How we transcend the “vend zone” to become an extension of a client’s team.
We’re Stronger When We Work Together
The word partnership is everywhere these days. And its synonyms – collaboration, teamwork, synergy – are equally overused. The term risks losing its meaning in ubiquity, but we find it a meaningful and apt core value here at FSM. That’s because partnership is foundational to the way we approach and interact with our clients – and each other.
Here’s a breakdown of the four most tangible ways we build trust with our clients and demonstrate our sincere commitment to helping them achieve their goals as their marketing partner:
Measuring Delight
“Partnerships are good engines for narrative.” – Tommy Lee Jones
We want our clients to be more than just satisfied with our services – we want them to be downright delighted with us! Every internal meeting we have includes a discussion of finding opportunities for delight, whether it’s in copywriting, graphic design, website leads, ad strategies or something else. Our goal is to create a cycle of delight that is measurable, actionable, and ultimately leads to long-term partnerships built on trust and mutual success.
Recognizing Each Client’s Pride & Joy
“Partnership is the way. Dictatorial win-lose is so old-school.” – Alanis Morissette
To suss out the gems that form a company’s foundation, we ask clients open-ended discovery questions: What was the impetus for starting your business? How has it evolved over the years? Why would a customer choose you over your competitors? Who is your most coveted target audience? Where would you like to see it go in the next five years?
By listening and learning about their journey, we begin to understand what it feels like in their well-worn shoes. Then we can recognize their points of pride and illustrate those to prospective customers through effective marketing strategies.
Collaborating With Humility
“I love creating partnerships; I love not having to bear the entire burden of the creative storytelling – not only do I benefit, but the project is better for it.” – Steven Spielberg
One of the ways we build partnership within our team is through something called Pen Nominations. Any team member can nominate any other team member for an award – in the form of a specifically colored pen – by writing up how that teammate has exhibited one of our core values. The nominations are read aloud during our weekly company meeting and reveal the multitude of ways our team collaborates on projects big and small.
Whether it’s noticing that a colleague is overwhelmed and jumping in to help, pointing out an issue or fostering open communication and a free exchange of ideas – FSM team members live the core value of partnership every day. Our in-house collaboration always translates to better products and services for our clients.
Exceeding Expectations
“Great things in business are never done by one person; they’re done by a team of people.” – Steve Jobs
We’re continually reevaluating our processes to make sure each of us has the time, tools and space to perform at our best. And each of us is empowered to question or halt a process at any point if it’s not making sense or seems ineffective in some way.
We aren’t the kind of marketing agency that only responds to client requests – though we always do, as quickly as possible. We’re a partner who proactively offers suggestions for improving leads, expanding web presence or elevating brand image. To us, ‘good enough’ is never good enough.
FSM: The Most Valuable Marketing Partner You’ll Ever Have
Partnering with anyone is a big deal. It means committing to being responsible for half the relationship, to fully participating in the give and take, to bringing your best to the table every time. We expect partnership from our teammates and our clients – and our daily practice of partnership keeps the term fresh.
