Welcome Lillian Cloud, our new intern, to the Porch!

It’s time to welcome a new team member this fall — Lillian Clould. She is a recent college graduate from Texas A&M, and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Marketing at UT Dallas. We love our interns, and we’re so excited to introduce you to Lillian. You can read about her on our team page, and today, we’ve asked her a few questions about her perspective on marketing, so you can get to know her better. And then you can send Lillian a big Front Porch “howdy!”

What is the biggest misconception about marketing today?

I believe the biggest misconception about marketing today is that marketing is only about selling people stuff they do not need. Marketing is so much more than that now and we have such an opportunity to reach people today with marketing than ever before.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Don’t take yourself too seriously.

What is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned so far at school?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned so far at school is to make sure your professors know who you are. Build relationships with your professors, they can be a great resource.

What does good brand strategy look like?

I think good brand strategy starts with knowing your brand well and what direction you want your brand to go in.  At the same time, it is important to know what your brand is not.

If you could be anywhere in the world right now where would it be?

Rome!

If you could go to dinner with one person living or dead who would it be?

My great aunt Lillian who I am named after.

If you could describe yourself in three words what would they be?

Three words that describe me are passionate, loyal, and honest.

Tell us about a major milestone in your life?

A major milestone in my life was graduating college this past year and moving away from my hometown and family. I went to college in my hometown so graduating and moving to Dallas was a big change for me but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

From your perspective, how does Front Porch Marketing differentiate itself from other marketing companies?

I think that the size of Front Porch Marketing allows it to get to know their clients well and have a real connection with them. Everyone I have worked with on the team is always so willing to help and listen to me which is exactly how we treat our clients and I think that makes us special.

What is a fun fact about you?

A fun fact about me is that I love to travel and learn about history and art.

After a fun and insightful summer with Front Porch Marketing, my internship has come to an end. Front Porch has taught me what it’s like to apply my advertising and marketing skills I acquired in college to real-life scenarios and clients.

Leading up to my first day at FPM, I was very nervous and did not know what to expect. But the team welcomed me with open arms and allowed me to see my full potential. I learned various skills and traits this summer in a low-stress and educational environment that I look forward to using for the rest of my career.

The Best Part of My Internship

My favorite part of my internship was working with one of our clients, Faith Family Academy. Our goal was to increase enrollment for the 2023 school year. We were doing a lot of promoting events and advertising on many different platforms. I got to see what it was like to strategically advertise to a certain target audience in a real life situation.

I learned so much about ad placement and design that I never would have thought to use before. Ultimately, this hands-on experience has taught me things I could never learn in a classroom. Most of all it taught me how to act accordingly in a professional setting.

Internships Are a Valuable Experience

The things I learned this summer I will never take for granted. I was lucky enough to expand my knowledge on marketing. They taught me with hands-on experience and a team that wanted me to succeed. I’ll apply this knowledge to my future. And I will use the experience I have acquired to drive a successful career for myself.  So I cannot thank the people I have worked with enough this summer at my internship. Plus I look forward to keeping in touch with them as I start my professional career, after my senior year at Texas Tech University!

Meet Ursuline Summer Intern Ryan Barton

Welcome our new intern Ryan Barton. Front Porch Marketing supports Ursuline High School by providing an internship or two for their students every summer. We have had the pleasure of introducing marketing and advertising to these rising seniors for several years now, and have enjoyed their enthusiasm and sparkle every summer.

This summer our Ursuline High School intern is rising senior Ryan Barton. Ryan is excited to utilize her strong communication and writing skills this summer and learn more about what we do at Front Porch. And we are excited to add her to the Front Porch team. Ryan is the captain of the girls’ basketball team, and president of school club Helping Hands, which she founded. We asked Ryan a few questions about herself to get to know her better!

What makes you want to have a career in marketing?

I took a class this year at Ursuline where you have to create a business model and work out the finances, marketing, and product. It made me interested in the marketing aspect of a business and what that entails.

What is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned so far in your life? 

I have learned that every person is different and has an unique skill set. It taught me that comparing myself to others is not helpful or productive.

If you could describe Ryan Barton in three words what would they be? 

In 3 words, I would describe myself as determined, thoughtful, generous.

What are your goals for your time at Front Porch Marketing, Ryan?

My main goals are to get experience in marketing and seeing if it is something that I would be interested in pursuing in the future.

If you could go to dinner with one person living or dead who would it be?

I would go to dinner with my Taylor Swift. I grew up with older sisters so her music was constantly on and she has become a huge inspiration in my life!

What is a fun fact about you, Ryan?

One of my favorite foods is Caesar salad! I had one in New York when I was 10 and have loved them ever since!

We’re So Happy You’re Here, Ryan Barton!

Of course this summer we had to have a #swiftie as an intern. Of course! We are looking forward to seeing how your future develops, Ryan, and hope that your time at Front Porch Marketing is valuable to your career path. Welcome!

Welcome Thomas Bahash, our new summer intern, to the Porch!

It’s time to welcome a new team member — Thomas Bahash — to the Porch. He’s an Advertising and Brand Strategy major at Texas Tech, and a golfer (in case you didn’t notice). We love our summer interns, and we’re so excited to introduce you to Thomas. You can read about him on our team page, and today, we’ve asked him a few questions about his perspective on advertising, so you can get to know him better. And then you can send him a big “howdy!”

What is the biggest misconception about advertising today?

aI believe the biggest misconception about advertising is it’s easy and simple. Many people don’t understand the research and work that has to be done before you release an ad.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

A piece of advice I would give my younger self is to not sweat the small things so much, learn from them, but don’t dwell on them.

What is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned so far at school?

The biggest lesson I learned from college is to stay organized, it is hard to juggle school work, extracurricular activities, and live on your own for the first time. Staying organized makes everything a little bit easier.

What does good brand strategy look like?

A good brand strategy effectively conveys its mission to the appropriate audience.

If you could go to dinner with one person living or dead who would it be?

If I could attend dinner with anyone in the world, it would be Justin Thomas. Justin is a great person and role model to all ages, hopefully he can help me work on my swing as well.

If you could describe yourself in three words what would they be?

Three words to describe me are personable, determined, and energetic.

Tell us about a major milestone in your life?

A major milestone in my life was being elected captain of my high school lacrosse team. At that moment, I realized people looked up to me, and I wanted to do everything to become a great leader. I still use things I have learned from being captain in my everyday life!

From your perspective, how does Front Porch Marketing differentiate itself from other marketing companies?

Front Porch Marketing differentiates itself from other companies by establishing close relationships with its clients. I have not met a company as friendly and welcoming as theirs!

What is a fun fact about you?

A fun fact about me is I am from the Jersey Shore.

First Job Lessons to Remember

My youngest kid just started his first job. Having a first job means experiencing some serious adulting, and it comes with many lessons learned. And a lot of these lessons are ones that you can keep with you for your entire career — from intern to CEO.

Remember that book “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”? The lessons learned in your first job are kind of like those kindergarten lessons. Be thoughtful and kind to everyone. Do a good job at every task. Be helpful. Be on time. Simple stuff, really, but foundational to having a good work experience in every job you’ll ever have.

Learning the Ropes

My 16-yr-old son is learning a whole new set of adult-life rules of employment. From me, from his new boss, from his co-workers. And from his fluffy charges: he works at a doggy daycare. That boy loves dogs more than people, so I am thankful that he has this particular job as his first job. He is passionate about caring for dogs. He texts me pics of his furry friends during his shifts with their names and some anecdotal cuteness they’ve just accomplished.

My son’s first job reminds me often of MY first job (not that I took care of dogs). But I did something I loved too. I took care of books, my passion. I shelved books in the Kansas City Kansas public library after school and most weekends. For an introvert who was already plowing her way through the entire science fiction section of the library anyway, it was a dream come true to work there. I checked out all the new releases first. I could put books on hold when I saw them come in. So I never missed out on reading the lastest and greatest. And did I mention that I loved putting things in alphabetical and Dewey Decimal System order?

Big Picture Lesson: Do Something You Love

Having a first job is one of the first times that you experience interacting and getting along with people who are not your family or school mates, on a regular basis. You are all working together toward a common goal. That’s something to remember. Whether that’s stacking boxes in a warehouse, flipping a burger, walking a dog or shelving a book, you are now a part of a team. You can take pride in doing a good job not just for yourself, but for the team. The feeling of a shared mission is one you’ll take to every job you will ever have, and use for inspiration.

Best Job Lesson: Know your worth

As a teenager, the best part of your first job is you are getting paid to do this! Earning an hourly wage — large or small — definitely makes you focus more, and work harder on the task at hand. You are considered helpful and sometimes even an expert at SOMETHING! So much so that they want to pay you for your knowledge or your handiwork! The realization of that first paycheck moment is your first glimpse into your ability to build skills to create value. With every job, pat yourself on the back for your next pay raise, or promotion — you’re doing great!

Use your first job to enjoy any job

As you grow in skills and get higher paying jobs, remember to savor your accomplishments, and the fact that someone wants to pay you to do something you already love doing! Remember the work friends that you’ve made and kept even when you’re no longer working together. Think about that new skill you learned, and then fell in love with and became an expert at doing. And how much that made you feel smart and valuable.

Sometimes work can feel like a grind, but when you look at your job through your 16-yr-old eyes, maybe what you’re doing is actually pretty cool. And look how far you’ve come!

This week, we’re welcoming Andrew Porter, our newest intern rocker, to the team!

1. What makes you want to have a career in marketing, Andrew Porter?

I’ve grown up watching my mom create this awesome company from the ground up and achieve so much in little time. It really motivates me to be successful seeing her achieve her dream and work so hard to obtain it. I want to be able to do what I want in the future as well and achieve my dream. Marketing has a special place in my heart and really does interest me in my future career endeavors.

2. What is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned so far in your life?

There are many obstacles in life, but you end up gaining more from these obstacles than you have lost, if you choose to conquer the obstacles.

3. If you could describe Andrew Porter in three words, what would they be?

The three words I’d use to describe myself would be hardworking, funny, and committed.

4. What are your goals for your time at Front Porch Marketing?

I really want to get my foot in the door with this marketing internship, and get some real life business experience for the future. I have 5 specific goals that I’d like to conquer while at Front Porch:

1) I will be able to professional handle myself according to the certain business or personal situation that is present. And learn from those that have more experience than I do.

2) I will be able to communicate with clients and strangers effectively for the benefit of me and others.

3) I will be able to effectively navigate the internet accordingly while also being proficient in Microsoft 365.

4) I will be able to successfully balance the many activities that go on in my everyday life with my multiple jobs, hanging with friends, and sleeping.

5) I will be able to build a basic understanding of marketing principles to assist clients in attaining their long-time goals.

5. If you could go to dinner with one person living or dead who would it be?

One person I’d definitely want to go to dinner with would be Chris Farley. He is my favorite comedian and is literally so funny. I’d love to see him in person do his Matt Foley: Van Down by the River skit from SNL.

6. What is a fun fact about you?

I am currently the Vice President of Recruitment of the Interfraternity Council (IFC) at Rollins College and the Brotherhood Chair of SAE.

Trey Harrup – our newest intern rocker joins us on the Porch to kick off the new year! Trey has recently graduated and we’re getting his marketing career off to a start on the Porch. We’re so excited to have him on board to help with all the things. We asked him a few questions last week, so you can get to know him a little better.

What do you think is the biggest misconception about marketing today?

That marketing and advertising are the same forms of business.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in marketing, like yourself?

The advice I would give would be to be versatile when you start to learn. There are many small components to marketing and they all help each other. Learn them all!

What is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned so far in your career path?

I’ve learned that all things take time. Take your time while you grow to retain information and experiences. Missing the small details of life because you are trying to move fast ruins the outcome.

What does good marketing look like to you?

Good marketing starts with the relationship built with the customer. I think good marketing now is understanding what your customer needs from you. This business world is becoming more customer-centric and placing an emphasis on how the customer is treated is a great way to start.

If you could describe yourself in three words what would they be?

Trey Harrup is Loyal, Personable, Flexible

Trey Harrup, what was your favorite thing about college?

My favorite thing in college was all the new people and faces I met every day. Making friendships with people I never thought I would, and having them in my everyday life has been a blessing.

Tell us about a major milestone in your life?

A major milestone in my life was finishing school! I never thought it would end and when it finally did, it was such a great feeling!

What are your goals for your time at Front Porch Marketing?

My goals at FPM are centered around learning. I want to take my time at FPM to learn as much as I can. I pride myself on being versatile when it comes to my skillset, so I want to learn about the many different facets that make up marketing.

If you could go to dinner with one person living or dead who would it be?

I would love to go to dinner with Will Smith. He is my all-time favorite actor and I think that dinner would be filled with some great stories.

What is a fun fact about you, Trey Harrup?

Hockey is my favorite sport!

Well, we love Trey’s insights and perspectives, and can’t wait to get him all geared up for 2022 marketing. Welcome to the Porch, Trey, we’re so glad you’re here.

Broadening your skill set is the key to success. That is what I have learned as an intern and college student so far. Success in your career depends on being skilled in more than one discipline. Graphic Design is something that I hold very dear to my heart, so I started college thinking this would be my path. My father is a graphic designer. Thus I have a personal connection to it and I’ve been practicing it for over four years.

Start With Something You Love and Broaden Your Skill Set for Success From There

Since I was a kid I would always look up to my father’s work as an artist. He graduated from UNT with a degree in Graphic Design and immediately got picked up by a respectable design firm. Throughout my life I would observe his work, how he brainstormed, his rough sketches, and then the final product.

Some of his work includes the live theater company called Kitchen Dog Theater and the Green Light to Greatness logo for The University of North Texas, that you can still see today on busses. He’s even done work for BNSF, the largest freight railroad network in North America! As a kid growing up I really looked up to him and thought he had the coolest job in the world. Being able to permanently leave your mark on the world and potentially change a company’s look sounded amazing. So, I decided at a very early age that I wanted to be a Graphic Designer.

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Learn a New Skill Wherever You Can

I started by taking every art class I could from elementary to high school. When I reached high school, I decided it was time to start learning Graphic Design. I started by taking Graphic Design I, and Graphic Design II. Once I got confident enough in my skills I joined the school newspaper The Sidekick, and worked for them providing writers with illustrations.

During this time, I also did a lot of work with Reese Bonneau, a local artist. I designed his album covers on Spotify and created multiple T-shirts for him to sell on his website. Now he has over 3K monthly listeners on Spotify! Through him I met other local artists and designed even more album covers. I like to help musicians and small companies just starting out. It allows me to get more experience, learn new things and grow.

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You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

Once I started college at The University of North Texas, I decided to major in Graphic Design like my father. It was a really tough program, but I was growing so much as an artist. But after one semester though, I decided that even though I love graphic design, I wanted to expand my skillset to a more business-oriented role. Being exposed to Marketing and Business caused me to pivot in my aspirations. I decided to switch my major from Graphic Design to Marketing. One of the most important things I learned in college: trying a bit of everything, meeting all kinds of people related to your industry, and taking new classes can help you discover your true path!

Now, my goal is to become a Marketing Manager for a big tech company. Currently, I still doing Graphic Design on the side. In addition to being an intern at Front Porch Marketing, I’m also the Graphic Designer and Social Media Manager for a start up Manga publishing company. Their mission is to provide a platform for up-and-coming manga artists and writers. We’re growing little by little every day and I think we’re off to a great start considering we started in January during a pandemic.

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It’s OK to Change Your Mind and Try Something New

Even though I originally went to UNT to become a Graphic Designer, I have broader marketing and business goals now. I still love and practice it on the side when I can. But my focus is learning more about marketing and getting as much experience as I can with all aspects of marketing before I graduate.

There are so many different disciplines involved in marketing and I’m learning so much working as an intern at Front Porch Marketing. Every time I get an assignment I learn something new and grow in my confidence. Although I’m very focused on learning the digital aspect of marketing, I want to have a broad understanding of all the different branches, especially in the business management of marketing. I would love to learn how to create effective ads, do SEO, and email marketing. So I really look forward to growing with this company, as well as learning more at school this fall!

This week, we welcome Carson Allen, our newest intern rocker, to the team!

1. What is the biggest misconception about marketing today?

That its full of people who want to take advantage of others for a quick cash grab.

2. What advice would you give to someone struggling with creating a brand identity?

To be patient and to play the long game. It takes time to build a brand and you need to be incredibly persistent with growth.

3. One of the biggest lessons you’ve learned throughout your academic career?

That when it comes to marketing you want to apply the “KISS” method. Which is “Keep It Simple & Stupid.” Keeping things simple and easy to understand helps draw in clients.

4. What does good marketing look like?

An agency that respects their clients and knows how to properly execute a plan to get them the results they need. The focus should be on helping the client.

5. If you could describe yourself in three words what would they be?

Persistent, outgoing, and motivated.

6. Tell me about a major milestone in your life?

One major milestone of mine is achieving the rank of Eagle Scout my senior year in High School. It took me 8 years of moving up through the scouting program and completing a service project to achieve it.

7. Your goals for FPM?

My goals at FPM are to be the biggest sponge I can be. I want to absorb as much knowledge as possible from this company in regards to marketing and how it works as a business. I specifically want to dip my toes into Search Engine Optimization.

8. How would you describe the culture at FPM?

So far, the culture seems very warm and welcoming. I love that we get to create our own “rocker” name.

9. How does FPM differentiate itself from other marketing companies?

They put a lot of emphasis on the client and they have an easy to work with atmosphere – which makes them more approachable.

10. If you could be anywhere in the world right now where would it be?

I would love to live in a state up North with mountains. Preferably Colorado. Nature is something I always want to be a part of due to my time spent camping in Boy Scouts.

11. If you could go to dinner with one person living or dead who would it be?

I would love to go to dinner with Bruce Lee. He was such an icon in his time. Not just for his fighting techniques but also his philosophy about the way he looked at life.

12. What is a fun fact about yourself?

I really love to cook!

Conclusion

We are incredibly excited to have Carson Allen on the Front Porch Marketing team. He is going to do fantastic things. We cannot wait to see his creativity shine, through his future endeavors.

From day one of my FPM internship, I quickly realized the importance of active learning and most importantly active application. The world of marketing thrums on the excitement of people bringing new ideas to life and sharing them with others. It’s only natural that this excitement creates a lively and dynamic environment where you learn lessons as quickly as you apply them.

Along this journey of active learning and active application, I was able to stretch myself in new ways. From trying to figure out how to prioritize your tasks to navigating uncharted waters, I give you – the ultimate list of lessons.

Top 5 Ultimate Lessons Learned

Ultimate Lesson #1

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Whether you get a job in the business world or take your neighbor’s dog on a walk, everything is a learning journey. When you don’t know what a certain word or task means, ask for example pieces. Once you see examples, you’ll be able to tweak your work as you go. By being open about your confusion, you’ll be able to get more clarity and open the channel of communication with your team.

Ultimate Lesson #2

Embrace your mistakes! No one is perfect – we are all human. Although we strive for perfection, the only way to get better is to learn from your mistakes. Aim for a more efficient and effective thought process the next time you get a task you have trouble with. Undoubtedly, practice makes perfect!

Ultimate Lesson #3

Communication is key! A million and one things happen throughout the day and you can’t expect everyone to know what you are doing, nor can you assume that once you are done with your task that there isn’t more to be done. When you effectively communicate throughout the day with your team members, everyone is able to be on the same page. As a result, better teamwork is able to unfold.

Ultimate Lesson #4

Time management is KEY! When you are delegated multiple tasks with multiple deadlines, it’s imperative to write down a to-do list. Write the list from most important to least important and work your way down to increase efficiency. By creating this list, you’ll be able to track your progress throughout the day and create a drafted timesheet. At the end of the day, a completed list can give you the best feeling of accomplishment.

Ultimate Lesson #5

If you’re on time you’re 10 minutes late! When there is a time set for a meeting, client call, or even deadline, always aim to be present, poised, and punctual. Show initiative by being early. You’ll need those extra minutes for a bathroom break that would have overwise left your client awkwardly waiting for you at the front or needed when you attempt to submit a project right on the deadline but then your computer dies. Without a doubt, you never know what may happen so it is always best to be prepared with a pocket of time.

Conclusion

From being a senior at Baylor University to being an intern at Front Porch Marketing, I’ve used these pockets of wisdom in many facets of my life. These lessons have served me in more ways than one and now my hope is that they will serve you. May you flourish in all of your future endeavors!