AGENCY SELECTION

There are thousands of agencies in the United States. Figuring out which one is the right partner for your company requires objectivity and understanding, and a proven process that is both effective and adaptable. That's why more corporate marketers are turning to Pile to assist with their agency search. Using industry experience, creative sensibility and our proven process, we work with clients to identify, select and initiate agency relationship(s) in the areas of advertising, media, public relations, direct marketing, digital, multicultural, sales promotion and more. The client, industry and category differences necessitate that each Agency Selection process be tailored and focused on the specific needs and situations. But regardless of the process specifics, we believe to deliver the right result our methodology and approach must do the following:

• Be comprehensive: Pile and Company’s approach will ensure that every possible agency is considered that meets the specific Selection Criteria developed by the marketing team.
• Provide a level playing field: Every participating agency is given the same information, evaluated against the same filter of the selection criteria and given the same access to the client.
• Simulate the real-life working relationship: The standard agency review process can be an artificial one, allowing few exposures between client and agency and not providing a forum to see what it is like to work together. Pile and Company’s approach builds in the steps that allow for team interaction and an understanding of cultural fit. Pile and Company believes that the client should meet their agency team at the outset, and that the agency should have a clear understanding both of the client organization and the individuals that comprise the selection team.
• Set reasonable expectations: In every Pile and Company review there is clarity of what is expected by both the agencies and the client at each step in the process.
• Positive launch of the relationship: In order to ensure that selection process is truly successful, it is critical to kick-off the relationship with clear expectations, goals and processes.

The Pile Agency Selection approach works for a wide range of business needs for companies of all sizes. Whether your company is looking for an integrated agency solution or to establish a best in class partnership within a specific discipline, our process and experience delivers. Since 1987, Pile has conducted Agency Selection for companies as diverse as Comcast, iShares, Weight Watchers, CVS/Caremark, IKEA and Liberty Mutual. Regardless of size or nature of need, Pile provides a formal, expert process to evaluate a list of thousands of potential partners and select the right one. Since 1987, Pile and Company has conducted Agency Selection for firms as diverse as 3M, Heineken USA, Verizon Wireless and Energizer Corp. to Comcast Corporation and Buffalo Wild Wings Restaurants. Regardless of size or nature of need, Pile and Company provides a formal, expert process to evaluate a list of thousands of potential partners and select the right one.

In addition to the traditional "AOR" relationship, Pile and Company helps advertisers find best of breed project shops. There is an increasing tendency of corporations to tap into multiple agencies for project work, reflective of the realization by many advertisers that no one agency can be expert at all things. Pile and Company’s effective and efficient “Quick Search” enables clients to identify the best shop for a project within two to three weeks.

For more information on our Agency Selection process, contact us.