Old News - Dotted Line

LBB: Women Founders Building a New Kind of Industry

In our latest feature on LBB Online, Dotted Line’s Founder and CEO, Lauren Sweeney, joins a group of trailblazing women founders redefining the creative industry. She shares insights on the evolving agency landscape, the importance of building strong client relationships, and how fostering a values-driven culture can drive long-term success. As the industry shifts, these leaders are paving the way for a more innovative and inclusive future.

Want to hear more about Lauren’s perspective on building a new kind of agency? Read the full LBB interview here.

Own It Podcast: Lauren Sweeney on Entrepreneurship and Ownership

Our CEO and Founder, Lauren Sweeney, joined the Own It podcast to share her insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, and building a modern agency. In this conversation with host Casey Jacox, Lauren discusses the lessons she’s learned from scaling Dotted Line, the mindset shifts that have shaped her journey, and how embracing ownership has fueled both personal and professional growth. Tune in to hear her perspective on what it truly means to lead with purpose.

Richmond United Launches New Era for Youth Soccer with Dotted Line Agency Partnership

Richmond’s youth soccer scene just got a major boost with the unification of the Richmond Strikers and Richmond Kickers under the new Richmond United brand and relaunch from Dotted Line Agency. This collaboration promises to elevate youth athletics across the region and on the national stage with a fresh vision and impactful identity. Read more about our exciting partnership and its bright future in the Richmond Times-Dispatch article.

A Look Back. A Step Forward: DLA’s 2024 Impact Report

As we dive into the new year and reacquaint ourselves with the flurry of emails, meetings, and new goals, we’d like to pause for just a moment. Before we charge ahead, let’s make one final toast to our clients, our partners, and our incredible team.

Here’s to making 2024 a milestone year for DLA. For the late nights and early mornings. For the weekend emails and the calls taken from cars, airports, and sidelines. For the moments when you pushed the work to be better, when you challenged each other with gratitude and respect, and when you trusted us to help bring your vision to life.

This past year was special. It marked 10 years since Dotted Line partnered with its very first client in 2014.

From those humble beginnings as a team of one, we’ve grown into a full-service, high-touch agency. The journey has been as much about embracing challenges as it has been about celebrating wins, and 2024 was no different.

We invested in our team, enhancing leadership and client service capabilities to ensure we’re always meeting the unique needs of those we serve. Through campaigns and high-impact marketing programs, we achieved results that reflect the exceptional talent and dedication of our team.

Together, we’ve built momentum.

And that momentum is captured in our 2024 Agency Impact Report. This report isn’t just about numbers or milestones – it’s about the shared vision that drives everything we do. It’s about the partnerships that continue to grow stronger and the ideas that make a difference. It’s about our commitment to innovation, excellence, and sustainable growth.

To everyone who’s been part of this journey, thank you. Your trust and support are what make Dotted Line what it is today. Take a moment to explore our 2024 Impact Report. We hope it inspires you as much as the year inspired us.

Here’s to 2025 and the stories we’ll create together!

Twist Broadband Taps Dotted Line Agency to Help Free Cable Customers from Bad Wi-Fi

Are you tired of dealing with hidden fees, slow Wi-Fi, and horrible customer service associated with traditional wired internet providers? Twist Broadband, a startup that aims to revolutionize the home internet experience, hears you. They have partnered with the creative minds at Dotted Line Agency to deliver a playful yet powerful marketing campaign that personifies the frustrations associated with outdated cable internet services and positions Twist as the superior internet provider.

Meet the Cable Snake: The Friendly Villain You’ll Love to Hate

At the heart of the campaign is the Cable Snake, a mischievous and humorous villain that wreaks havoc on its customers by sneaking in hidden fees, constricting speeds, and slithering away when there are problems.

Ron Villacarillo, Head of Creative at Dotted Line Agency, shares the inspiration behind the character: “We knew we had to take on big cable companies, so we created a playful villain that came straight from the source. A coaxial cable naturally looks like a snake, so we made it represent everything wrong with the current cable internet experience.”

While the Cable Snake causes chaos, Twist enters as the champion of hassle-free Wi-Fi, rescuing consumers from the grip of cable monopolies with a promise of Wi-Fi that goes “above and beyond.”

AI-Powered “Cable Horror Stories” Bring Frustration to Life

In addition to the Cable Snake, Twist’s campaign dives deeper into the nightmares of cable internet service with “Cable Horror Stories”—a series of videos that dramatize real customer experiences. Using AI tools, Dotted Line brings online reviews of cable companies to life with visuals and sound designs that intensify the horror and remind viewers why it is time to cut the cable.

Break Free from Bad Wi-Fi

With its blend of humor and truth, Dotted Line delivers a campaign with a bold message: It’s time to leave cable behind. Twist is paving the way for a new era of home internet, one in which customers don’t have to struggle to have trustworthy internet service.

LBB: Creative Lessons from DLA’s Head of Creative

In our latest interview featured on LBBOnline, DLA’s Head of Creative, Ron Villacarillo explores the dynamic relationship between agencies and their clients when it comes to creative ideation. While agencies bring expertise and strategic thinking to the table, some of the best and most innovative ideas often originate from the clients themselves. By fostering a collaborative environment, we can harness their clients’ unique perspectives, leading to campaigns that resonate more deeply and authentically.

Curious to learn more about Ron’s perspective on how client collaboration can drive creativity?

Read the full LBB interview here.

Ron Villacarillo Named Head of Creative at Dotted Line Agency

Independent, award-winning marketing agency Dotted Line has hired ad agency veteran creative leader Ron Villacarillo as Head of Creative. Villacarillo reports directly to Lauren Sweeney, Founder and CEO of Dotted Line.

Villacarillo brings a wealth of experience, having worked with agencies nationwide, shaping brands from Fortune 100 companies to non-profits. His diverse portfolio reflects his deep industry understanding. While his background is in visual storytelling, he takes pride in collaborating with teams to discover and express the soul of a brand through any medium. He believes in creating work that is authentic, entertaining, and culturally resonant.

“I’ve watched Lauren and Dotted Line grow since their early days as an agency, consistently impressed by their tenacity and evolution. I’m thrilled to unite our efforts, aiming to enhance creative excellence and ensure ongoing success, said Ron.”

See full coverage in Little Black Book.

DLA earns Bronze Award from Advertising Club of Richmond

Honored to share that our rebrand work for Shades of Light has earned us a bronze award in the Design category at this year’s Richmond Show! It’s humbling to stand among such creative giants in the Richmond community. Thank you Advertising Club of Richmond. Massive thanks to Shades of Light for trusting us with their vision, and to our team whose dedication brought it to life!

DLA 5X Winner HDMA

A big congratulations to the team and to our clients as DLA takes home a gold, a bronze, and three merit awards at the Healthcare Digital Marketing Awards. Thank you to all of the many people involved in making work that gets notices—work that works.

Tech Partners Podcast: Interview with Lauren Sweeney

Our CEO and Founder Lauren Sweeney spoke about what she brings as “Something Extra” to this podcast from our friends at Technology Partners. Host Lisa Nichols – and Technology Partners CEO – interviews to share their stories and show us what it takes to influence, encourage, and be a true leader in our daily lives.

Listen here.