Don't Overlook the Value of an Outside Perspective
The risk isn’t in building in-house—it’s in cutting off the outside view.
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Don't Overlook the Value of an Outside Perspective
In today’s fast-moving landscape, brands are investing heavily in building strong in-house creative and marketing teams. And for good reason—internal teams bring deep brand understanding, agility, and alignment across departments. But even the best in-house teams can benefit from outside perspective to stay disruptive, adaptive, and connected to cultural shifts.
In today’s fast-moving landscape, brands are investing heavily in building strong in-house creative and marketing teams. And for good reason—internal teams bring deep brand understanding, agility, and alignment across departments. But even the best in-house teams can benefit from outside perspective to stay disruptive, adaptive, and connected to cultural shifts.
When you're living a brand every day, it gets harder to see how others experience it. That closeness creates blind spots. It's not a talent issue—it's the natural limit of proximity. And that’s where strategic agency partners come in.
In-house teams bring clarity. Agencies bring perspective. Together, they bring impact.
Agencies aren’t here to take over. They enhance what internal teams do well—adding external context, creative provocation, and market insight that helps internal talent push further. They ask the questions internal teams may not be positioned to ask: Is this still relevant? Are we solving the right problem? Are we reaching our full potential?
They also bring a wider lens. Agencies work across industries and track real-time cultural movements. They’re tuned into how modern buyers are discovering and committing to brands in new and often overlooked ways. They gather insights through user testing, trend tracking, social listening, and frontline feedback—and shape that into creative ideas with real traction. It’s this blend of instinct and evidence that helps agencies spot what’s coming before it hits. And when brands are open to outside thinking, they often unlock ideas they wouldn’t have arrived at on their own—ideas that feel riskier but resonate deeper.
This isn’t a call to replace internal teams—it’s an invitation to empower them. When inside and outside teams collaborate, brands benefit from creative tension, new benchmarks, and sharper strategy.
The most resilient brands aren’t just consistent—they’re curious. They rely on insiders to keep the brand steady and invite outsiders to stretch its potential.
The future of your brand won’t be built by staying in your lane. It’ll be built at the intersections—of culture and commerce, instinct and insight, inside and out.
Curious what your brand could become with the right outside perspective?
Let's start the conversation. Email us at solutions@rlci.com.
Written by
Insights and Strategy Director
More articles
Monday, September 8, 2025
Written by
Tara Buehler
Geo-Targeting & Micro-Moments
How to Reach Travelers Where It Matters Most
Today’s travelers are guided by micro-moments — brief, high-intent interactions that shape when, where, and how they explore. We explored how geo-targeting technology can turn those fleeting seconds into powerful opportunities to connect, inspire, and convert. It’s not just about reaching travelers — it’s about reaching them where it matters most.
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Written by
Jaimee Holland
Custom Asset Libraries Aren’t a Luxury
They’re Strategic Brand Infrastructure
Why are the most forward-thinking brands building content systems instead of just folders? Because we don’t need more content — we need content that’s cohesive, reusable, and built with purpose. In a landscape defined by fragmented visual identities, infinite distribution channels, and rapidly multiplying customer touchpoints, it’s no longer enough to simply “get the shot.” Every asset — photo or video — should reinforce who you are, what you believe, and what your audience should remember about you the moment they see it.
Friday, June 20, 2025
Written by
Jaimee Holland
AI Just Rewrote the Laws of Physics
Now We're Helping It Reshape the Rules of Creativity
An AI recently uncovered new laws of physics—without knowing what physics is. It wasn’t taught Newton. It wasn’t shown Einstein. It simply watched pendulums swing and balls bounce. Then it invented its own understanding of the universe—entirely original, shockingly accurate, and deeply alien. This isn’t just a scientific breakthrough. It’s a creative one. And it’s a challenge to every brand still thinking inside the box of human convention.
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Written by
Jaimee Holland
2030: The Year the Trades Shortage Flips.
Position Now or Miss Out.
For the past two decades, the narrative around the skilled trades has centered on a looming labor shortage. Fewer young workers entering. Aging talent exiting. A shrinking pipeline with no immediate solution. But I predict that narrative is about to change—and fast.
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Written by
Trent Summers
Creative Agencies Are Pinnacle in the Age of AI
And why we still think the future is bright.
In today's rapidly shifting marketing landscape, one question seems to echo louder than ever: Is there still a place for agencies in a world increasingly driven by automation and in-housing? At a recent gathering of agency leaders, this poignant question was at the heart of our discussions.
show more articles
Don't Overlook the Value of an Outside Perspective
The risk isn’t in building in-house—it’s in cutting off the outside view.
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Don't Overlook the Value of an Outside Perspective
In today’s fast-moving landscape, brands are investing heavily in building strong in-house creative and marketing teams. And for good reason—internal teams bring deep brand understanding, agility, and alignment across departments. But even the best in-house teams can benefit from outside perspective to stay disruptive, adaptive, and connected to cultural shifts.
In today’s fast-moving landscape, brands are investing heavily in building strong in-house creative and marketing teams. And for good reason—internal teams bring deep brand understanding, agility, and alignment across departments. But even the best in-house teams can benefit from outside perspective to stay disruptive, adaptive, and connected to cultural shifts.
When you're living a brand every day, it gets harder to see how others experience it. That closeness creates blind spots. It's not a talent issue—it's the natural limit of proximity. And that’s where strategic agency partners come in.
In-house teams bring clarity. Agencies bring perspective. Together, they bring impact.
Agencies aren’t here to take over. They enhance what internal teams do well—adding external context, creative provocation, and market insight that helps internal talent push further. They ask the questions internal teams may not be positioned to ask: Is this still relevant? Are we solving the right problem? Are we reaching our full potential?
They also bring a wider lens. Agencies work across industries and track real-time cultural movements. They’re tuned into how modern buyers are discovering and committing to brands in new and often overlooked ways. They gather insights through user testing, trend tracking, social listening, and frontline feedback—and shape that into creative ideas with real traction. It’s this blend of instinct and evidence that helps agencies spot what’s coming before it hits. And when brands are open to outside thinking, they often unlock ideas they wouldn’t have arrived at on their own—ideas that feel riskier but resonate deeper.
This isn’t a call to replace internal teams—it’s an invitation to empower them. When inside and outside teams collaborate, brands benefit from creative tension, new benchmarks, and sharper strategy.
The most resilient brands aren’t just consistent—they’re curious. They rely on insiders to keep the brand steady and invite outsiders to stretch its potential.
The future of your brand won’t be built by staying in your lane. It’ll be built at the intersections—of culture and commerce, instinct and insight, inside and out.
Curious what your brand could become with the right outside perspective?
Let's start the conversation. Email us at solutions@rlci.com.
Written by
Insights and Strategy Director
More articles
Geo-Targeting & Micro-Moments
How to Reach Travelers Where It Matters Most
Custom Asset Libraries Aren’t a Luxury
They’re Strategic Brand Infrastructure
AI Just Rewrote the Laws of Physics
Now We're Helping It Reshape the Rules of Creativity
2030: The Year the Trades Shortage Flips.
Position Now or Miss Out.
Creative Agencies Are Pinnacle in the Age of AI
And why we still think the future is bright.
show more articles
Don't Overlook the Value of an Outside Perspective
The risk isn’t in building in-house—it’s in cutting off the outside view.
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Don't Overlook the Value of an Outside Perspective
In today’s fast-moving landscape, brands are investing heavily in building strong in-house creative and marketing teams. And for good reason—internal teams bring deep brand understanding, agility, and alignment across departments. But even the best in-house teams can benefit from outside perspective to stay disruptive, adaptive, and connected to cultural shifts.
In today’s fast-moving landscape, brands are investing heavily in building strong in-house creative and marketing teams. And for good reason—internal teams bring deep brand understanding, agility, and alignment across departments. But even the best in-house teams can benefit from outside perspective to stay disruptive, adaptive, and connected to cultural shifts.
When you're living a brand every day, it gets harder to see how others experience it. That closeness creates blind spots. It's not a talent issue—it's the natural limit of proximity. And that’s where strategic agency partners come in.
In-house teams bring clarity. Agencies bring perspective. Together, they bring impact.
Agencies aren’t here to take over. They enhance what internal teams do well—adding external context, creative provocation, and market insight that helps internal talent push further. They ask the questions internal teams may not be positioned to ask: Is this still relevant? Are we solving the right problem? Are we reaching our full potential?
They also bring a wider lens. Agencies work across industries and track real-time cultural movements. They’re tuned into how modern buyers are discovering and committing to brands in new and often overlooked ways. They gather insights through user testing, trend tracking, social listening, and frontline feedback—and shape that into creative ideas with real traction. It’s this blend of instinct and evidence that helps agencies spot what’s coming before it hits. And when brands are open to outside thinking, they often unlock ideas they wouldn’t have arrived at on their own—ideas that feel riskier but resonate deeper.
This isn’t a call to replace internal teams—it’s an invitation to empower them. When inside and outside teams collaborate, brands benefit from creative tension, new benchmarks, and sharper strategy.
The most resilient brands aren’t just consistent—they’re curious. They rely on insiders to keep the brand steady and invite outsiders to stretch its potential.
The future of your brand won’t be built by staying in your lane. It’ll be built at the intersections—of culture and commerce, instinct and insight, inside and out.
Curious what your brand could become with the right outside perspective?
Let's start the conversation. Email us at solutions@rlci.com.
Written by
Insights and Strategy Director
More articles
Geo-Targeting & Micro-Moments
How to Reach Travelers Where It Matters Most
Custom Asset Libraries Aren’t a Luxury
They’re Strategic Brand Infrastructure
AI Just Rewrote the Laws of Physics
Now We're Helping It Reshape the Rules of Creativity
2030: The Year the Trades Shortage Flips.
Position Now or Miss Out.
Creative Agencies Are Pinnacle in the Age of AI
And why we still think the future is bright.
show more articles
Time to smash the status quo.
Let's do this.
Rise above the noise and the BS. Start a project or a conversation with us.
We Keep Good Company
Time to smash the status quo.
Let's do this.
Rise above the noise and the BS. Start a project or a conversation with us.
We Keep Good Company
Time to smash the status quo.
Let's do this.
Rise above the noise and the BS. Start a project or a conversation with us.
We Keep Good Company