We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Will Sears . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Will below.

Will , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

Over the past several years, the industry has seen a trend toward project-based client engagements and away from recurring retainers. I think that stems from more sophisticated clients, who can form their own team of agencies to execute their respective areas of expertise most effectively. This is smart and is how we are evolving as an agency regarding how we staff projects. There is a more concerning trend, however, toward brands relying entirely upon customer data that can be crunched in-house by an accountant versus understanding the value of investment in thoughtful, inspiring, creative work. I believe people know when companies are manipulating their data to shape their actions—take Facebook ads as a prime example—rather than inspiring them with stories, big ideas, or other creative storytelling that can still achieve the desired outcome. Brands should use data to inform strategies and measure outcomes, not to force them.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Will Sears, and I am the Founder and CEO of W.Bradford, a full-service marketing agency in Cincinnati, Ohio, specializing in B2B clients and architectural lighting brands. Our clients range from industry powerhouses to small businesses that entrust us to supercharge their marketing presence through bold, provocative, and award-winning creative that you won’t find in many other agencies.

A few of the services we specialize in are 360° marketing campaigns, corporate branding and identity, content creation, creative direction, social media, digital marketing, marketing strategy, website design, and even fractional CMO services.

What sets us apart from other marketing agencies—and perhaps what I am most proud of as our CEO—is our fearless approach to taking creative risks as a collective team. We aren’t afraid of pitching that blue-sky idea to a new client or running with a totally new approach to marketing that a brand has never tried. We are confident in who we are, what we bring to the table, and the results we always deliver.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Outside of producing great work, the relationships I have formed and nurtured over the years are the reason I was able to start a business, and they continue to be the driving force behind our growth as a business. Oprah once said in an interview that she knew she would always do well in her career because she treated others well and treated herself well. I agree with that. We do operate around a principle of good karma at W.Bradford, and we have seen many challenges fall to the wayside when we’ve stuck to our guns and not given up on doing the right thing. Clients notice that.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

Fostering a client’s brand loyalty is an art form. As the CEO, I wear many different hats throughout the day, but the success of our clients always comes first. Building a business and a reputation doesn’t require that you always succeed and do things perfectly on the first try but remain committed to exceptional work and meeting client expectations at any cost.

To the W.Bradford team, clients aren’t just another project on the docket. We are genuinely invested in who we work with and our relationships with them. When clients sign up to partner with W.Bradford, they know our team of experts will be in the trenches with them day in and day out to push the needle forward to reach their marketing goals. I believe loyalty lies on that foundation of trust, communication, and unwavering dedication, whether with a brand or a singular person.

As a business owner, that is something I am truly proud to say that W.Bradford excels at for the work we do and the clients we serve.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wbradford.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wbradfordco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wbradfordcompany
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wbradford
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/wbradfordco