Today we’d like to introduce you to Patty Harrison.
Hi Patty, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
After a long career that included stints at advertising agencies, production companies, marketing departments, and rep and tech companies, I realized that most businesses struggle to promote themselves to differentiate themselves from their competition. I have a friend who is a super on-camera and VO talent for a top talent agency in DFW. She asked me how to get in front of the agency creatives because everyone was behind swipe cards.
This had not been the case when I was in the ad agency arena. I told her it had to be online somehow, and I ruminated on that for a bit. One day in the shower, (many ideas happen there) I had an epiphany to create an online version of Entertainment Tonight that focused on the local ad agency news. Lots of pictures and video interviews! It was to fill the local ad news space that AdWeek had abandoned ten years prior when they went largely digital.
Also, throughout my career, I had numerous opportunities to interview different people, and I loved doing that! I’m basically like a dog who loves everyone at some level. I ran the idea past many of my colleagues, added the marketing, production, and film communities to the mix and after a long gestation period of learning WordPress and overcoming other tech challenges, AdChat DFW was born.
I must add that I could never have launched it without the help of Marcus Lewis, my steadfast WordPress guru. His patience and knowledge were what got me through many doubtful times. Also, the handful of launch friends who agreed to give us original content, will always be dearly appreciated.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been like climbing up a craggy cliff by my fingernails one day at a time. Launching a business mostly by yourself is not for the weak of stomach. You wear ALL the hats: salesperson, graphic artist, copywriter, strategist, WordPress “expert”, video editor, interviewer, producer, shooter, bookkeeper, and more. Fortunately, I had performed most of those roles in prior jobs… but not all at once! You do what you have to do.
It’s true that in some sense every company is a technology company, and I think overcoming the constant barrage of tech challenges has been the most daunting. But it has also been rewarding to look back and be proud of what I have learned and overcome. Many people my age simply stop trying to learn and I find that sad. I feel fortunate that I have always wanted to keep learning. You have to eat change for breakfast… as they say.
During COVID, I truly thought since work in our agency, marketing, production, and film communities came to a halt, that we would have no news to publish, and our website visits would fall. I had the idea to rally the troops and ask companies to share how they were handling the pandemic. We received an outflow of stories and our site visits increased by over 700% in 4 months. I was completely blown away. I think everyone was bored and was wondering what everyone else was doing, but it was great for us branding-wise.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am the Editor-in-Chief of AdChat DFW, an online news and promotional platform for the agency, marketing, production, and film communities in DFW. As far as I know, we are the only publication in DFW that covers specifically local news in those areas.
Do you have any advice for those just starting?
Absolutely! Although if I had the chance to be 20 years younger, I wouldn’t do it, I wish I had taken more chances with my career. There were so many times I thought this or that job/position would be cool, but I waited too long to leap. I was too timid. Little did I know that I could do anything I set my mind to do. I would tell a younger person to be brave and dare to go for it! Whatever IT is!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://adchatdfw.
com/ - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/adchatdfw/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/AdChatDFW - Twitter: https://twitter.com/
AdChatDFW - Youtube: https://www.youtube.
com/user/ADChatDFW
