Advertising agencies are typically loath to promise specific outcomes from their campaigns. While eager to take credit for increases in sales or market share, they are equally quick to distance themselves from downturns.
There is some legitimate reasoning here: the best advertising in the world won’t save a lousy product or service. Competitors roll out shiny new objects, public tastes change, economies go boom and bust. Meanwhile, buying decisions are shaped by myriad factors. It’s rare that any one ad or campaign delivers a conversion by itself.
That is why it is sweet when work does deliver distinct and measurable results. As I look back on 2024 I am very gratified to see so many examples of our work paying off; and I feel very grateful that our clients have been quick to credit us with the positive outcomes that they have enjoyed. Here are just a few:
The Wallace Foundation website.
Yes& created an all-new website for this philanthropic research organization that features personalized dashboards and simplified, searchable content. Within one month of launch, registrations for the site had jumped more than 100%.
The PCORI Annual Meeting.
We delivered comprehensive marketing, logistics, and production for the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, a research funding organization. We supported more than 75 speakers with presentations, and developed two websites and 15 videos. Actual attendance was up 87% over the previous year.
Working for the U.S. State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs under prime contractor FRC our nationwide advertising campaign brought 5.2 million new users to the website and drove more than 2 million people to fill out passport renewal forms, mitigating a post-pandemic overload and reducing renewal wait times from months to weeks.
One reason this effort won an ASAE Gold Circle Award was that the organization formerly known as IPMA-HR launched its new brand, sold out its sponsorships, and delivered a positive operating margin for the first time in a decade.
Brigham Young University Institutional Campaign.
Our work for BYU won a CASE Circle of Excellence award with a Gold for Service Stories specifically for effectiveness. Said the judges, “Strong return on investment—very impressive considering the budget constraints.”
U.S. Mint/DC Comics Partnership.
We implemented a satellite media tour and trained U.S. Mint executives for the launch of a survey to determine which superheroes would appear on new coins. 17 interviews resulted in more than 90 stories with a $1.1M publicity value.
I could go on. I’d like to go on. But it’s better to know that Yes& will go on—accepting our clients’ toughest business challenges with a “yes” and holding ourselves accountable for results “&” more.
There are two conditions that must be met if an agency is to succeed in this regard. First, it needs to have a team of people who share a rare degree of skill and enthusiasm. Second, it needs clients who are willing to make a certain leap of faith, entrusting their future to an agency partner.
We’re very fortunate to have both at Yes&.