One of your clients, a large retailer, calls you and wants your agency to come in to present how you can assist them in leveraging a MTV music sponsorship they have just negotiated. Knowing that this might be the solution to the downturn they are experiencing in consumer interest, you are excited about the opportunity and quickly alert your account team for a brainstorming session.

The team is initially excited because of the unique "young & hip" appeal MTV brings, yet there are serious issues with the target audience and how to best leverage the sponsorship. The young, fickle consumer your client is after does not represent the majority of consumers who actually BUY their merchandise. The MTV target should really be replaced with VH1. You know the client is not going to be happy to hear your point of view —especially since they've already negotiated the contract with MTV.

This real-life example portrays what can happen when the client is not focused on their marketing objectives. And it is by no means an easy situation to deal with. Along with not focusing on the right target market, the client didn't let the agency know they were considering sponsoring an MTV event. There are other reasons that clients end up sabotaging their own efforts. However, it's these situations that provide you the opportunity to stand your ground and do what's best for your client by objectively providing them with the best possible solution.

What happens when the roles are reversed and it's the agency that is not focused on doing what's best for the client? There at least three reasons for this happening.

When a client manager has their own agency's agenda in mind. This type of thinking can take away from providing sound advice or solutions. An example might be up-selling the client work even if they don't need it.

When an agency has lost touch with their client's core business objectives. A perfect example is when Young & Rubicam began to lose touch with their client of 20 years, MetLife. MetLife's business had gone through enormous changes within a year, yet Young & Rubicam was not focused on those changes and MetLife essentially divorced them. It took Young & Rubicam a lot of hard work to win back the account.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Teresa Gay is the founder and managing principal of Lucinant Marketing LLC (www.lucinant.com), a client management consulting and training firm based in San Francisco, CA. She is also the Chair of the Bay Area PMA Chapter as well as VP of Communications for the SFASTD Chapter. You can reach her at teresa@lucinant.com.