About this episode

James Lawrence interviews Darren Woolley to discuss the findings of the 2026 State of the Pitch report and how to improve agency selection processes.

Few decisions have a bigger impact on marketing performance than choosing the right agency partner. Yet according to TrinityP3's latest State of the Pitch Report, many pitch processes are still creating frustration on both sides of the table. Agencies invest significant time and resources into pitches, while marketers often struggle with unclear scopes. More than anything, this leads to relationships starting on the wrong foot before a contract is even signed. In this episode of the Smarter Marketer Podcast, Rocket Agency’s Co-Founder & Host James Lawrence sits down with TrinityP3 Founder and CEO Darren Woolley to unpack the findings from the 2026 State of the Pitch report. Together they discuss why some pitch processes consistently underperform and what marketers can do to build stronger, more productive agency relationships from the very beginning. Read: The State of the Pitch Report Key Takeaways: The biggest findings from TrinityP3's 2026 State of the Pitch report Why agency dissatisfaction with pitch processes remains stubbornly high The impact poor pitch management can have on agency performance and marketer reputation Why defining scope of work remains one of the…

More episodes of Smarter Marketer

• 114. Marketing's Credibility Problem: What Attribution Gets Wrong and Incrementality Gets Right w. Analytic Partners’ Paul Sinkinson · July 14, 2026 · 40 min
• 113. James Hurman on Building Future Demand: Creativity, Brand and Escaping the ‘Performance Trap’ · June 30, 2026 · 39 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Smarter Marketer podcast page.