1. TM
Your room is waiting.
Simple Video Meetings
How Agencies Bond with Clients, Build Stronger
Teams & Do More with Less
iMeet for Marketing Agencies | Your brainstorming room is waiting.
2. TM
iMeet for Marketing Agencies | Your brainstorming room is waiting.
The New Rules for Marketing meetings are how marketing work gets
done. In many cases, the better these
meetings go, the better the campaigns
EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED AND EVERY
ultimately are.
INTERACTION MUST PRODUCE RESULTS
Despite email, text and mobile
Marketing today is dramatically different
communications there is no substitute
from the days when – supposedly – half
for face-to-face meetings when it comes
of all budgets were wasted. (Of course,
to engaging clients. Non-verbal cues are
no one knew which half was wasted, as
too important. In fact, they represent up
the old joke goes.) To succeed in the 21st
to 80% of all communications. Chemistry
century, marketers must be accountable
matters too much, especially when you’re
and data-driven. That means tracking every
on the short list of agencies in a pitch,
interaction with target audiences and every
you’re competing to gain more of a
dollar invested to ensure it generates value.
client’s business, or trying to maintain a
But it’s not just a matter of measurability. relationship over the long term.
It’s about doing more with less, and
While it’s the job of agencies to help
innovating cost-effectively. Connecting with
clients find their competitive edge, it’s
fast-moving, highly empowered consumers
just as important that they demonstrate
across a range of new channels and
their own. Top agencies must show an
platforms. Getting the most from tighter
innovative streak, especially in relation to
budgets, and hitting all deadlines on very
communicating and project management.
tight schedules, even when resources are
Offering highly effective and efficient
stretched. And producing great creative,
techniques for collaboration shows that
compelling stories and irresistible brands.
a company knows how to streamline key
As much as marketing has changed, processes and drive results quickly.
however, a few constants remain. Like the
Today’s agencies must be adept with all
need for strong client relationships. And
kinds of technology – web-based tools
productive collaborations across the entire
for short seminars and slide-sharing,
account team – creatives, account planners,
FTP sites for transmitting digital assets,
relationship managers, media buyers and
creative briefs and media plans, iPhones,
agency leadership.
BlackBerries, tablets and notebooks. Using
WHAT YOUR MEETINGS SAY these tools shows currency with the latest
ABOUT YOUR AGENCY channels and platforms. Yes, it’s vital to
show the world your agency is technology
Marketing means meetings. From client
forward, but it’s just as important to provide
presentations, strategy sessions and
the personal touch.
regular project updates to impromptu
brainstorming and creative reviews –
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3. TM
iMeet for Marketing Agencies | Your brainstorming room is waiting.
Many agencies use some form of video Marketing is all about relevant
conferencing, too, often the costly kind that communication with an audience. The
requires big up-front investments and lots more personal the connection, the better.
of help from the IT department. The natural That’s just as true for client relationships
next step for many companies is to move to and productive account teams as it is
online video meetings. A simpler, more cost- for reaching consumers. But taking
effective approach – like personal online video control of meetings and personalizing
meeting rooms – allows for a personal touch communications is not just about
in conducting business with clients and for relationships. It also saves time and
strengthening account and project teams. money, provided your agency is using
tools that are intuitive, efficient and well-
For account directors and managers,
suited to the tasks at hand.
replacing a phone call with a quick face-
to-face interaction allows a better read on
clients’ non-verbal reactions. For creatives,
a flexible “anytime” virtual venue allows
How Agencies Can Use
them to connect and work together on
Online Video Meeting Rooms
messaging and imagery when inspiration
strikes. That means stronger bonds with
remote resources or free-lancers. Lastly, the » Touch base quickly, easily and personally
entire team can get together for quick status with key client contacts – smoothing
updates and reviews without the tedium of a ongoing communications.
long, droning conference call. » Hold informal update meetings with
Though meetings are important, they individual stakeholders – keeping in touch
shouldn’t get in the way of real work. with the business.
Studies have concluded that up to 50% of » Provide early “sneak-peek” reviews of
all meeting time is wasted and nearly half developing creative concepts – using
of all managers feel overwhelmed by their “reality checks” to reduce risk.
meeting schedules. We’ve all seen the signs –
endless presentation decks that put everyone » Personalize project kick-off and de-brief
to sleep, agendas as long as Russian novels, meetings – ensuring all participants stay
participants checking their emails under the engaged.
table, web interfaces that hang up, entire
» Convene account teams to review strategy,
days lost to back-to-back-to-back meetings.
work up briefs and media plans – gather
To be effective, teams must be fully engaged
and integrate all inputs more efficiently.
and focused. The truth is, great leaders hold
great meetings. And that’s especially true in » Connect remote creative resources for
marketing. brainstorming and ideation sessions –
saving on travel costs and enabling
collaboration.
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4. TM
iMeet for Marketing Agencies | Your brainstorming room is waiting.
GRAPPLING WITH THE TIME, SPACE AND highly varied marketing efforts. Especially
SPEED OF BUSINESS in digital channels, constant updates and
optimization efforts help keep your clients
Marketing pros often need to be in two
top of mind in an attention deficit world.
places at once, attending the tens of
Plans have to be re-evaluated dozens of
millions of meetings that occur each and
times to account for sudden market and
every day in the U.S. alone. Business travel
competitive shifts. Marketing strategy and
leaves your team waiting in airports almost
briefs may need continual refining. And
as many hours as they spend in meetings.
budgets are adjusted and re-adjusted, and
In the modern global marketplace, office
then changed some more. No wonder
branches for both agencies and clients are
account managers must communicate
spread far and wide. Resources often work
multiple times a day – with their client
remotely. Short of teleportation, a web-
contacts and all the resources on the team.
based, “always-on” meeting room that
clients and teams can “step into” at any BETTER MEETINGS = BETTER
time is an excellent method for gathering RELATIONSHIPS & BETTER DELIVERABLES
remote professionals together to get them
Online video meetings offer breakthrough
all on the same page, understanding the
gains in efficiency without adding
goals and framework of the project. More
significant expense to client service. For
than ever, project teams require closer
marketing agencies, the benefits include:
integration for better brainstorming and
stronger bonds. » Lower costs based on reduced travel
expenses for project teams
Luckily, typical marketers are open to new
ideas and new ways of working. They can » Clearer visibility into a client’s reaction
be counted on to take part in meetings and ongoing state of mind
via their iPads and smartphones – whether
they’re in an airport lounge, hotel lobby » Faster response to strategic changes or
or working from home. Employees from project adjustments
Generation X and Y expect to communicate
» Closer collaboration among remote
digitally and are just as relaxed in front of
team members and across disciplines
a webcam as in a conference room. They
(e.g., creative, media, account planning)
are also comfortable with a less formal
approach, and love to have a little fun in their » Faster “ramp-up” on new accounts
meetings – especially the creative types.
» Impressive communication tools that
As far-flung as business has become, it also sell the agency
moves at higher velocity. While marketing
campaigns once had fixed beginnings
and ends, now the strategic, media and
creative work must support ongoing and
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5. TM
iMeet for Marketing Agencies | Your brainstorming room is waiting.
Clients will realize important benefits, too,
including: What to Look for in Online
Video Meeting Technology
» A richer and more detailed view of the
agency’s approach and talent
EASE OF USE: Ideally, a video conferencing
» Quick access to account managers for service should be as easy as making a
project updates and the ability to ask phone call or signing into a website.
questions
AFFORDABILITY & RELIABILITY: Many
» More engagement and interaction with corporate video networks are costly,
teams for clear feedback complex and prone to technical difficulties.
Internet-based services largely avoid such
» Reduced travel costs issues.
The bottom line? Video meetings allow SIMPLICITY: Online meeting platforms
marketers to do more and better work within typically distract users with too many
shrinking project budgets and still maximize features, clunky interfaces and required
business productivity and profit. downloads. Focus on technology that is
ready for everyone, emphasizes the people
Once agencies recognize the potential power
communicating, and allows sharing of
of online video and personal meeting rooms
simple content, like videos, documents and
in boosting productivity and strengthening
social media links.
client relationships, the next step is to evalu-
ate the options and find the right system and PRIVACY: Marketing users should have
tools based on unique needs and objectives. a private room or space to preserve
As a recent report on enterprise video sug- confidentiality.
gested, companies should not “simply focus
on technical standards, but rather “on the
” ALWAYS-ON AVAILABILITY: Because
characteristics that are most relevant to the schedules are tight, look for tools that
business. ” enable spontaneous video meetings,
without arduous set-up or scheduling
For marketing firms, those characteristics are process.
usually simplicity, ease of use and the ability
to share simple documents and information SUPPORT FOR MULTIPLE USERS:
(see sidebar on page 3). From the perspec- Meetings often require more than two
tive of IT leaders, who will influence these people; make sure the service can integrate
decisions (or make them directly), additional the entire team.
video solutions must be self-contained, with
MOBILITY: User-friendly mobile
built-in support and a generally small foot-
interfaces and seamless integration with
print. In other words, they cannot be disrup-
smartphones, tablets and other handheld
tive to implement, difficult to support or
devices.
expensive to maintain.
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6. TM
iMeet for Marketing Agencies | Your brainstorming room is waiting.
Welcome to iMeet®
GREAT RELATIONSHIPS START
WITH GREAT MEETINGS
The Proven Way for Marketing Agencies to:
» Enhance and personalize client service
» Share and socialize “big ideas” and
project information
» Integrate project teams
» Foster highly creative and productive » No difficult downloads or complex
collaborations interfaces –all participants need is a
webcam and a browser
iMeet is as simple as a phone call, but much
more enriching, powerful and fun. That’s » Your iMeet room is always ready,
why we believe the world’s most productive for formal meetings, drop-by”
“
meetings happen in iMeet. brainstorming and quick check-ins
iMeet combines crystal clear, HD-like » Individual rooms ensure privacy, but
multipoint video (up to 15 web cameras are perfect for teams – up to 15 people
simultaneously turned on) in a virtual, can participate at once
personal room that’s perfect for impromptu
brainstorming, quick project reviews,
and informational updates. Designed for
clarity and instant access to anyone, iMeet
combines the best parts of conference
calling, video conferencing, and social
networking – all cleaned-up, simplified and
ready for your agency.
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7. TM
iMeet for Marketing Agencies | Your brainstorming room is waiting.
BETTER THAN A PHONE CALL OR EMAIL “iMeet is refreshingly simple and
Engage clients: intuitive. Personalized rooms and
social media make meetings friendly.
”
» Assess their attitude, enthusiasm and
Roopam Jain
satisfaction with natural conversations
Senior Analyst Frost & Sullivan
» Share information with a personal
touch
BE RESOURCEFUL, RESPONSIBLE
» Link to relevant social media outlets
AND STILL GET PERSONAL
» Show your stuff – share great new
concepts and big ideas
» Drive collaboration among remote
resources and team members
» See who’s talking – and get to know
your colleagues
» Easy links to strategic planning
documents, creative briefs, media
plans, project schematics, schedules
and more
» Position your agency as client-centric
and innovative
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