Process
We love diagrams. And you're justified to expect to see a good one here. Sorry to disappoint you.
Every professional services firm has a so-called proprietary process with a clever brand name like Thinkifying or Creatification. And they go on and on about it, like they're the first humans to perform a situation analysis. In Texas, they call it having all hat and no cattle. It's navel gazing at its finest... just get on with the work.
Our process is called, well, our process. We keep it simple, mostly asking a lot of questions to help us connect the dots and see the gaps. Ultimately, we land on a clear assessment of what's happening (or not), and then investigate several solutions, prescribe one, and get to work building and implementing it.
Of course there is the nitty-gritty of how to create a story or strategy. Suffice to say that we have a process, but boring you with the details of how the sausage is made is not why you're here, right? You just want the sausage. Likewise, we manage the details like budgets, timelines, and briefs to keep us on track, but we just don't feel the need to talk about them like they're Nobel-worthy.
Perhaps it sounds unsophisticated? Maybe so, but we'd prefer to call it pragmatic by delicately balancing thoroughness, expediency, and your entrepreneurial instincts.
Fees
Clients and agencies are always anxious about fees... and for good reason, since resources are always limited: financial (yours) and time (ours). To address the anxiety, we have a couple of basic policies:
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All of our engagements are fixed fee, period. Of course everything takes time, and at some point you gotta sleep, but the price you paid for your Mercedes wasn't based on how long you thought it should take to assemble. Same goes for us.
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We will not change an engagement fee without changing the scope. Since we only have one standard for strategic thinking, creativity, and client service, chipping away at a fee imperils the integrity of all three; a sub-optimal outcome for everyone, and a bad way to start a relationship.
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You pick the number. This is not our first rodeo and it's not yours either. We both know that you have a budget, so let's not do the "gimme a proposal and I'll let you know" charade. That's for amateurs and you're a pro. We'll write a scope that's fair and reasonable, and you can decide - not us - how much our services are worth.
Our Best Clients
Our best relationships are typically with clients who share one or more of the following characteristics:
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They are entrepreneurs and principals. Yes, they are a pain-in-the-ass, but they are also decisive risk-takers. In our book, that's the right kind of trade-off.
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They pay for performance. Good work has value. And good work that drives revenue has great value. We're willing to roll the dice on our work if you are.
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They push us. We like that; but we push back too. The result is great work. Amen.
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They understand natural law. Specifically, good work takes time; and that no matter how hard they try, nine men and one woman cannot make a baby in one month.
Salute the same ideas? Let's talk.