Farewell Avenue A | Razorfish!

Check out: Badger Football this fall!

Well it is my last day of my fabulous internship at Avenue A | Razorfish! I have learned so much about the working world and the world of digital marketing. It has been such an amazing and fun 10 weeks and I can't believe how fast it has gone! I want to give some shout out to the people that have made this such a great experience.
-To all the people that work at AARF. Dave, David, Molly, and everyone who presented great lunch and learns. You have helped me understand this industry so well! Thanks for the great learning experience.
-To Sally and Katie. You guys are amazing, thanks for all the fun times in the marketing fort. I know we will stay in touch, and hopefully I will be able to put those German phrases to good use one day Sally!
-To Heather. Your pretty much just down-right awesome and the best boss anyone could ask for. Thanks for teaching me so much about not only marketing but about life. You have made time here such a great experience. I'm going to miss you and the Italian restaurant a ton! I can't wait for you to come visit me in Madison!
-To everyone who has read this blog and commented this summer thank your for the support. It has been so fun writing this blog and listening to what you have to say about my thoughts. I hope I have helped those of you who are considering an internship.

I'm thinking about starting another blog when I go back to school this fall, so stay on the look out for the URL to that site!

Thanks for everything!

Social Media...aka Social Influence Marketing

Check out: Shiv's presentation on Social Influence Marketing!

Have you ever gone online and read a review of a product before buying it? Or have you gone on facebook and seen something that your friend just bought and thought that you might be interested in that same product? This is social media at it's finest. I have been talking a lot about social media this summer. It has played a very important role in my time here at Avenue A | Razorfish. Part of my job has been to collect information on new and exciting developments in the social aspect of marketing. This has become such a crucial role for marketers that AARF has coined new term for this kind of marketing called Social Influence Marketing. Social Influence Marketing takes into account the massive power that consumer's peer's have in determining what purchasing decisions people make. Social media uses all kinds of strategies to harness the power of this idea. The next time you are shopping online keep your eyes open for user ratings or product reviews. You might not realize it but these companies are taking advantage of peer influence! It is helpful to both the consumers and the companies! A good example is the new site that reviews iphone apps i use this. There is a lot of proof that this stuff works but a recent ReadWriteWeb article sums it up very well, check it out!

The Olympics Go Social

Check out: The opening ceremony's on Friday night!

I love the Olympics and can't wait for them to start tomorrow night! For all those who feel the same way, ReadWriteWeb has a great blog post for all those interested in both the Olympics and Social Media. Check it out for great places to catch up on the Olympic games and other cool ways the sponsors are using social media.

GO USA!!

ad:tech Chicago...My first trade show experience.

Check out: AdLife...check out this great Ad Week article on it. Chicago Bears are back on tonight at 7!

Well I made it through my very first trade show,ad:tech Chicago, which took place on Tuesday and Wednesday. It was a very busy and crazy couple of days but I learned a lot of great stuff! I attended 8 lectures, got to walk around the exhibit hall, and go behind the scenes in the press room and the speaker's lounge. I am going to be keeping an eye out for reactions from the show and will try to post different view points and ideas that I find. One thing that I really enjoyed was learning about the different ideas and opinions that all the different people have. There were lots of passionate people and panelist. It is nice to see people in the industry excited about their ideas and where digital is going. Here are some highlights!

Favorite Discussions at ad:tech:

-Keynote Presentation: The Big Idea Strikes Back. Brad Jakeman discussed the impact that a Big Brand Idea can have on shaping your brand's digital advertising. Jakeman said that the big brand ideas must: drive brands across all channels (TV. Interactive, Customer service, etc.), must be unique or proprietary, and it must be compelling- directly connected to the performance of your business.
-Blog Responses: DM News, Marketing Power

-Social Influence Marketing: A Transformative Opportunity. Shiv Singh of AARF offered insight into the importance of embracing the power that social influence has over people's daily decision making. He highlighted the fact that our peers are the people that we go to in order to make most of our choices including purchasing decisions.

Go Cubs Go Blog!!

Check out: The Cubs at 1:05 this afternoon!! Lets sweep them!, Mark DeRosa's The Pulse

I would love to spend this entire post talking about the wonderful creation that is the Chicago Cubs. Soriano is on his game, Big Z is kicking butt, and as always DLee is as reliable as ever. But seeing as how this blog is supposed to be focused on work and digital marketing I can't just sit here and talk about how picking up Harden (who is pitching this afternoon) is one of the smartest moves that the Cubbies have ever made. What I can discuss is another player's connection to Web 2.0 which is constantly generating huge foot traffic. Mark DeRosa (who plays virtually all over the baseball field and who in my opinion is the rock that holds the Cubs together) has created a blog on the Chicago Cubs official website that is not only widely visited but also deeply engaging. The Pulse's mass audience and countless comments might seem to be only be a result of his semi-celebrity status as a professional athlete. But I believe this is not the only reason his fans loyally check his blog for updates. One of the most important things about social media is honesty, and Mark DeRosa has created that over and over again in his posts. Whether it is his comical interviews of his teammates or his honest analysis of the All Star selections, DeRosa nails every post creating a blog that is both insightful and entertaining to read. He does not sugar coat and he does not fake anything. The comments that he generates reflect the mass appeal of this blog, with all kinds of readers chiming in on his ideas and offering their support. People respond to honesty and that is reflected in the constantly growing fan base The Pulse receives. The idea of social marketing is to join people together across all barriers and that is exactly what this star does.

Happy Hour

Check out: Happy Hour at Zella's Tonight!

Zella's is hosting a happy hour tonight to raise money for a great cause. $35 per person for all you can eat and drink, or register early at www.blhs.org to get $5 off. All proceeds will be used to help support people with developmental disabilities served by Bethesda.

Zella's is located at 1983 N. Clybourn Ave Chicago.

The event takes place from 6-9pm. Please come and bring your friends!

Food for Thought

Check out: Online by Brad Paisley...great song and on topic with the digital world!

An interesting aspect of my internship experience has been weekly meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Every Tuesday we are given a short presentation over breakfast. These presentations are conducted by project managers on different client accounts throughout the agency. They share the different campaigns and pitches that they are presenting to their clients. This gives everyone in the company exposure to not only the project management side of the business, but also the creative aspect of the company. In addition to breakfast club on Tuesdays, lunch is provided every Thursday for the interns. In this lunch meeting, an employee from each of the different fields within the company comes and talks to us about his or her role at Avenue A | Razorfish. Thus far, I have learned about emerging media, the client side of digital media and marketing, and corporate PR. This week we are going to be learning about the user experience team. These have created a very well rounded experience. I feel like I have a very good grasp on all the different parts that make up a digital agency. It is interesting to see how all the different areas fit together and work with each other. And as an added bonus we get free food!

Interesting Article

I thought that some of you might be interested in reading this article from ReadWriteWeb. Enjoy! Like Its Users, The New Facebook Is All Grown Up!

For Better or Worse

Check Out: The Dark Knight; The Avenue A | Razorfish ad:tech Chicago Facebook Group

Sorry it has been so long since my last post. It has been a crazy couple of days! I only have four weeks left in my summer internship (it has gone by so fast!) and I want to share some of the good and bad things that I have noticed a little past my half way point. Lets start with the bad because I always try to end on a good note. One of the hardest things this summer is the fact that I haven't really gotten a summer. Going into my senior year I can't help but think that this is my last summer of freedom before I have to go on to the real world. It is hard hearing my friends talk about laying by the pool all day while I am stuck in an office. Not having the opportunity to live it up one last summer is a hard pill to swallow! In addition, I sometimes feel like I'm jumping into this world too quickly. It is a lot of responsibility that is taken on very quickly and now that I have had the time to slow down and think about that it is a little scary. While these things do get to me when it is a beautiful day outside and I'm stuck in the marketing fort, I can appreciate that the benefits far out weigh the negatives. The kind of experiences that I have gotten so far have proved to be incredibly helpful in learning about the marketing world, as well as the business world in general. When thinking about how I will be able to market myself, coming straight out of college, as a student who has had concrete experience in the business arena I know that this was the right thing for me to do this summer. I know that the people around me are sick of hearing this but I am learning a ton, more then I ever expected learning coming into this situation. Even if I sometimes wish that I was sitting with a cold beer by the pool!

Taking Ownership

Check Out: Jersey Boys (play), avenuea-razorfish.com

Well the new Avenue A | Razorfish site launched yesterday which creates the perfect opportunity to talk about taking stock in what you have accomplished during your internship. As time goes on, you are going to start seeing your work pay off in different and exciting ways. For me one of the most exciting parts has been the ability to add content to this cool new Web site. It may seem like a small part of the site itself, but for me it hasn't been small at all. Let me explain why. I came into this position with very little knowledge of the company that I am now so proud to be a small part of. Through adding content I have learned so much about our agency, the people who work here, and the digital challenges that Avenue A | Razorfish has taken on. But this does not just apply to me, even if the organization that you work for is not one you find particularly exciting or promising, you can still learn a lot about the field you are pursuing by doing what seem to be easy tasks. I have also been able to help out (even if it is in a minor way) with correcting any mistakes or making changes that I think will improve the site. It has turned into a great Web site to interact on many levels, and a great place for people to gain more information about the company. Taking a small part in that has taught me a lot. And as I work more and more, I am getting more opportunities to do things on my own. Make sure you take the time to look back at what you have done so far and appreciate how it has gotten you to the place you are now.

Making Connections

Check out: Janet Evanovich: Fearless Fourteen

Part of the reason that I wanted to get a summer internship was to create the possibility of moving from an intern position to a full time position after graduation. I would imagine that others go into the experience with the same expectations. Even if you do not like where you are interning, we are still offered the opportunity to create contacts for future employment. Sometimes these can be difficult or uncomfortable relationships to create, and this is something that I am still learning how to do, but it is also an important thing to practice. While it may seem premature to be thinking about this in the middle of your internship and not toward the end, creating contacts for the future is something that we all should be doing every day that we are in the corporate world. The best advice that I was give on this subject is to talk to and stay in contact with as many people that you have met as you can. This can be hard if you just met someone in passing, but if you just try to shoot an email to them it will make a very good impression. I regret not doing that with some of the people that I met at the very beginning of my internship. It is hard to go back and email someone too far after the fact. Because you are in an internship position, most of the people that you meet or are introduced to are more then happy to help in any way that that they can. Even if these relationships do not produce a direct connection for future employment, you never know how they might be helpful in the future.

Explore the Playing Field

One of the things that I have been doing a lot of is exploring the different thoughts and views of the digital marketing field. It is important if you are going to move throughout any industry that you learn as much as you can about it. That means learning the names of the big firms, knowing where the industry has been coming from, and what direction it is going. The best way to do this is to read blogs or subscribe to RSS feeds that are updated daily with information about what you are learning. A great feed in the digital field is a website called ReadWriteWeb. They offer quick news updates of the things that are happening in the digital environment. If you can find a couple of these feeds or resources you will learn a lot more about the industry around you and not just the company that you are working for. These also give you something productive to do when you have down time.

Stimulate Your Experience

Well I am starting week three already! I can't believe how fast it has gone by so far, but I'm ready for another good week. I had a great weekend (Nice sweep Cubbies!), but I am ready to get back to work. One of the greatest things about this internship is that I am starting to really look forward to getting to work in the morning. Mondays are hard (the weekends go by too fast), but I really enjoy being here. I would love to give advice to anyone who does not like their internship, but I really have no frame of reference for that! I will give some more advice on how to make things go more smoothly. First I would suggest that if you feel like you are not being used enough, create a project for yourself. This will keep you occupied and impress the people you work for. This can be as simple as creating a blog (cough,cough) or looking ahead for what your boss will need next and starting to get organized for it. If you are still looking for things to do, make sure that you keep reminding your boss that you are available. You don't need to be pushy, just remind them every once and a while that you are available to help. I would also suggest that you always double check your work and even your emails. There is nothing more embarrassing then looking back on an email that you wrote too fast and finding all kinds of mistakes in it. Thats all I have for right now!

Week Two: Diving In

It is half way through my second week and by now I have a pretty good handle on the place. I have learned a lot about the Avenue A | Razorfish by just listening to other people talk about what they do. Our firm is basically a marketing firm that utilizes digital channels to spread the word about our clients. As a marketing and PR intern for the company itself I have been given the unique opportunity to see a lot of the work that we have done and the work that we are in the process of doing. The technology that our company is able to utilize and the creative minds that are driving that technology is amazing. **I'm going to put some links up in my website section of places I think you should check out**. The most important thing I have learned so far is that listening really pays off. Make sure you are really listening when people talking about the company and the work they are doing. It is really interesting and very helpful as you continue on.

Beyond learning just about Avenue A, I am learning more and more about the business community every day. It is a little intimidating at first, but I am getting more and more comfortable everyday. The key is to just dive in. For example, my boss was having a meeting and I just walked in and joined them. That way I would learn more about what she does, and as it turned out I was working on the project any way, so that meeting was very helpful. Don't be afraid to jump in and create an opportunity for yourself because they will not always do it for you!

Some other little things that I have learned:
- Bring a sweater. The air conditioning is cold and you might not be able to get outside all day long.
- If you are going out for lunch or coffee ask the people around and your boss you if they want or need anything. This will help you meet people and your boss will appreciate it.
- If your office lets you listen to music bring head phones and turn on pandora.com (link is below). It is an awesome free music site that lets you listen to what ever you want.

Surviving the First Week

It is Friday and I finally made it through the week! I am looking forward to a big cocktail at the end of the day but until then I will share what I have learned this week.
1. Learn to love the Internet. If you are like me, you will have a lot of down time and the Internet will become your best friend.
2. Go out to lunch. For many of you this is going to be your first time sitting in the same place in a building all day long. Get out an get some fresh air. Even if you just run out and grab a sandwich and come back to you desk, your legs will appreciate the stretch.
3. Talk about your job with your friends and family. The more talk about discuss what you the more you will learn. If you don't know the answer to a question ask someone the next day. You will learn so much more and you will impress your people with how quick you are catching on.
4. Talk to the people around you. This is simply the best way to get to know the office on how it works. If you can't work the phones (my problem yesterday) ask someone you don't talk to very much to help you. It took me a while to figure out the fact that the people you work with are happy to help.
5. Try and stay up to date on the projects your company is working on. This will be a good way to impress your boss and a quick way to strike up a conversation with your co-workers. Ask them how their projects are going and if you can help with anything.

The main objective is to learn as much as you can while you are here and the way to do that is by actively participating in the opportunity you have been given.

Breaking the Ice

We all know that the first day anywhere can be can be very intimidating. Your nerves start going and the butterflies develop in your stomach. If it is your first time going to a real job in the corporate world these fears can be multiplied ten fold. I was a wreck on my first day but there are a couple of ways that I think can help get past the nerves.
My first bit of advice is to figure out how you are going to get to the office and try it out the day before. This will eliminate half the stress of worrying if you are going to get there on time. It will also give you a chance to scope out the area, and find the good coffee places or fast food restaurants. If you do this the day before you start you will feel much more comfortable when you are going to work the next day.
I am not going to hit you over the head with the basics of the first day. You know that you should get their early (I would recommend around 10-15min early) and that you should dress presentably, but there are somethings that I wish I would have done. When you get there, introduce yourself to the receptionist. You will be seeing this person every morning and evening for the rest of the summer, you should know their name and they should know yours. This also avoids the awkward conversation three days later, after you have passed the person every morning and you finally ask their name. In addition, this will also help you feel like you are joining the team, instead of just playing on it for one day. You are in it for the long hall so settle in. While we are on the topic, just try to introduce your self to as many people as you can throughout the day. I promise you won't remember half of their names, but the more people you talk the more comfortable you will feel. It is hard to do (I am still working on it) but if you try and talk to a couple new people each day you can form some relationships that will help you get past the new person stigma. Talk. Talk. Talk!!!
You should be prepared for work to be slow for the first couple of days. Yes the first day will be a lot of paperwork and office tours (all very exciting) but your bosses will still be trying to figure out what to do with you. Do not be afraid to offer help or tell the boss you are available for what ever he or she needs. Luckily I was given something to do right away, but once I was finished I did not have anything else to do for the rest of the afternoon because I was afraid to ask. Put yourself out there to anyone who may need some help.
Do not be afraid to ask questions. I know that everyone says this but it is especially true the first day on the job. Your boss knows that it is your first day and you do not know the exact protocol for everything. For example, it took me 45 minutes to finally get up the nerve to ask my boss what time she would like me to stay until. This was a waste of time on my part because there was no reason to be so worried about asking her. The company created an internship opportunity because they want to teach you just as much as you want to learn, so start asking questions right off the bat.
Listen carefully and take notes when people are teaching you how to work things. You might think you look silly, but if you take notes then you won't have to go back and ask a hundred questions over and over again about how to get simple tasks done. You will appreciate it later and your boss will appreciate now being asked the same thing over and over. This will also make your work easier and faster when you have to do it in the future and you have forgotten.
The main point of the first day is to get your feet wet. The key is to not be afraid to talk and to be yourself. Your boss will appreciate your enthusiasm and you will be much more comfortable and productive. You will be nervous, but I promise you will get through the day!

First Blog Post!

Welcome to the my first Blog! I am new with this so I hope all of you reading will have give me the benefit of the doubt as I try to work my way through the world of technology. I have created this blog to give incite into the world of a summer intern. As a college student I had never worked in a corporate environment before three days ago. When I started the process of looking for a summer internship this spring, I was terrified of the idea that I would have to go to an office everyday and find a way to be useful. I would have loved to have heard first hand from a former intern how to navigate the world of marketing and PR (as it relates to the world of digital media) and not make a fool of myself. I hope to provide that kind of first hand advice for future interns here. I will make mistakes. I will fall. I will not know what I am doing. But hopefully I will also be met with success, and I will document both my successes and failures so that you can learn from them. I want to hear your comments, advice and criticism! Please let me know if I am being helpful or if I am making no sense at all. I look forward to a fun and exciting summer!