Relationships matter. We could have told you that 20 years ago when we founded Kooba, but it bears repeating.
And in 2025, client-agency relationships matter more than ever, and in entirely new ways. With a fast-changing technological environment and fresh challenges for marketing teams, agencies need to be more adaptive and flexible in supporting and engaging clients. Both partners need to be willing to not only listen, but also share and contribute to discussions.
Open minds and open ears
Modern digital projects require agencies to step into the client’s world. That means listening deeply, challenging assumptions with respect, and staying open to iteration. The best outcomes happen when both sides bring ideas to the table, rather than when an agency disappears for six weeks and returns with a fixed answer.
Given the pace at which technology can change, both parties also need to be open to pursuing new opportunities in the midst of existing strategic roadmaps. This is a time to be ambitious, and that means seizing every win possible, not sticking to rigid plans at all costs.
Obsessing with the unique
It’s a cliche (but also true!) to say that every client is unique. It might be easy to get caught up in industry level trends and excited about new technologies, but these don’t always apply to every organisation. Rather than just assuming that clients will match wider patterns, it's so important to begin with a blank slate, and build a solution based on their exact and specific needs. Sometimes that could be a flashy innovative solution, but it could also just be a good old fashioned lead-generation site!
Sustaining digital success
The idea that an agency should think in terms of long-term strategy is also nothing new. But as we’re seeing at Kooba, this is an increasingly important area that digital agencies can deliver sustained value for clients. By gathering info and insights over time, design solutions can be improved continuously, and a client’s online presence can be adjusted towards their deeper strategic goals.
Our recent work with WaterWipes is a great example of this long-term thinking in action, and we even published a mini-journal about the project. You can read it here!
Managing regulatory shocks
Finally, agencies are becoming safe harbours in troubled seas. As the demands required from digital solutions grow in number, it is now the responsibility of agencies to understand and articulate these requirements to clients. An excellent example is the recent implementation of the European Accessibility Act, which fundamentally re-ordered the accessibility needs of many organisations in the EU.
By understanding what is over the horizon across the web design industry, an agency can serve as an early warning system for clients, reducing uncertainty and worry.
If you’re searching for an agency that understands exactly what clients need in 2025, look no further. We’d love to hear about your specific project, just get in touch!
