Creative Agency Account Manager Podcast

• From employee to advocate: Why account managers should build a personal brand, with Claudia Cardinali

  Welcome to episode 136. We’re talking about a topic that’s becoming a real game-changer for creative agencies - the power of personal branding and employee-generated content. If you're an account manager, this one's especially for you. Clients are increasingly choosing to work with people, not just businesses. So the way you show up online can directly impact trust, relationships and even new business opportunities. I chat to Claudia Cardinali, the Strategy Director for Personal Branding Agency, Great Influence where she works closely with CEOs & founders and senior leadership teams on their public image. Claudia has worked to build the personal brands of Political Party Leaders, Sunday Times bestselling authors, Premier League football players, Journalists & Unicorn Entrepreneurs. She was awarded a LinkedIn Top Voice last year, has gained an audience of over 65k followers and has built her career by sharing her thoughts on the platform, particularly around 'Becoming A Manager' and 'Employee Generated Content'. In this conversation, we covered: How employee visibility strengthens client relationships and eases handovers Why personal branding isn’t just for founders Practical tips for sharing content online, even if you’re not sure where to start How agencies can create a culture that encourages their teams to show up And how AI can help make the whole process quicker and easier If you're looking to build your presence online and become an even greater asset to your clients and your agency, you’ll get so much value from this. Claudia’s message is clear - personal branding builds trust, strengthens client relationships, and helps you stand out as a true advocate for your agency. https://greatinfluence.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ccardinali9/ And if you want to sharpen your client development skills even further, check out my Account Kickstarter programme - a self-paced, eight-session online course designed to help you grow and retain your agency accounts with confidence. Plus, we’ve just added a brand-new bonus: AI for Account Managers - packed with practical tools to help you save time, personalise client communications and uncover new growth opportunities. All available now inside your Account Kickstarter dashboard. https://www.accountmanagementskills.com/account-kickstarter

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• Smaller, Faster, More Human: The Future of Agencies, with Carl Smith

  Welcome to episode 135. There’s a quiet shift happening in the agency world - and today’s episode gets right into it. More and more agencies are choosing to stay lean, move faster, and build businesses that are not just profitable - but more human. And that shift is changing everything, from how we use AI, to how we lead, to what it means to be an account manager. Carl Smith leads The Bureau, a community that connects and supports agency leaders. A former theater major, he ran his agency nGen Works for 12 years, experimenting with unconventional management. After attending a Bureau event in 2012, he saw the power of community and took over in 2016. Now, Carl helps leaders navigate the challenges of running an agency, ensuring no one feels alone. Through Slack, events, and collaborative programs, The Bureau fosters real connections and growth. When he’s not building community, he’s running, recording, or speaking about leading humans. In this episode, Carl shares with me: - Why staying small is becoming a competitive advantage - How agency leaders are managing burnout, uncertainty and shifting business models - How AI is accelerating workflow and value-based pricing - Why Gen Z is redefining what an agency is and why they’re not calling it an agency at all - And what the future of account management looks like in this changing landscape If you’re looking for community and connection in these changing times, do follow Carl Smith on LinkedIn and check out what the Bureau has to offer. Carl and the team are doing brilliant work to support agency leaders who not only want to stay ahead of the changes but feel less alone at the same time. https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-w-smith/ https://bureauofdigital.com/event/leadership-love-portland-oregon If you’re leading client relationships and want to keep developing as the landscape shifts, don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter at https://www.accountmanagementskills.com I share practical client management tips, AI tools for the account management role, news about upcoming podcast episodes and you’ll be the first to hear about trainings to help you stay confident as an account manager or agency leader.

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• The Impact of AI on SEO agencies, with Kevin Gibbons

  Welcome to episode 134. I spoke to Kevin Gibbons, founding director of Re:signal, a specialist ecommerce SEO agency, driving organic search growth for clients including Under Armour, FatFace and ASICS. Kevin frequently writes/speaks within the search industry. Kevin covers: - how AI is shaking up SEO and what that means for agencies and their clients. - how AI is changing search and where it might go next. - the key conversations agencies should be having with clients right now. - how to think about visibility in AI search results and LLMs - how agencies can use AI to work more efficiently and lots, lots more. I took away so much from this discussion, particularly around how agencies should be preparing for the shift towards AI driven search. If you'd like to connect with Kevin, you can find him posting regularly on LinkedIn and I'd highly recommend you give him a follow. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevingibbons/ https://resignal.com If you're looking for more tips, strategies, and practical guidance on how AI is influencing client relationship management, account development, and account growth, then make sure you sign up for my newsletter at https://www.accountmanagementskills.com. I share regular updates, insights from expert guests, and tips about account management, and also training opportunities to help you stay one step ahead.

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• The AI business consultancy, with Tom Head

  Welcome to episode 133. I'm chatting with Founder of G3NR8, Tom Head, about how AI is impacting business. G3NR8 is a consultancy for a new age, innovating business with AI. Tom has spent two decades in digital and built multiple 7 figure agencies. He’s worked with brands such as Red Bull Racing, JP Morgan, Tesco, and The Guardian and is now helping companies succeed with AI by providing training, consultancy, research, and building out the right AI strategy to keep them ahead of the competition. We talk about: • where we are in terms of AI’s evolution and advancement for both our clients and us as agencies. • why it's important to understand the client's needs and meet them where they are. • how AI is helping agencies quickly analyse data and uncover insights to help drive the creative output. • some best practices for agencies when using AI tools • how clients are starting to question the origin of content and where it's being generated from, and questioning the value and the role of an agency. You can follow Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-head-ai/ And sign up for the G3NR8 newsletter here: https://www.g3nr8.com/newsletter

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• How to run strategic marketing campaigns for your agency

  Welcome to episode 132. This one will be particularly interesting and useful for you if you are responsible for marketing your agency's services. Agencies are experts in the field of marketing and are always focused on our clients’ marketing success. But how often do we seek an external perspective on how we are marketing our own agency services? So if you're the owner of the agency, that might be you, or if you're working in a larger agency, you might be the head of marketing responsible for driving the leads and the sales for your agency. My guest, Janet Murray, is a business strategist and a copywriter and an ex-journalist. She works with businesses to create strategic copywriting campaigns that not only save the business time but also generate and convert leads and sales. Janet is also the founder of an education and training company and creates and sells digital education products for consultants, coaches, freelancers and small business owners. She is the host of the Courageous CEO podcast and her Courageous CEO Strategic Business Planner is used by thousands of business owners worldwide and includes tried and tested strategies and resources for business growth. You can reach out to Janet here: Website: https://www.janetmurray.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janmurrayuk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetmurrayofficial Twitter: https://twitter.com/jan_murray Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-murray74/ If you are responsible for managing, retaining and growing your existing client relationships, then head over to my website: https://www.account managementskills.com where you can sign up for my regular newsletter for account management strategies, AI tips, and news about upcoming guests on my podcast episodes.

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