Becky McLaughlin of WithMe, Inc. -- How to Build a Good Client-Agency Relationship

When a company is looking to outsource work, it aims for a top-quality agency employing first-class professionals. But alongside quality work, mutual respect and trust turn a one-time collaboration into a long-term partnership. Therefore, building a culture of open communication is critical as it allows both parties to be clear about what is expected from whom and the steps required for reaching the desired outcome. In this episode of YouShouldTalkTo, Becky McLaughlin, the director of marketing at WithMe, Inc., joins our host Daniel Weiner to discuss how she chooses agencies, what she sees as important for a good client-agency relationship, and share the best and worst experiences with agencies. Guest-at-a-Glance 💡 Name: Becky McLaughlin 💡 Company: WithMe, Inc. 💡 Noteworthy: Throughout her career of 15+ years, Becky has led high-performing teams, created high volumes of impactful marketing activities with minimal resources, and helped organizations generate millions in revenue through lead generation, strategic campaign development, and sales support activities. 💡 Where to find Becky: LinkedIn Key Insights ⚡ “I'm all for working with an agency.” In addition, during her 15-year career, Becky has worked with agencies of various sizes. She believes whenever a company doesn't have resources and people, it should turn to agency expertise. ''I have been the sole marketing rep in a few of those roles and then built teams from there — building teams of two, three, or four individuals where the agency support helped supplement for where the individuals on the team wouldn't be able to scale the efforts and bring in that expertise. So I've relied heavily on agencies throughout my career.'' ⚡We must know what is expected from whom to reach the desired outcome. One of the essential things for Becky when working with an agency is that both parties agree on the budget and timeframe within which work must be done. Here's what else she expects, ''I'm looking for agencies that shine their expertise on what I'm looking to do. So, where is the technical expertise? Where are the Proofpoint cases? Do you have case studies? Can you show what you've done with a client similar to our company or a similar project you worked on?'' ⚡“We must deliver what we forecast, which keeps me awake at night.” Although creative and rewarding at its core, marketing is a stressful field. As every company is unique, marketing departments face different challenges. Becky shares hers. ''Hitting the goals. We have these hefty goals of how many leads we will bring in, the volume of interest, and how we will get there. The Delta between the actuals and the goals is something that keeps me up at night.''