Toggl Academy e03: Increase your profits from existing clients with Rory Spence (preview)
Introduction to the Webinar
Welcome and Introduction
- Emilia introduces herself as the community manager at Toggle Academy, stepping in for Ilya.
- She highlights the economic instability of 2023 and its impact on businesses, particularly agencies.
- Emilia announces Rory Spence from The Wow Company as a guest expert to discuss challenges faced by agencies.
Understanding Agency Challenges
Overview of The Wow Company
- Rory Spence introduces himself and explains that The Wow Company is an accountancy firm specializing in marketing agencies.
- They work with agencies typically having between eight to eighty staff members and a turnover of around one million pounds or more.
- Besides compliance services, they provide strategic advice tailored specifically for agencies.
Webinar Structure and Goals
Session Format
- Emilia outlines the structure: Rory will present for about 30 minutes followed by a Q&A session.
- Attendees will receive a recording of the session, which will also be available on the Toggle blog.
Increasing Profits from Existing Clients
Key Focus Areas
- Rory emphasizes that while acquiring new business is challenging, there are alternative methods to increase revenue through existing clients.
- He notes that much of what will be discussed may not be new but aims to motivate attendees to implement these strategies effectively.
Strategies for Upselling
Establishing Responsibility
- Rory stresses the importance of having someone within the agency responsible for upselling efforts similar to how new business is managed.
Clear Planning
Pitching to Existing Clients: Strategies for Success
Importance of Clear Planning and Targets
- Emphasizes the need for a structured approach when pitching to existing clients, including defining touchpoints and identifying key clients to engage with.
- Highlights that simply stating an intention to upsell is insufficient; a detailed strategy must be developed for effective execution.
- Stresses the importance of setting clear revenue targets from both new business and existing client upselling opportunities to measure success.
Team Engagement in Upselling Process
- Discusses the necessity of involving the entire team in the upselling process, not just assigning responsibility to one person.
- Notes that team members should build strong relationships with clients, ensuring excellent service as a foundation for successful upselling.
- Encourages proactive communication among team members about client challenges, fostering an environment where potential upsell opportunities can be identified.
Case Study: Innovation Hub Concept
- Introduces a case study illustrating how agencies can redirect their efforts from new business pitches towards nurturing existing client relationships.
- Suggests that many agencies overlook their loyal clients who already appreciate their services, presenting an opportunity for further collaboration on new projects.
Implementation of New Ideas During Challenges
- Describes how one agency created an "Innovation Hub" during COVID, allowing them to brainstorm ideas tailored for existing clients amidst challenging circumstances.
- Explains that this initiative was born out of necessity when regular work was paused, leading to creative solutions being proposed proactively by a small dedicated team.
Navigating Client Relationships During COVID-19
Initial Challenges in Client Engagement
- The agency sought to engage clients through lunch meetings to discuss innovative ideas, but initial responses were lukewarm.
- Clients expressed appreciation for the ideas but cited budget constraints due to the pandemic, leading them to pause marketing efforts.
Positive Outcomes Post-COVID
- As the situation improved and marketing budgets were reinstated, clients returned to revisit previously discussed ideas.
- The agency successfully secured new projects based on pitches made months or even a year prior, demonstrating resilience and foresight.
Ongoing Innovation and Relationship Building
- The agency maintains an "Innovation Hub" that continuously generates proactive ideas for existing clients, enhancing client relationships.