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clarencenicholsonata · 4 years ago

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Call Tracking: Why Should All Small Businesses Use It?

A stellar marketing strategy enables you to attract customers and boost brand awareness. But, it is vital to evaluate the effectiveness of your campaigns to ensure they are profitable. And, to get a complete picture of the value marketers bring to your business, you need to measure both online and offline conversions.

And with more than 60% of customers connecting with small businesses on the phone, you cannot avoid call tracking.

Call tracking refers to the strategy in which you assign a unique number to each marketing campaign so that you can track the number of leads, sales, and volume coming from each campaign. However, you need not have multiple telephone lines. All the incoming calls are redirected to your business phone number.

Today I’m going to mention the key benefits of call tracking and why every small business should use it. Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

Helps Determine Your True Return on Investment

Provides Insights Into Your Sales Processes

Helps You Optimize Advertising Strategies

Empowers You to Improve Customer Service Using Call Recording

Provides In-Depth Caller Information

Recover Lost Leads

1. Helps Determine Your True Return on Investment

Let’s suppose you are a small business owner with a $1,000 monthly marketing budget. Each month, you divide your $1,000 between different marketing channels: SEO, social media, email marketing, content marketing, and print advertisements.

You receive 20 phone calls, out of which eight become customers. Now the question is, where did these customers come from? Which channel brought the maximum leads? How do you know if a channel is effective or needs optimization?

That’s where call tracking can help. Call tracking software allows you to determine if you are making money, losing money, or breaking even in all your marketing channels.

For example, Fannit, a Washington-based marketing agency, had a problem: one of their clients was worried that they could not generate enough leads. They thought Fannit’s online marketing strategy was underperforming as they were receiving more phone calls than form submissions.

Fannit used call tracking to assign unique phone numbers to each of their campaigns. This helped them measure the number of calls their campaigns were generating and prove their ROI.

They also realized that the actual problem was with the sales team. The client’s employees weren’t asking the right questions. As a result, the client made changes to its sales processes and generated $250,000 additional annual revenue.

Here is how you can too determine your return on investment using call tracking:

Assign a unique phone number to your campaigns (PPC, email, SMS campaigns, etc.).

Analyze the number of phones coming from them.

Check the conversion rates from each campaign.

Determine the average order value and ROI from each campaign.

Compare it with the money spent on the campaign.

You can calculate your ROI using this formula:

ROI = ((Amount Earned - Amount Spent)/Amount Spent) * 100

Tip: A good marketing ROI ratio is 5:1. If yours is less than that, it’s time to optimize the campaigns.

2. Provides Insights Into Your Sales Processes

As a business owner, you cannot handle all the customer interactions. By tracking and recording the incoming messages, you can get a complete understanding of your customers’ experience when calling your company. This also helps you understand why you are losing leads (just like Fannit’s client did).

Call analytics provide you insights into:

When throughout the week people reach out to you

When throughout the day people call you

How your team members handle your prospects

Who answers the phone

If your representatives are knowledgeable or require training

If your leads convert into appointments (and how often)

What was the caller’s intent (looking for information, interested in buying the product, etc.)

By having a better understanding of your company’s customer service, you will be better able to tailor your sales processes, improve your sales copy, train your agents, and better accommodate staffing needs (to manage increased volumes during peak hours).

Let’s understand this with an example. Suppose:

You receive maximum calls on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Out of 100 calls, 10 convert into customers, 15 schedule an appointment, and 75 never convert.

You can hire temporary salespeople to manage customers on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Then, listen to recordings to understand the prospect’s intent and determine why 75 callers never convert. These recordings will also enable you to identify if your agent was able to answer your prospects’ questions efficiently.

3. Helps You Optimize Advertising Strategies

When you know what strategies are working, you can increase your marketing budget while eliminating the inefficient ones. Call tracking enables you to track each campaign’s ROI so you can determine which ones to continue and which ones to stop.

With advanced call tracking, you will be able to determine which keywords generate the most leads (and sales). You can then use these insights to optimize your campaigns further and improve your ROI.

For instance, Grand Lucayan, a luxury hotel in the Bahamas, used a combination of TV, print, and online ads to attract customers from the eastern US seaboard. They spent most of their marketing budget on Atlanta and North Carolina.

_Note: _It is worth mentioning that maximum flights in the Bahamas come from Atlanta.

However, when they implemented call tracking, they noticed that most of the phones come from Florida and the northeast United States, instead of areas where they advertised the most. Grand Lucayan then adjusted its strategy to target the best-performing areas (in the zip code level). As a result, their phone conversion rates went up by 157%.

Here is how you can optimize advertising strategies using call tracking:

Add different numbers to each of your AdWords campaigns.

Enable call tracking to track the leads coming from them.

Check which ads perform better than others.

Optimize the ones that aren’t performing well (try changing the copy and use keywords from high-performing ads).

Repeat the process. If you still don’t see any improvements in the ROI, it’s recommended to stop those ads and focus on the ones that generate better results.

4. Empowers You to Improve Customer Service Using Call Recording

As mentioned above, call tracking software helps you understand how your agents interact with customers. You can then use these insights to refine your sales processes and increase the conversion rate.

With call recordings and transcripts, you can learn how your agents pitch your product or services, how they handle questions, and how well your team meets the caller's needs.

Additionally, recordings are a great way to learn what products or services prospects like or dislike. You can then use these insights to create hyper-personalized campaigns (retargeting ads, discounts, exclusive access, etc.) to encourage prospects to use your product.

For example, if you offer digital marketing services, and a prospect is interested in an SEO campaign while another wants you to handle their email campaigns. You can then create two ads to target both prospects. You can even offer a free trial to demonstrate how effectively you can manage their marketing campaigns.

5. Provides In-Depth Caller Information

Call tracking offers more information than just caller ID. Before your call center agent picks the phone, he or she will have caller details, including:

Caller’s first and last name

Phone number

The geographic location of the caller

Which campaign they are calling from (so your agent knows which product the customer is interested in)

Are they a repeat or first-time caller?

Modern call tracking software even record:

The length of the call

The quality of the call

The caller’s purchase history

Reason for the call

You can then use these insights to enhance customer service and better meet the caller’s needs.

For example, you can create retargeting ads to reach customers who have shown interest in specific products to attract and convert them. Or you can create SMS campaigns to reach prospects directly.

You can also use the quality of the call to determine how good (or bad) the customer experience was and create offers for them accordingly. For instance, if the experience was good, you can create campaigns that highlight the benefits of your product to encourage them to take action. However, if it was not good, you can offer exclusive discounts (as a token of sorry) directly via SMS (as you now have their numbers).

6. Recover Lost Leads

Not every caller will convert into a customer the first time. However, this does not mean that they are not interested in your products or services (remember, they called you first). This is why it is vital to follow up. Sadly, 44% of salespeople give up just after one attempt.

With call tracking, you can record what product or service the customer was initially interested in, analyze the recordings to understand their concerns and create strategies to address their anxieties better. For instance, you can create retargeting ads or send compelling emails that answer their queries.

For example, James Crawford Law used call tracking with a CRM (HubSpot) to retain 61% more clients. When they imported their contacts from their old CRM to HubSpot, they noticed 47% of the contacts were still considered open. Some of those open leads had their last consultation 18 months ago.

The law firm then created a month-long drip campaign, including SMS and email. HubSpot’s if/then logic workflow empowered them to identify active leads. Within two months of tracking and HubSpot automation, JC Law’s monthly new retained cases increased by as much as 61%. The following month (July) was even better. The retention rate went up by 83%.

Related Content

The Introductory Guide to Email Marketing

4 Things Every Successful Email Marketing Campaign Needs

12 Best Email Marketing Tips for Entrepreneurs

How to Create the Ultimate Shopify Email Marketing Strategy

5 Reasons Your Email Marketing Strategy Isn't Working

Wrapping Up

Call tracking is a must-have for all small businesses. It helps you measure marketing activities, calculate ROI, and improve customer service, among other things. Here’s a quick recap of the eight benefits of call tracking for small businesses:

Helps Determine Your True Return on Investment

Provides Insights Into Your Sales Processes

Helps You Optimize Advertising Strategies

Empowers You to Improve Customer Service Using Call Recording

Provides In-Depth Caller Information

Recover Lost Leads

Keep using call tracking to get the most out of your investment and convert more leads.

Written by our guest writer Rohit Rajpal

With more than two years of experience in writing, Rohit Rajpal has been helping brands improve their online presence with informative and engaging content. When he is not writing, he's busy reading about digital marketing and copywriting. On the other side, he runs his own blog named Learn SEO Pro.

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wunderlandgroup · 5 months ago

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How to Focus on Work During a Personal Crisis

It’s tough to focus on work when you’ve just been dealt a blow in your personal life. Work may be the last place you want to be – or you may find work to be a welcome retreat – when you’re coping with a loss, dealing with a breakup, or have newfound financial stress. No matter the circumstance, remember that there are people there to help and taking care of yourself in the process is crucial. These are a few tips to help you balance work while dealing with a personal crisis:

Talk to your manager. To whatever extent you feel comfortable, keep your direct manager in the loop about what’s stressing you out. Don’t be ashamed of your situation; you are an important part of your organization, and it’s absolutely acceptable to run into personal problems. Discuss your options for taking time off and what should happen if you need to leave work suddenly. Having a backup plan in place will put your manager’s mind at ease and help you not stress about work when you’re out handling a personal issue.

Take a look at your benefits. It doesn’t hurt to talk to HR about your issue. You may have some grievance time available, have access to counseling services through an Employee Assistance Program, or childcare options through your work benefits. These services are usually confidential, and access to them is typically free as part of your benefits program.

Keep busy. Work can be a welcome escape from a stressful change in your home life. Make a list of your to-dos and keep it visible on your desk. A visual reminder of what you need to get done will help you stay focused.

If you find your to-do list to be overwhelming, break it down into small, manageable chunks. It’s okay to save the non-urgent tasks for your extra-blah days.

Take some time to think about your personal issue. Self-care through a crisis is crucial. Give yourself five to ten minutes to think about it and then focus on work for the next 30-45 minutes. This cycle will help you refocus and give you balance for managing your work and personal lives.

Balancing your personal life and your workload while dealing with a personal crisis is stressful. Remember, there are people ready and willing to help, whether it’s your family and friends or your human resources department. Navigating your crisis with one eye on self-compassion and one eye on work will help you gracefully transition back to work while starting you on your path to emotional recovery.

______________________________________________________________________________

WunderLand is a team of Talent Acquisition Experts who connect companies with in-demand digital, marketing and creative talent. The experience, insight and market knowledge we provide have earned us loyalty and a reputation for quality.

Need to hire? Looking for a job? For available jobs, please check HERE. Visit our TALENT RESOURCES PAGE weekly for new career insight and tips.

#Personal Crisis #workforce #employee experience #digital marketing staffing atlanta

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webagencyatlanta · 4 years ago

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Meet our talented team! Web Agency Atlanta is staffed with a team of talented professional WordPress Developers & Digital Marketing xters. We strive to bring you fresh ideas.

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un-enfant-immature · 4 years ago

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Now one of the largest Black-led venture firms by assets, Base10 raises $250 million second fund

Two years after closing their debut fund of $150 million, Base10 co-founders Adeyemi Ajao and TJ Nahigian, are back with a $250 million investment fund and a sense of vindication for their thesis of investing in startups making automation for the people.

For Ajao, an immigrant who spent grew up in Nigeria and Spain before moving to the US, the new fund is a confirmation that even without having an explicit focus on minority investments, it’s possible to create a portfolio led by a diverse mix of founders. Indeed, roughly 60 percent of the firm’s investments have been into companies led or co-led by women or minority founders.

“We might be minority-led but we are not minority focused,” said Ajao, in an interview. “We’re targeting industries that are big problems for the 99 percent so we hope the portfolio will reflect the diversity of the 99 percent.”

Part of that diversity simply comes from the geographic diversification of the portfolio, said Ajao. “We like to invest in Latin America [and] we like to invest outside of Silicon Valley… We have always had the knack of look where others are not looking.”

And as part of that commitment, the firm is making a diversity pledge including: doubling-down on a commitment to diversity through its investment process, hiring practices, and bias training; and a commitment of 1 percent of the firm’s profits from its management company and another 1 percent commitment of its carried interest to support organizations fighting for inclusion and racial equality.

Ajao and Nahigian have already enlisted firms like Precursor Ventures, Illumen Capital and Plexo Capital in the new commitment.

Drawing on Ajao’s connections in the Spanish and Latin American community of entrepreneurs has meant that Base 10 already has a geographically and racially diverse portfolio. Latin American companies account for about 5 of the firm’s 28 publicly listed portfolio companies, with other portfolio companies coming from the Netherlands and Germany. Ajao and Nehigian have also spread the wealth pretty broadly across the U.S. with companies in Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Stamford, Conn. and Seattle in addition to the traditional startup hub of San Francisco.

At Base 10, the typical check size will remain in the $500,000 to $5 million range and the focus remains on experienced founders in industries as diverse as agriculture, construction, logistics, waste management, shipping and logistics.

Investments include Cottage, which is building adjacent dwelling units for the California market; Faber, which provides staffing for commercial construction; the Mexico City-based digital freight forwarder, NowPorts; birth control delivery startup The Pill Club; on-demand staffing company Wonolo and TokenSoft, a platform for compliant token sales.

The new capital is a huge vote of confidence in both Nahigian, a Los Angeles native who spent years as an investor at Summit Partners, Accel, and Coatue Management before founding the mobile job platform, Jobr; and Ajao, who only began working in venture as a corporate investor with Workday Ventures. Previously, the serial entrepreneur launched seferal companies including Identified, which was sold to Workday, and Tuenti, which Telefonica acquired for $100 million back in 2010. Ajao also has the distinction of co-founding Cabify, which raised at a $1.4 billion valuation back in 2018.

And he was Nahigian’s first investor in Jobr. The pair stayed in touch, discussed startups and potential deals, and ultimately decided to go into business together back when the firm was first getting off the ground.

These days, Ajao believes that the public’s fears of automation coming for people’s jobs have been replaced with a realization that automation is “essential to survival for millions of people and small and medium businesses” looking to stay afloat amid the wave of economic shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Moreover, with issues of racial, economic, and gender inequality front and center, it is evident today more than ever that we have a collective responsibility to focus on urgently solving problems that are actually important for 99% of people,” Ajao wrote in a blog post announcing the new Base 10 fund.

As the co-founder of what is one of the largest Black-led venture fund, with $400 million in assets under management, Ajao is taking this moment to situate his fund in a place that supports the development of technology for the 99%.

Examples of portfolio companies stepping in to solve real business problems abound, writes Ajao, in his blog post. From a family-owned restaurant in San Francisco using Virtual Kitchen Company to transition its operations to a full-service delivery model; to restaurants across the Southeast using PopMenu. There’re also newer portfolio company investments like AMI, a Salesforce-style software platform for direct marketers.

As employers responded to the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 epidemic by slashing jobs, many laid-off workers turned to direct sales to support their families, Ajao said. Tools like AMI are helping these stay-at-home entrepreneurs continue to make money as their main source of income.

New investments in the firm’s second fund in companies like Wise, which gives online storefronts and gig economy workers a way to set up bank accounts online easily; Mimic, which is building a distributed kitchen network for Brazil; and Lana, the financial management service for gig workers in Latin America.

These new deals illustrate the firm’s belief that “the tech industry’s collective responsibility [is] to focus on the problems that affect 99% of people, and to work in tandem with communities, governments, and existing Real Economy companies to solve these problems.”

Ultimately, Ajao and Nahigian are attributing their success to what amounts to the old (and overused) investment cliche that investors go to where opportunities are going to be.

“If the VC industry as a whole is overlooking minorities, you can generate alpha by simply taking steps to ensure that you don’t have this same blind spot,” Ajao writes.

#TechCrunch

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myscionstaffing · 5 years ago

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lauramalchowblog · 5 years ago

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9 Healthcare Companies Who Changed the 2010s

By ANDY MYCHKOVSKY

In order to celebrate the next decade (although the internet is confused whether its actually the end of the decade…), we’re taking a step back and listing our picks for the 9 most influential healthcare companies of the 2010s. If your company is left off, there’s always next decade… But honestly, we tried our best to compile a unique listing that spanned the gamut of redefining healthcare for a variety of good and bad reasons. Bon appétit!

1. Epic Systems Corporation

The center of the U.S. electronic medical record (EMR) universe resides in Verona, Wisconsin. Population of 13,166. The privately held company created by Judith “Judy” Faulkner in 1979 holds 28% of the 5,447 total hospital market in America. Drill down into hospitals with over 500-beds and Epic reigns supreme with 58% share. Thanks to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and movement away from paper records (Meaningful Use), Epic has amassed annualized revenue of $2.7 billion. That was enough to hire the architects of Disneyland to design their Google-like Midwestern campus. The other amazing fact is that Epic has grown an average of 14% per year, despite never raising venture capital or using M&A to acquire smaller companies.

Over the years, Epic has been criticized for being expensive, non-interoperable with other EMR vendors, and the partial cause for physician burnout. Expensive is probably an understatement. For example, Partners HealthCare (to be renamed Mass General Brigham) alone spent $1.2 billion to install Epic, which included hiring 600 employees and consultants just to build and implement the system and onboard staff. With many across healthcare calling for medical record portability that actually works (unlike health information exchanges), you best believe America’s 3rd richest woman will have ideas how the country moves forward with digital medical records.

My very first interview out of undergrad was for a position at Epic. I chose a different path, but have always respected and followed the growth of the company over the past decade. In a world where medical data seems like tomorrow’s oil, a number of articles have speculated whether Apple or Alphabet would ever acquire Epic? I don’t buy it. I’m thinking it’s much more likely that 2020 is the first year they acquire a company. How you doing Athenahealth?

2. Theranos

No one can argue Theranos didn’t change the game in healthcare forever… for the worse. I do my best to give all healthcare founders the benefit of a doubt, but Elizabeth Holmes and Ramesh Balwani make that nearly impossible. Turns out that an all-star cast of geopolitical juggernauts on your Board of Directors and the black turtleneck of Steve Jobs is not the recipe for success. Founded by 19-year Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos raised over $700 million at a peak valuation of $9 billion. In retrospect, they have become the poster-child for Silicon Valley’s over-promise and under-deliver mantra. The only problem is that instead of food delivery, their failures resulted in invalid blood testing that could’ve really hurt people.

Despite this failure, the mission and purpose would’ve been tremendously impressive. Cheaper blood tests that require only 1/100 to 1/1,000 the amount of blood that LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics needed. I think the craziest part of the whole saga was that seemingly sophisticated healthcare leaders thirsted for the new technology to beat competitors and improve patient convenience. Before the technology was proved defunct, Theranos convinced Safeway to invest $350 million to retrofit 800 locations with clinics that would offer in-store blood tests. Theranos convinced Walgreens to invest $140 million to develop a partnership that would help beat CVS. Theranos partnered with Cleveland Clinic to test its technology and was working with AmeriHealth Caritas and Capital BlueCross to become their preferred lab provider.

To be clear, they weren’t the first, and won’t be the last healthcare company to fail. I only hope that this extremely well documented (thanks Hollywood) experience has re-focused founders and investors towards building sustainable growth companies that actually help patients live higher quality lives, not just make people money as quickly as possible.

3. One Medical

Thanks to Tom Lee and the One Medical crew, primary care is now investable. Whether you’re talking about private equity or venture capitalists, many have dived head first into the space in search of value-based care treasure. One Medical is the most well-known tech-enabled primary care practice, with 72 clinic locations across seven states, and new locations opening in Portland, Orange County, and Atlanta. The Carlyle Group liked the company so much that it invested $350 million in August 2018, at a reported $1.5 billion valuation. This has led to a number of primary care focused companies (ChenMed, Iora Health, Forward) to amass significant valuations that historically would’ve seemed optimistic. However, the elevation of the primary care provider from the “punter” to the “quarterback” of a patient’s medical journey has lifted all boats.

Interestingly, One Medical has unique differentiators over the traditional primary care competitors. For example, One Medical limits doctors to seeing 16 patients a day, versus the average physician seeing 20-30 patients a day. One Medical also built its own medical records in hopes of a more user friendly experience, instead of outsourcing to practice-based EMRs. One Medical charges $199 annually to each patient to help make up for lower volume, and in return provides same-day appointments, onsite lab draws, and a slick app that allows online appointment scheduling and telehealth consults with providers 24/7. They are also adding capabilities and services to cover mental health and pediatric services to increase revenue.

This change is remarkable. Historically, primary care has been a low-margin business with high administrative and staffing costs, along with physician burnout and regulatory burden. One Medical pioneered the concept of a more modern primary care experience, and I am looking forward to their initial public offering (IPO) targeted for early 2020 and whatever Tom Lee is cooking up at Galileo.

4. Centene

Centene is my favorite health plan to study over the past decade. You would never know that the second largest publicly-traded company headquartered in Missouri was originally started by Elizabeth “Betty” Brinn in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Under-hyped, which is rare in healthcare nowadays, Centene has quietly grown to become the largest player in both the Medicaid managed care and Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges. Under Michael Neidorff’s leadership, Centene now serves 32 states with over 15 million lives and 53,600 employees. They were most recently ranked #51 on the Fortune 500 list. In addition, they are about to grow with the $17.3 billion acquisition of WellCare. Here’s a brief rundown of some major events that demonstrate why I’m so bullish on Centene dominating another decade:

April 2018: WellCare and Centene awarded Medicaid managed care contracts in Florida.

July 2018: Centene acquires Fidelis Care and their 1.6 million New Yorkers for $3.75 billion. This single-handedly gives Centene the leading Medicaid share in the state.

September 2018: WellCare acquires Meridian Health Plan and their 1.1 million lives in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, for $2.5 billion.

February 2019: Centene and WellCare awarded Medicaid managed care contracts in North Carolina.

December 2019: WellCare awarded Medicaid managed care contract in WellCare (re-procurement underway)

In addition, Texas Medicaid is set to award their STAR contracts for 3.4 million lives between Medicaid and CHIP, of which Centene already won a contract to serve the STAR+PLUS (aged, blind, and disabled population). Seems like a pretty solid guess that Centene will fair pretty well in the STAR RFP rankings. Next decade, I look for Centene to significantly increase their efforts to recruit Medicare Advantage (MA) lives, and I wouldn’t bet against them.

5. Mylan

One word. EpiPen. Mylan, the $10 billion market cap pharmaceutical manufacturer and producer of the epinephrine auto-injector product, EpiPen, became the lightning rod in a consumer and political drug pricing debate in 2016. For those who were living under a rock, here’s the quick recap. Epinephrine auto-injectors are used to treat anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction). Prior to 2016, Mylan held absolute dominant share of the auto-injector market, hovering around 90% for the first half of the 2010s. The only real competitor was Adrenaclick, produced by Lineage Therapeutics, but they were barely considered a competitor despite having cheaper prices. In 2016, news outlets caught wind of Mylan’s 500% list price increase over a decade ($100 to $600) and a nationwide discussion about drug prices began.

If you asked the Mylan CEO, Heather Bresch, she would tell you that the reason brand EpiPen’s list price increased 500 percent over 7 years is because they invested billions of dollars to significantly increase access in schools and employers across America. These efforts increased the number of EpiPen prescriptions in the U.S. from 2.5 million to more than 3.5 million between 2011 and 2015. She would also tell you that there is a big difference between wholesale acquisition cost price (list price) and net price. This part is often misunderstood by media. The net price takes into account discounts, prescription savings cards, and rebates that Mylan provides to purchasers (PBMs, Employers, Plans). The exact negotiated rebate or discount is different by line of business and organization. However, safe to say that Mylan made a good amount of profit with increasing volume.

At the end of the day, Mylan settled with the U.S. Justice Department for $465 million over claims it overcharged the government. Mylan kept their $600 list price brand EpiPen product with rebates, and added a generic version of EpiPen for $300 list price without rebates and requiring commercial insurance. According to a GoodRx analysis in 2018, the epinephrine auto-injector market now looks much different, with 60% of the market moving to the generic version of EpiPen, 10% of the market remaining with brand EpiPen, and 30% of the market switching to the generic version of Adrenaclick. However, whether generic or brand EpiPen, Mylan makes strong profits and American will continue to discuss the best strategy forward to control drug spend.

6. Evolent Health

First let me caveat. I’ve worked for Evolent Health for the past 5 years and seen it grow from a Series B startup to a publicly-traded company (NSYE: EVH). However, the reason they’re on this list is because Evolent Health has forever changed the game for future value-based care startups. When Frank Williams, Seth Blackley, and Tom Peterson founded the company in 2011 with the help of UPMC Health Plan and The Advisory Board Company, concepts like the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) did not even exist. Fast forward a decade later, and Evolent Health now serves approximately 3.7 million lives across 35 different U.S. healthcare markets. The mission of Evolent Health is to, “Change the health of a nation, by changing the way healthcare is delivered.” To do this, you need both the technology, clinical, financial, and operational capacity to empower providers to confidently move away from fee-for-service towards fee-for-value.

With the implementation of MACRA and the continued perseverance of CMS under this new administration, value-based care is still full steam ahead (good luck incoming CMMI Director, Brad Smith). Despite the naysayers of value-based care, find me a better way to control medical inflation that is accepted by nearly all healthcare institutions and doesn’t negatively impact patient outcomes, and we can talk. I will mention the importance of “significant” downside risk to actually change provider culture, strategy, and operations. I don’t want the primary purpose of setting up a clinically integrated network (CIN) to be negotiating higher fee-for-service commercial rates for independent physicians aligned to tertiatiary academic medical centers.

I wholeheartedly believe that providers will continue to seek partner options (not vendors with high fees independent of performance) who are not wholly-owned by the large for-profit health plans (Optum…). Of all the available options, Evolent Health is the market leader across a variety of areas. In 2020, I look forward to watching how the 3,000+ Evolenteers push the boundaries of downside risk value-based care with both payers and providers.

7. Livongo

To me, Livongo represents Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones. Not the blood-thirsty character towards the end, but the only person to bring back dragons to the world of Westeros. Except in this example, the dragon is a successful digital health IPO. This was a big deal. Going public rewarded early investors who believed in the nascent digital health and chronic condition space. It allowed public investors an opportunity to peak under the hood of the financials and get comfortable with future economics of the industry. And it provided a legitimacy and a peer valuation to other leading digital health companies like Omada Health. All-in-all, 207,000 members use Livongo for Diabetes management solutions, including a connected glucose monitor, unlimited test strips, and personalized health coaching. This number is expected to grow significantly, with the announcement of a new, two-year diabetes contract with the BlueCross BlueShield Federal Employee Program (FEP). They anticipate the partnership will add an additional $50-60 million in revenue across 2020 and 2021

Livongo has done a brilliant job marketing itself as building a full-stop solution for the 147 million Americans with a chronic condition. According to their estimates, their immediately addressable markets for managing diabetes and hypertension represents a $46.7 billion opportunity. Digging into the unit economics, Livongo estimates that diabetes is worth $900 per patient per year and $468 per patient per year. Since they’re focused on chronic conditions, the business model is subscription-based. In the Q3 quarterly report, Livongo provided full year guidance of $168.5 million on the low end and $169 million on the high end. In either scenario, FY2019 Adjusted EBITDA is projected to lose around $26 million for the year.

Livongo has smartly started with addressing diabetes, given the downstream health impacts of mismanagement of blood sugar and the ability to impact spend with regular insulin, diet, and exercise. They also are very smart to efficiently sell into self-funded large employers using existing channel partners like Express Scripts, CVS, Health Care Services Corporation (HCSC), Anthem, and Highmark BCBS. I know that the stock is down 35% since IPO, but I fundamentally believe chronic conditions are not going away and over time, Livongo will add supplementary clinical programs to expand revenue growth.

8. Optum

UnitedHealth Group is the single largest healthcare company in the world with a $280 billion market cap. It owns UnitedHealthcare, the country’s largest private insurer serving Medicare Advantage, managed Medicaid, employer-sponsored insurance, and ACA exchanges. And yet in 2020, more than 50% of the company’s earning and $112 billion in revenue will come from the lesser known side of the business, Optum. It is difficult to describe Optum because they do so much, but they technically split their business into three units: OptumHealth, OptumInsight and Optum Rx. OptumHealth provides care delivery (primary, specialty, urgent care) and care management to address chronic, complex, and behavioral health needs. OptumInsight utilizes data, analytics, and clinical information to support software, consulting, and managed services programs. OptumRx is a pharmacy benefit management (PBM) to create a more streamlined pharmacy system. In total Optum estimates the U.S. addressable market for its services to exceed $850 billion. If that wasn’t enough, here’s some fun facts why they made the list:

Works with 9 out of 10 U.S. hospitals, more than 67,000 pharmacies, and more than 100,000 physicians, practices, and other providers.

Added 10,000 physicians in the past year, growing its network to 46,000 physicians.

Includes 180,000 team members and serves 120 million customers.

Serves 80% of health plans to reduce total cost of care.

Works with 9 out of 10 Fortune 100 companies.

Pretty remarkable for a business unit that was only technically created in 2011, by merging existing pharmacy and care deliver services into one brand. As chronic disease increases and value-based care is here to stay, Optum is focused on comprehensively treating patients and coordinating their care to improve quality and lower costs. With UnitedHealthcare under the corporate umbrella, Optum has the adequate scale to test any new clinical initiatives before rolling out to other health plans.

9. Purdue Pharma

Purdue Pharma is a privately owned drug company owned by the Sackler Family and most well known for creating OxyContin in 1996. OxyContin represents 90% of Purdue Pharma’s revenue and was aggressively marketed to doctors for use in patients with chronic pain. According to court records, Purdue Pharma has grossed an estimated $35 billion. This is the same prescription painkiller that many experts say fueled the U.S. opioid crisis that has resulted in more than 130 deaths each day after overdosing on opioids. To be clear, the deaths are caused by prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids (fentanyl), however, the initial addiction to opioids is often caused by OxyContin and other prescription drugs. All but two U.S. states and 2,000 local governments have taken legal action against Purdue, other drug makers and distributors.

The Sackler family is the 19th richest family and is well known for supporting the fine arts, including the Sackler Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City where the Ancient Egyptian Temple of Dendur sits. I’ve seen a number of articles persecuting the entire Sackler family, but I want to be a little more nuanced. In 1952, three Sackler brothers (Arthur, Raymond, and Mortimer) bought a drug company called Purdue Frederick. Arthur’s branch of the family got out of the company after his death in 1987. The Raymond and Mortimer branches of Sacklers, who own it, founded affiliate Purdue Pharma in the early 1990s. According to a 2017 article from The New Yorker, there are 15 Sackler children in the generation following the founders of Purdue. Some family members have served on the Board of Directors, while others (most notably descendants from Arthur Sackler who died before OxyContin was invented), have distanced themselves from the company and condemned the OxyContin-based wealth.

Purdue Pharma filed for bankruptcy in September 2019 as part of a tentative settlement related to misleading marketing of the controversial painkiller. The settlement requires the owners of Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family to pay out $3 billion of their own fortune in cash over the next seven years. The only problem is that some family members have reportedly moved $10.7 billion from Purdue Pharma to trusts and holding companies across the world between 2008 and 2017. And all we’re left with is a complicated web of holding companies and offshore bank accounts, ravaged communities, and the leading cause of injury-related death in the U.S.

Andy Mychkovsky is a Director at Evolent Health and the Founder of a healthcare startup and innovation blog, Healthcare Pizza. This post originally appeared on Healthcare Pizza here.

The post 9 Healthcare Companies Who Changed the 2010s appeared first on The Health Care Blog.

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kristinsimmons · 5 years ago

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9 Healthcare Companies Who Changed the 2010s

By ANDY MYCHKOVSKY

1. Epic Systems Corporation

2. Theranos

3. One Medical

4. Centene

April 2018: WellCare and Centene awarded Medicaid managed care contracts in Florida.

July 2018: Centene acquires Fidelis Care and their 1.6 million New Yorkers for $3.75 billion. This single-handedly gives Centene the leading Medicaid share in the state.

September 2018: WellCare acquires Meridian Health Plan and their 1.1 million lives in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, for $2.5 billion.

February 2019: Centene and WellCare awarded Medicaid managed care contracts in North Carolina.

December 2019: WellCare awarded Medicaid managed care contract in WellCare (re-procurement underway)

5. Mylan

6. Evolent Health

7. Livongo

8. Optum

Works with 9 out of 10 U.S. hospitals, more than 67,000 pharmacies, and more than 100,000 physicians, practices, and other providers.

Added 10,000 physicians in the past year, growing its network to 46,000 physicians.

Includes 180,000 team members and serves 120 million customers.

Serves 80% of health plans to reduce total cost of care.

Works with 9 out of 10 Fortune 100 companies.

9. Purdue Pharma

Andy Mychkovsky is a Director at Evolent Health and the Founder of a healthcare startup and innovation blog, Healthcare Pizza. This post originally appeared on Healthcare Pizza here.

The post 9 Healthcare Companies Who Changed the 2010s appeared first on The Health Care Blog.

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haulix · 8 years ago

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New openings (3/20/17)

Public Relations Assistant (Carnegie Hall - NYC)

Assistant to provide administrative support to our Public Relations office. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Serve as frontline liaison with public and media, providing departmental phone coverage, fielding questions, and responding to requests as needed. Serve as Cision system administrator, coordinating and building media contact lists, collecting coverage, preparing daily press clip reports, and maintaining electronic clip files. Coordinate frequent electronic press release mailings, including HTML coding of materials. Manage day-to-day operations of media web site. Coordinate Public Relations office systems, including processing of departmental invoices and budget tracking. Assist department directors, managers, and associates as needed. Assist with press ticketing for concerts and events. Proofread materials as assigned, and participate in preparations for major announcements and special events. Some press duty, including escorting photographers and staffing special events as needed.

Creative Director (Red Bull Sound Select - Santa Monica, CA)

Red Bull Sound Select is an accelerator for music artists. We support them by collaborating on ambitious projects and ideas; using the strength of our global network together with a collective of artists, creatives and events to accelerate their growth. The network consists of 18 city residencies, 200+ events each year, 250+ artists, 50 partners and a growing list of our own festivals like 30 Days and 3 Days in Miami. Our mission is to accelerate artist growth on a global scale, helping to support music communities. As Creative Director, Red Bull Sound Select will play a key role in the program’s success. They will lead and manage the program’s look and feel online, offline and across owned channels. This role is a great opportunity for someone who is passionate about music, has a strong background in design and creative production, enjoys managing people and brands, and has a track record of delivering cutting-edge creative on a global scale.

Fan Engagement Manager (WMG - Burbank, CA)

The newly-formed Warner Bros. Records Fan Engagement & Channel Management department is responsible for shaping and executing all aspects of the label’s social media and direct to consumer channel management strategies and online presence. Key social media and direct to consumer platforms include, but are not limited to, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Vine, Spotify artist/label channels, and artist/label web and email platforms.

Digital Marketing Coordinator (Ticketfly - San Francisco, CA)

Ticketfly is seeking a highly organized, analytical and technically savvy Digital Marketing Coordinator to support the tracking, execution and analysis of event marketing campaigns on Ticketfly and Pandora. This position will play a critical role in helping venues and promoters like The Independent, Brooklyn Bowl and Pitchfork Music Festival reach a massive and engaged music audience on both platforms. Strong candidates for this role will have a passion for managing multiple projects simultaneously and coordinating impactful marketing solutions for our key clients. From strategy conception to tactic execution and measurement, this role will ensure we’re surfacing the best events to fans and empowering our clients to drive more ticket sales via their marketing efforts.

Director of Marketing (McNally Smith College of Music - St. Paul, MN)

McNally Smith College of Music is seeking an experienced marketing leader to manage and execute ongoing marketing strategies to drive student recruitment and expand our brand presence. Understanding of the competitive marketplace, public relations, crisis communications, social media, digital and print marketing and communications is essential to succeed in this role. The Marketing Director must have experience writing, editing and proofreading, and the ability to create compelling copy that drives action and conversion throughout the recruitment funnel. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who can think and plan strategically as well as take a hands-on role in execution and work collaboratively within a diverse organization with many stakeholders.

Marketing Prod Producer, Apple Music (Apple - Santa Clara Valley, CA)

We’re looking for an experienced marketing producer to provide exceptional leadership across marketing-driven projects for Apple Music, iTunes Store, and Apple News.

Personal Assistant to Confidential Entertainment Client (Sinolife, LLC - Atlanta, GA)

Confidential Client in the Entertainment Business seeks Personal Assistant on a Part Time Basis (20-30 hrs per week) with potential to grow into a full time opportunity (50 + hrs per week)

Duties include:

-All scheduling and calendar coordination on behalf of the client

-Administrative function, to include phone calls, facilitate meetings, travel coordination, calendar coordination, planning

-General Errands on behalf of the client from picks up, and drop offs, meetings

-Responsible for ensuring ALL facets of the day to day operation of the client

-Responsible for helping client to execute client brand goals, quotas, scheduled event/product production deadlines

-Acting as liaison between client and other staff and team members and client vendors

-Social Media and Website Management

-Project Management

Sponsorship Coordinator (Live Nation - Washington D.C.)

This position will provide support and sales assistance to Local Sponsorship Sales, overseeing the fulfillment of local, regional, and national accounts by ensuring the delivery of contractual elements and providing excellent customer service. Coordinators will also be responsible for managing all sponsorship inventories.

Account Coordinator (Vevo - NYC)

As one of Vevo’s Account Coordinators, you’ll be instrumental in the daily success of Vevo’s Sales organization. As a member of the Account Management team, you’ll be an active contributor during the complete sales cycle, from pre-sale to post-sale. Partnering with Account Managers, and collaborating with our Account Executive, Brand Solutions, Research & Operations teams, you’ll work cohesively and proactively with each of these teams to complete client proposal materials, compile and analyze research data, manage campaign performance and delivery plus other various team projects. Within your first quarter, you’ll meet with all Vevo’s amazing Sales Support teams, become fully up-to-speed on your accounts and their priorities, work with either your Director or Account Manager regarding the ins and outs of your role, and begin to take on full ownership of your accounts. By the end of your first sixth months, you will be fully up to speed on all your accounts’ needs and will become a trusting resource for both your accounts and all internal departments.

International Marketing Coordinator (UMG - NYC)

Universal Music Group is currently seeking an International Marketing Coordinator. This position is ideal for an up and coming Assistant/Coordinator with an interest/experience in the international arena. Candidates must be comfortable and capable of working with senior management, both inside and outside of Universal Music Group, as well as artists.

The ideal candidate will possess strong administrative, organizational and creative skills. Prior marketing and administrative experience in the music/entertainment field preferred. Candidate must have an innate passion for the music/entertainment industries and a strong interest in International Marketing. The International Marketing Coordinator reports directly to the International Marketing SVP and interacts on a daily basis with the Marketing Team.

Older posts (3/12/17)

Tour Department Administrative Support (Live Nation - San Francisco, CA)

We are seeking an administrative assistant to work in our San Francisco office. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to maintaining Itinerary database for East and West Coast touring offices. Previous experience in this field preferred, but not required.

Coordinator, A&R (Sony - Culver City, CA)

The A&R Coordinator will provide support to the General Manager for Syco Music and help to ensure the efficient day-to-day operation by successfully accomplishing a wide range of responsibilities.

Music Artist Assistant (NYFA - NYC)

Upcoming film scoring composer, songwriter and singer is seeking a dynamic, motivated, persistent, passionate and engaging assistant with a natural salesmanship talent. While knowledge of music is not required, the Candidate must have a real interest and certain understanding of the contemporary music business and trends or be a fast learner.

A&R Coordinator, Sire Records (WMG - NYC)

The Sire Records Label Coordinator supports the President and Director of Sire Records in fulfilling any and all his A&R and administrative duties. Specific responsibilities of this position include office duties, helping to scout new bands, artists, and music, as well as attending shows and acting as a liaison between the A&R rep and the parent entity, Warner Music Group. This position must often maintain and develop relationships directly with artists, scout and research new artists, songwriters, and producers, review demo submissions, cover shows, coordinate detailed bi-weekly A&R research reports and carry out other marketing and label duties as needed. The label coordinator is also responsible for helping to come up with new marketing concepts, working with the creative department on images and advertisements, developing marketing strategies and plans, and present findings to company executives.

Coordinator, Content Management (The Orchard - NYC)

As a Content Management Coordinator, you’re impeccably accurate and detail-oriented while still able to manage multiple deadlines and prioritize appropriately. You’re able to proactively pinpoint and report on issues that arise pertaining to your daily tasks, and would love to become familiar with YouTube’s CMS and other streaming platforms. You’re numbers-focused, with a keen eye for data and an appreciation for the spreadsheet. You’re driven and enthusiastic about joining a team where collaboration is key, and want to be part of a company at the forefront of the music and digital space.

Client Relations Coordinator (Ticketmaster - Hollywood, CA)

The Client Relations Coordinator position will play a crucial role for Ticketmaster’s OnTour team, in the company’s continued evolution in the live entertainment industry. Ticketmaster’s OnTour team is the company’s artist facing department, tasked with building Ticketmaster’s relationships with the artist community, along with informing artists’ teams and acting as a resource to those teams to help them maximize ticket sales, marketing and drive incremental revenue throughout their tour cycle. The Client Relations coordinator will play a critical role in maintaining a solid foundation for the expanding OnTour team, and identifying potential areas of growth with both new and existing clients. The qualified candidate will have demonstrated an understanding of the live music industry.

Talent Agent/Manager (My Basic LLC - Atlanta)

MY Basic LLC is looking to build a team who has the smarts and creative drive to play an important role in helping an artist/producer with booking, marketing, and setting up events.

Tasks will include but not be limited to:

Music placement

Finding paying gigs

Assisting with press releases

Coordinating photoshoots

Making sure tools are in place to assist with selling of music

We’ll talk further on this part if you’re an ideal fit. You must be savvy, a go getter, and hard working.

Arts Education Program Manager (U of M - Ann Arbor, MI)

UMS is seeking a dynamic and outgoing arts professional to develop and implement its community-based education and engagement activities. Duties include: building community relationships and programs through the arts (focusing on specific cultural communities as identified in the ECE strategic plan); developing arts education programs for adult learners and general audiences (artist Q&As, pre-show talks, interactive lobby experiences, etc.); supporting UMS’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals across the entire ECE program (including K-12 and University programs); designing and implementing artist residencies with a range of UMS’s visiting artists; and serving as lead producer for approximately 1-2 of UMS’s main stage live performances annually. The ideal candidate will have a passion for community building through the arts; be an expert at sensitively and respectfully developing relationships across diverse communities; possess superb administrative and project management skills; and be an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts.

Music Development Manager (Augsburg - Minneapolis, MN)

Within the Publishing House of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (1517 Media), Augsburg Fortress (AF) creates substantive and innovative materials to support the ministries of faith communities in communicating the good news of God’s liberating grace, with a particular focus on Lutheran congregations. Augsburg Fortress publishes approximately 60 titles a year in the Augsburg Music portfolio, with a focus on traditional and liturgical choral and keyboard music as well as congregational song. The purpose of the Music Development Manager position is to carry out program development, editorial, and project management roles in order to ensure that the Augsburg Music publication program meets customer needs for usefulness, accessibility, appropriateness, and high quality of both content and presentation.

Music Instructor (Fontbonne - St. Louis, MO)

Fontbonne University is seeking a dynamic and experienced teacher and music director to lead university choral groups (sacred and secular), collaborate on musicals (with students and Mustard Seed Theatre, a professional theatre in residence at Fontbonne), teach music appreciation classes and offer voice/piano individual lessons. As part of the Performing Arts program, the instructor will participate in recruiting and educational outreach events and will develop curriculum to benefit Fontbonne’s teacher education and fine arts students.

Youth Orchestra Music Director (Symphony of the Mountains - Kingsport, TN)

Symphony of the Mountains’ Youth Orchestra is an auditioned, regional orchestra affiliated with the Symphony of the Mountains based in Kingsport, TN. The mission of the SOTM is to provide the highest quality of music to audiences of all ages throughout our region. The Symphony of the Mountains is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Youth Orchestra Music Director.

Creative Assistant (The Dreamatorium - Boulder, CO)

We are a company that’s on the forefront of a new industry and we are expanding. There are long term possibilities for the right fit, its fun and a different adventure all the time. We are constantly working on different projects and need someone quick on their feet with attention to detail and common sense. I am all about highest quality & productivity while having fun.

Responsibilities include:

Assume administrative tasks as needed, including typing, quickbooks

Accurate and efficient with research web or otherwise

Creative help based on capabilities in multiple areas like textiles, soap-making, candle-making, sewing, dying, tie-dying, jewelry making, photography, event production, music production screen printing, letter press, digital illustration.

Production Assistance

Sound Designer (iZotope - Cambridge, MA)

iZotope is looking for a talented, inspired Sound Designer to help us create innovative and compelling product content that inspires and enables our customers to be creative. Reporting directly to the Chief Product Officer, the Sound Designer will work closely with the product development team to craft the vision and sound design goals for all of our products, including planning, budgeting, management and execution of all sound work.

Assistant Librarian (STL Symphony - St. Louis, MO)

Under general direction, perform duties to assist Librarian and Associate Librarian in providing each orchestra musician with correct parts for each orchestra service. Responsible for accurately marking parts with bowings for strings, editing parts as requested by conductor, and preventing any foreseeable problems as they relate to music to maximize musician use of resources and rehearsal time. Assist in maintaining administrative requirements of the library including cataloging, shipment of materials, and OPAS database management. Position requires irregular work hours, including some evenings and weekends. This position is currently a staff position.

#music industry job board #job board #jobs #marketing #management #sales #advertising #now hiring #hiring #careers #music industry

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hishem25 · 5 years ago

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How To Start An Advertising Agency Atlanta

By Virginia Long

Marketing is essential to any business. It helps to boost the brand or image of a company. Promoting efforts will make people from different parts of the world to know about the existence of an item. Virtual marketing practices have become popular. Almost all organizations have created online presences. They use the online channels to communicate to their sectors about the upcoming products and those in the marketplace. In case a firm changes its commodities, they use promotion to notify the public about the change. Take advantage of the need for promotion channel to make your income. Read here how to put up an advertising agency Atlanta. Get operating funds to help with running the firm. Banks are giving their customers loans to finance their projects such as starting a branding firm. Personal savings and donations are other alternatives you can turn to for funds. Ensure the method is affordable and reliable. You can use the income from another business to finance the marketing project. Draft a business plan for the entity. The manuscript ought to be well thought-out since it is the foundation of your ad business. Ensure that you create the paper. Include details about the services you will be offering and terms of your work. Add your market analysis, marketing plans, anticipated expenses, staffing requirements, financial and profit margin projections. Come up with goals and objectives that are achievable and time-bound. Decide on a line of work to concentrate your efforts. Most customers are looking for professionals who have specialized in a particular field. Weigh your options to determine your strengths and weakness. Be sincere to yourself when making this decision. Branding, search engine optimization, content development, social media, and email marketing are examples of areas you can join. Make sure that you equip yourself with everything in the industry. Marketing methods like digital promotion can change anytime. Entrepreneurs who want to compete in the evolving market should know what to do and keep track of their competitors. Keep yourself updated with the trending issues. Listen to podcasts, read blogs, and other online pages. Choose a niche as per your skills and strength. You cannot open a promoting entity and start serving the large companies in the country and beyond. Inform the upcoming businesses about your intentions. Join an association of the local community. These are your potential customers, and you need to honor them. Let them know about your services. Sell your services by giving out samples. Let the world have a taste of what you can offer. Give free adverts to several businesses. The other firms around will be willing to work with you since they have seen what you can do. You should be smart to win the attention of the market. Advertise your business on all platforms. Only marketers can survive in this field. These professionals have the skills and experience to implement promotional strategies. They understand the needs of different entities. The service providers will tailor their services to complement the requirements of the clients. Master all the marketing policies to be the right promoter in this area.

About the Author:

Get a summary of the things to consider before picking an advertising agency Atlanta area and more information about a reliable agency at https://ift.tt/2EowHBv now.

How To Start An Advertising Agency Atlanta from NEXT GENERATION https://ift.tt/2Y67wzB

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redabiz2 · 6 years ago

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Tips In Setting Up An Advertising Agency Atlanta

By Virginia Long

Businesses use marketing to create awareness about the goods they are selling. They promote their products to inform the public about their field of specialization. It is through the adverts that they remind the consumers about the goods in stock. Different commodities require a different marketing method. The distribution of consumers determines the channels of communication to use to get the message to them about the new firm. Setting up a marketing company is a great idea since the market is readily available. Entities promoting their goods will require your services to help them get to the potential markets. Use the following guide when putting up an advertising agency Atlanta. Source for operational funds. Personal savings, loans, and donations are examples of options you can use to raise the required finances. Introduce a financial management strategy. Record the cash flow and ensure you document all payments made. The financing method you pick ought to be reliable and affordable. Choose loans from lenders that have favorable rates. Use your savings if they are enough instead of credits. Draft a business plan for the entity. The manuscript ought to be well thought-out since it is the foundation of your ad business. Ensure that you create the paper. Include details about the services you will be offering and terms of your work. Add your market analysis, marketing plans, anticipated expenses, staffing requirements, financial and profit margin projections. Come up with goals and objectives that are achievable and time-bound. Decide on a line of work to concentrate your efforts. Most customers are looking for professionals who have specialized in a particular field. Weigh your options to determine your strengths and weakness. Be sincere to yourself when making this decision. Branding, search engine optimization, content development, social media, and email marketing are examples of areas you can join. Make sure that you equip yourself with everything in the industry. Marketing methods like digital promotion can change anytime. Entrepreneurs who want to compete in the evolving market should know what to do and keep track of their competitors. Keep yourself updated with the trending issues. Listen to podcasts, read blogs, and other online pages. Choose a niche as per your skills and strength. You cannot open a promoting entity and start serving the large companies in the country and beyond. Inform the upcoming businesses about your intentions. Join an association of the local community. These are your potential customers, and you need to honor them. Let them know about your services. Provide free advice as a way of attracting customers. It does not matter who hears your advice but make certain you are giving it. The market must hear about your competency and capability for them to trust you. Give free adverts and ask the clients for reviews. Use these testimonies to promote your services to other consumers. Professional knowledge is needed for marketing to be successful. Take a course for this field of learning about the basic functions. Register the entity with the right bodies to make sure you are operating a legal and licensed marketing outlet.

About the Author:

Get a summary of the things to consider before picking an advertising agency Atlanta area and more information about a reliable agency at http://bit.ly/2vekomZ now.

via Write a Book with REDA http://bit.ly/2Jh34Go

#IFTTT #Blogger

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wunderlandgroup · 8 months ago

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Unlock Success with Wunderland Group: Your Path to Professional Excellence

In the competitive landscape of today’s job market, securing a fulfilling career path can be a daunting task. However, with the right guidance and resources, navigating through career opportunities becomes more manageable. Enter Wunderland Group, a beacon of hope for job seekers and businesses alike, offering a plethora of services designed to unlock professional success.

Wunderland Group: Empowering Your Career Journey

Embark on a transformative journey with Wunderland Group, where opportunities abound and success is within reach. Our comprehensive range of services is meticulously crafted to cater to diverse professional needs, ensuring that every individual can realize their full potential.

Navigating the Job Market Landscape

In today’s dynamic job market, finding the right opportunity can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Wunderland Group streamlines this process, providing invaluable insights and guidance to navigate through the complexities of job hunting with ease. From resume optimization to interview preparation, we equip you with the tools needed to stand out from the crowd.

Tailored Solutions for Businesses

For businesses seeking top talent, Wunderland Group offers customized solutions to fulfill staffing requirements efficiently. Our extensive network and industry expertise enable us to connect businesses with skilled professionals who are poised to make a difference. Whether it’s temporary staffing or permanent placements, we have you covered.

Empowering Professionals Through Knowledge Sharing

At Wunderland Group, we believe in the power of knowledge sharing to foster professional growth. Our platform serves as a hub for industry insights, trends, and best practices, providing professionals with the resources they need to stay ahead of the curve. From informative articles to interactive webinars, we strive to empower individuals with the knowledge to thrive in their careers.

Harnessing the Power of Networking

Networking is a cornerstone of career advancement, and Wunderland Group facilitates meaningful connections through networking events and workshops. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting, our platform offers ample opportunities to expand your network and forge valuable relationships within your industry.

Continuous Learning and Development

In today’s rapidly evolving job market, continuous learning is essential for staying competitive. Wunderland Group offers a myriad of learning resources, including online courses, workshops, and certifications, to help professionals upskill and stay abreast of industry trends. With our support, you can embark on a journey of lifelong learning and development.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

How can Wunderland Group help me advance my career?

Wunderland Group offers a range of services, including resume optimization, interview preparation, and networking opportunities, to help professionals advance in their careers.

Does Wunderland Group provide staffing solutions for businesses?

Yes, Wunderland Group offers tailored staffing solutions for businesses, including temporary staffing and permanent placements, to meet their specific needs.

Are there any networking opportunities available through Wunderland Group?

Absolutely! Wunderland Group hosts networking events and workshops to facilitate meaningful connections and foster professional growth.

What kind of learning resources does Wunderland Group offer?

Wunderland Group provides a variety of learning resources, such as online courses, workshops, and certifications, to support professionals in their continuous learning journey.

How can I stay updated on industry trends and best practices with Wunderland Group?

By joining the Wunderland Group community, you’ll gain access to informative articles, webinars, and other resources that keep you informed about the latest industry trends and best practices.

Is Wunderland Group suitable for professionals at all career stages?

Yes, Wunderland Group caters to professionals at every stage of their career journey, from entry-level to executive positions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Wunderland Group serves as a guiding light for professionals navigating through the intricacies of the job market. With our comprehensive range of services, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and commitment to continuous learning, we empower individuals to unlock their full potential and achieve professional excellence.

#workforce #employee experience #career insights #digital marketing staffing atlanta

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kennethherrerablog · 6 years ago

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How to Invest Even if You Have No Idea Where to Start

Let’s be honest: Investing is kind of scary.

The stock market itself is difficult to understand — you earn money by spending money? And it’s not even necessarily real money, but this virtual number that moves and shifts on a moment-to-moment basis?

Seriously, who thinks this is a good idea?

Well, as it turns out, just about every single financial professional — as well as the army of everyday people who’ve used the power of compound interest to fund major financial goals, like home ownership and retirement.

There’s a reason a 401(k) account is one of the most common workplace perks: You pretty much need to invest if you’re going to build a big enough nest egg to one day throw in the towel.

Investing is also one of the easiest ways to earn passive income — that is, making money without putting in any extra hours at work. Once you set up your investment portfolio, it takes relatively little management to see significant returns: The average investor has seen 10% growth annually over the last hundred years.

So what’s the best way to get started with your own investments? And what do you need to know before you take the big leap? Is it actually possible to start an investment portfolio from a smartphone app, and should you?

Hang on tight, Penny Hoarders. We’re going to dive into all of that and more.

Getting Started: What is Investing?

Before we dig into the nitty-gritty of how to get started on your own investments, let’s clarify some basic terms.

Investing is spending money on something — be it a share of a company on the stock market, a house, or a painting — in the hopes that its value will grow. If it does, the investor can later sell the item, also referred to as an asset, and earn a profit.

There are four main types of investments, which are also referred to as asset classes.

Stocks, otherwise known as equity investments

Fixed-income investments, like bonds

Money market or cash equivalent investments

Property, including real estate and other tangible assets

Stocks

These are probably what you think of when you think of the stock market: shares, or fractions of ownership, of publicly traded companies, which increase in value as the company performs well and earns a profit.

Shareholders are paid dividends when this occurs, but are, of course, also vulnerable to downswings in the market — and the possibility of the company performing poorly or even going out of business.

Mutual funds and ETFs, which are pre-built pools of investment options, are also grouped under this asset class, though they sometimes include bonds and other types of securities. (We’ll go into more detail on mutual funds and ETFs below.)

Fixed-Income Investments

These are investments that offer a prearranged, fixed interest rate and usually pay at regular intervals or after a set amount of time. Bonds are the most common example. When you purchase a government bond, specifically, you’re actually giving the government a loan, which it agrees to repay after a certain amount of time (the bond’s “maturity”) at a set interest rate.

Bonds are considered safer investments than stocks, which are more vulnerable to shifts in the market.

Money Market or Cash Equivalent Investments

These are highly liquid (meaning they can quickly be converted to cash), short-term investments, like CDs (certificates of deposit) or short-term debt securities, like U.S. Treasury bills. This asset class offers relatively little growth — meaning you aren’t likely to reap a big profit quickly — but also comes at a relatively low risk.

Property

It’s just what it sounds like: tangible, physical investments, like real estate or fine art, which can appreciate (read: grow) in value over time.

(Psst: depreciation is the opposite, when a tangible asset loses value over time. One of the biggest culprits? Cars, trucks or SUVs, which can lose as much as 10% of their value annually, according to Carfax.)

For the purposes of this post, we’re going to focus primarily on stock market investments, as these are the most accessible to — and rewarding for — average folks. But we’ll also briefly cover property investments, including bitcoin. (Yes, it’s still a thing — and yes, we know you’re curious!)

Why Should You Invest?

One thing we should make clear: Even the “safest” investment options do carry some risk. There’s no such thing as a sure investment.

For that reason, many savers feel a lot more comfortable stashing their cash in a low-interest savings account… or even under their mattress in the form of paper bills. But investing is one of the easiest ways to earn a passive income — and if you want to build serious wealth, the stock market is the surest-fire place to make it happen.

Malik S. Lee, a Certified Financial Planner and the founder of Atlanta-based Felton & Peel Wealth Management, understands why some people are reluctant to enter the market. But he also knows it’s imperative for meeting many common financial goals.

Maintain the Value of Your Money

In fact, if you take inflation into account, investing isn’t just a way to grow your money — it’s a necessary measure to maintain its current value.

According to Lee, inflation has historically averaged between 4-5%, and so over the course of 20 or 30 years, that can make a big difference.

“If you would like your money to spend the same way then that it’s spending today, you’ll need the power of the stock market,” Lee said.

Even a low-growth investment like a CD might actually net you a negative return, given today’s rate of inflation.

And, of course, it’s important to remember that investing is all about playing the long game. Yes, you’ll likely see some scary stock market headlines over the course of your investment career. But so long as you hold tight and don’t run for the hills, the overall odds are in your favor.

Make Money on Your Money

The average investor who reinvests dividends within a broad-based index, such as the S&P 500, has a 94% chance of positive return over 10 years, according to Lee. If you extend that timeline to 20 years, investors can increase that chance to 99%.

“If you invest for the long term, your chances of obtaining a positive return increase dramatically,” Lee said.

In other words: when it comes to investing, “keep calm and carry on.”

But first, you have to cough up the ante!

How Do You Get Started Investing?

If you’ve read this far, you’re (hopefully) at least a little more comfortable with the lingo, and convinced that investing is the way to go if you want your money to be fruitful and multiply.

So now, how do you get started on your own investments? And what if you don’t have very much money to get started with?

1. Choose an Investment Vehicle

First things first: you’ll need to decide on what type of investment account best fits your needs. A variety of different account types, or “investment vehicles,” correspond to different financial goals, some of which carry special tax incentives when used correctly.

For instance, if you’re investing to save for retirement, an account like a401(k) or traditional IRA allows you to make tax-deferred contributions, which can help lower the amount you pay in income tax today while simultaneously building your nest egg for later.

A Roth IRA works a little differently: your contributions are taxed today, but then grow, and are more importantly withdrawn, tax-free thereafter.

These retirement accounts do come with certain IRS regulations, including strict rules regarding when the funds can be taken out. (The short story: you’ll have to wait until age 59.5, with a few circumstantial exceptions.)

There are also investment accounts geared specifically toward paying for college (529 plans) and health care (HSAs, or health savings accounts), which carry similar restrictions.

The most flexible option: opening a plain-old individual investment account, which allows you to withdraw your funds at any time to pay for miscellaneous objectives.

Even then, it’s a much better idea to leave your contributions invested as long as possible — not only to maximize your returns through compound interest, but also to avoid short-term capital gains taxes, which can be levied at a higher rate than what you’d pay on long-term holdings.

Taking a look at your own financial timeline and plans for your future can help you decide which type of investment vehicle is right for you.

Our suggestion? If your workplace offers access to a 401(k), start there — and if there’s a percentage match on offer, be sure to take advantage of it. Your contributions will be deducted directly from your wages and are tax-deductible, so it’s a pretty pain-free way to get started.

Then, you can consider opening an auxiliary account — whether that means accelerating your retirement savings with an IRA or investing your pocket change with a digital app like Stash.

Speaking of which…

2. Open a Brokerage Account (or Download an App, or…)

If you’d asked somebody how to invest in stocks 20 years ago, you would have gotten one resounding answer: Call up a stockbroker and place your order. I mean, you’ve seen “Wolf of Wall Street,” right?

Fortunately today’s technology has transformed the investment landscape, creating a spectrum of easily accessible options regardless of how hands-on you want to be with your portfolio.

Of course, you can still hire a full-service brokerage, like Morgan Stanley, staffed by investment advisers who will allocate your assets and manage your account for you, insofar as you allow it.

While you’ll always maintain the final say-so, you can offload the research and strategizing to someone who does it for a living. And if you don’t want to pick up the phone, you’ll find a huge range of features and resources available through the firm’s online client portal.

This kind of hands-on, human-powered advice does come at a cost, though — usually expressed as a percentage of your assets under management (AUM). These firms may also have lofty minimum account balances, so you’ll probably need to deposit a significant chunk of change (think: several thousand dollars) to get started.

Another option for those who want to do as little research as possible is to open an account with a robo-adviser , like Betterment or Robinhood. These companies use computer algorithms (backed by human research) to create and manage portfolios for their clients, and thus are able to offer their services at a much lower fee than a human investment adviser.

If you’re looking for a more hands-on experience, you can open a DIY brokerage account through a firm like TD Ameritrade. Many of these brokerages offer free accounts with low or no account minimums, but you will be on the hook to pay for trade fees and commissions on the assets you buy or sell — and to do the research to make those trades good ones.

Finally, there’s a growing class of investment apps, like Stash and Acorns, that make it simple to invest right from your cell phone, even if you have very little cash to get started with.

Stash, for instance, will let you open an account with just $5, and Acorns uses “round-ups” to slowly grow your account with spare change you’ll barely even notice has gone missing from your bank account.

3. Research Your Investment Options

Having an active investment account is a good start, but it’s not enough. Now it’s time for the real fun: actually investing your money!

Of course, as we mentioned above, investing is risky. You don’t want to just throw your money into any old set of stocks.

And by the way, stocks aren’t the only asset you should look at: You’ll also want to consider adding some bonds and mutual funds to the mix.

“Baskets” of Assets: Mutual Funds and ETFs

So what, exactly, is a mutual fund? As mentioned above, a mutual fund as pre-built set of stock market assets — which means it’s an easy way to bring diversification into your portfolio.

Diversification is uber-important when you’re investing, and the reason why can be summed up in a well-worn cliche: You don’t want to carry all of your eggs in the same basket.

By investing across a wide range of asset types, including companies in different industries and locations, you can help safeguard your portfolio against a total meltdown should any one sector have a downturn.

Mutual funds are usually put together and managed by a financial professional or firm, and require a significant minimum investment — often $3,000 or more depending on the management company.

There are, however, mutual fund companies that offer lower minimums for beginners; Vanguard’s STAR Fund, for instance, carries a minimum initial investment of $1,000.

ETFs, or exchange-traded funds, are similar to mutual funds in that they bundle a range of investment products in one simple asset, but in general they’re not actively managed by a human being — which means they carry lower expense ratios than mutual funds do. And unlike mutual funds, you can buy ETFs on the market directly just like you would shares of stock; an ETF’s price varies based on market value, just like stocks do, and there’s no expensive minimum buy-in amount.

How Much Control Do You Want?

The specific type of investment account you choose will depend on how much control you want.

For example, the average 401(k) plan only offers about a dozen different investment options, often exclusively made up of mutual funds. But if you open an IRA through a brokerage, you’ll have access to the whole wide (and sometimes overwhelming) world of the stock market.

Many of the investment apps on the market deal exclusively with ETFs, though you may be able to choose specific investment options based on your financial goals or values. For example, Stash offers ETFs that specifically back companies that support green initiatives and LGBT equality, and also allows you to buy fractional shares of individual stocks at major companies, like Amazon.

Determining the Best Assets for Your Portfolio

Once you have an understanding of what your account offers, you can start to look into the specifics of individual assets.

Note: We are not investment experts, and are in no way shelling out any specific investment advice here at The Penny Hoarder, but we can help explain how to do the research.

For one thing, you can look up the historical performance of a prospective asset by searching its ticker symbol — that three- or four-character abbreviation next to its full name — through an investment research firm like Morningstar. (Honestly, these days, you can also just use Google.)

And if you have your heart set on investing in a particular company or industry, it’s worth doing some additional homework.

For example, major companies like Amazon issue quarterly results and annual reports for shareholders, all of which are available to the public and can give you an idea of how well those stocks are performing. Want to put your money behind, say, medical marijuana? Keeping tabs on legalization proceedings could work to your benefit.

Finally, don’t forget the golden rule of investing: diversify, diversify, diversify! Purchasing assets across a wide range of industries and classes can help you ride out market turbulence.

4. Contribute to Your Investment Account Regularly

The power of compound interest means your money makes money… so you need to make sure you keep putting money into your account! The more you invest, the more you’ll earn, and it’s all too easy to stop, or “forget about,” making contributions.

Your 401(k) will defer your wages automatically with each pay period, but if you have a separate account with a brokerage, we recommend setting up regular, automatic withdrawals.

Pro Tip

Even saving $10 a week adds up to a contribution of more than $500 in a year’s time -- which could easily become a hefty four-figure sum over the course of a decade.

Play around with a compound interest calculator to see how quickly that petty cash can grow. For instance, given a modest interest rate of 6% and a 10-year timeline, your $10 a week would grow to about $7,200 — and about $2,000 of that would be interest, passive income earned at no extra effort of yours.

Mobile investing apps make this even easier, often allowing you to connect your primary spending accounts and “round up” each dollar, essentially investing the spare change you wouldn’t miss anyway.

5. Keep an Eye on Your Portfolio’s Performance — But Don’t Get Hasty!

The long-term, “buy and hold” investment strategy doesn’t mean you should ignore your portfolio entirely, of course. Sometimes, making performance-based changes can increase your returns… but again, reacting to scary headlines is short-sighted.

The best way to get help with allocating your assets is to talk to a financial professional, but keep in mind that even they can’t predict the future. That said, if you notice one of your holdings continually underperforming, it might be worthwhile to seek out a different option.

Alternatives to Investing in the Stock Market

We’ve covered investing in the stock market, which may be the most accessible way to start earning passive income, but other ways to invest may better fit your financial goals.

Property investments can be a viable alternative to stock investments, especially if you’re not super jazzed about putting your money behind virtual ownership. Having a tangible item, be it a piece of real estate, a bar of gold, or a hand-crafted urn, can feel a lot more reliable than watching numbers inflate and deflate online.

Of course, this investment strategy requires a lot of knowledge to pull off successfully. You need to be able to identify what goods or properties will increase in value over time.

Real estate is a relatively low-risk asset — though, as evidenced by the 2008 fiasco, even that’s not foolproof. But if you want to learn more (or get started even if you don’t have the kind of cash to make a down payment), check out our guide to real estate investing.

If you’re wondering about bitcoin, that’s basically a form of property investment, too: Investors might purchase a bitcoin — or, more realistically, part of one, now that they’re worth over $3,500 apiece? — not to spend it as currency, but rather in the hopes that its dollar value keeps increasing.

For more information on exactly how this weird cryptocurrency thing works, learn how bitcoin works from this post, written by one of our bravest (and most articulate) writers.

Finally, CDs and money market accounts are low-risk investment vehicles available through most banks and large financial firms. They offer higher yields than the average savings account without exposing your money to the whims of the market.

But as we said above, safety doesn’t necessarily mean success… and you could be missing out on more significant returns if you’d invested those funds in the stock market. Even the highest-yield CDs rarely offer more than 3% APY.

Scary though it may seem, stock market investing isn’t actually a bogeyman — and in fact, getting familiar with it is the best way to catapult your finances from “just fine” to “phenomenal.”

Good luck on the trading floor, Penny Hoarders. And don’t forget: keep calm, and stay invested!

Jamie Cattanach’s work has been featured at Fodor’s, Yahoo, SELF, The Huffington Post, The Motley Fool, Roads & Kingdoms and other outlets. Learn more at www.jamiecattanach.com.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

How to Invest Even if You Have No Idea Where to Start published first on https://justinbetreviews.tumblr.com/

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digitalmark18-blog · 6 years ago

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7 mobile newsrooms to inspire you

New Post has been published on https://britishdigitalmarketingnews.com/7-mobile-newsrooms-to-inspire-you/

7 mobile newsrooms to inspire you

Back before brand journalism revolutionized websites, company newsrooms tended to post links to press releases and maybe a catch-all phone number on the side.

That’s no longer enough. Companies are using their newsrooms to tell stories and engender news media coverage. They are thinking not only about journalists, but how to reach consumers and customers. They are offering b-roll with compelling action, as well as executive interviews that TV stations can crib from.

Here are a few organizations’ newsrooms you can draw inspiration from:

Coca-Cola Journey: Beyond the old-fashioned newsroom

Coca-Cola caught the attention of the PR world when it launched an ambitious brand journalism project, Coca-Cola Journey, to tell its story. Rather than establishing a separate storytelling platform, Coke boldly turned its main corporate site into a webzine. Furthermore, it announced it was going to kill the press release.

Coca-Cola was already all-in on the idea of designing for smartphones in 2013, and its commitment to a mobile newsroom endures.

“With smartphones in the hands of so many people, we now have a tremendous ability to deepen engagement with our consumers,” a company leader said at the time.

Coke staffed its newsroom with people who had journalism backgrounds. You’ll find stories on can’t-miss state fairs and entertainment mogul Tyler Perry’s visit to Coca-Cola’s Atlanta headquarters. Coke realized that its people were a selling point, and its careers section doesn’t just list openings, but also tells stories about its people. As a company with a history dating from 1892, Coke understands the value of archival content. The site even boasts social content—inviting fans to upload photos of their “Coca-Cola moments.”

Reporter resources can be reached with a tap from the front page of the mobile platform. It’s easy to find contacts by region, although I’d like to see Coke add contacts at the bottom of every press release.

Cisco: Tech news, smartly designed

Cisco is one of the leaders in its field, but the first iteration of a brand journalism website looked as if it had been designed on a typewriter. The content was excellent. The design? Not so much. That’s improved, though. Its clean, smart responsive design looks spiffy on a desktop, tablet or phone.

Cisco is among the tech giants offering rich content, making them look more like a magazine than a corporate newsroom. Stories feature Cisco’s good-citizen efforts, such as Hurricane Florence relief, and technologically oriented think pieces from its stable of expert writers (“The many applications for blockchain,” for one). There are serious company announcements and fun pieces (“5 jokes only programmers would understand”).

One lesson to draw is this: Make it easy to navigate. From a smartphone, you can tap on a drop-down list for different sections: Home, News Releases, Corporate, Regions and Category (such as Digital, Innovation, People & Culture, etc.).

Glory be, the news releases include named contacts, emails and phone numbers.

Cleveland Clinic: Health tips and, um, ‘ musical fruit ’

Cleveland Clinic was among the hospital groups to grasp an essential truth: People are hungry for news about health, not the expensive procedures health care executives are hoping to sell.

The clinic’s HealthEssentials site discusses matters of wellness, diet and exercise in the way everyday people do, as in the article, “The Musical Fruit: What You Should Know About Beans (and Gas).” If that man in your life seems to be angry all the time, you might be interested in “Is He Depressed or Just Crabby?”

The famed hospital’s health blog draws millions of visitors a month, but it would not be the powerhouse it is if it spent all its time touting colonoscopies and bariatrics surgery. Its ultimate objective is brand awareness, not patient volume, its content marketing director has said.

A link to “media relations” at the bottom of the page leads to the formal newsroom, with downloadable content and press releases that include names and phone numbers.

H&R Block: The expertise that reporters—and consumers—are seeking

H&R Block works to deliver relevant and timely content, not just to journalists but to consumers as well. The newsroom has launched its internal experts into major publications.

The company often earns news media coverage through newsjacked content—“‘This is Us’ house fire recovery, then and now”—and helpful information for those dealing with the complexities of tax preparation as in “Filing Taxes When A Loved One Is In Prison.” Even when H&R Block doesn’t spark the story, its experts are quoted often, because the newsroom gives them visibility, as in an NBC News story that cited the tax preparer’s vice president of regulatory affairs.

H&R Block’s “Newsroom Resources” offers essentials that reporters ask for, such as news releases, an archive, mini-bios of the newsroom team, leader bios and a media library with b-roll, sound bites and infographics. Plus, it’s all easy to navigate on a phone.

Microsoft: Telling a story

As we noted when we gave Microsoft an award for its corporate newsroom, news.microsoft.com offers frequently updated brand journalism pieces focusing not on products or services, but on people, including customers and employees. The News Center provides what reporters are looking for: executive biographies, analyst reports, executive speeches, fact sheets, video and b-roll, press contacts and (of course) press releases. All of these are easily accessed from a drop-down menu.

Similarly, Microsoft Story Labs reflects a realization that an organization with the population of a city (more than 90,000) has multiple yarns to spin. One piece profiles the guy who composes the bloops and bleeps your computer issues when an email arrives or a battery runs low. Another tells about a Microsoft “technical fellow” who is a computing icon.

Such an approach eases the pressure on PR pros to beg the news media for coverage. Instead organizations can use their own platforms to get the word out.

The borough of Hackney, England: Government news, usefully displayed

It’s not always easy for government entities, operating on a shoestring and hampered by tradition, to come up with a sharp website and invest the money for responsive design.

Hackney’s newsroom (designed with PressPage), pulls it off, with a clean design and content that includes community events (“Play streets galore for Car Free Day in Hackney”) and community history (“explore Hackney’s links to the Caribbean and look at how Black Britishmusic has shaped the borough”).

Among other strengths: its design is responsive. If you highlight a quote, a window pops up that makes it easy to retweet, encouraging social media interaction. The Hackney Council Press Office lists its phone number and email address right there on the home page. On behalf of reporters everywhere, thank you, Hackney.

Red Bull: Brilliant content, cautionary tale

I am including Red Bull—a company known for its dynamic content—as a cautionary tale. If you’re looking for inspiration on design and storytelling, Red Bull’s consumer-facing website is hard to beat, and its separate company information site is clean and easy to navigate. The brand is famous for killer stories, images and videos on topics such as madman swimmers, music festivals and bizarre robots doing the jobs you wouldn’t expect, among them novel writing. (Aaaaugh!)

There’s one serious problem: What isn’t easy to navigate is contacts for reporters seeking comment. I had to switch to Google to find a media contact form. Press releases have no phone numbers. All that design and brand journalism prowess is wasted if you make it impossible for journalists to reach you.

As for those “bizarre robots,” how long before they replace all of us writers—to say nothing of PR pros who rely on contact forms (and the occasional energy drink)?

Building a great mobile newsroom shouldn’t be complicated. PressPage is an online newsroom software that makes building and running your newsroom a quick and painless process, so you can focus on telling stories and building relationships with journalists. See how PressPage empowers Public Relations professionals to dotheir best work everyday.

(Image via)

Source: https://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/25081.aspx

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