Is it just okay for clients to dictate copy now? Because my head of account is strongly trying to make a “well that’s just the way it is these days” case. While my ECD sits quietly in the corner.

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What’s the end game? And does the change impact that? Pick the battles worth fighting.

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I’m my experience, when I hear “That’s just the way it is” is when I realize I should brush up my resume, because I don’t wanna be surrounded by short-sighted thinking. Especially if they’re in a position of power and operating not-to-lose vs to win. Just me tho.

likehelpful

Or maybe, you’re so stuck on being the one that wins you lose sight of the big picture. There are times to fight for aspects. And there are times the client changes make it better. And there are times the changes don’t make it worse. It’s not always black and white.

Here’s my take: if it’s for a dumb small social post... not worth falling on the sword. If it’s happening in a film script (one that’s not already fallen to shit due to many other issues like too many cooks, etc.) I will fight to the fucking death.

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Not the way it is, though some agencies are desperate enough to stoop to that level. Some account people think that makes the clients happy, but when the work is bad and it fails, they’ll blame and fire you anyway.

Push for good work, have hard conversations (respectfully) and ask them what problem they’re trying to solve instead of asking how they want to solve it.

likesmart

“Push for good work, have hard conversations (respectfully), and ask them what problem they’re trying to solve instead of asking how they want to solve it.” <— Exactly. 👏👏👏

And, remember that clients always end up with the advertising they deserve.

likesmart

You’re in the weeds. Your ECD and Head Of Accounts are letting it go because there are bigger pictures issues to focus on than the words on the ad.

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[cont...] I get it’s different when you’re project to project with a client v. AOR. But really?

It’s not uncommon at all. Unfortunately, it does feel like that’s “just the way it is” these days.

This literally happened to me today too.
High-level client (who should know better) writing their own copy. Everyone pretending like it’s totally ok.
But it’s not. And those clients, who so blatantly swim outside their lanes, will ultimately fail.
Take solace in knowing that.

I didn’t say “always,” speaking of projection. I wish you peace on your journey through the Land of Condescension.

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Ask your ECD, I’m sure they’ll tell you why they’re not pushing back. There might be a good reason, in which case you’re fine. If the reason is that they agree that you just need to take it from clients these days, time to explore your options.

I mean, just to clarify, I think that if the ECD thinks the clients line is better , that qualifies as a good reason (among many others, potentially). If the ECD just throws their hands up and says “we have to do what they say!”, that’s not the healthiest attitude for an ECD to have, and I might start looking for a place with a little fight left in them. That’s all I was trying to say.

My bigger point was that ECDs aren’t like some wizard sitting in a tower doing things we mere mortals can’t comprehend. They’re people with a job to do, just like us, and 99% of the time, if you want to ask a question about why a certain decision was made, they are happy to answer it.

At this point I just let the legal departments write my copy.

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