Outdoor reps try hardest to visit media agencies while magazines do least, survey suggests
Sales staff from outdoor companies visit media agencies more often, are happier in their jobs and more service orientated than any other medium, a survey of agency staff has suggested.
And according to the survey by Media i, sales efforts by magazine companies have seen the biggest decline over the last four years, with staff least likely to be seen as making an effort to visit agencies and being seen as the least service orientated.
Meanwhile, newspapers are least likely to be seen as either an innovative or creative advertising channel, and least likely to provide relevant insights. And 38% of those working in newspapers plan to look for a new job before Christmas.
‘Desktop Digital lolza
I’ve been saying for years that a fair proportion of the magazine / newspaper malaise is that sales reps have literally given up on trying to actually sell anything.
They have convinced themselves that they cannot compete. Well if your foot ain’t jammin’ the door open, you are perfectly correct.
I’ve been saying for years that a fair proportion of the magazine / newspaper malaise is that sales reps have literally given up on trying to actually sell anything.
They have convinced themselves that they cannot compete. Well if your foot ain’t jammin’ the door open, you are perfectly correct.
Simon and Tim
This story is beneath you. A survey of media agency staff advising on which media companies have the most active and ‘happiest’ reps … puhlease.
Do you think there might be a correlation between the sectors that ‘reportedly’ reach out the least and those who have started asking hard questions about media agency kickbacks (sorry rebates)?
This is like asking Malcolm Turnbull whether voters think he is doing a good job.
This site is a lot prettier than it use to be but with a lot less credibility.
Unbelievable.
Dear Unbelievable,
It seems you don’t understand the survey / didn’t read the article / follow any links. The happiness of reps is self-reported.
But good work dragging the rebate/transparency story in, although you didn’t need to… had you bothered to read the article in full and follow the links therein, you’d know transparency was covered and the results are as anyone would expect.
Wouldn’t the world, not to mention Mumbrella, be a much better place if the keyboard warriors took the time to read articles fully, take the time to think things over from various points of view and present a considered point of view of their own rather than knee-jerking their latest, sarcasm-soaked outrage from the half-light of ignorance?
Oh snap!
Having done mag drops to numerous bigger agencies over a number of years I find this laughable. Unless they were incentivised to get off their butts with donuts, prizes etc then often, no one came out to speak to us or showed any interest in our publications. Might be interesting to see what some media think of the agencies.
If you aren’t Major Media,just try getting a return phone call or even an e-mail response from a media agency. An appointment your’e kidding!!
Gobsmacked. Mag drops are part of the problem for magazines. Worked 15 years ago, not now.
Pretty obvious really when newspapers and magazines have less technology or innovation within their main products so it’s harder to get in the door with something fresh to say. As media spend heads towards digital and the new digital outdoor environments then this becomes even harder to chase that smaller share of spend.
I have only seen that covered is AdNews and international trade media.
Totally agree with Gobsmacked and Robbie the Robot. Media agencies are totally useless for magazine ad reps unless you are one of the two majors. When you do get to speak to someone, they have usually been in the job for a matter of months and are not a decision maker. And no – they cannot give you the direct number or email of the decision maker (as the fact is they aren’t interested). For a media owner or seasoned sales manager it is better in 99% of cases to avoid the agency entirely and strike up a relationship with the business owner or marketing manager of the advertiser directly. If it is a major company or govt. department that has to go through an agency then don’t waste your time as the agency has already worked out who they will be spending with based on the size of the media company and the kickbacks available.
You want a meeting with a media agency? You want them to consider your proposition? Start with selling the size of your kickback. No kickback incentive …. you probably don’t have anything of real value then (they will say).
Spot on Believable.
Mind you, I think it is some other part of the body than the knee that they are jerking.
As a publisher of 4 very successful local newspapers I feel qualified to say that we don’t waste our time with agencies ( with the exception of two who are excellent) .
Agency staff gave up on print before we gave up on them, with many having no geographical knowledge whatsoever or will to even consider local and regional print.
Local and regional print is a trusted source of news and does not compete for impressions in an overpopulated space, it is a highly targeted opportunity and delivers advertisers high ROI.
Why would we chase agencies with a total disregard for print and then wait up to 120 days to get paid?
This survey should be titled ‘which reps buy the agency the most gifts, invites to social gatherings and total smooshing.’
Agency life is driven by social interactions, whether the solution is suitable or not, the more ‘freebies’ they get, the more they’ll sway towards using their preferred medium.
Desktop Digital could be anything, what about news media desktop websites? duh…..