Now more than ever, we agency professionals cannot afford to have cliche’ agency jerks among our ranks. There’s enough tension with clients and providers thanks to the economic hardships. So please, if you recognize any of these behaviors as something you or your colleagues do, please do your best to put a stop to it.

1. Do you sigh every time a client opens their mouth to offer criticism?
2. Do you say things like, “obviously, you don’t understand” when you fail to properly explain the agency’s thinking?
3. Do you pretend to understand digital terms like analytics, UI, and RSS then blow them off as irrelevant or below your pay grade?
4. Do you put more effort in arguing about the size of the logo than improving your knowledge base?
5. Do you think SEO is someone else’s job?
6. Do you think web video is just another way to sell your 30 second TV spot?
7. Do you discount the client’s ideas without thinking how to improve them first?
8. Do you spend more time thinking about how you look than the way your work makes the client look?
9. Do you think pitching the client another iPhone apps makes you cutting edge?
10. Do you constantly refer to the awards you won during the last Ice Age?

I am not so sorry to say that you’ve been outmoded. The future doesn’t need you. Please get out of the business before you bring the ship down with you. The client’s never liked you and they’re beginning to figure out they don’t need you, your sporty clothes and fancy way of talking. They need someone with a deep understanding of digital, social and branding – who wants to be a real partner.

OK. OK. So I’m having a little fun. But I’m sure you can name a few agency jerk behaviors that are hurting our business.

Posted on: January 27, 2010, by : Jimmy Gilmore