Blog Posts - Client Services

A place where we discuss the communication industry and give our insights on advertising, website development, graphic design and strategic planning.

Brand Advocacy

Find Your Purpose. Build Your Advocates.

By Ashley Landers

What is brand advocacy? Why is it important to turn customers into advocates? Where do I begin? When what you’re selling is no longer “bought,” but “bought into.” When your company moves from a Brand to a Stand, people can stand with you. This blog shares 3 tips for helping companies create brand advocates by starting with a purpose. I’ll start by referencing a book that inspired most of what I’m writing. I was able to see Joey Reiman speak when I worked with General Mills a few y
Tips to More Accurate Project Estimating

5 Tips to More Accurate Project Estimating

By Texas Creative

If you work in an ad agency, the story I am about to tell will not shock or surprise you. A client calls and asks you for an estimate on how long a new website or brochure will take to build out. In a scary moment you spit out a range of numbers -- your brain is saying “NO, don’t do it!” but alas, the words come, and the client seems happy with how you have answered. You hang up the phone and start to cross your fingers. But wait...a few weeks later you have an email and the client is read
Balancing Work and Life

The Balancing Act

By Texas Creative

There is a large misconception that agency-life can make it impossible to have this work/life balance that most people strive for. Working in advertising can have moments that make balancing your job with your personal life tough. The campaign is starting, deadlines are hot, and clients are needing their deliverables. This does not mean that the work is not manageable. It is all about managing smarter, not harder. While working for an advertising agency can be busy, it can also be extremely re
A New Year, An Old Spirit.

A New Year, An Old Spirit.

By Ashley Landers

As we’re all getting settled into January with big hopes and dreams for what 2019 will bring, I’m reminded of the phrase “out with the old, in with the new”. There’s one area in business that statement tends to ring most true come January -- focusing on financials. Companies can get fixated with a new calendar year. Once their financial year closes, they can be quick to forget what we were all reveling in just a few weeks ago: the spirit of the holidays—a spirit of giving and of serv
Business with Government Agencies

Doing Business with Government Agencies

By Texas Creative

There are great opportunities with local, state and federal government contracting. That’s why we made a strategic decision over 10 years ago to build a government public affairs and marketing area of our company’s service offerings. It wasn’t easy, it was a long process, but it worked. Here’s how we did it and what it has meant to the growth of Texas Creative. Get Your Certifications: Our first stop was the South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency (SCTRCA), where we received ou
Tips from a New Coordinator

5 Tips from a New Coordinator

By Texas Creative

I’ve been working as an Account Coordinator here at Texas Creative for about 3 months now, and boy, have I learned a lot. So whether you’ve been in the industry for years, are just starting out, or are considering a career in account management, I hope these tips and tricks help you on your way. 1. Write down everything No seriously, everything. Take a notebook with you to every meeting, because at some point, someone will say something you’ll need to remember. Taking notes at every meetin
Conducting a Photography RFP

Conducting a Photography RFP: Keep the competition fair and respectful.

By Texas Creative

I  appreciate the talent of a good photographer. It’s a profession that deserves a lot of respect because to make a livelihood out of it requires a lot of talent, business savvy, and hard work. Technology drives the industry and that particular field is constantly evolving. It’s an art form that I personally once toyed with making my career, but it was not in the master plan for me. Instead, I found myself working in the advertising industry where I regularly hire photographers to create im
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Retainer vs. Project Estimate which is better for your business?

By Jenifer Crader

As an agency, one question we get often from both new and existing clients is how do retainers work and do I need one? This is something that, as the Accounting Manager, I help the account team at the agency evaluate for clients regularly. Below, I outline the differences between a monthly retainer and per project estimates. This will hopefully answer any questions you may have about the differences between the two,  the advantages and disadvantages to each approach, and possibly help you decid
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To Research, Or Not to Research.

By Rebecca Czarobski

The idea of conducting market research can seem overwhelming and expensive. I recently had the privilege of helping conduct market research for one of my clients and it has been an extremely educational and eye-opening experience for myself, my internal team and my client. Because market research has been a huge part of my daily life lately, I thought I would share with you the three reasons why you, as a brand, should invest in market research. Market research bases your communications strategy
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Business Leadership Styles: What’s the latest fashion?

By David Parker

Along with the returning of the swallows and the running of the grunions, there’s another momentous natural phenomenon that occurs without fail on an annual basis: the releasing of the bull. Also known as the publication of the latest New York Times bestseller introducing a revolutionary, new, can’t miss system/philosophy/religion for business success and leadership. Through the years, we’ve been told by the gurus of attaining business nirvana to deal artfully, tip our points, release our