Ad Speaks Houston: A Podcast by the American Advertising Foundation - Houston Chapter

The headline says "Be the Change, Start to Build Your Dream Career Here", and even as we transition to a virtual event, the opportunities to learn, to network, and to grab an incredible experience is right there.  3 days dedicated to the people who are the future of our industry.  If you've participated before, or if you have never been a part of this, go register right now.  Wait, you're still re...

Tracy Anne Hart was destined to be a photographer and has followed that road since 1981.  Her photos are sought after pieces of art and her new book is something that every SRV fan should have in their library.  The Austin Chronicle put it this way: "In these pixels the music verges on deafening, but these photographs will burn into your frontal lobe."  Listen and love what she has done through he...

Building awareness with high-reach campaign strategies remains critical for all advertisers to stay top of mind.  Effectv has uncovered six key strategies for maximizing reach, and campaign success.  We discuss their new whitepaper, "Data Builds Brands" and how advertisers can focus on a strategy that delivers positive results. Ad Speaks Houston is an audio production of Radio Lounge, a Houston vo...

As part of our new virtual world, AAF Houston did a free webinar featuring Nikki.  The hour long event taught us what it takes to  develop effective  copy writing and powerful yet strategic creative that leads to the always sought after ROI.  This podcast touched on everything from our new behavior with COVID19, to collaboration and confidence.  In spite of all this tough stuff we're working throu...

We miss the face-to-face smiles and handshakes.  We miss the taste of a cold beverage and a good conversation.  We miss the feel of a room full of ad folks and the community of our industry.  Because our industry is filled with people who absolutely love what they do, every day.  So when COVID19 came to visit our lives, we had to adjust how we do things.  With our past chairman, John Manlove at th...

When YouTube first made its way onto the internet, few people realized how many hours of video we’d be watching years later. YouTube with 2 billion users worldwide is the ultimate destination for online video. Learn about the power of YouTube In the customer journey and the best way to harness it as marketers and creators.  Register for this free webinar now at aaf-houston.net    Ad Speaks Houston...

With our podcasts we cover a wide range of advertising issues and trends, but we felt that at this time, we needed to focus more on our culture and how we might work better, together.  On behalf of Valentina, Sonny, Alvin and Ray, we hope this conversation inspires you to seriously consider how YOU can make that happen.  Ad Speaks Houston is an audio production of Radio Lounge, a Houston voiceover...

Larry Kelley teaches the art of advertising, writes incredible books, lots of books, and through his efforts you will see how a passion for our industry allowed him to love the journey.  Larry is a board member of AAF-Houston, and a former EVP at the mega Houston agency, FKM.  We joked about the number of books he has written on advertising, that he might consider selling the series, like a set of...

When you think about advertising, outdoor continues to maintain a unique way to engage business, and this business goes back to the stone age.  Fast forward to #digitalboards and #programaticboards, and you find that this stone age concept has really kept pace with today's diverse #advertising platforms.  This is program number 4 in our series on COVID19 and the #advertising industry.  Even with f...

Allen said he dropped by the agency last week and picked up a roll of paper towels but left the toilet paper, just in case somebody needed it.  At Brivic Media their philosophy is simple, "take care of the basics and pay attention to detail".  Sure, COVID19 has turned the #advertising world upside down, but when you know how to respond and have the people and resources to make it happen, this beco...

So what are you doing right now to speak to your clients?  Or, have you gone silent as you wait to see what will happen next?  Bad idea.  Sure, we're now wearing masks, at least most of us are, but you can clearly maintain connectivity with your clients even when it's not face to face.  #Digitalmarketing technology is shining right now, and Brian gives us some great options and actions to take as...

CORE Detail is a #commercialprinter centered on high-end projects from design, to creation to distribution.  While business has adapted to a different way of getting the word out in various print platforms, in this case, CORE is well-positioned to address the current printing needs.  Kent shares his thoughts on what's happening now and what's ahead. Ad Speaks Houston is an audio production of Radi...

We sat down for a conversation with Valentina Gomez Bravo of Bunker +58, a branding agency here in Houston.  From using your brand values as a compass to consistency and timing, to having a conversation that is relevant to your audience, we are sharing a few gems that will help your business do a better job of keeping the connection with your business audience.  Consider how many of these points c...

Our lives have been disrupted like never before.  From the cancellation of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to sporting events and our day-to-day life as what we used to call "normal.  Our new normal is practicing safe behaviors and reaching for a new level of patience in our daily lives.  COVID-19 has also disrupted the advertising industry.  Listen to a local and district-wide perspective of...

Diversity and inclusion have been a recent hot topic in the advertising industry, but since 1990, Gilbreath Communications has practiced this valuable exercise as it relates to the agency and its clients.  On their website is the best description of how this happens.  It's a quote from Maya Angelou and it says "we should all know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand tha...

Sure, there is the advertising connection, but what paves the foundation for a Mosaic award winner goes much deeper than the message.  All of the award winners share the same passion for a greater understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion from the eyes and ears they reach through advertising and marketing, to the culture within each agency.  These are great stories of why it's so...

Advertising and marketing never stays the same, or sits still, and with a digital mix, it's no longer only about the story, it's more about the emotional connection with the brand.  Tony Sharpe, Creative Director at Tony Sharpe TV, Judy Thompson, principal at WORD and Javier Martinez, Creative Director at RUMBO were the perfect mix to fill us in on retail advertising trends, and the important elem...

Both Joni and Dwight are passionate about Houston, our advertising community, and the annual event that lets the best of the best shine.  Joni and Dwight are AAFH board members and when you see what goes into just one night of celebration it's hard to imagine how the ADDY Awards team gets it all right.  So many moving parts and like any other awards program, the essential element of making it fun....

One of the coolest things that happens this time of year in Houston is the Houston Auto Show.  This show is driven by HADA and covers 800,000 square feet of everything automotive.  RoShelle gave us a sneak peak of what visitors can expect; everything from EV's to taking a personal test drive in cars that are made to be driven.  We also talked about the industry needs of attracting and keeping empl...

With The American Advertising Awards quickly coming up, Joni Verdina fills us in on plans for the big party.  Valentina Gomez Bravo talks about her experiences with Student Conference both as a student and a judge.  John Manlove and Leah Howard give us a sneak peak at some of the great programs in the new year and Alvin Wright talks about the AAF club achievement competition.  AAFH is ready to roc...

People love AAFH.  They also love the incredible things we do.  This new approach to membership was designed for the small shops to the big agencies, and because it's an all-inclusive approach, it makes more sense as a budget decision.  Joe Biondi is one of our newest board members and his team has put together this new membership initiative.  Watch the website for additional details, or you can r...

The headline reads "A campaign should take you somewhere new, someplace you haven't been before", and that is exactly what drives John Manlove at his agency, his role in AAFH and in his life.  John is always focused on "what if", and thus far we are excited about his leadership and what is ahead for the coming year.  John is also a teacher of Texas history, as The Battle of San Jacinto literally s...

What I like most about our AAFH Board, is the diversity of talent.  The ideas are always off the charts.  You might call this board a Super Agency because so many folks drive momentum and are never okay with "as-is".  John Del Tatto brings a tremendous amount of expertise on brands including Whataburger and Chick-Fil-A, Dwight Douthit is a life-member of Ad Fed, and has won a bunch of national awa...

Do you have to love what you do to be really great at it?  We think so.  When you hear Joe's story you'll catch what we're saying.  With a family bloodline that dates back to the golden days of Top 40 Radio, Joe was born to do this kind of stuff.  And he's done it all, from on-air to sales, marketing and management.  Joe has a passion for radio,and as an account executive for the NPR station in Ho...

There's a different approach to marketing and advertising when you add the title of former college professor.  It becomes much richer when you add fluency in both English and Spanish.  Valentina says brands have a personality, much like a person, and every brand is unique.  Therefore, every brand message becomes unique.  Bunker 58 takes today's technology and applies it to a wide variety of market...