I was wasting time at my clients’ expense!

I’m stood outside a client’s office in the middle of a slightly wet, but very cold Thursday afternoon on the outskirts of Bradford. I was waiting for my taxi to arrive after just getting out of a very productive strategy meeting with a client.

Whilst standing outside I had the chance to read the emails and texts that had arrived while I was in my meeting. There where, as usual, a number of unsolicited emails and one or two strange texts from organisations telling me how lucky I had been to win their amazing prize, which would only cost me £1.50 per minute – a maximum of 5 minutes per call – to find out what I had won! I do hate those effortless, almost con-like campaigns, which are introduced by uncreative companies who have, in my view, the imagination, flair, creative brilliance and, the morality of a modern-day Fagan. Anyway, I digress! After trawling through and responding to a couple of the emails I then decided to check out my #Twitter (@talktojason) and #Facebook (talktojason) accounts to see what was going on in the real world – not much at that time “everyone must be working very hard in their warm comfortable offices.” I thought to myself.

By this time there was no sign of the taxi so I decided to park myself at the bus stop across the road – I wasn’t catching a bus you understand – no, no, no…Catching the bus – I don’t think so! Anyway, after getting comfortable I pulled out my mobile (a #Nokia #E71 – great phone) again and started to type a few ideas I had had about a couple of campaigns I was working on – it’s amazing where your inspiration can come from! Anyhow, I had managed to come up with a whole new social media promo for my homecare client, whilst recording a concept for an engagement programme I was considering for a pro bono client, who I had recently been asked to help out. By this time the taxi had finally arrived – “hurrah” I thought :)

Once I had got back I formally recorded my notes and the concepts I had come up with and put them into proposals for the clients to agree, or at least consider. My point is, normally I would have stood there with a fag in hand and people watching – I don’t smoke anymore by the way, but still enjoy people watching :)

Do you know what’s really good? It’s the fact the fee playing client agreed to the concept, which in turn will help them launch themselves online, as well as increasing online traffic, whilst at the same time enabling me to make my time hanging about financially viable – not too much, but hey, I was just stood around doing nothing! Moreover, the campaign will really support the client, which in turn will help forge a longer working client/agency relationship – which is always nice.

Well, that’s it, it’s all I had to say today – thanks for reading…I really appreciate it :)