Here is an attempt at identifying the pitfalls I’ve seen in the last years, working as a Digital Strategy Director with multiple traditional agencies.

1. Ad agencies x digital
How to get it right?
Credits: isynoho

2. It’s your chance
Every single ad agency is claiming to be integrated today but when
you look at the product delivered we all see room for improvement.
Clients are looking for the team that will master integrated
communications. This is not only an idea expressed from TV to
online, but it is an immersive and interactive experience of your
brand story that lives throughout the purchase process. A flow that
is thought through to generate sales all the way through.
Here is an attempt at identifying the pitfalls I’ve seen in the last
years, working as a Digital Strategy Director with multiple
traditional agencies.
Good news is: there is room for your agency to master this,
so take the lead!
Credits: AlbinoFlea

3. Don’t be shy!
There is no reason for you to be shy and to feel that you cannot take
it. In fact, if you keep in mind that digital behaviors are very similar
to offline behaviors then you will get it.
You can also take an intensive training class at HyperIsland to give
you the confidence you need to claim yourself a digital person. But
be aware that all your competitors are taking this training too.
So I believe the best is to do it and to learn from doing it.
Credits: lucyandorla

4. Don’t let the cobbler’s...
...children go barefoot!
Define the digital vision for your agency and live by it.
Be coherent with what you are preaching and make sure your
website works on your client’s Blackberry and other iPads.
Credits: IamThePapa

5. A culture of learning
The fantastic thing about digital is that it never stops changing,
there is always something new. And you will never know everything.
It requires you to be curious, to be out there and to constantly seek
out for the latest. Surround yourself with great content curators,
find them on Twitter and read what’s posted, daily.
Implement a culture of learning and sharing within the agency as
well as with your clients. Invite studios, companies to present you
their product. Support small start up by giving them office spaces.
Book a monthly team lunch, get pizzas over and learn together.
Credits: Jérémy Huylebroeck

6. Digital P&L
Too often, ad agencies fail to implement a digital division because
they are not familiar with the economics of digital. Start by defining
how does your agency make money out of the digital product.
Then, you must train your account teams to understand how to
evaluate and sale digital products. Too often, a digital budget is a
random %, when digital requires a detailed assessment of the
existing assets client side to provide accurate work estimates.
Digital also requires room for iterations, improvement and
maintenance, areas that were not traditionally part of budgets in
traditional agencies. You must define how you want to manage
these to ensure profitability.
Credits: epSos.de

7. Build your digital team
Recruit senior talents from the pure player world. A digital strategy
director, a UX expert and a creative-technologist who is a real geek
at heart are a must.
I also believe an analyst is a key function to help you quickly
measure and prove the results of your digital actions. It will help
you build a strong portfolio, win awards and build your credibility.
What about the AD, CD and copywriter? The talents you already
have in-house are probably very relevant in the digital sphere but
they have yet to express their talent fully.
Mandate your Digital Director to support them through the
learning curve but there is probably no need to hire new players.
Credits: Mannuli

8. Play!
Get your talents to use iPad, iPhones, Blackberries, Kindles... They
must download apps, experience devices and have fun
understanding the potential of each devices.
Invite them to talk and share about the cool things they find out.
Let your team work with GoogleDocs, manage your projects with
Basecamp... implement a digital culture in the agency. Lotus
Note is not ideal in that sense.
Credits: yto

9. Post-it (loads)
The best brainstorms I’ve ever seen happened with a UX expert, a
tech lead, an AD at the table. Give them loads of post-it and a giant
chalk board so they can conceive as much as they need to.
A digital product is not set in stone, it’s not made of a single image
or story. In fact, there are millions of variation it can take and if you
give yourself tools like post-its to conceive you allow the team for a
much better exploration.
It gives you access to a collaborative and fluid ideation process.
Credits: Pedrovisc

10. Digital is a mix of things
How to link the powerful word of broadcasting to the incredibly
efficient developments of digital? - Hegarty on advertising
The emerging trend is to conceive a story that is truly transmedia.
You can see those in the video game or movie industry, where they
launch a story that lives in multiple environment.
Digital in not one discipline, it’s important to be ready to think
digital at many different touch points, flows, and devices in the
peoples’ journey.
When relevant, brief your team with multiple digital briefs.
Credits: Phil Hutton

11. Partners in crime
In order to build your portfolio and credibility fast, you must
identify clients that will be your partners in crime.
Those marketing folks must be ready to try out, to learn and to
prove the benefits of a strong digital integration.
They must have started the conversation in-house, and if possible,
be mandated for managing digital communications.
Set goals. Measure. Prove results.
Grow TOGETHER.
Credits: Surtsey-Derquenne

12. That media guy
Understand how digital is managed and financed by the brand
today. Be friend with all the media agencies and understand their
views on digital. You should also find out how they make money out
of digital themselves.
Make sure to align your visions behind the same brand
communications objectives and KPIs.
Have a drink with the media guy. Be creative together, save budget
to try out new stuff. Challenge each other. Digital investments
should be looked on the long-term, results take time to happen.
Hence the necessity for shifting and evolving old concepts like reach
and frequency.
Push the limit.
Credits: M Moser Associates

13. Wakey! Wakey!
It’s 2012. It’s here. Your communication product must reflect your
agency understanding of today’s world and consumer interactions
with brands.
And soon, be ready to stop using the term digital... because really
this is just our industry lingo. People don’t see it that way... at all.
Credits: jujustars

14. Thank you.
Crafted by Isabelle Quevilly. @DigitalPlanner
London. February 2012.