There are two types of clients in the world of agencies: One trusts their agency, the other doesn't.

The latter approaches the client-agency relationship with a chip on their shoulder. Maybe they've been screwed over by an agency in the past and they're harboring some resentment. While the trauma is real and perhaps should be addressed in some sort of therapy, it's essential to approach a new relationship with a clean slate.

Assuming the agency you're working with is any good, being a trusting client will actually help you get more for your money. (And if they're not any good, find a new one). Here's why:

Good employers know they need to empower their team members to get the most out of them. Studies back this up: In Psychological Empowerment in the Workplace: Dimensions, Measurement, and Validation, researchers found that people who felt empowered at work "felt a greater sense of autonomy or control in their work, they felt that their job had meaning and it aligned with their values, that they were competent in their abilities, and that they could make a difference."

While it seems obvious to treat your own employees this way, many forget that the same principles apply when working with agencies. The client and the agency are separate entities, but they become a single team throughout the project. So it makes a lot of sense to treat the people at your agency the way you'd treat your employees (at least if you're a good boss) instead of burning them out.

Believe In Your Agency!

A client hires an agency because they believe they'll do a badass job, just as a company hires a new employee for the same reason. Instilling this trust in an agency is like giving them an incredible, mind-expanding drug 🤯.

It allows them to work without inhibition, opening their imaginations to new possibilities and ways of thinking. The agency is then free to make suggestions based on what's actually best for the client and project, rather than just proposing the solution that will cause the least friction.

This open communication is a big deal since a client who's paying someone to do a job probably wants to know what's going on behind the scenes—good or bad. Treating the client-agency relationship like a partnership encourages the agency to over-communicate about both wins and roadblocks without being afraid to rock an already unsteady boat.

Agencies that don't waste their time acting as peacemakers have more time to make awesome stuff. The top idea in their minds becomes building the best possible thing rather than figuring out how to deal with a combative client. That's what we do at AE Studio—we make awesome stuff, like software and machine learning solutions. We'll always strive to do right by our clients, but we try to work with those who trust us and treat us as partners. It just winds up creating more value for everyone.

Down for an open, trusting relationship (finally 😏)? Let's schedule a call & talk about it.

No one works with an agency just because they have a clever blog. To work with my colleagues, who spend their days developing software that turns your MVP into an IPO, rather than writing blog posts, click here (Then you can spend your time reading our content from your yacht / pied-a-terre). If you can’t afford to build an app, you can always learn how to succeed in tech by reading other essays.