In 2009, I started my own full-service marketing and business strategy company. At the time, my company, Crystal Vision Marketing, was a sole-proprietorship, but I often worked along with some of the most talented branding, marketing, graphic artists, web designers, trade show experts, PR gurus, and other professionals regularly, and they all helped to contribute to Crystal Vision’s success. I have never been afraid of talented people. In fact, I gravitate towards them. And, when it comes to my company, I don’t think that every other marketing agency is in direct competition for clients with my firm. 

There are certainly different strokes for different folks and in my world, to become the “agency of record” you have to do a lot of things right that go so much further than just handling their marketing projects right. When I started, one of my business colleagues, let’s call him Ed, needed a website. Ed said he had this guy Robert, a networking contact, that was trying to get Ed to give him his website work. Ed was adamant that he wanted me to do the site, and he suggested that when I met Robert, I don’t give him any details about my work, because he might try to steal the account from me. 

Well, let me tell you something, not only did I speak to Robert about that project, but I’ve been working with him for the last 15 years on a variety of accounts. Robert, that is, Robert Guerrero, from Kombind, LLC. happens to have one of the best branding agencies in Manhattan. He is incredibly talented and he’s worked with me on a number of client projects over the last several years – all the while helping to further make my company shine. As part of marketing I have had to run point person on a number of tradeshows for clients, but I’ll tell you what, I know another woman, Laura Palker, you may know her as Laura McLeod from Trade Show Solutions who is by far, the most knowledgeable person in the trade show industry – that I ever met, and for over a decade she made me look like a superstar as she handled trade events for me. To this day, if a client was doing a large, complicated trade show event, and I needed help, she’s still the first person that comes to mind.

 Most recently, and before I added in my own Digital Solutions division to Crystal Vision, I was fortunate to work with several amazing web designers. I ran point for the client, handled the copy, and worked with my web team to deliver the project. A win-win for Crystal Vision and a win-win for my colleagues. Even to this day, if a client has a great relationship with their web team, I never stand in the way. I find a way to work closely and in concert with their other team members – all for the betterment of the client. When you truly care about a client, and their company, all I can say is they intrinsically know. That usually results in business longevity for all. My favorite professional story? A few years ago, a mutual colleague asked two marketing companies, mine and another, to work on a new website for one client and to help support another company in Manhattan. 

Together we tackled these projects and those clients. Mutual respect flowed between our two firms, so we worked on more projects together, and in doing so, found kindred spirits in each other from a state away. Now, today, Crystal Vision has grown to bring on this AMAZING colleague to our team, and Lauren Middleton, former colleague, now partner and certainly friend, is on board heading up our Digital & Web Solutions. So,what I want you to know and what I suggest to you, is don’t be afraid of working with fellow marketers closely. If you don’t have everything that your client needs in house, find it for them. Remember your clients trust YOU, they want your expert advice, and they will continue to support you as their team lead, particularly when they know you always put their needs first. So, like Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street, if Macy’s doesn’t have it, find a way to get your ”client” exactly what they need.” They will never forget how you made them feel when you put their priorities first.

So, like Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street, if Macy’s doesn’t have it, find a way to get your ”client” exactly what they need.” They will never forget how you made them feel when you put their priorities first.