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Archive for November, 2011

How original is your Twitter description? [INFOGRAPHIC]

by Nick Faber
Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

What does your Twitter description say about yourself? With over 100 million people promoting themselves on Twitter, it can be tricky to find the word or phrase that tells your potential followers how original you are.

Is your Twitter description falling a little too far into the Cliché column? Consult the Twitter Description Text Originality Index and then try out something more Chic!

Not sure if your Twitter description is en vogue? Try a keyword search on Twiangulate.com and find out how original you are.

 

Advertising Glossary: Impressions, Clicks and Clickthrough Rate (CTR)

by Nick Faber
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

Welcome to Digital Ad Academy. We’ll be using this series to break online advertising down into its core elements and explore the basics of buying, selling and tracking ads.

We begin with one of the most basic ways to measure the success of digital ad campaigns: the clickthrough rate (CTR). But before we can figure out what an ad’s CTR is, we need to understand how that particular statistic is calculated. To do this, we need to know the ad’s impressions, clicks and some basic division.

(more…)

Featured Blogger: Alan Colmes of Liberaland

by Paige Wilcox
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

In addition to being a Fox News contributor and hosting “The Alan Colmes Show” on FOX News Radio weeknights from 10 p.m.-1 a.m. EST, Alan Colmes covers the latest newsworthy political issues on his blog, Liberaland. You can also keep up with him on Facebook and Twitter!

Liberaland's Alan Colmes

Q:  When and why did you start blogging?

A: I began blogging on a lark during Thanksgiving weekend three years ago. I had a free day and thought it might be a way to spend an afternoon. I never thought it would evolve the way it did.

Q: How do you think your blog stands out amongst political blogs?

A: Hard to describe a flavor, but we work to aggregate some of the best stories on the web. Our goal is to be quick, timely, and engaging, not full of long, dull political commentary. I like to think if you come to us, we’ll give you some of the most important and best liberal stories and content at any moment, then we’ll send you on your way.

Q: What do your family and friends think of your blogging?

A: Thankfully, my family and friends have accepted that I have an obsessive personality, and I’m always all-in. They tolerate it, and me. (more…)

J.Lo’s shameless, strange and sad Fiat fiasco

by Nick Faber
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

Product placement. It used to be a fairly subtle art. Snapple bottles in Jerry’s kitchen, Marty McFly’s futuristic Nikes, E.T.’s trail of Reese’s Pieces… But now that we’ve gotten used to seeing brand names in the bakgrounds of our favorite movies, shows and video games, marketers have to find new, heavier-handed ways to inject brands into our entertainment.

Case in point: Jennifer Lopez’s live Fiat plug during Sunday night’s American Music Awards. In the middle of JLO’s medley performance, a Fiat 500 appeared on stage, and the singer/actress hopped in to reenact her strange new commercial, complete with pseudo green screen for full fake-driving effect.

And then the backlash began. (more…)

Now hiring: Assistant Project Manager

by Henry Copeland
Thursday, November 17th, 2011

UPDATE 12/12: We’ve filled this position, but thank you for your interest. Please check to see if we’ve created any other job openings.

Yes, we’re looking to hire another person. Do you have what it takes… or know someone who does?

Assistant Project Manager

Location: Durham, NC
Start date: ASAP (1 position)

Love pop culture and making things happen? The Assistant Project Manager will work closely with our Senior Project Manager and team of designers and developers on custom advertising and web development for PerezHilton.com. Our Project Management team does more than just coordinate tasks and set schedules. They are responsible for juggling priorities in a changing competitive environment, identifying and solving problems, answering challenging questions independently, and anticipating customer needs and filling them proactively.

General Responsibilities:

– Independently manage advertising and web development projects from start to finish
– Analyze web traffic patterns using tools like Google Analytics and Quantcast to proactively identify patterns and experiment with improvements
– Analyze advertising performance with the goal of improving products
– Stay current on web and advertising trends and share findings with colleagues
– Help our team make business decisions by supporting them with data and analysis of the competitive landscape
– Maintain database of customer requests and help customers handle technical issues
– Work towards long-term goals while not letting smaller, everyday tasks fall through the cracks
– Participate actively in team meetings and brainstorms

You need to be:

– A 4-year college graduate with at least one year of work experience
– An expert multi-tasker able to give meticulous attention to detail across simultaneous projects
– Articulate via email and in-person with the ability to anticipate and respond to other’s needs
– Numbers-oriented and able to analyze and organize large amounts of information into clear, concise presentations and recommendations
– Highly motivated, self-starting, and curious
– Able to independently manage workload, adhere to deadlines, and prioritize effectively
– Able to identify pain points with the patience and diligence to get to the bottom of a question and revisit based on changing trends

We provide:

– A competitive salary commensurate with experience
– 100% employer paid health insurance premiums
– HRA for dental and vision
– Long-term and short-term disability insurance
– A 401(k) plan, with company matching
– Generous paid time off
– Opportunities for professional development

Don’t apply if you crave structure and monotony
Don’t apply if you dislike music or dogs
Don’t apply if you’ve been known to say “that’s not my job”
Do apply if you want to work with a collaborative, friendly team in downtown Durham
Do apply if you are fascinated by social media, the web, pop culture, and online advertising
Do send us your resume in PDF format and tell us why you want to work with us. Please send to analyst@blogads.com

22 things to think about when applying for a job

by Nick Faber
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
image by flickr user hartboy

Amid rotten economy and 9% unemployment, we’re thrilled to be creating new jobs.

We’ve seen a bunch of job applications in recent months, and based on that experience, we’d like to share some do’s and don’ts. (more…)

Advertising with augmented reality: 11 #AR campaigns from 2011

by Nick Faber
Monday, November 14th, 2011

Augmented reality has an advantage over the QR code when it comes to branding. Rather than directing customers to a URL or video, they allow a brand to interact with the customer’s own world as seen through the viewfinders of mobile devices.

While the QR code will always need to rely on incentive to get people to scan (“free gift!” “uncensored video!”), watching cool stuff interact with your coffee cup or magazine is incentive enough for AR interaction. For now.

Here are 11 campaigns that make the customer’s world a little more CG. And a few that actually provide something useful. (more…)

Featured Blogger: Alexandra Stafford of Alexandra Cooks

by Paige Wilcox
Thursday, November 10th, 2011

Alexandra Stafford is the blogger and chef behind Alexandra Cooks.  In addition to sharing her delicious recipes, Stafford draws in food lovers with captivating photography of her creations in different stages of the cooking process.  Work up an appetite on her site, and then go join her on Facebook and Twitter!

Alexandra Stafford of Alexandra Cooks

Q: When and why did you start blogging?

A: I started blogging in 2006 when I started working as the food editor for a small Philadelphia newspaper. I wanted to keep track of all of the food I was discovering in the city as well as at home, and blogging seemed like a good way to chronicle everything.

Q: How do you think your blog stands out amongst other food blogs?

A: Gosh, I don’t know. For awhile, I was very focused on the local-food movement and shopping only at farmers’ markets and buying only humanely raised meats and dairy products. Now, I’m still focused on supporting the local-food movement, but care most about featuring in-season ingredients. There are so many good food blogs out there, and I can’t really pinpoint how mine stands out — perhaps too many photographs :) ?

Q: What does your family think of your blogging?

A: My family, my mother in particular, are my biggest fans. They all subscribe to the email feed and couldn’t be more positive/encouraging/enthusiastic about every post. When they don’t receive an email for a few days, I get emails asking, “What’s going on?!”

Q: Where/how did you learn to cook?

A: My mother taught me to cook. I grew up eating homemade everything. My mother considers all things bottled — salad dressings in particular — repulsive. I learned to make homemade bread in elementary school. I was spoiled for sure. After college, I worked at a catering company outside of Philadelphia — Peach Tree and Ward — which was a blast, and then at a restaurant — Fork — in Old City Philadelphia. That’s where more than anything I became a more efficient cook. I loved my time in a professional kitchen but it wasn’t something I could do forever. I have such respect for kitchen workers — tough work, long hours.

Q: How much time daily do you spend blogging?

A: I probably spend about three to six hours a week blogging? I’ve never kept track. That’s terrible. I don’t blog every day, and I suppose every week is different. Some recipes take longer than others. Sometimes I take a million process shots, and editing those shots is time consuming. But between cooking, photographing, writing, and responding to readers, I would say six hours a week is about right.

Q: What blogs do you read?

A: So many! My favorite food site right now is food52.com. And I love my daily Canal House Cooks Lunch email.

Q: How much do you correspond one-on-one with readers?

A: At the very least, I try to respond to every comment that is a question. When I share the same enthusiasm for a comment, I often respond as well. When readers email me, I always respond.

Q: What joys did you not expect when you started blogging?  What pains?

A: I did not expect to receive so many emails from readers who share my enthusiasm for certain foods or recipes. It brings me such joy to read an email from someone who has had success with a recipe and who has brought joy to his/her family or friends or significant other or just for his/herself in the process. Nothing makes me happier, truly. The pains I have experienced are pretty trivial overall. Sometimes I feel torn between blogging and the other priorities in my life, and sometimes I feel stressed when I can’t find the time to blog during the week. I’ve learned, however, that when I start feeling this way, I just have to step back and keep perspective. Readers likely aren’t as concerned about not seeing a current alexandra’s kitchen post as I am.

Q: What’s something your readers don’t know about you?

A: Hmmm. I just had a baby… haven’t gotten around to blogging about it yet, so I suppose few readers know that. What else? My husband is an officer in the Marine Corps. I didn’t grow up in a military family, so moving around the country and enduring deployments was new to me. It sounds silly, but having a blog helped me so much during deployments. I spent time in the evening writing, photographing, editing, posting — not worrying/thinking about my husband. More than anything, life in the military has taught me to cherish our moments as a family together.

Q: What are some of your favorite recipes that you’ve featured on Alexandra Cooks?

A: I have so many, but here are a few of my favorites:

Homemade Pizza

Fresh Corn Polenta

Easiest/Best Ribs

Homemade Granola

Blueberry Buttermilk Breakfast Cake

Buttermilk Scones

Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

All-Time Favorite Brownies

Orange and Olive Oil Cake

Homemade Tomato Sauce

Homemade Ricotta Cheese

Baked Overnight French Toast

Chez Panisse Eggplant, Caramelized Onion, and Tomato Pasta

ADVERTISERS: Target foodies, and purchase a sidebar ad on Alexandra Cooks for 50% off using discount code “Blogads50” for the next week!

 

Blogads Durham office progress update: Tear down this wall!

by Nick Faber
Monday, November 7th, 2011

As part of the “de-bank-ification” of our new Downtown Durham office space, which used to house a credit union, we’re replacing a concrete wall behind the old teller counter with windows.

On Saturday, we tore down this wall. (more…)

Kim Kardashian’s advertising legacy, for better or for worse

by Nick Faber
Friday, November 4th, 2011

The Today Show asks, “Did Kim kill the Kardashian brand with divorce?”

Oh, you mean this brand?

Carl’s, Jr.

(more…)


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