Training and development for new business roles has been sadly neglected in the agency world, but since its launch in 2005, the Blossom Programme has become something of a kitemark for our industry. Our director team has unparalleled experience guiding marketing agencies in new business best practice plus we have recruited and trained hundreds of new business professionals - many of whom have gone on to forge high-flying careers. Inevitably the work we do exposes us to the good, the bad and the debatable approaches to new business success. To share some of our learnings we've put together a few thoughts on different areas of this subject. We hope you find them useful.
It is surprising how few training and HR development options marketing agencies have available to them, especially when you consider how other industries substantially invest in this area. Click here to read how Blossom bridges the training gap for new business professionals..
The full value of good new business people is underestimated and therefore underdeveloped by many agencies - but not all. We are increasingly hiring good new business people for clients who are looking to bring flexible, commercially aware individuals into their companies as the building blocks for their businesses in a number of aspects. Click here to read the full article.
At Blossom we take cultural fit very seriously. Having interviewed 1000’s of new business people we've noted the broad personality types that agencies employ. Here’s our somewhat tongue-in-cheek assessment of them. Perhaps a few you'll recognise!
Developing an in-house new business strategy is not just about HR. The right person as the voice of your agency is of course one of the most important factors. But ensuring they have the tools, systems and supporting marketing material is vital. Blossom addresses all of these issues, and more, to ensure our clients' success. We reviewed the performance of all of the people we have placed and trained and compared this against our annual studies that monitor the market in general. To see our findings please click here.
Our clients rely on us to know what's going on in the market and to a large extent we do. But our understanding is by no means complete. So over the summer of 2010 we distributed an anonymous and in-depth questionnaire to just over 2,000 UK marketing agency owners and MDs. Our objective is to build a more complete picture of how the industry resources, plans and manages its new business activity. The results of the survey provide an overview of the new business function right across the marketing services sector, but critically, also help us to determine which behaviours deliver the best results. Click here to read the full report.
If you're an old hand at attending new business meetings this advice isn't for you. If however you're new to this area or have struggled to convert as much as you'd like face-to-face, then what follows are some simple nuts and bolts tips to help you. Click here to read the full piece.
At Blossom we believe it's essential that anyone looking to undertake a new business role makes an informed decision on whether it's the right career for them. If you are thinking about this then we strongly recommend you read this guide. Click here.
Companies need good new business people, but frankly they're in short supply and they and their recruitment agents seem to repeatedly make the same mistakes. We set out here 5 of the most practical pointers, which you may find useful if you decide to take the independent route. Read the full piece here.
Recruitment agencies' understanding of new business, especially how it works in the marketing services context is only skin deep... Read the full piece here.
We are often approached by marketing agencies for advice on how their new business people should be rewarded financially. Blossom has consulted on the best renumeration packages but money is only one part of the reward process. To read our thoughts in this area click here
.
When considering new business many agencies feel the starting point is a senior appointment. But new business is not a ‘role’ – it’s a kaleidoscope of different functions. At Blossom we believe new business HAS to be led by an individual or team with the hunger to learn and energy to proactively reach out to your audience. Read the full piece here.
Blossom speaks with 1000's of new business professionals each year. From executive to director level. Each year we complete a survey to understand the challenges new business professionals face in their agency environments. The results are revealing... even worrying. For an overview of this survey click here.
