Archive for the ‘Spring Creek Group’ Category
The Spring Creek Summer Experience
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010On July 15, I started working at Spring Creek Group. It is a really good place to work because the people are really friendly and helpful, it is not stressful, and there are free snacks. A normal day for me starts off with tracking our clients across multiple social networks. Once I’m done with that, I switch over to a tool I use to track social media content related to our nonprofit clients. Then I spend most of my day there because there are always a lot of people talking about those projects.
My internship supervisor, Kate, helped me familiarize myself with my duties. She showed me how to record the data they get and who
to give it to. Sam is the man who gets all the inbound tracking data and then turns it into presentations the clients can understand.
Before I earned my summer internship, I learned a lot about JavaScript while in school. I recently started working with Rick and Jake, two members of the SCG creative team. I helped Jake with some JavaScript for one of his projects and I observed Rick working on some improvements to the Spring Creek Group website. Furthermore, I learned a few things from them such as CSS (Cascade Style Sheets) and PHP (P Hypertext Preprocessor). As you can see my work day is not filled with daunting
tasks but I am always kept busy. SCG is not about all work and no play; they get to have some fun too. One of the coolest things that happened here in the past few weeks was going to the Mariners baseball game. The whole SCG team got free tickets.
Before we went, we had some time to socialize at a restaurant. It was my first time watching a baseball game at Safeco Field so I was very excited. I never bothered watching baseball on television before, because more times than not I ended up getting bored, but not this time. I had a really fun time watching the game because of the view and because I had a lot of my coworkers
to talk to.
All in all SCG is a very relaxing place to work. Some of the perks of working here include free game tickets and free snacks. Furthermore, I will use the experience I have gained here to make my school projects and collaboration skills a lot better.
– Brian the Intern
One Night in July: SMC Seattle and gdgt Live
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010If you’ve worked in the Northwest, or pretty much anywhere, you know that the July-August timeframe can be somewhat lazy and a bit slow-moving as far as getting things done goes. However, it seems as though this week will be the exception. Last night Spring Creek Group, along with Microsoft Office 2010, sponsored the SMC Seattle event featuring Jason Falls. Then, as if there needed to be something else to do, some of the SCG team headed down to Showbox SoDo for the first-ever gdgt Live Seattle event.
#SMCSEA
The event with Jason Falls was probably a bit hard to take for some of those in the audience – people Falls would lovingly refer to as “hippies” or “social media purists.” Falls focused on how social media can actually be used to move beyond the lovey-dovey feel good and have a true impact on sales and the bottom line.
You could actually hear the gasps from people in the audience during a couple times when Falls would say something that no one expected a “guru” to say, but that’s because he doesn’t see himself as a guru, but part of the larger marketing mix. Falls also showed some great examples of how brands are using social media for real results, even without gimmicks and fancy campaigns (in fact, one was even a drug store that simply gave their users an easier way to access their circular via their Facebook page).
For more info on moving the needle, you can check out http://www.socialmediaexplorer.com/.
gdgt Live
If you’re into shiny gadgets, free drinks and swag, then you should’ve been at the gdgt Live Seattle event last night. Some of the makers of the hottest new gadgets on (and about to enter) the market were on hand to demo their products and let users get a little handsy.
The SCG team made the rounds and were delighted to see Dragon Dictation (from Nuance) there demoing their speech-to-text application for iPhone and iPad. The software makes it fairly easy to dictate and then allows you to send it to text, email, Twitter, and even Facebook.
The team also met the social media players from @virginamerica and got to talk shop with the growing team about what tools and tactics they’re using in their quest to make passengers’ travel just that much better. They recently rolled out a new version of their in-flight entertainment system, Red, and were showing video and talking about some of the new features which include: The Red Store (think SkyMall in digital form, but with a $38,000 diamond encrusted iPhone), the ability to keep a tab in the system, and Google Maps integration that brings terrain views to passengers.
Lastly, we got a chance to get hands-on with the Windows Phone 7 operating system (but sadly not an actual handset) as we stopped by the Windows booth and talked with our friend Brian Seitz (who also works with a great Seattle group called Cold Pavement). Besides the new mobile OS, the Windows area also had some Windows 7 goodness going on as well as an Xbox set up (although I’m not sure what they were doing on that thing other than playing games).
And now for photos…
Ron, Courtney, and Aaron with Microsoft’s Brian Seitz. See the Windows Phone 7 on display?
Aaron with our new friend Jill from Virgin America. She runs the @virginamerica Twitter handle! Sorry for the lack of focus.
Social Media Conference Northwest 2010 Wrap
Monday, March 29th, 2010
I’m fairly sure that most in attendance at last week’s Social Media Conference Northwest 2010 would agree that the event was a hit. Check out this article in the Herald which features our very own Clay McDaniel for a good overview of the content.
Also, check out the Social Media Conference Northwest 2010 site for great video interviews with attendees and presenters.
Here are a few of our favorites:
Twestival Seattle: Book Some Air Time
Friday, March 19th, 2010
We’re about to give you the chance to actually follow through on one of our favorite empty threats from childhood. “I’m going to run away and join the circus” used to just be an unfulfilled promise you made to your parents when you didn’t want to eat your vegetables, but at the upcoming Twestival Seattle on March 25th, we’re giving you the chance to make it a reality.
Since Twestival Seattle is going down at Emerald City Trapeze this time around, Spring Creek Group decided to sponsor a little “Air Time,” where a few lucky attendees will get their chance to fly through the air with the greatest of ease (under the guidance of some trained trapeze professionals, of course). If hurtling through the air at rapid speeds isn’t your bag, you can still get your trapeze fix as you check out a professional flying show later in the evening. For all you former circus runaways, there are 60 flying spots available– so if you’re interested, be sure to drop a line to ShaunaCausey@gmail.com.
One hundred percent of this edition of Twestival Seattle’s proceeds will go directly to Concern Worldwide, an international humanitarian organization that works to make education more accessible for some of the world’s poorest children.
Bottom line: Twestival Seattle is benefiting a great cause, and it’s always a good time with some good folks- so we hope to see you there! For more details, and to register for the event, head here.
Daily Recap: SCG at SxSWi
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010
For a shop that focuses on three key areas (analytics, engagement and campaigns) dividing and conquering the massive list of available panels at SxSWi becomes a somewhat easier task. However, even when you attack the festival with a team of eager attendees, you’re left with that nagging question: “What if I missed the single most-important panel of SxSWi?”
On that note, here are just a few of the things that caught our attention at SxSWi so far:
We’re Getting in Shape Tomorrow at PR+Mktg Boot Camp
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010You don’t often hear the terms “Boot Camp” and “Library” in the same sentence. For that reason alone, we would have decided to take part and be a panel moderator at tomorrow’s big PR and Marketing Event. But when we found out some of our favorite people, including Betsy Aoki (@bing), Elliot Pesut (@alaskaair), Shauna Causey (@ShaunaCausey), Rod Brooks (@NW_Mktg_Guy), Ben Straley (@meteorsolutions), Scott Porad (@scottporad), not to mention too many others to list (about 40 overall) will be there as well, we had to sign up.
So come see Clay talk about Measurement and Analytics tools, and come say hi to Grant and I as we walk around soaking up knowledge. Hope to see you all there tomorrow.
Social Media by the Numbers
Friday, February 19th, 2010 
Blogs, the long-suffering workhorses of the Internet, are often thought of as an excellent way to communicate with others online. However, a “blog post,” when used to convey one’s opinion, comes with one inherent flaw: it requires the use of words, and words alone can simply not be trusted.
Fortunately, in the entire history of the world, numbers have never been used to lie or deceive any one in any way. That is why, periodically, we like to take a look at “Social Media by the Numbers” in order to cut through the empty rhetoric often present in the busy world of social media and get down to some serious and objective truth.
- Percentage of journalists in a recent study who say social media is an important tool for producing and reporting the stories they write: 56%
- Number of unique visits to Twitter.com in January: 73.5 million
- Minimum number of Olympic athletes who dislike NBC’s Olympic coverage, according to NBC.com’s own “Olympic Pulse” Twitter feed: 1
- Dollar amount of voucher offered to filmmaker Kevin Smith following his removal from a Southwest Airlines plane for being “too fat” to travel, which prompted a backlash via Twitter: $100
- Percentage of people, according to a CNN.com poll, who agree with Southwest Airlines’ decision: 58%
- Minimum number of photos of 9/11 hijackers that have been appropriated for Facebook advertisements regarding changes in Michigan’s auto insurance policy: 1
- Number of incarcerated individuals’ Facebook profiles that British Justice Secretary Jack Straw has requested be shut down, due to the fact that these profiles are being used to harass the individuals’ former victims: More than 30
- Altitude, in feet, which Toshiba UK launched an “ordinary living room chair” for an ad campaign: 98,268
- Number of class action lawsuits filed against Google due to privacy concerns over their new Google Buzz application: 1
- Percentage of social sharing on the web driven by Facebook: 44%
- Number of Facebook’s new environmentally-friendly “green data centers” that will be partially powered by coal: 1
- Breakdown of our emotional reaction to the “new social statement site” pleaserobme.com: 70% amused, 30% terrified
PRSA Luncheon – Following Up
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010Thanks to all who attended the PRSA Luncheon today. It was a great panel and we’d like to extend our appreciation to our fellow panel members, Melissa Tizon from Swedish and Ricardo Rabago from PCC.
Also, as with most of these events, the great content comes out when the audience starts firing questions, so for that we thank you.
Below is the deck Clay presented during the luncheon for your reference.
We look forward to interacting with and collaborating with you all in the future.
We’re Hiring – Marketing and Research Mgr
Friday, February 12th, 2010Spring Creek Group is hiring again, and we have a pretty specific job description. If you have all these skills, send an email to Andy with a resume and links to published material. Please include the subject line: “Marketing and Research Manager” so we know you read our blog. (Please no follow up calls.)
Job Description: Marketing and Research Manager
Spring Creek Group is recruiting a talented individual to assist our Marketing and Business Development activities, specifically focusing on Marketing Communications, Research and Content Development. This opportunity requires someone who is highly organized and detail oriented, computer and Internet savvy and skilled in Social Media Channel development. The ideal candidate will have passion and experience publishing across multiple channels, contacts across the industry, and ability to cultivate a community of partners in order to raise Spring Creek Group’s regional and national brand awareness. This position will report to Spring Creek Group’s Marketing and Business Development Department Head.
Overall Role & Responsibilities:
• Support the Marketing and Business Development Department Head and Business Development Director, working closely with other department staff to create and publish relevant, interesting and timely information that can be syndicated in national publications and for individual case studies.
• Manage the Spring Creek Group editorial calendar; working with all of the Spring Creek Group content creators on daily channels such as blogs, as well as developing industry leading reports and analysis for national publication.
• Utilize listening and monitoring technology tools in order to research and collect timely data for reports.
• As a member of the national advertising and Social Media Community, be the company’s first-look into emerging trends in Social Media; identifying ideas, information and opportunities about behaviors in syndicated video sites/applications, mobile, widgets, blogs, social networks, and other social media.
• Speak at, and attend, local and national Panels and Conferences, serving as a representative of Spring Creek Group to relay case studies, strategies, and insights.
• Work with the Community Managers from Spring Creek Group’s Partners to develop shared content, leverage connections, and cultivate new industry contacts.
• Work closely with Spring Creek Group’s creative team to develop video and audio content, including interviews, and animated marketing materials.
• Develop ideas and presentations for pitching SCG attendance on industry panels.
• Work closely with management on the campaign building process, including set-up and participation in brainstorming sessions.
Requirements:
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and a proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Excel, & and other Windows based applications. (Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, Camtasia Studio and other creative tools a plus.)
• At least 3 years of professional experience in a similar position and/or related field.
• Experience developing presentations and speaking on industry panels.
• Contacts and connections within the national Social Media and Advertising Communities.
• Proven background with a variety of Social Media Channels for personal and/or corporate brand development.
• “Can-do” enthusiastic attitude.
• Ability and willingness to travel for short periods of time if necessary.
An SCG History Lesson
Monday, January 25th, 2010
If you subscribe to George Santayana’s thought that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it, then rest assured that if any SCG employees go on to become city planners they won’t be building a city in tidal flats or leaving a 15 foot difference in elevation between sidewalks and streets. No, we didn’t take a field trip to city hall (as evidenced by the fact that we still have our work ethic), but we did take the semi-famous Seattle Underground Tour under our new Pioneer Square home.
While most of us knew about the almost-forgotten Seattle that resides about two stories below our 311 ½ Occidental Ave. S. offices, surprisingly not many in the group had been on the actual tour (Someone must have also given the tour guide a heads-up in regarding our senses of humor, because the tour read more like a standup show than a stuffy tour through history).
We learned about Seattle’s litigious side—a side that was present from the very start— with Henry Yesler suing the city using a loophole in the tax law. Oh yeah, and he got away with it three times while he was . . . wait for it . . . mayor.
We also learned that the second-largest donor to the Seattle Public School system was a madam by the name of Lou Graham, who owned and operated a brothel on the site of what is now the Union Gospel Mission. Back in the day, a large number of Seattle women were involved in the “oldest profession” (although they listed their professions as “seamstress” when asked by authorities) as Seattle was a lively port filled with freshly-rich travelers returning from the Yukon and wide-eyed prospectors about to make the journey north.
Proving just exactly how truly geeky I am, I downloaded a Ghost Radar application for my iPhone as we entered what was supposedly a “haunted” vault. The app costs $0.99, and while I’m fairly sure all I did was give nearly a dollar to some college kid sitting in his mom’s basement, I had to try it out – it’s technology. It basically told me exactly what the guys from Ghost Hunters found out – there’s nothing.
All in all, the tour was great. We learned a bit about the area we work and live in every day and got to spend some time outside the walls of SCG together. If you’re looking for a bit of history and don’t mind doing something that might be a tad bit cliché, definitely check out the Underground Tour for yourself.
