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New Influencer Faces: February 2014

We’re still growing over here at Search Influence! We’d like to introduce our five newest employees to join the team!

Sydney Lippman has been hired as a Junior Account Assistant. Originally from Atlanta, Sidney moved to New Orleans to attend Tulane University where she is pursuing a degree in communications and a minor in business. Prior to joining Search Influence, Sydney has worked as an marketing intern for DEL Development Corp.

Jakia Norah has been hired as a Junior Web Developer. She is a New Orleans native and recently graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Computer Information Technology at Delgado Community College with a concentration in Web Design. Prior to working at Search Influence, Jakia was a sales representative at T-Mobile in Metairie.

Alessandra Madrid has been hired as an Account Associate. Born and raised in Guatemala City, Guatemala, she moved to New Orleans nine months ago. Alessandra has also lived in San Antonio, TX and Barcelona, Spain. She attended Trinity University where she earned a B.S. in Business Administration with concentrations in International Business, Marketing, and Communication Management. Before joining Search Influence, Alessandra worked at Colgate-Palmolive and Burson-Marsteller, where she developed a passion for the world of marketing and communications.

Nakia Thomas has been hired as an Internet Marketing Associate. Born and raised in Louisiana, Nakia received her bachelor’s degree from LSU in Communication, She started her career in sales and marketing then slowly spread her wings into the writing world. Nakia is excited about making the shift from a freelance content writer, ghostwriter, and editor to a Search Influence team member.

Alexander Talbot has been hired as an Internet Marketing Associate. Born and raised in the New Orleans metropolitan area, Alex graduated from Loyola University in May of 2013 with a double major in Marketing and Economics. Alex previously worked as a marketing representative for Samsung and has played music in several different bands locally for the past 8 years. Alex is excited to further his professional experience in order to reach a deeper understanding of the world and how to aid in its betterment.

Welcome to Search Influence, Sydney, Jakia, Alessandra, Nakia, & Alexander!

February 24, 2014
Lunchtime at Search Influence’s NEW Office Space

When I first started at Search Influence back in October, I was employee #50. Now, just four months later, we’re nearing 70 employees! As a result, 8120 Oak Street has turned into a veritable can of sardines. Check out this picture from our most recent company meeting…

Our Direct Team (along with a few others, most notably Will & Angie, our founders) even work in what is essentially a converted attic – cleverly nicknamed The Treehouse.

As Search Influence continues to grow, so must our office space. While it’ll be hard to say goodbye to the many memories we’ve made on Oak Street, we’re all looking forward to some room to breathe.

Where are we headed next? While nothing is confirmed quite yet, it looks like we’ll be headed downtown, to the CBD, or Old Metairie.

Lunchtime is something we take very seriously here at SI. Every Influencer has their favorite lunch spot – whether it’s Jimmy John’s delivery, pho from the cleverly named Pho Bistreaux or a juicy burger from trūburger (perfect for Fat Fridays). I’m here to assure you that all of our potential new locales have plenty of lunchtime options.

Downtown

Brave the lines at Mother’s (401 Poydras) for one of the best po-boys the city has to offer. In addition to serving up delicious tacos, Felipe’s Taqueria (301 N. Peters) is the perfect place to grab a margarita after work. Who knows, maybe it’ll even be the next Carrollton Station? Can’t tear yourself away from your desk for more than a minute? There’s sure to be a Lucky Dog cart nearby!

CBD

The Store (814 Gravier) has some great lunch specials and a semi-secret taco bar in the back. Missing Pho Bistreaux? Don’t worry, Viet Orleans Bistro (300 Baronne) is just a few steps away. There’s also a Jimmy John’s (900 Poydras) and a Reginelli’s (930 Poydras) right around the corner.

Old Metairie

In addition to coffee shops, there’s Zoës Kitchen (701 Metairie Rd. Suite 1A103), Naked Pizza (701 Metairie Rd. Suite 2A105) and Lee’s Hamburgers (1507 Metairie Rd.). On hot days, venture down to Sal’s Sno-Ball Stand (1823 Metairie Rd.) for one of Metairie’s best kept secrets.

Stay tuned for more once our new location has officially been announced!

February 21, 2014
A Drive Down Leigh Circle

If I know one thing about Search Influence, it’s that we would be nothing without the help of our Development Department. Starting with one member, Luke Ledet, in 2010, the department has grown quickly to 11 people in correlation with our expanding company. They work tirelessly to improve not only our client’s websites, but also our company’s website, software, and many things I could never dream of comprehending.

(more…)

February 19, 2014
5 Management Tips (from a New Manager)
I’ve been at Search Influence for just over a year and a half. However, in the last four months my role has changed from managing clients to managing people: exciting and terrifying all at once. It is one thing to be great at your job, but it is another to be great at teaching other people to excel at their jobs.

Management decisions are not always clear, and in a managing role you will discover, at times, you need help to know the right resolution. Over the past several months I’ve taken note of what has been successful for me in my new role.

Look Up

Pull inspiration from the people above you. Everyone has a boss or a supervisor, use their experiences and successes to help guide you. Most likely, they have dealt with many of the problems you will face and can be a mentor for your tough decisions.

Take note, there is no standard style of management, however, discussing difficult situations and seeking encouragement from someone you look up to will build your confidence as a manager.

Change Your Focus

News flash: Your role is no longer about you! Before becoming a manager, your success was measured by task completion and things like client happiness or productivity. Now, you are measured on how well the people you manage can perform.

Making the switch from focusing on your own successes and failures to those of your team can be difficult, especially for young managers. Your successes are now graded upon how well your team succeeds. However, once you accept this, the “ah ha!” moments from your employees, will be incredibly gratifying experiences.

Get Help

Find blogs, news sources, and email alerts on management styles and approaches.

Great resources include:
Communicate Often

Be honest with your employees. Don’t be afraid to set expectations, give constructive criticism, or shower them in praise. When they are doing something right, acknowledge it, and acknowledge it publicly. Words of affirmation give encouragement and continue the preferred behavior. On that same note, don’t be afraid to take charge and have the more difficult conversations. Explain to your team what you expect from them. If they are not meeting your expectations, give them the resources and guidance on how to improve.

Ask for Feedback – And Use It

In the same vein of giving feedback, go out and ask for it! No one expects you to be perfect, but how can you get better without knowing your shortcomings and successes?

For many people it can be intimidating and difficult to hear what you need to improve upon. However, in the long run you will appreciate being able to create the right type of management skills.

Managing a team isn’t always easy. However, if you give yourself the right tools, you and your employees will have a better chance for success!
January 31, 2014
How To Handle Automated Software Headaches

To set the ‘scene,’ you’ve either recently purchased or are about to purchase a piece of software that is meant to offer improvements for your business. Whether it’s some form of automated process, or software that adds another form of datum for you to analyze and use for future success (such as SEO analytics information), there’s a great deal of caution that you should take with these programs.

What Happens With Software

In short, I don’t mean that some of these programs aren’t worth their money or that they won’t do what you require of them. But you should expect a moderate amount of troubleshooting when applying this software into your business process.

Most of the software that is developed and published for sale and use work as they should to a certain degree, but only under the right circumstances. Software testers can only do so much. The only real test comes from real-world use by people who aren’t familiar with the inner workings of the software.

At the same time, patches and other forms of software updates are constantly in development (or at least, a good development team should always seek to make improvements) and can make drastic changes to a program that you are just getting used to, usually based on customer feedback that you might not be aware of, or agree with.

How To Deal

In order to avoid, or at least brace yourself for these moments of frustration, the first step is to read the manual. It’s usually large, bulky, and annoying, but within it are the instructions that you need to run the program correctly and avoid some of the smaller problems.

The next thing to do is to make sure you always have a way to contact the original developers of the program, so that you can speak with an expert when there’s an issue that you can’t overcome on your own. Phone is always preferable in order to have instant contact, however most developers rely on e-mail.

Finally, in order to prepare for updates and patches, make sure that you read up on the developer blogs that tend to be published on the website for the program itself. Not only is it a way for them to keep their website active, but they generally tend to suggest ways to use their program, bugs or issues to avoid, as well as patches and fixes that are currently under development. Keeping up with these blog updates, will keep you informed of future changes for the software.

Now What?

Enough preparation allows you to be more familiar with the good and the bad of any automated software you’re using. You can then expect some of the unexpected, and you’ll know the steps you will need to take in order to make the proper fix and continue using software to suit your business needs.

If you’re interested in how a development team can improve your search rankings and help with your software issues, check out this blog on SEO Tips by one of our Software Developers, Shane Kretzmann!

January 24, 2014
Search Influence Holiday Party

Here at Search Influence, we do things a little differently than most companies. Our office artwork is created by our employees, we play the same song every Friday at 5pm, and our holiday party is… well, a little later than most holiday parties.

This year, our holiday party fell on January 11, 2014 and employees didn’t have to travel far to get there (it was downstairs from our office at Oak Wine Bar)! For a special holiday bonus, the party fell at the same time as the Saints vs. Seahawks playoff game, so many Who Dat fans showed up in jerseys and other black and gold attire. Much to our dismay, the Saints couldn’t pull out a win, but we still managed to have a great time despite the loss!

Before the party, the whole office voted on the holiday drink name. Some ideas were “Will Scotch” (after CEO, Will Scott) and “The Optimizer.” The grand winner was “Under the Influence,” which was a delicious concoction of vodka, prosecco and St. Germain.

Many influencers enjoyed the photo booth at the party. The pictures from the photo booth are some of the best, and I think we may have broken a record for the most people in a photo booth picture (sorry Boogie Booth)!

All in all, the holiday party was a huge success. Who knows, maybe we’ll be lucky enough to have another holiday party in 2014!

January 15, 2014
Make Your Infographics Count

Infographics have been around for years. We have seen them in cave paintings and hieroglyphics. William Playfair was credited with the first area chart and pie chart in his 1790 book, The Commercial and Political Atlas. Over the years, we have pushed forward the design of learning concepts with the aid of images. This work has lead us to what we refer today as infographics.

If you haven’t been on Pinterest or read any major newspaper, you may be unfamiliar with the concept. An infographic is the process of using visual data to represent a complex idea in an easier to digest medium for the masses. You can’t get your PhD through an infographic, but they are handy at teaching you a quick synopsis of a subject.

The strength in infographics is found by following a few basic concepts:

Bring Multiple Ideas Together

The magic of an infographic is its ability to take a wide amount of information and consolidate it into a story that flows and ebbs. The beauty is in the point where all these ideas join to create a new message or way of looking at all those ideas together.

Be Understandable

When presenting new ideas and concepts, it is important that the viewer understands what the message is. Try not to get the viewer confused or use terminology that is way above their knowledge based. It is good to use this jargon, but remember to explain it in a way that your 80-year old grand pap may comprehend.

Less is More

When designing or writing for an infographic, it is important to remember not to bombard the viewer with copious amounts of data and figures. The idea is to keep the content flowing in a smooth way that is easy to understand and recall. Designers do this by narrowing the focus of an infographic into one main concept or story to gently guide the viewer into learning the message.

Be Welcoming

It is important to never be intimidating when designing an infographic. The message should never appear overbearing or intimidating. The overall goal of infographics is to be read and spread.

Eye Catching

The overall design of the infographic needs to be alluring for the viewer to want to read it. There is no sense in spending all that time researching, writing, and designing only to have viewers not be interested in what you have to say. It is important to make sure there is a visual hook that will pique the interest of any viewer.

All images in this post of the original work of Search Influence. Please give attribution if you should decide to share.

January 10, 2014
Influencer Profile-Erica Rench

As Search Influence continues to grow, so do the departments! Erica Rench joined the Search Influence team in December to fill the newly created Operations Associate position, working under Operations Director Jeremy Brown. Erica comes to Search Influence after living and working in New Orleans for several years as an undergraduate student at Tulane, and as an Associate Director for Tulane’s Undergraduate Office of Admission. While working for Tulane, Erica also received her MBA.

As part of the Operations Department, Erica works to analyze and implement processes that support the Influencers in producing high quality work. Erica told me she loves getting to know everyone at Search Influence and seeing what she learned at Tulane being “put into action.” She is excited to see the company continue to grow at a rapid pace and loves how the variety of departments at Search Influence allow employees to discover what they’re really passionate about.

In her free time, Erica makes custom wedding headpieces for Wedding Belles bridal boutique on Magazine Street. She first became interested in wedding headpieces when planning her own wedding and realizing that there wasn’t a place in New Orleans where brides could hand pick headpieces, rather than ordering online. Erica also enjoys running, cooking, and exploring the local restaurant scene.

January 9, 2014
New Influencer Faces: January 2014

We are excited to welcome 12 new employees to the growing Search Influence team!

Account Management Team

Amanda Ball has been hired as an Accounts Coordinator. Born and raised in New Orleans, Amanda graduated from Delgado Community College with an associate’s degree in applied science with a concentration in Computer Applications. Prior to Search Influence, she worked for Ochsner Health Systems and recently did an internship at Delgado as an administrative office and technology marketing intern.

Chris Dopper has been hired as an Account Associate. She is originally from The Netherlands and moved from Amsterdam to New Orleans six months ago. Before joining Search Influence, Chris has worked for five years in Amsterdam and Brussels for Sanoma Media, one of the biggest publishers in Western Europe. Here she worked as an Online Marketer and Lifestyle Editor for brands like Cosmopolitan and Marie-Claire. Chris graduated from Rijksuniversiteit Groningen with a Master Degree in Communication and Information Science.

Cory Badeaux has been hired as a Junior Account Associate. Though born and raised in New Orleans, Cory has also lived in Connecticut, New York, and California. She attended Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications. Before joining Search Influence, Cory worked in events and promotional marketing in Malibu as well as in New Orleans.

Kimberly Dominguez has joined Search Influence as an Account Associate. She graduated from Loyola University New Orleans with a degree in Mass Communication and a minor in marketing. A New Orleans native, Kimberly has a social media background working for local businesses such as ACCENT on Arrangements, a DMC Company, FestiGals, Gulf Coast Bank and Trust, and The Son of a Saint Foundation.

Lily Chen has been hired as an Account Associate. A New Orleans native, Lily received her bachelor’s from Vanderbilt University and recently her masters in marketing from New York University. Before returning to her home town, Lily has worked for various other companies executing both offline and online marketing campaigns.

Mallory Logan has been hired as an Account Associate. Mallory is excited to specialize in the fast growing industry of online marketing. Formerly, she worked on nation-wide political campaigns as a political account coordinator and the Louisiana International Film Festival as Social Media Manager. She enjoys being part of the unique culture in her hometown of New Orleans and cheering on her alma mater, the LSU Tigers.

Maureen Morphy has been hired as a Junior Account Associate. She was born and raised in New Orleans, and graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in General Studies. Prior to joining Search Influence, she worked as a Public Relations Intern for BCBG Maxazria Corporate in their New York showroom, and as a Sales Associate for Saks Fifth Avenue.

Presley Brouillette has been hired as a Junior Account Associate. Originally from Baton Rouge, Presley graduated from LSU with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication with a concentration in public relations. Prior to graduating and working for Search Influence, Presley interned at SophistOccasions and Pelican House, both located in Baton Rouge, where she learned valuable marketing experience.

Online Advertising Team

Anne Rucker has been hired as an Online Advertising Associate. Originally from Texas, she received her bachelor’s degree in communications from Texas Tech University. Before moving to New Orleans from Austin, Anne worked as a project manager in the political sector.

Operations Team

Erica Salm Rench has been hired as an Operations Associate. Originally from the Greater Chicago Area, Erica came to New Orleans in 2004 to start her undergraduate years at Tulane University, where she earned both her Bachelor’s degree and her MBA. Before joining Search Influence, Erica worked as an Associate Director in Tulane’s Office of Undergraduate Admission.

January 7, 2014
Christmas Exploded in Here!

It’s the time of year again. Thats right, it’s time for competition, secrecy, a bucket of elbow grease, and years of training. Am I talking about the 2014 Winter Olympics? No, I can only be referring to the ruthless Christmas desk decorating contest!

This year Search Influence decided to challenge everyone in the office to gussy up their workspace all in the name of friendly competition and Christmas spirit. Candidates came from far and wide to participate in the annual games and bring the gold and the glory home to their department. The judges were chosen, the stage set, and the stakes were high.

As soon as the gun went off teammates Alison Zeringue and Gabrielle Benedetto bolted to the lead with a warm and classy gold touches, twinkling lights and garland. With their eyes on the prize, Maggie Bomze and Amanda Ball got creative with a Mean Girl’s themed desk complete with pink ribbons, pink lights, and candy cane grams!

Seeing the competition start to heat up, Kimberly Dominguez and Chris Dopper took their workspace to another level by wrapping their entire desk in red wrapping paper, hanging a garland christmas tree from the ceiling, and topping off their work with red ribbons. Armed with tape and Christmas glory, teammates Erika Karas and Jordan Polhemus wrapped their desks in bright green wrapping paper, hung tinsel and bows from every stationary object, and adorned the room’s only fireplace with stockings, garland, lights, and santa’s shoes coming down from the chimney.

In the final moments of the competition Maggie Emerson and Rebekah Durel pulled out all of the stops, hand making the largest wreath many of us had ever seen, hanging stockings, adorning their desk in white lights and it was all pulled together with a pink Christmas tree!

Right when we thought the competition was over, Sarah Gallagher and Samantha Wright charged ahead with the holiday gusto of old Saint Nick himself! Cindy Lou Who and the Grinch stole Christmas and the gold in the last second, just in time for the closing ceremonies! They came in full costume, had a poster of “Mount Crumpit,” and even stole odds and ends from everyone’s desks in true Grinch fashion.

From the ruthlessness we’ve witnessed at Search Influence I believe it is safe to say that no holiday contest is too “un-cool” for us Influencers. I’m looking at you, Groundhog Day!

January 2, 2014