January 21, 2010

Here's one for you. I heard this the other day.

A new manager, when introducing himself to all the key clients, met the advertising director for a top-10 client. This client everyone knows, is a major radio player, and had been a regular annual client on the station for more than 10 years.

This client told the new manager, "It's good to see you; we haven't seen anyone from your station in more than two years."

My friend almost jumped out of his shoes.

Then, when trying to explain to a senior manager why the business might be in jeopardy in the coming year due to a significant demo shift away from the station's target, the senior manager told him, "You shouldn't lose it, they've been on the station for more than 10 years."

My friend almost jumped out of his shoes again.

I would argue the station deserves to lose it. Nobody went to see them in more than two years. They just took the orders, sent invoices and that was it. Pathetic. I wished him good luck (on both fronts, with the client and a senior manager who clearly doesn't get it either).

Go see the big dogs ... often.