Web technology for ad agencies
I'm the marketing director of a Web content management software company, Bizzuka. This year, we're making a concerted effort to reach out to advertising agencies with our product. (However, this is not a "pitch." Not interested in pitching here, only sharing information.)
My reason for being a member is to learn what's on the minds of ad agencies as it applies to Web site development and related issues. I want to know what causes you pain, what your needs are, what types of technology you're using and what you're interested in using.
Yes, that's going to help me and my company better understand how we need to tailor our product (and our offering) to this particular market. But, I also hope to be able to give as much as I receive by sharing relevant, non-promotional information that will speak to needs. That's a fair trade isn't it?
I hope you'll take a few minutes to share your thoughts on the above. I truly appreciate your willingness to do so. And you can hold me accountable to keep up my end of the bargain.
BTW, you can Twitter me if you like. My ID is pchaney.
My reason for being a member is to learn what's on the minds of ad agencies as it applies to Web site development and related issues. I want to know what causes you pain, what your needs are, what types of technology you're using and what you're interested in using.
Yes, that's going to help me and my company better understand how we need to tailor our product (and our offering) to this particular market. But, I also hope to be able to give as much as I receive by sharing relevant, non-promotional information that will speak to needs. That's a fair trade isn't it?
I hope you'll take a few minutes to share your thoughts on the above. I truly appreciate your willingness to do so. And you can hold me accountable to keep up my end of the bargain.
BTW, you can Twitter me if you like. My ID is pchaney.
Tags: cms, content, design, development, management, systems, web
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Buddy 'Friendly' Wachenheimer on
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I'm interested in is generating 'cost-efficient-profit' in everything I do. Show me how to do that and you have my attention, bullshit me and I'm gone.
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Permalink Reply by Paul Chaney on
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Buddy,
So far as our platform is concerned, the way we provide ad agencies with 'cost-efficient-profit' is by removing the responsibilities of having to do web development in-house. While many agencies are set up to do that on their own, more traditional and smaller agencies are not.
We focus our efforts on letting the agencies stay with their core strengths - the design stuff - and we handle the heavy-lifting of web development, hosting, support and training. For those agencies who would prefer to outsource the entire web design/development process, we do that as well.
Agency partners pay a flat fee to use our service and can markup their costs as they see fit. Agencies also receive residual income from the monthly hosting fees (agencies receive a percentage of the hosting costs). Hosting fees are based on the number of our platform components a client chooses.
We attempt to stay out of the agencies way as much as possible. For example, if the agency wants to handle the training, they can do that. If not, we work with the client directly to train them.
I think our platform is especially well-suited to smaller agencies, of which there are many.
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Permalink Reply by Kevin Glennon on
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Okay, here are a few things you need to tell us:
What's your geek? Are you programming in PHP, ASP, what?
What gives? Can we rip it apart without having to pay rights for new programming and code?
Can You Go Away? Once the solution is delivered, can you just go away or do we have to ask your permission because you maintain rights over things we developed together?
How Many? Seriously, how many simultaneous users are your selling? Can one million users be actively participating fully in your offerings?
How's that for a start?
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Kevin,
Thanks for the questions.
We program in .ASP and .NET. We're moving our platform over to .NET as quickly as possible.
The way our systems works is, you provide us with layered Photoshop files of your design and we implement, host and train the client. (Or train you to train the client.)
We host the site, so, no, we don't go away.
We have over 300 clients now, including Northwestern Mutual Life, where we handle their intranet. To honestly answer your question about the number of users, I'll have to talk to our development department, which I'll gladly do.
Our system is designed to be on-demand, component-based, which users can turn on or off as they have need. We currently have over 120 components covering everything from the meat and potatoes stuff like membership directories to message boards, calendars, and so forth. So far as social media applications, we're currently working on a blog component and a photo gallery.
We tend to develop around what our customers are expressing need for. Once a component has been put in place for one client (who made the request, for instance), everyone gets the benefit.
I hope that helps. Let me know if I can answer any more of your questions.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Kleinheinz on
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Paul,
Here's one, and one I always ask. What do you have that I can't get out of India for 60 off your rate card? I can throw a rock and hit a managed design platform in any language I want, with five support people on me to your one. Riddle me that, and you have my attention.
Michael
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Michael,
If price is the issue, then we're not going to be your date to the prom. No way to beat India in that regard. As to support and customer service, I dare say you won't find better than what we provide. If we have a Purple Cow, it's that.
Paul
PS: I'm guessing very few of the agencies that we would appeal to would even consider India as an option.
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You're right. Agencies don't consider India an option, but they better consider them a threat. As the US recession deepens, Agency clients across the country will begin to turn to India for work that is just as good as any shop here, at half the cost. And since your firm is an outsource in the agency chain, India is your competition also. I just bought brochures designed out of India and printed in Taiwan delivered for 40% cheaper than I would have gotten just the design for here. The days of $125 an hour ad work is nearing its end. The Fortune 500 can no longer justify the expense- not when a half price alternative is "right around the corner". The large agencies would not be opening offices across the world if that wasn't true. Sorry to sound doom and gloom. I just hear the same song and dance from people on Adgabber all the time. Creatives, as a general statement, will not get this until they are either out of a job or their own agency's work has been offshored. As a Brand Manager, I have to justify cost and demonstrate ROI, not just pay lip service to it. I doubt that helps- just the observation of one who has worked in the client side for many years.
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All good points. I have nothing against India, and believe there's quite a lot of talent there. My problem lies in hiring anybody I can't access easily. I'd prefer to hire a shop down the street because it's easier to meet up on little things (and I prefer to resolve things in person - I know, odd for tech folks these days) and fix them immediately. I'm in Boston, but I have hired groups outside of the area and will again. The trick is giving me a person who I can work with on your end, and getting me high-quality work back in a very timely fashion. What happens behind that person, or where it happens, means nothing to me.
I think the only major thing holding any non-US companies from competing strongly in the US market is that key contact. Someone who simply doesn't understand what I'm saying (understands the words, yes, but not the meaning), *especially* when we sell concepts, it's a big turn off.
Getting back to the topic, thanks for the answers Paul. Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Ian Venskus on
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Hi Paul,
I have a few questions for you.
When you are provided with a layered photoshop file what is your process?
Do you have highly skilled front end developers coding the site in HTML and CSS, or is the front end coded by Photoshop? After the front end is developed how is the back end programmed?
Is it possible to edit the code behind manually, or can that only be modified using your system?
What happens when something goes wrong in the system. Is there a customer service help line that is available 24/7?
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Permalink Reply by Hakimata Photography on
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Cost effective and the highest return is always what everyone is looking for. I'm not in advertising itself, so I can't help you there, but I can offer you a great way of getting very affordable images (photos and illustration) that can be used for that. If you are interested you can read more on my page.
Good luck!
Paul.
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