Taking a Back Seat is No Option: Planning for 2010

Reid Carr — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:57:54 -0500

Like it or not, it’s past time for all of us in Corporate America to move forward and map out a game plan for 2010. I suspect that this will be a welcome, albeit difficult, task for many, given the economic challenges that occurred over the last 12 months. However, there are still some companies out there that believe the state of the economy will determine their success, and while that premise might hold true in certain circumstances, organizations will have a greater chance of failing when they do not prepare for what lies ahead.

A consumer’s responsibility to the media: Fans must be Fans!

Reid Carr — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:30:52 -0500

It seems that not a day goes by that I don’t read about another once highly-regarded magazine or newspaper filing Chapter 11 or closing up shop. I feel sad, yet somewhat responsible, for its demise like so many other well-known and long standing periodicals. While I’ve enjoyed many of the now-defunct periodicals, I may have mentioned an article to someone only from time to time.

I now realize that I never advocated for the products, and may be partially responsible for their demise.

The Evolution of Marketing Agencies

Reid Carr — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:29:05 -0400

As a frequent attendee of local marketing association events, I am perplexed by the occurrence of regular, prevailing discussions that focus more on areas such as the best use of social media and less on aligning the campaign’s goals and metrics with that of the corporation as a whole. The days of such practices are numbered to say the least.

Heavy competition? Don’t join ‘em – beat ‘em!

Reid Carr — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:20:57 -0400

Just because there is no one selling ice to Eskimos doesn’t mean you should enter that market. Conversely, a competitively crowded industry just means there is demand for it. The key to succeeding in a crowded industry lay within your company’s ability to do something different or present yourself differently.

Rethinking internships: Part II: How to do it – Incubation at the Ground Floor

Reid Carr — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:26:51 -0400

My last blog post discussed the need to look at interns as potential full-time hires, and integrating them more in the daily operations to get them the experience they need while providing employers a true opportunity to evaluate their capabilities and potential. While some organizations my respond with an “easier said than done” attitude, I submit that it’s not only necessary, but very much doable.

Rethinking internships: Part I: Mentoring out the mundane

Reid Carr — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:43:08 -0400

Many of us remember our internship programs during college as little more than a "check in the box" toward graduation credit and, if we were lucky to get a paid one, some pocket change to cover the occasional t-shirt purchase at the university book store. Back in my college days as an advertising major, I rarely heard of any fellow classmate ever receiving valuable hands-on experience while interning at an agency, other than being a small fly on the wall watching the full-time staff members at work.

Growth by Acquisition

Reid Carr — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:49:57 -0400

When starting a company, business owners create a list ofgoals they want to accomplish. Some are heftier than others, but the biggest milestone a company can achieve is consistent growth combined with healthy profits. There are many ways to do this including doing it organically, but one option we chose was to acquire a company in a different geographic market or be purchased by an outside organization.

How to hire - in any economic environment

Reid Carr — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:56:09 -0400

Hiring in this environment, I have to say, has been an experience unlike any other I've witnessed. My company, Red Door Interactive, is one of the lucky ones that have needed to fill new positions in order to keep up with our continued growth. However, a lot of the applicants have shown, and I feel to their misfortune, a certain element of desperation.

Creating a Culture of Thank You

Reid Carr — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:17:46 -0400

Undisputedly, employees are the most precious asset of a company. So it’s vitally important for organizations to recognize and communicate their value in a variety of manners. Some ways include giving them public attention while other methods could mean offering a quick, personal “kudos” or simply letting them know that they’ve got a team that has their back. These displays of appreciation can be the incentive staff members need at times to take things to the next level.

Supporting Leadership at Every Level

Reid Carr — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:11:13 -0400

I read a lot about leadership principles for managers. In most cases, the books and articles I look at refer to the responsibility of the CEO or upper-level manager. Clearly, employees turn to their managers for leadership, however often other folks crop up as leaders of many of the important intangibles within a company. For example, whenever a happy hour is organized, you can be sure the same few people are leading the charge. People follow them not only because they know the way to the bar, but because they’re the ones putting forth the effort to socialize with team.