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While browsing the web in search of a strong advertising agency located in the Raleigh area, I came across Harbinger Agency. Turns out Harbinger Agency has been around for a while now and is certainly placing their mark of expertise on a number of companies surrounding the region. Hal Bowles, a partner of Harbinger and I had an online interview so that I could find out more about the agency and the recognition that they have achieved.

——————— Agency Interview ———————

Hal, 

How long has your company been making a “Look Forward” impact in the Raleigh area as one of the top advertising agencies?

We are currently in our fifth year of service.  We were established in 2003 as Hardin & Bowles Advertising.  Last year we acquired a website/interactive firm and changed our name to Harbinger, meaning “a sign of things to come.” We feel that our results-based agency model will become the norm in an industry plagued by hype and empty promises.

What regions of North Carolina have you been most successful in branding and marketing with clients?

Our client base is predominately in the Triangle area of North Carolina.  We have a few regional/national clients with distribution/operation throughout the world.  

Do you have many national accounts that are based outside of North Carolina, being that you are a Raleigh, NC Advertising Agency?

One of our clients, Whole Harvest (located in Warsaw, NC), produces trans fat free culinary oils and distributes their products throughout the US and Asia. We also do project work for a software company called TAKE Solutions.  They have offices across the globe.

Explain the hard working efforts and concepts of winning an ADDY award in 2008? What was the award for? Explain:

Winning an ADDY is a very tough thing.  The stars often have to align (strong product, trusting & open client, great message/creative).  The ADDY we won in 2008 was for a direct mail campaign we produced for Write Angles, a corporate training company.  Judy Griffin is the president of the firm and was fantastic to work with.  She gave us the freedom to really push the envelope.  Beyond the award, I am most proud of the fact that the campaign was a staggering success and resulted in a drastic uptick in business for our client.

Have you seen a rapid increase in web and internet marketing vs. traditional print advertising during this year’s economic crunch?

No question. One of the reasons we acquired a web/interactive firm was to bring those talents in house.  We now have website development/programming/SEO/SEM (search engine optimization & management) capabilities in addition to traditional advertising and public relations talent. Every one of our relationship clients utilizes our interactive services to help them achieve their marketing goals.  Search engine optimization and management have become absolutely crucial to our clients. The best part about the rapid increase of web and internet marketing has been on the tracking/accountability front.  Because these interactive avenues are easily tracked, our ability to gauge success has been enhanced.  

What makes Harbinger Agency stand out among the rest of the advertising agencies in Raleigh, NC?

One of the most interesting facts about our firm is that all three partners (Blake Hardin, Hal Bowles, Michael Chase) are from creative backgrounds.  Blake is a graphic designer, Hal is a copywriter, and Michael is a graphic designer & website developer). It is very unusual for creatives to head an advertising agency.  The helm is typically manned by ex-account executives or salesmen. Because we all come from creative backgrounds, we bring a different level of knowledge to our clients.  It also helps us to bridge the gap between our clients and the folks at our firm who will be executing the work.  

Where does your inspiration derive from?

Five years ago, we decided that we would make our business model work - or become park rangers.  We believed then as we do now that fantastic work can be achieved from a small agency (we have 7 full time staff and 1 part time bookkeeper).  For us to be successful requires clients willing to openly communicate and try new approaches to their marketing efforts.  Fortunately, we have been able to produce high-level work that has helped our clients’ bottom lines. Our business model:  Do good work, Have fun, Make money (in that order) continues to work for us and our clients.

In 3 sentences or less, please provide a description of your company.

Harbinger helps mid-size companies exceed their marketing goals. Period.

Influence on Education:

What efforts does your agency take to help support the colleges and schools in graphic design, advertising, and web development?

In addition to hiring local talent (Carly Caswell, Art Director, East Carolina University graduate; Angela Lavesque, Web Developer, Meredith College graduate; Julia Loughren, Media Director, Appalachian State University graduate), we often employ interning students from local universities and the School of Communication Arts. Many of these interns have been fantastic and have gone on to work in larger markets including New York.

——————— Agency Interview Complete ———————

For more information on Harbinger Agency, you can visit their website portfolio. 

Thanks to Hal and the agency at Harbinger, keep up the good work.

Doggett is an advertising agency located in Charlotte NC that has been recognized by the Brand Establishment Network as the leading brand development agency in the Southeast. The Brand Development Network is a worldwide group of training organizations and public relations agencies that strive to focus on the talents of strong company branding.

Doggett Advertising Agency was founded in 1988 by George Doggett. The Charlotte based agency has experience in a number of branding opportunities including apparel, automotive, real estate, and financial and professional services.

In the recent press release covering this topic, George Dogget stats: “We believe that we have something unique to offer clients. We believe that our Brand Strategy process makes the creative work better and that our creativity makes the Brand Strategy element work. The effect is exponential and very effective for our clients.”

In the article, one topic in particular stood out among the rest due to the state of the economy that Doggett addressed, which was the importance of branding and advertising. He also explained the importance of developing a brand that not only stands out amongst the competition but also expresses brand clarity and distinction.

Read the actual article on MarketWatch: Doggett Advertising Recognized as the Leading Brand Development Firm in the Southeast

CMD or better know as Creative Media Development in the Northwest is opening an advertising agency in Charlotte North Carolina.

This well experienced and obviously well established agency founded in 1978 in Portland has hired Joe Marion as a regional account supervisor to head up the new, second location. CMD has been around the for many years and has built a strong reputation for print, film, and media outlets like events and promotional exposures.

CMD currently has a staff of 130 employees as they continue to provide public relations, advertising, film, media, interactive and Web services, print design and other core marketing services.

The new advertising agency to Charlotte NC plans to serve one of its long time clients under the name JELD-WEN and many more which all seem to have a local presence here on the East Coast.

We as NCAdvertisingAgencies.com are excited about the experience that a company like CMD is going to bring to the table in aspects of design, print, and film.

What are the other life long veterans of advertising agencies in Charlotte thinking about CMD coming to Charlotte? Will it really make an impact on competition or will this company add more value to the realm of advertising in North Carolina.

Let us know, and please feel free to add your comments to this section, we want to hear from you.

NORTH CAROLINA/ 2008/ - NC ADVERTISING AGENCIES - NCAdvertisingAgencies.com launched a new website today to help continue the goal of providing the best listing and information catered to advertising agencies in North Carolina. We have developed this site and a blog (thanks to WordPress.com) to allow the community of NC Advertisers to contribute to the articles and information posted on NCAdvertisingAgencies.com. We are proud to announce the new website and are looking forward to offering more information about the agencies in your local area. Plus, we would also like to cater a section to the design and advertising schools and colleges in North Carolina to help promote the efforts of education and talents.

Thank You!

NC Advertising Agencies is not limited to one particular agency glorification. We have found many and are now on our way of promoting the best advertising agencies in North Carolina. We started with Wilmington, NC and have now moved on to Charlotte NC advertising agencies. Once we complete the state as far as listing the best advertising agencies we will then begin dissecting each particular skill and will give credit to those NC advertising agencies who are allowing their work of logo design, print media, web design, and internet marketing to shine through. Of course with us, you do not have to be the biggest just the best in your local area. We want to encourage all designers, programmers, and search engine marketers to keep pushing the limits because we want to express and praise your excellence.

NC Advertising Agencies is now back up and running for a second time. Our hopes was to develop a core strength of advertising agencies in this North Carolina state. We have focused on a number of agencies that are just blowing most design firms out of the water. From Raleigh to Charlotte, to Greenville and now even Wilmington. Speaking of Wilmington NC advertising agencies, have you noticed the abundance of design firms launching in the coastal area. Well, there are too many to count these days, but we would like to acknowledge one design firm in particular. That would be Ford Design, also known as forddesign.com… Yes, this company has established its advertising talents for over 16 years. What a powerful niche they have produced over the years. Today, Ford Design has launched a web design department that seems to really focus on consistencey and continuity with their logo and print media designs. Outstanding work! Amazing Design! Cutting Edge and most of all Creative! We recommend checking this company out if you are in the market for a new logo design in Wilmington NC, or a website design in Wilmington NC contact them today.

Check out their website: Ford Design (official web site)

With this new North Carolina Advertising Agencies website launching in mid air, we have scruggled with the decision of making this site profitable on Google adSense or organizing paid banner placement for businesses. Google AdSense offers a variety of useful products and variations of ad strategies that can be placed easily with a few simple lines of javascript code. But of course the ads that may appear may not be a company worth advertising for or in fact that the chance of someone actually clicking on the ad is 3 views to 1 with little profit to show for it. And if someone actually did click on the ad would it be worth it compared to the company loyalty that you could receive from a partnered advertiser. We will be continuing to develop this site slowly, using a variety of ad compositions to help bring you the best results. This site strives to be dedicated to the North Carolina Advertising Agencies and wants to show the remarkable talents across the state. North Carolina is a state sometimes well overlooked in the industry of design, branding, and advertising, but we do want to educate our viewers on the talents that belong within our NC borders. Of course, while also speaking of design and education we would also like to express a great deal of thanks to our educators of the advertising departments among our universities. More on our education coming soon…

Site launched today to express the core talents of North Carolina Avertising Agencies. From industry advice, resources, and company exposure the North Carolina Advertising Agencies launches a state specific application that benefits the marketing and advertising shops across the state. We specialize in bringing you core company listings that help educate all companies of the value and strengths of joining forces with the top advertising agencies in North Carolina. This site will be updated constantly with helpful information to supply any company with the advice and guidance needed to advertise in the market today. Please visits constantly as this website will be growing by mass proportions.