Know-How Exchange : Advertising/PR

If you are the current agency the notification comes through a letter to your top management. Sometimes when there is a close relations with the agency, previous to the letter a conversation is personally held with the agency top management advising on the pitch and stating that a letter will be sent. Current agencies serving a client expect some sort of personal contact when a pitch is called based upon sheer elegance. The letter states the review date and includes a brief for the presentation. If you are a new agency called to participate a letter with the brief is the standard approach. Nevertheless, if you happen to learn that there is going to be an agency pitch (and that you are not being invited) you could contact the client marketing division or top management to offer your interest in participating. However, the usual procedure is for the client management to select a group of agencies (based upon their specific expertise, no conflict with current products, creative success, marketing savvy, planning capabilities, worldwide network and local market knowledge and other similar factors) and invite them to participate. Sometimes a presentation fee is established so that agencies can prepare their pitches which includes market research and other expenses to meet the brief requirements. Hope this helps.