It’s a new season here at the Bureau, and we’re excited to share a first look at what’s coming in 2025. The community’s feedback, along with insights from our newly formed Bureau Advisory Council, has helped shape this new season. Read on to learn about new membership options, our first-ever loyalty program, and the fate of your favorite in-person events!
As the holiday season approaches, it’s tempting to let the chaos of the year-end wrap-up take over. But now’s the perfect time to reflect on how we can ensure our clients stay firmly on the “nice” list—because no one wants a “naughty” client to start the new year.
And whether a client stays on the nice list or slips onto the naughty list often comes down to how we manage the relationship.
So read on to unwrap a few tips to keep things merry and bright!
As I sit here in my post-Thanksgiving stretchy pants, I'm especially grateful for the opportunity I have to work with such great people every day with the Bureau. We have the best community, and I try to never forget that. I love seeing everyone jump in to help one another solve problems and share helpful info.
As I do every week, in November I sent out some weekly-ish newsletters full of useful topics. I hope you consider signing up for those emails, because I think they're full of valuable insights. But if you missed them, here's a quick recap of the content from last month.
Ah, the holidays—a magical time when your family gathers to share love, joy, and the crushing weight of passive-aggressive comments about you sneaking a glance at your phone during dessert.
But what if I told you there’s a way to quietly get a few tasks done without getting "the look"? If it's your jam, squeeze in a little productivity. Who really relaxes for five days straight anyway?
Read on for a few tips on becoming a holiday stealth worker!
In a world where "growth" gets treated like the ultimate bragging right, choosing to stay small can feel like you're doing it wrong. But let me say this loud and clear: staying small is not losing.
Some of us come alive when we're creating. We'd rather focus on the work we love than get lost in spreadsheets and meetings. There's something powerful about really knowing your team, not as resources but as actual people. And being close enough to your customers to truly care about the experience you're giving them. That's rare, and it's real. And we're just getting started. Keep reading for more benefits of keeping it tight.
We’re excited to share the plans for 2025 Bureau in-person events! With input from the community, this lineup has been designed to meet the diverse needs of the Bureauverse and make them more affordable.
Listening to the Bureauverse, we're also lowering the total number of attendees to create a more personal, high-impact experience. Reserving early guarantees your attendance and helps ensure the events take place. Read on for more!
I've always said we have the best people in the world working here at the Bureau, and I still feel that’s true. But you know, we've also got some incredible partners who bring their unique perspective to our community and add real value with their offerings. Let's celebrate some of our favorite people, and see what they might be able to do to enhance your work!
Phew, October is over, and with it all my attempts to maintain willpower over my snacking for the year. November and December don't count, right? But the most delicious thing of all to me is the relationships we develop at the Bureau. With all the amazing discussions we have, there's a ton of great insights I collect, and each week I send out a newsletter that collects the best of that info. I hope you'll consider subscribing to that here. But if you're too busy, here's a recap of what I shared last month
Next week, we're bringing together some excellent products for your review, from improving accessibility in your products to improving agency operations with AI to collaborative storytelling that builds morale. Best of all, there's zero pressure because they're all group demos. Yay!
Don't miss out on this opportunity to explore what's available and coming next. Read on to see who's gonna participate or heck just register now!
Say what?
Let’s talk about a term that gets tossed around a lot—“paid discovery.” On the surface, it makes perfect sense. You’re getting paid for the time you invest in understanding a client’s problem before diving into the solution. But as you probably know: calling it “paid discovery” can actually create friction with clients because it implies it could be free. And "discovery" sounds kind of like pixie dust and magic.
OK then, Mr. Smarty Pants, what should we do instead? Read on and all shall be revealed!
It’s that time of year when we start thinking about all the exciting things we want to do in 2025, and I’m ready to share some updates with you. We've obviously hit some hiccups with in-person events this year, including having to cancel Owner Camp Whistler. Le sigh.
We get it. Times are tough, and what we want at the beginning of the year isn't always what we can do later. As we head into the new year, we’re taking steps to ensure events provide value and deeper connections without being too expensive or risky. Keep reading to learn more and find out how you can get involved!
I’ve been thinking a lot about the dangers of becoming overly reliant on a single technology—something I experienced firsthand at my shop nGen Works and it sucked. We leaned heavily on one CMS, only to realize later how risky it was once we met the founders.
Surprise, history repeats itself!
As Spooky Season officially hits, we can look back on another month of great progress and see how far we’ve come this year. It’s been a roller coaster, but I’m proud of where we are now and wouldn’t take back any of our experiences for the world. Interacting with all the Bureau members continues to be something I cherish, and I love sending out our weekly newsletter to members and other friends. If you’d like to see what those are like, consider signing up. It’s just once a week, and full of real insights you can use in your business. Here are the highlights of what we discussed in September.
Last week, we talked about leading less. One thing that does is open up opportunities for others to take initiative. Leadership is happening all around us, and often, it goes unnoticed. Whether you’re on the leadership team or in the trenches, the real question is: Are you seeing it? And are we giving it the space to grow and make things better?
Last week, we talked about leading less. One thing that does is open up opportunities for others to take initiative. Leadership is happening all around us, and often, it goes unnoticed. Whether you’re on the leadership team or in the trenches, the real question is: Are you seeing it? And are we giving it the space to grow and make things better?
A lot of my week is spent talking with nice folks like you. And lately, it feels like we're all getting a little too close to burnout regardless of how our businesses are doing. No matter the size of the team or the business's profitability, the pressure to be involved in everything is growing and it's too much. What's so silly about this is that the key to avoiding both burnout and being a more effective leader is doing less. So keep reading to learn how to step back, trust your team, and focus on the bigger picture.
Once again fall is here, and though it signals the end of another summer it also means cooler days, sweaters, and of course spooky season. And while I eventually tire of pumpkin spice and am ready for it to fade away until next year, one source of happiness that never fails me is the members of our very own Bureau community. Each week it’s my distinct pleasure to send out a newsletter touching on the latest topics affecting digital agencies today. It’s a great resource you can get for free by signing up here. But I also collect the best of those newsletters in recaps like this every month. Here’s what we covered last month!
I spend most of my time speaking with awesome folks like you about what's working and what's not in digital services. There's always a new trend or some client silliness, but one thing remains constant. Shops that specialize are doing better than generalists most of the time. Recent research shows that agencies specializing their service offerings and by industry have grown almost twice as fast as generalists. But what counts as "specialized," and how do you go about it? Read on, and your questions will be answered!
I've been in a funk this week. I haven't been able to get the important things done. Some of it is the gloomy weather, some of it is my focus (or lack of it) and some of it is just frustrations with myself.
Have you ever felt stuck in a rut? Like you're trudging through quicksand with the same routines, challenges, and fears weighing you down? And then you just beat yourself up about it?
I learned something at a Bureau event years ago that made it easier for me to get back on track. A simple shift in perspective can turn that rut into a groove and fear into excitement. Read on and join me as we turn this boat around!
Way back in 2012, I was at the first in-person get-together that formed the nucleus of the Bureau. A dozen years later, several of the foundations that made that event special are still intact. Most notably, the Bureau Oath, our informal NDA that sets the tone for safely sharing anything going on in your world.
But the more things change… in-person events were instrumental in the growth and value of the Bureau. And revenue from them allowed us to build a team dedicated to putting on better and better events. However, that’s not true today. In-person events are struggling to break even, and something has to give.
