by kthigpen | May 5, 2025 | News
We’re thrilled to announce that Sacramento-based Mercenary Creative Group (MCG) has officially joined Ace Studios, bringing with it not just an impressive client roster—but two powerhouse leaders: Joanna and Drew Newbold.
With decades of combined experience in marketing, advertising, and brand development, Joanna and Drew have built a reputation rooted in big ideas, bold storytelling, and authentic relationships. Now, they’re bringing that energy and expertise to Ace Studios—strengthening our services, expanding our reach into California, and deepening our commitment to creative work that makes a difference.
- Joanna Newbold joins as our Vice President of Client Services, with a human-first approach to strategy, communication, and results. Joanna is known for her ability to make people feel seen, understood, and energized. Her career journey includes everything from owning a coffee shop to attracting Man vs. Food to her family’s restaurant, all while helping brands grow from the ground up.
- Drew Newbold joins as our Creative/Brand Strategist, bringing decades of experience guiding brand voice and visual storytelling for clients across the country. He’s a pro at connecting dots between insight and execution, with a portfolio that spans tech, government, healthcare, and more.
This evolution allows Ace Studios to offer our clients even more in-house services, from content production and branding to SEO, SEM, social media marketing, and website design—with the same heart-forward mission we’re known for.
We’re growing our talent. We’re growing our services. We’re growing our impact.
And we’re just getting started.
Questions? Reach out to us.
by kthigpen | Jan 17, 2025 | News
You might’ve heard by now—Mark Zuckerberg is shaking things up at Meta. Last week, he announced plans to replace professional fact-checkers with a “Community Notes” model, taking a page from Elon Musk’s playbook over at X (formerly Twitter). Meta says this will tackle political “bias” and “censorship,” but let’s not kid ourselves—this is about changing the rules of what’s allowed to spread online.
Here’s what’s really happening, and why it matters:
What These Changes Mean for Social Media
📢 More Misinformation: By ditching professional fact-checkers for a crowdsourced model, Meta is making it easier for false or misleading content to go unchecked. Whether it’s conspiracy theories or flat-out lies, the truth will be playing catch-up.
🔓 Looser Moderation: Expect fewer guardrails around sensitive topics like immigration or gender identity. This isn’t about free speech—it’s about leaving space for harmful narratives to thrive.
🗳️ A Surge in Political Posts: Meta is reintroducing political content into your feed, which could spark important conversations—or drown us in divisive rhetoric.
The Bigger Picture
If this all feels eerily familiar, it’s because we’ve seen it before. When Elon Musk rolled back moderation at X, studies showed spikes in hate speech and misinformation. Meta’s approach could bring more of the same.
But here’s the good news: while social media platforms might become noisier and less reliable, this is your chance to rise above the chaos. Consumers are hungry for brands they can trust, and that’s where you come in.
Here’s How to Adapt:
✨ Be a Beacon of Trust: Your audience wants reliable, authentic content. Share your values, tell your story, and give them a reason to believe in what you stand for. Don’t shy away from long-form content—it’s your chance to go deeper and connect meaningfully.
🤝 Create a Community: As the digital landscape gets murkier, people will seek spaces that feel safe and intentional. Be that space. Show your audience they’re seen and heard.
🎯 Focus on Quality, Not Quantity: Instead of cranking out endless posts, prioritize a few high-impact pieces that speak directly to your audience’s needs.
At the end of the day, this is a moment to stand out, not blend in. Your audience isn’t interested in the noise—they’re looking for clarity, leadership, and authenticity.
by kthigpen | Jan 7, 2025 | News
SEO. The three letters that have kept marketers awake at night for years. Just when we thought we had the algorithm gods figured out, here comes a game-changer: artificial intelligence. AI is transforming the way people search for information, and as business owners, marketers, and entrepreneurs, we need to keep up—or risk becoming irrelevant.
Let’s face it: the digital landscape is shifting faster than a TikTok trend. With AI-powered search tools like ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and other AI platforms gaining traction, traditional SEO (or search engine optimization) is evolving. If you’re not actively updating your strategy, you’re leaving money—and opportunity—on the table.
How AI is Changing Search
AI is no longer just powering voice assistants like Siri and Alexa; it’s reshaping how users search for and receive information. Instead of typing fragmented keywords into a search bar, people are now asking complete questions and expecting direct, conversational answers.
For example:
- Old Search Query: “best coffee shops Reno”
- AI Search Query: “What are the best locally owned coffee shops in Reno with outdoor seating?”
The difference? AI tools understand intent better than traditional search engines. They aim to give users exactly what they’re looking for—no clicking through multiple links required. If your content isn’t optimized to answer these types of nuanced questions, it won’t even make the shortlist.
What This Means for Your SEO Strategy
If you’ve been treating SEO like a set-it-and-forget-it task, it’s time to snap out of it. Here’s how you can adapt your strategy to thrive in an AI-driven world:
1. Focus on Conversational Keywords
AI thrives on natural language. Optimize your content for full sentences and questions rather than just keywords. Think about how your audience talks and search for solutions. Tools like AnswerThePublic or Google’s “People Also Ask” section can give you insights into real questions people are asking.
2. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity
AI-powered search tools love well-structured, authoritative content. Instead of churning out dozens of mediocre blog posts, focus on creating fewer but more in-depth, actionable, and user-focused pieces.
3. Claim Featured Snippets
AI tools often pull information directly from Google’s featured snippets (the answer boxes at the top of search results). Structure your content to include bullet points, tables, or concise paragraphs that answer common questions.
4. Leverage Schema Markup
Schema markup is your secret weapon for helping AI understand your content. It adds extra context to your website, making it easier for AI to recommend your content in search results.
5. Optimize for Voice Search
With the rise of AI, voice search is more popular than ever. Think about how people speak versus how they type. Write your content in a conversational tone that mirrors spoken language.
6. Stay Mobile-Friendly
More than half of all searches come from mobile devices, and AI-powered search is no exception. Ensure your website loads quickly, is easy to navigate, and provides an excellent user experience across all devices.
The Takeaway
Keeping your SEO efforts updated isn’t just a technical chore; it’s a vital part of staying relevant. AI tools are redefining how people search for and interact with information. If your content doesn’t adapt, someone else’s will.
So, take a moment to audit your SEO strategy. Are you optimizing for conversational search? Are you creating high-quality, user-first content? Are you ready for the AI-driven future of search?
If not, it’s time to get to work. Because in the world of SEO, standing still is the same as falling behind.
Here’s to staying ahead of the curve—because your audience deserves to find you.
by kthigpen | Oct 8, 2024 | News
We are thrilled to announce that Ace Studios has been recognized as the 2024 Advertising Agency of the Year in the “Under $10 Million” category at the prestigious Best of the West Media Awards. This accolade celebrates our team’s relentless pursuit of creativity, innovation, and dedication to the community, highlighting the standout work we’ve delivered over the past year.
A Milestone for Ace Studios
Being honored as the Advertising Agency of the Year in the Western Region is a testament to our commitment to providing top-tier service and groundbreaking marketing strategies. Competing against some of the best agencies in the region, we are humbled to have been recognized for our achievements in creativity, community involvement, and business growth. This award not only celebrates our work but also reflects the trust and partnership we’ve built with our clients.
The Award Criteria
The Advertising Agency of the Year Award celebrates agencies that have excelled in several key areas:
- Innovation, Skill, and Creativity: Our work this year has showcased our ability to think outside the box, offering fresh and innovative solutions for our clients. Whether through branding, digital marketing, or creative campaigns, we have consistently delivered exceptional results.
- Leadership in the Community: Ace Studios has always been deeply committed to giving back. From supporting local businesses to participating in community events, our role as leaders goes beyond just marketing. We believe in fostering positive change and uplifting the Reno community through our work and initiatives.
- Civic and Community Engagement: Our corporate social responsibility efforts have included partnerships with non-profits and local organizations, focusing on causes that matter to our team and our city. From promoting local talent to volunteering our time and resources, we’ve embraced our role as a force for good in Northern Nevada.
Looking Ahead
This recognition fuels our passion to continue pushing boundaries and delivering cutting-edge campaigns for our clients. As we look toward the future, Ace Studios will remain dedicated to not only achieving new levels of success for our clients but also continuing to serve as a pillar of innovation and community leadership in Reno and beyond.
Thank you to our clients, partners, and team members who have made this achievement possible. We look forward to more growth, creativity, and meaningful impact in the years ahead.
by kthigpen | Jun 1, 2024 | News
The American Advertising Federation announced that Kurt Thigpen, governor of AAF District 14, and CEO of Ace Studios was honored with the Lee-Douthit-Levine Perseverance Award during the Salute to Achievers Breakfast at the national ADMERICA conference on June 1 in Salt Lake City.
Thigpen, co-founder of the award-winning creative agency Ace Studios, has demonstrated perseverance and dedication throughout his tenure as governor of AAF District 14. Representing Northern Nevada and Northern California, Thigpen has been instrumental in leading the charge for excellence in advertising.
In addition to his professional achievements, Thigpen is committed to community service, public education, and advocacy.
He has served as an elected trustee for the Washoe County School Board and continues to make an impact as an appointed board member of the State Public Charter School Authority.
During the ADMERICA conference, Thigpen was also elected to serve on AAF’s Council of Governors, which will put him on the pathway to becoming the Chair in three year’s time, the highest volunteer position one can hold within the AAF, and also maintains a seat on the AAF National Board of Directors in this capacity.
