“Advertising is based on one thing: happiness”
Don Draper, Mad Men
Every day, ad agencies across the world attempt to deliver happiness to their clients. But the modern world is much more complicated than in the days of Sterling Cooper and 21st century clients have ever-changing and multi-faceted needs.
Coming up with a great idea and transforming it into a successful campaign requires true collaboration amongst internal teams, partners and clients, all of whom are often separated by geography, time zones and firewalls. Though there is a wealth of digital tools at our disposal, they don’t always make things simpler or more secure.
That’s why, when it comes to exchanging ideas effectively while keeping information safe, more than 2,000 global agencies have turned to Hightail. Here are just seven things that Hightail has helped top ad firms to do:
- Throw out FTP
Kelly Brady, a leading agency in the higher education space, used to share campaign files like TV commercials and print mailer designs with clients via FTP. Frequently timing out and lacking the ability to confirm delivery, the company’s FTP service was so unreliable and complex that employees required regular support from IT. Even worse, clients often needed training in order to receive these files. Switching to Hightail made sharing large files easy and reliable for employees, while clients simply had to click a link to access the content.
- Brainstorm around the world
When you’re one of the world’s largest ad firms, teams often need to work together closely despite being dispersed across the globe. This major firm uses shared Hightail folders as a place for teams to brainstorm ideas, share mockups and deliver new drafts, wherever they are. Access to a shared folder can be controlled for each participant, with “edit”, “view only” and “edit, but not delete” permissions, while version control ensures the complete history of changes to any file is immediately accessible.
- Handle confidential material
After Awasu Design signed a contract with a major national bank, the agency immediately started looking for a more professional alternative to their usual consumer-grade file sharing provider. Because leaks of confidential information can damage customer relationships and potentially lead to lawsuits, it is crucial that only intended recipients can access shared digital files. Awasu turned to Hightail because of its secure reputation and sharing controls that allowed them to password protect files, set expiration dates and confirm a recipient’s identity.
- Work anytime, anywhere
Executives at global agency CHI & Partners are always on the road, traveling around the world to meet with current and potential clients and partners. The Hightail app allows them to access the latest versions of their presentations on any device, give feedback and updates to their teams, all while keeping ideas and information secure.
- Make email better
Creating winning campaigns requires great communication and email remains the main way that ad agencies communicate and collaborate. But email does have limitations, especially around attachment sizes, which forces users to break their flow and switch applications in order to share high res designs, photography and videos. Users at CHI & Partners love that Hightail allows them to share massive files right from Microsoft Outlook. Rather than breaking their flow, Hightail complements the way they already work.
- Help clients send files to them
Every day, media placement agency, Meadow Outdoor Advertising, receives new billboard ad designs from clients and occasionally, the contracted designers working on their behalf. To ensure this process is consistently easy and reliable for all parties, they send people to a Hightail-powered page on Meadow’s website that lets them upload large files easily and securely. An added benefit is that it helps the agency track when files were received for billing and auditing purposes.
- Store everything
When a London-based agency took on a major rebranding project for a popular tech service, they sent four people around the world to meet users and experience the service for themselves. With each person carrying a video camera, they ended up with hundreds of hours of footage. Hightail gave them the ability to store these files in shared folders so the whole team could access, share and edit the files. With unlimited storage and the ability to share files up to 500GB, Hightail gives agencies the freedom to evolve ideas, create successful campaigns and deliver happiness to clients and their customers.
To learn more about how Hightail can help your agency deliver happiness more effectively, take a free trial or get in touch to arrange a custom demo.
