This quarter, it’s full steam ahead.

Everyone likes to make resolutions at the start of a new year, but instead of making plans and goals, why not just crack on?

It can be easy to think solely about growth targets and profit margins as a new year approaches, and where you want to end up this time next year before January has even begun – but there are so many other areas to consider.

Perhaps you need a shift in structure, or your processes need a tweak. Maybe your team need to become more commercially minded, or take more time to prioritise their own learning and development. Or you might even decide you need to reassess the value you offer clients, and confidently raise your prices.

These are just some of the things we’ll be exploring in this quarter’s content.

You can now see the next three months’ worth of Agency Hackers content in advance, by checking our rolling online events page, subscribing to our events calendar, or instead clicking on the individual listings for January, February and March.

Our quarterly content is usually split across three themes, or ‘tracks’ as we like to call them:

tRACK 1: GOVERNANCE
& STRUCTURE

  • Everyone has a different way of running a business…
  • …and while some things may work for one, it’s a case of square peg, round hole for others.
  • What works best for your agency? Perhaps you’ve realised you need to do a complete overhaul.
  • Or maybe you’ve outgrown what everyone else is doing, and taking the road less travelled.

This track will explore the nooks and crannies of agency governance and structure – and its overall impact.

We’ll be hearing from Glen Duncan on how his agency, 383, has outgrown everyone’s favourite operating model: EOS. We’ll also hear from MD of Curated, Jake Cawdery, on how OKRs are just… well, OK, and discuss whether pods are the way forward.

And sometimes, with the good must come the bad – Richard Bundock almost went insolvent in 2013 and he’ll be talking us through the red flags to look out for.

tRACK 2: CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENt

  • You’re always striving for more…
  • …but as you grow, how can you develop and improve upon what you already have?
  • Whether its financial, people-related, or you’re introducing new skills and ideas into the agency, we’ll help you figure this out.

This track is about honing what you already have, making sure your agency is in the best place it can be – though we know it’s always a work in progress.

If you’re looking to increase your profitability and fix that leaky bucket, seasoned non-exec Michael Murphy is on hand. We’ll also be shining a light on how referral-based recruitment can really work, with Indiespring‘s Rob Sandbach and Sophia Austin.

We’re also asking a lot of questions in this track: how can you make programmatic marketing work for you and your clients? How can you effectively enter and win awards? And how are you making space for learning and development?

Find all the answers – or at least some sage advice – here!

tRACK 3: AGILITY

  • There are lots of moving parts in and around an agency…
  • …but how can you keep the plates spinning and still be prepared for what might unexpectedly crop up?
  • Being able to react quickly and stay ahead of the curve is something that’s always good to have in your back pocket.

This track will explore how you and your agency can be as agile as possible – and how to maintain it.

When is the right time to let go of your agency and step back, letting it flourish without you? And what are the legal implications for growth?

Danny Bull will be showing us how neuroscience can be an effective agency tool, and when it comes to public speaking Becki Wilson and Max Hopkinson will be telling you why you should feel the fear and do it anyway.

To keep afloat, how can you confidently raise your prices and make sure your team are commercially minded? Andy Brown and Simon Collard are here to guide you through.