Oct 4, 2009
The Creative Nexus
SPOILER: I am going to say good things about a company I get paid to say good things about!
I recently started consulting for a group of creative companies who are looking to step up their businesses and wanted to launch their long history of working together under a “virtual agency” type structure.
I have actually worked with or hired diferent members of the group on and off for 10 years now, they have helped put together marketing campaigns, product launches, websites, product videos, facebook campaigns, print campaigns, viral videos and PR campaigns for various companies I have worked for.
When they approached me with the virtual agency idea I was intrigued, I had not had much exposure to the Ad Agengy world so I got my google out.. my research showed that the idea first got a lot of attention in 2006/2007 and that the virtual agency went from theory to proven business strategy over the next few years.
Some of the team is located on Santa Monica’s 3rd street but the majority is remote, they calibrate using tools like Skype, Twitter, Basecamp from 37signals and various other online collaboration tools.
a flexible organization that would be dedicated to generating strategic and creative solutions for clients? Instead of running a shop full of employees, why not contract work out to small, ad hoc teams that would offer the best available talent for any given project? Each team would work directly for a client. Its only product would be its ideas.
via Fast Company
Many of these “virtual agencies” are an outgrowth of entrepreneurial ventures by seasoned PR professionals. Many grew disenchanted with the waste inherent in the corporate and traditional brick-and-mortar agency worlds. They offer clients a fresh alternative to high rates for green talent, one-size-fits-all staffing approaches and high team turnover that is typical of traditional PR firms.
Today, independent communications professionals and owners of small communications boutiques are forming partnerships to offer corporations all of the benefits of a full-service firm without the down sides.
The group members have worked as a team for years, for my last company they all came together to create a complete product launch including web site, print and facebook campaign and a video.
