What Is a Pod Model, and Why Is It a Better Approach to Marketing?
If you could access a tight-knit group of marketing experts who work together like peas in a pod to make real-time creative decisions rooted in data, you’d hop on that immediately, yes?
The Product-Oriented Delivery, or “pod,” model is just that: a smart, nimble method of structuring a team to maximize competencies and minimize complications. A pod is a strategically selected, cross-functional crew in which each person is responsible for a specific piece of the puzzle. It’s basically like assembling a superhero squad, but for your brand.
At Elevate My Brand, we’ve implemented a pod model for our clients for well over a decade. And you know what? It works. We get to hire the best of the best, and our clients get to access a comprehensive team with deep experience in virtually every area of marketing. It’s the best of both worlds: a fully outsourced marketing squad without any of the red tape.
Pod models are all pros and no cons
With over 16 years and 400 clients under our belts, we can attest that when teams talk more, move faster and share ownership, great things happen. The pod model has been a critical part of our client success stories.
Old-school team structures tend to be hierarchical and either too small or too big to be effective. At EMB, we’ve discovered the sweet spot of four to six experts on a pod. But don’t worry about Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen Syndrome—each pod has a central point of contact (a “lead”) who acts as your connection to the right person at the right time.
Your pod also includes a backup lead (because life happens) and potentially a social media manager, graphic designer, writer, ad specialist… whatever your marketing goals require. During our Discovery Phase, we learn your business inside and out so we can assemble the perfect pod for you. Not everyone joins every call, but you’ll meet the full cast of characters up front.
Instead of hoisting decision–making up the flagpole and waiting for replies, your lead ensures you can collaborate with our experts in real-time. The results:
- Fewer bottlenecks
- More innovation
- Higher satisfaction
- Faster turnarounds
- Better quality work
Who are the peas in a marketing pod
Nearly any team can leverage a pod model to tap into its benefits. As an award-winning marketing agency, we like to ensure we have experts in an array of marketing areas so we can assign the right minds to your account. We like to think of our pods as a marketing charcuterie board: balanced, complementary, intentional—with some spiciness and nuttiness tossed in.
We have marketing experts to fit a number of needs, such as:
- Automation managers
- Content creators
- Data analysts
- Event planners
- Graphic designers
- Influencer liaisons
- Marketing strategists
- Project managers
- Social media connoisseurs
- Website developers
- Writers and editors
Why our clients love the pod life
In brand management, speed and smarts are everything. Pod models let us zig when markets zag. Together, with a pod mentality, our team can tackle challenges and make magic with a 360° perspective by:
- Aligning on clear goals so no one’s lost in the sauce and everyone’s on the same page.
- Creating clear communication channels, since we’re marketers and not mind readers.
- Building autonomy because you deserve a marketing agency partner you can trust.
- Streamlining processes to cut down on turnaround times and sources of confusion.
- Introducing new ideas from a range of perspectives and marketing disciplines.
Here’s what our clients have said about our pod model’s ability to support their marketing campaigns and initiatives:
Adaptable
“The team presents multiple ideas to drill down exactly what we want, and they constantly revise them until they hit our goals.”
Detailed
“The attention to detail they provide from the moment we engaged with them set them apart."
Efficient
“I love that they are so supportive of my success and so efficient! No time is ever wasted!”
Focused
“Management style is very personal and personable. Clear thinking with specific advice about specific issues.”
Let us show you why pods work
At EMB, we live the pod life. We know it works, and we can prove it. When you work with us, you’re not tossed to a junior who’s simply after a shiny pitch call; you get a handpicked pod of specialists—strategists, creatives, analysts—who know your brand, care about your goals and have the chops to take you from point A to point (EM)B.
Ready to keep calm and pod on?
Let’s build a dream team that elevates your brand today. Let’s schedule a call and chat about next steps. Talk soon!
Judy Tai,
Intern