There is a poster boldly displayed on one wall of Dynamic Digital Advertising’s new digs that proclaims, “Don’t be afraid to be different.” I think that is the common thread that binds all who work here; we are each very different. Not weird different, but creatively, healthy, believe-in-ourselves different. 

A specific example would be our Programmers. David says our Lead Programmer,  Amy, can solve any problem to do with code.  She is also a whiz with an electric drill.  Tyler is our “Go To” guy for everything from small changes to clients’ websites to installing a complex phone system, while Reggie has become an expert at building gargantuan retail shopping carts, and Vinnie does a lot of action script work and helps with Coldfusion code issues and other language problems. If you put the four of them together, you would never mistake one for the other, and yet they are linked by this strange gene Programmers have for speaking little and spending hours solving problems. It is like there is a mind meld between them and their computers.  

Dynamic Digital, as an entity, is unusual too. There is no model we followed when David and I first started a decade+ ago. We grew organically, and David’s business instinct and vision helps shape what is our very complex organization today. But from those early days, we never lost the goal of providing marketing, promotional, and advertising services to businesses. Our old self-promotion brochures push digital photography, cd-rom development, graphic design, and print production among other things. We still do all that, but we just keep adding services. So many services that our Lead Designer, Carrie, wonders how she is going to showcase the new service. (P.S.-She always figures it out.)  Check out our website, the timeline graphically shows our growth, the changes, and the new services. And today, May 15th, 2008, I can promise you, there is real excitement planned for the coming year. Stay tuned. 

This morning we held a kick-off meeting for a new site we will be developing. I have to say, I am very excited about this project as this is one of the rare opportunities that DDA can truly flex its creative muscle. Many times with projects, whether they be a tradeshow graphic, brochure, or custom corporate and medical video, our creative freedom is limited to the clients comfort zone. But with this particular company and product, we have received the green light to strive for innovative and ground-breaking site concepts, animations, and interactivity that will lead the way for future site development.

It is a joy to watch the imaginative wheels turn.  The new ideas brought to the table push the boundary of the norm and open opportunity for immense success. Site interactivity, that employs the user’s involvement, is the answer to effective websites that inform, engage, and entertain, and DDA’s website development service is continuing to reach for the best methods of application.

Videos, 2d and 3d animations, site navigational elements and more, combine to make a user experience unlike any other. Excited?  Yes, I am.

When I first started at DDA as an advertising copywriter, one of the first projects I worked on was a search engine optimized website for a printing company in Philadelphia, PA. Years ago, I knew nothing of search engine optimization (SEO) or, for that matter, of the printing world. Wanting desperately to do well with the given task and to learn as much as possible about both areas, I threw myself into the website development project with both feet.

I travelled to the company and took a tour of the entire facility from digital prepress to mailing and fulfillment. I spoke to the company’s President who climbed the corporate ladder literally from the ground up and to those that perform their strategic responsibilities within the company day in and day out to obtain first-hand information. I can remember to this day how I went home after work and told everyone everything I learned about the printing industry.

My excitement soon faded when I realized I needed to then learn all there was to know about SEO copywriting - something one was and is not taught in college curriculum. With the help of my colleagues, research, and trial and error, I discovered how to integrate relevant keywords into the copy in order for the web page, and subsequently the website, to achieve high rankings on major search engines, such as Google, Yahoo, and MSN.

Hearing years later that through the collective efforts of optimized online copywriting, strategic website design and development, and the DDA exclusive SureThing™ Program, the site is doing well and that they have achieved high rankings and more rankings than they ever initially thought they could is a great feeling. I’ve learned so much since that introductory project with respect to a large variety of companies in different industry segments, as well as what it takes to write the seo copy that makes websites not just “brochures”, but effective online businesses.

That said, there is still much to learn, so back to work.

The worst job I ever had was as a cashier at a supermarket. The monotony of standing on the rubber mat, scanning can after can, waiting for the next person to arrive, was not for me. I am a person that cannot stand still and who needs to be occupied at all times.

Which makes DDA a good fit for me. Though you can argue that I spend a large part of my day in front of a computer, I can assure it is never just staring at the screen. There is rarely a dull moment and I certainly never have to wait for the people to arrive.

At the moment, I have a handful of requests from existing clients, for whom I act as Project Coordinator, involving flash programming, search engine optimization, traditional programming, and web work. I have two websites that are just beginning — one will be highly search engine optimized and is in the keyword research phase and another is at the design level — and a highly-involved ordering system that is on its way to completion, with proofing that needs to be arranged.

I have a few inquiries that I am trying to arrange either an estimate or  conference call for, a quote that needs to go out, two conference calls, and several follow-up e-mails that need to be sent out. That is in addition to the requests for work that will come in throughout the day either by e-mail or phone.

I also have proofing to do, a direct-mail piece that needs to be written, and an outline that needs to be prepared.  It’s a hectic day, as always. And I am not alone. I am in good company with my fellow three writers, as well as everyone else — the graphic designers, programmers, web developers, videographers, animators, and search engine marketing and optimization teams. Just another day in the life of DDA.

And I most certainly am not complaining.  I like the fast-paced atmosphere and a job that constantly challenges me. It’s a far cry from the rubber mat I once stood on scanning frozen peas, but I’m OK with that.

As a Project Coordinator at Dynamic Digital Advertising (DDA), I work closely with clients and all members of our team - from graphic designers and programmers to copywriters and animators - that are involved in a given project. In my experience, I have come to realize how important it is to take the necessary time and word correspondences correctly to convey a clear and straightforward message. While some of our clients consist of well-established companies with extensive experience in all forms of advertising, others are innovative start-up organizations that lack the knowledge on the best way to proceed in a project, whether it is a website design or a video production.

Bottom line, it is not our clients’ job to automatically understand, it is our job to provide all pertinent and relevant information in an easy-to-understand format so they, in turn, can make wise and educated decisions. That said, it is critical that every form of communication be well thought out and that important points, issues, or potential problems are discussed internally beforehand in order to ensure that everyone is on the same page and there are no discrepancies. Anticipating complications and misunderstandings prior to initiating a response and doing our best to avoid them helps things flow from one stage to the next as smoothly as possible.

“More important than the quest for certainty is the quest for clarity.” ~ Francois Gautier

Some projects are clear cut, others are not.

As a full-service company, we see a lot of versatility in the work we do — video production, animation, website development, illustration, brochures, catalogs. I could go on but I think my point is clear.

There’s one constant variable throughout it all — the client steers the project. Our ability to provide any service needed, from programming to copywriting services, means that we can go in any direction a client wants.

If they call about a website and through discussion decide a video would also be appropriate, we can do it.  If they want to add a certification or training component to a CD-ROM, we can do it. Tracking usage, logo design, tradeshow banner, video script — we can do all of that too.

A prime example of our ability to meet just about any need, is a client we are currently working with on a variety of projects. They began wanting marketing and branding, and from there it’s mushroomed. We have gone from logo design to video to website development and back to video again. This client’s business is growing rapidly and as his needs and focus shift, we shift with him, providing exactly what is needed to meet his vision.

Not all projects are like this. Some are straight forward.

But regardless of the size or scope, through our vast ability and focus on customization we are establishing relationships, not just providing services.

Whether it’s a DVD or a little bit of everything, our clients are getting a partner not just a vendor.

When I was a little girl, I was roundly scolded one winter morning because I took the blanket off my bed and gave it to a man knocking at our back door for help. He looked so cold, his lips were blue, and to a five-year old, it seemed getting him warm was more important than feeding him. Besides I was not allowed near the stove, and there were no grownups around when he knocked on the door. That was my dramatic introduction to random acts of kindness. I felt good about what I did, and the admonition “never talk to a stranger” soon vanished along with the angry words from my Dad. 

Today, as a business woman, I am often surprised at how indifferent and self-absorbed people can be. Surely, there is time to say “Good Morning” and “How are you?” and mean it. And surely, there should be more warm reactions to all the little gestures of kindness you encounter in your work day. Or is kindness missing where you work? Ah ha, the paradox. There are NOT too many work cultures that encourage kindness and cooperation among staff. Rather the norm is for everyone to out do the other with selfish agendas.

At Dynamic Digital Advertising, we have a very open door policy. We encourage teamwork among the graphic designers, advertising copywriters, and project coordinators assigned to a website design and seo content development job, we discourage  ”I” statements. Our more senior staff help guide and teach informally, and no one in that position be it our Lead Graphic Designer or our Director of Interactive Media ever behaves arrogantly with peers or clients. We have a very robust cc: system to keep all concerned in the loop.

A statement on our wall sums it up best “NO AVERAGE PEOPLE WORK HERE.” And by extension, no one unkind or petty.  Throughout our four-day work week, I hope each of us takes the time to practice kindness (even if we have to grit our teeth or pull our hair at some stupid occurrence). Let’s resist the temptation to be self-absorbed. Remember, it only takes seven muscles to smile.

With a staff of degreed copywriters, DDA has the unique ability to write custom content to help optimize your website for search engines. One of the many copywriting services we offer are press releases and news articles. Why should you care about these often overlooked services? Here is how custom articles and press releases can help your website in search engine optimization:

• Promotion. Best of all, these articles and press releases offer free promotion for your company or website. It can tell the world the various services you offer or just help explain your company. Either way, it is additional quality content that can link back to your website.
• Back links. News sites are one of the easiest ways to gain direct links from other sites. Not only does Google rank you higher based on the amount of quality back links your site has, but it also likes when the website receives a constant, ongoing series of back links.
• Relevance. Not only does the article provide your site with additional content to use, but it also makes your site much more relevant to the present time. If you submit multiple articles, to constant movement of updates and news releases will show Internet users that your company is relevant to today’s fast-paced environments.

There are many ways articles and news feeds can help improve your website. Let DDA and its experienced team of copywriter’s help promote you with the full variety of services we offer.

Today is one of those days when you find yourself grasping for every minute. One moment you glance at the clock and it’s 9am, the next it’s 3pm and your left pondering where did the time go? These days happen more often than not here at Dynamic Digital Advertising. As a full-service advertising agency that handles all things digital, a single staffer may be juggling multiple projects, client correspondences, and a plethora of other tasks at a single time. To an outside observer, the magnitude of work may seem overwhelming, but to a DDA staffer, the careful balance of projects and the workload comes second nature.

Effective organization is key. Each day we compile our Daily Task list, ensuring no projects have fallen to the way-side and all client concerns have been resolved. To further ensure productivity and thoroughness, a Project Coordinator oversees each project.  With this system of checks and balances we do our best to carry out every project in a timely an efficient manner. 

The programmers, graphic designers, creative and online copywriters, videogrpahers, and Project Coordinators are extremely time conscious. In fact, we track every minute of every day with our very own programming application. This way clients know how time was spent and where it was spent. When you are dealing with tight deadlines and budgets, efficiency is paramount and we continually work to improve our already streamlined production process.

I cut my teeth in the publishing and printing world. I started when I was in college, writing features for the school paper, and by the time I was in grad school, had done almost every job from typing original material for authors to proofing galleys, doing press checks, and then sending out press releases for print and radio on the new book or program.  I have worked as an editor for educational material, functioned as a production coordinator for a multi million dollar program, and manned many trade show booths selling the pamphlets, books, programs, and teaching manuals the company produced.

In those days, graphic designers and advertising copywriters did not have the luxury of computers. One had to approach a project with great thought because mistakes were difficult to rectify. Today, we have a delete button. In those days, it could be the kiss of death.  When you speced a manuscript, you knew how many headers would need 18 pt. type, and how much you could squeeze into an eight-page sig using 12 pt. for body copy. Today, a graphic designer has as many choices as he or she wishes to work with for originality and emphasis; a custom look and feel is oh so achievable.

In those days, there was justified left and right or ragged right, and no type in curves unless someone wanted to cut with an exacto knife. What client could afford that? The print brochures, sell sheets, and catalogs that a creative, passionate team produces today, can take your breath away. We have some samples to prove my point. At Dynamic Digital Advertising, nothing makes me happier than to see print projects, from a single 8.5″ x 11″ one-sided sheet to a four by eight trade show graphic, come through the door. Guess once you’ve worked in print, the ink never leaves your veins.