On today's episode I was joined by Rosie Barker, Head of Client Services at Footprint Digital They are doing some amazing things at Footprint, ao I was really keen to get Rosie on to share what brilliant initiatives they have in place to ensure that their team are provide strategic guidance to their clients to ensure long lasting relationship. We cover: The strategic role of Relationship Managers: Rosie takes us through the role of relationship managers at Footprint, who act not just as liaisons but as strategic advisors. This involves them deeply in the crafting and execution of strategies for clients, distinguishing their approach from other agencies where such roles might be more administrative. Educational initiatives and team growth is huge at Footprint: Rosie highlighted the extensive educational programs and growth frameworks implemented at Footprint to ensure that the team members are well-equipped to offer strategic advice and take ownership of their projects. This includes learning across different departments, shadowing, and internal education sessions. Client Relationship Building: The emphasis on building strong, personal relationships with clients was a recurrent theme. We discuss how these relationships extend beyond professional boundaries, helping in creating trust and a better understanding of the client's needs and expectations. Footprints values of openness and honesty both internally and with clients: The conversation also touched upon the foundational values of being open, honest, and fair both internally among team members and externally with clients. These values create a culture of psychological safety where constructive feedback is encouraged. The importance of client engagement and onboarding processes: We discuss the importance of the first hundred days of client engagement, describing strategies to ensure clients are "sticky" and fully integrated into the service model of Footprint. This involves continuous communication, educational content, and strategic alignment sessions. This is not one to miss. If you are interesting in learning how you can adopt some of these strategies into your agency, drop me a DM on LinkedIn.