media-related events that will certainly be of interest to AAAA members across all disciplines. For the latest on these free programs, be sure to visit the AAAA Web site.
Media Matters: Why Agencies Need Audited Circulation for Business-to-Business Media
AAAA SmartBrief | Sep 19, 2008
With increasingly more advertisers seeking higher levels of advertising accountability as a media planning "best practice," it is important to evaluate business/trade publications on the basis of their audited circulation. While a good majority of publications are audited, a number of publications elect to ignore the importance of having their circulations audited by either BPA, ABC or other established auditing companies. Additionally, there are industry categories where all, or many, of the publications serving a segment of the market are not audited. The importance of this third-party insight can provide revealing details and data needed to make informed decisions.
To emphasize this point, "buysafemedia" is an industry-wide initiative supported by 12 major marketing and business associations, including the 4A's, which is focused on the importance of selecting audited publications for a media plan. The program targets client-side buyers of media, who unknowingly may have put their advertising investments at risk by selecting unverified media.
AAAA members can learn more about this initiative on the AAAA Web site.
Technology Matters: Survey on Hardware/Software & Systems in Agencies
AAAA SmartBrief | Sep 18, 2008
What is the most popular SPAM filter in use in agencies? What do agencies use for digital asset management? How many agencies use a new business software tool? Which is more prevalent, Quark or InDesign? How does your technology inventory compare with other agencies your size?
You can find the answers to these and other technology-related questions in a recently released 4A's Survey on Hardware/Software & Systems in Agencies. The study includes questions on 40 IT-related topics including operating systems, SPAM filters, firewalls, digital asset management, backup systems, antivirus, e-mail, programming languages, video editing, project management, multimedia applications and conferencing tools. The survey summarizes the responses of 156 agencies in five size groups.
AAAA Members can download the survey results online at the AAAA Web site.
AAAA Tips, Tools & Tactics Series Webinar: Sept. 23
AAAA SmartBrief | Sep 17, 2008
The AAAA is pleased to announce that our next Tips, Tools & Tactics Webinar, "The November 2008 Election: What it Means for Marketing Services Agencies" will be held Sept. 23, 6 p.m. EDT, and you can listen in right from the comfort of your own computer.
AAAA Executive Vice President, Director of Government Relations Dick O'Brien will discuss the political, regulatory and commercial environment that will affect our businesses in 2009 and beyond.
For more information on this webinar event, and to reserve your spot at the listening table, visit the AAAA Web site.
Transforming Account Management
AAAA SmartBrief | Sep 17, 2008
Faced with a difficult economy, account management leadership has never been more important. To navigate this challenging world, account managers will need a new and special set of skills.
Join us on Wednesday, Sept. 24, in New York City, for the 4A's 2008 Account Management Conference. Our program will include industry leaders discussing the current environment, the changing landscape, and the skills necessary for account managers to assume a role critically important to agencies and advertisers.
In addition to industry superstars such as Shelly Lazarus, Nina DiSesa, Bob Greenberg, Laura Desmond, Carl Johnson and Nancy Hill, you'll hear from CEOs across the country with insights about how account management is being transformed at their agencies.
With its timely and valuable insights, this conference is a must-attend event for everybody interested in account management. View the full program agenda, speaker profiles, and register online at the AAAA Web site.
Invitation from the Joint Policy Committee on Broadcast Talent Relations
AAAA SmartBrief | Sep 16, 2008
The ANA/AAAA Joint Policy Committee on Broadcast Talent Relations (JPC) is the multi-employer bargaining group that negotiates the collective bargaining agreements with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) that govern the employment of actors who perform in television and radio commercials. In its role, the JPC represents the interests of advertisers and advertising agencies throughout the United States. SAG and AFTRA represent the interests of the actors.
The JPC invites you to take part in a very important online survey that will assist in determining which provisions in the current collective bargaining agreements are of most concern to the people who work with and under the agreements day to day. It is the JPC's hope that there will be widespread participation in the survey across all aspects of commercial production, from casting to trafficking. This is the first time the JPC has sought such information so everyone's participation is extremely valuable.
AAAA Members can learn more and sign up at the AAAA Web site.
4A's Tips, Tools & Tactics Webinar: Sept. 23
AAAA SmartBrief | Sep 15, 2008
The November election will influence a host of issues, including the economy, homeland and personal security, health care, the deficit, employment, education and job training. As such, this election has significant implications for the marketing, media and communications industries.
The AAAA's next Tips, Tools, and Tactics Webinar, "The November Election: What it Means for Marketing Service Agencies" will feature AAAA Executive Vice President, Director of Government Relations, Dick O'Brien on Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. EDT. Dick will share his perspectives on the upcoming election and alert AAAA members to the key issues that are relevant to media and marketing services.
Learn more about this important webinar and register online at the AAAA Web site.
Walking the Walk of Value-Based Compensation
AAAA SmartBrief | Sep 12, 2008
You have heard talk about value-based compensation, now learn how to walk it. This Nov. 11 to Nov. 12, in Chicago, you will have the opportunity to learn the principles and basic strategies of value-based compensation in order to apply it in your own agency (Day 1). For those well-versed in the principles, Day 2 will be filled with real-world, practical examples from progressive agencies that will help you move from time-based billing to value pricing.
Register for one of the days or both for more comprehensive training. To learn more or to register, please visit the AAAA Web site.
RETIREMENT PLAN MYTH: "Only financial institutions are able to administer 401(k) plans."
AAAA SmartBrief | Sep 12, 2008
There are other vendors who can administer 401(k) plans. However, the more important issue may be the relationship of the administrator with the investment manager. How are sales loads and broker commissions affecting your plan's net expenses? While many financial institutions offer retirement plan programs, your retirement plan needs may be better served through AAAA Benefits which operates independently. With our program, our independent investment advisor guides us with the selection of the mutual funds offered by the retirement fund program. Not only are our funds diversified in investment style but they are diversified among different mutual fund companies as well. For more information or a review of your current Retirement Plan, please contact Tom Kennedy at tkennedy@aaaabenefits.com, or Elyse Congdon at econgdon@aaaabenefits.com.
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