Email Marketing
In three of my positions, I gained experience in email marketing. The two systems I used were:
I used the software to send both internal and external communication including newsletters and promotional pieces. I expanded my knowledge in HTML, graphic design and professional writing. I really enjoyed email marketing campaigns because I was able to combine my skills of creative design, writing, HTML and strategic thinking. I hope to be able to apply these skills in the future.
Social Media: Linked-In Strategy
Part of my responsibility as Obelis Marketing Coordinator is to manage the company Linked-In page. When I was presented with this task, I did a lot of research about our page, our competition and general Linked-In strategies.
After several meetings and updating the company page itself, we decided to pursue the option of managing Linked-In groups. This was a great strategy for our company because of our specific expertise in topics that would benefit a lot of Linked-In professionals and our target audience of non-EU business owners.
I created and organized a detailed strategy which we started to implement the week my internship finished. Plans also included incorporating Facebook, Twitter and the company website. Although I did not get to see the results of my strategy, I will continue to monitor its effectiveness and I predict that it will help improve branding and increase the number of potential clients.
Complex Article Writing
While working as an intern at Obelis, I often was assigned to write articles about complex subjects. Topics included European cosmetic regulation, requirements for medical devices and the difference between a legal claimed manufacturer and a manufacturer. These subjects needed to explained in a way that an average person could understand them, along with customers whose native tongue was not English. This was a challenging task that taught me a lot about simplistic and clear writing. Here are several examples of my work:
Corporate Event Planning
While working for Obelis, I was able to organize my first corporate event. It wasn’t your typical banquet, ceremony, party or seminar. This event was actually a business trip with a presence at 3 international exhibitions. Obelis was present at AACC (American Association for Clinical Chemistry) in Atlanta, GA, Cosmoprof in Las Vegas and FIMA (FIME International Medical Exhibition) in Miami. My job was to organize all preparation for these three shows and make sure everything went according to the plan.
Example tasks included booking tickets, confirming and paying for bookings, scheduling meetings with potential clients, designing and writing content for email templates used in mass marketing campaigns, organizing binders will all necessary information, making maps and lists of targeted exhibitors and completing post-marketing campaigns and follow-up for potential clients.
The most difficult part about this responsibility was that I had to manage this event mid-stream, after a previous employee had already begun the process. After research and a lot of reading, I was able to pick up the project and see it through to a successful completion.
During this process, I gained a lot of experience in event management and became extremely organized. I developed a great attention to detail and was also able to learn about the application and efficiency of action tables. I now have a better understanding of budgeting, accounting and time management under pressure. It was a challenging, but valuable experience. I hope to be able to apply these skills and knowledge in the future. I really enjoyed this type of project.
HDR Photo Editing
I was missing Photoshop, so I decided to learn a new skill. I searched and found this great HDR tutorial.
They didn’t turn out exactly as I was expecting… but I’m going to keep working on this style with a few other pictures. It’s also nice because I learned a few more tips like selecting color range and the advanced version of shadows and highlights. I’m going to try and do tutorials more often.
Educational Guides
Since the Chem-Dry franchise has more than 1,500 owners, we dealt with a high volume of phone calls asking us similar questions or for general advice. In order to help curb this number, we often sent out “how-to” and informational guides in the monthly newsletter. It was necessary to provide this training to more efficiently assist everyone. Here are several examples of the guides I created.
Here is a guide I created to assist with Link Building
Here is a guide for an Internet Marketing Plan we recommended to franchise owners.
Here is a guide explaining important background information about Groupon.
Additional guides were also created to help explain topics such as Facebook, Twitter and Local Search Marketing through Google Places.
Corporate Press Releases
While working for Harris Research, Inc. I was able to enhance both my corporate writing abilities and interviewing skills. On average, I wrote about 1-2 press releases per month, some corporate and some for local franchises.
Here are a few examples of press releases that were posted to ChemDry.com:
- Chem-Dry is “Cleaning for the Cause” to Support Breast Cancer Awareness
- Sing Halleluiah as Chem-Dry Removes Spots and Stains Leftover From the Holidays
- Chem-Dry Carpet, Tile & Upholstery Cleaning Ranks #1 in Category for 22 Years Running
- “Tons” of Recycling Earns Harris Research Greenwise Business Award
- Stay “Financially Fit” by Scheduling an Annual Professional Carpet Cleaning by Chem-Dry
- For 33 Years Chem-Dry has Placed Innovation as a Top Priority
- One Lucky Franchise Wins Chem-Dry’s First Pink Cleaning System
- 2011 National Franchise of the Year Award Goes to Owner with Entrepreneurial Spirit and Commitment to Help Others
Cause-Related Marketing
One of my favorite projects in my professional career so far, is the cause-related marketing campaign I organized for Chem-Dry. As the leader of this project, I facilitated a national partnership between Chem-Dry Carpet Cleaning and the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
The main tasks of this project included:
- researching different nonprofit organizations and communicating with them to discuss a potential partnership
- facilitating the legal process of an official corporate partnership between the two organizations
- managing a board of franchise leaders; scheduling regular meetings to gain input and ideas
- writing the content, selecting graphics, building links and managing the design of a new “Cleaning for the Cause” website
- creating a program to involve 1,500 franchisees; designing all materials to launch the program
- writing text for email campaigns; sent to all franchises
- writing press releases to announce the new partnership
- planning future events to promote the partnership
It was an amazing experience that enhanced my communication skills, design ability and also taught me a lot about the world of cause-related marketing.
If you would like to learn more about how Chem-Dry is “Cleaning for the Cause,” feel free to visit the website.
Chem-Dry National Convention
One of my favorite tasks while helping plan for the 2011 National Convention, was creating travel guides. The convention was located in Newport Beach, California. After researching the area and gathering information from the locals, I was able to create two main guides:
1. All-Access Guide to Southern California
2. Local’s Guide to the Best of Newport Beach
I also created custom maps of the location for simple navigation and planning. All of this information was included in the welcome packet for convention attendees. The guides provided fun (non-conference related) things to do in the area with family and friends.
Poetry & A Beverage Design
I loved working on this poster for Utah State Arts & Lectures. It’s nice when someone tells you exactly what they want. I’m much better at designing when I’m given a specific assignment and theme. I loved how it turned out too! Definitely one of my best so far.
