When agencies work in silos, thinking about a brand is a relay, with one department or agency handing off their thinking to another. But in today’s world of connected media and connected consumers, brands need connected thinking.

As independent agencies, we’ve completely rejected the profit-center model. Our talent is free to collaborate, iterate and beta wherever the idea and need may lead. The underlying glue that keeps the wheel turning is the belief that Local Is King.

Independent agencies live with the mantra that a "Results Before Profit" approach makes them distinctly different from the multinationals. Running independent, owner-led businesses means they understand the true value of ROI. They report to brands, not shareholders.

Responsibility is placed on the structure, processes and the people doing the work. Gone are the endless layers of decision-making, so often associated with large public networks, where great ideas are often destroyed by corporate decision-makers who don’t have enough knowledge of the local market and customer expectations. The independent agency model is more responsive to the changing and varied needs of the brand and more in-tune with what resonates with each agency's local audience. It’s collaborative and fast instead of linear and slow.

Without layers of approval, marketers and creatives can focus on making great work and seeing the direct impact for the brand as a result of their labor.