Recently I’ve been searching for a new apartment. Partly this is because I like a change of habitat every year or so, but with rising gas prices, I’m also looking to move closer to work.

The other day, I checked out a place that is literally only 10 minutes away. It is a really nice place, in a good neighborhood, and it has relatively cheap rent. Being 10 minutes away from DDA would dramatically increase my free-time during the week - I’d save 2 hours of commute every day. On the other hand, I’d have a roommate again, something that I wasn’t too fond of in the past.

The roommate is nice enough. She is a 49-year old woman with a dog and not too much else. She doesn’t have Internet or a computer, but doesn’t mind if I bring mine so I can work on my personal portfolio of 3d animation, 2d animation, and web interactive projects, or play my video games. The apartment does seem a little small though for the two of us - while I would have my own bedroom, I don’t know how I would feel about sharing such a small living area at this point.

Sometimes we need to accept conditions we wouldn’t necessarily like, just to get by financially. It may only be a temporary thing. I am looking at other places too - there’s a place I’m checking out today that seems promising. Wherever I move, I’ll still be here at DDA doing the best video production, animation, and web design in the Philadelphia area!

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.

Today we have our first official video shoot in the new studio. We will be bringing in an actor from our actors gallery to do some spokesperson work in front of the green screen. Having worked with the actor before, I am confident in his abilities to really convey the clients message. Originally, we were doing just 3 scripts for 3 short videos, but recently that changed to 5. We must also shoot b-roll footage of various blinking lights for use in the videos. Even with the new additions to the shooting schedule, we should be able to complete the shoot in just a few hours. The videos will then be converted for use in a CD-ROM catalog that Laurence has been working on. I saw a proof of it and it looks great! I definitely think this will help boost the client’s sales and give the customer a much better feel for who the company is and what products they sell.

Spring is full of new growth and fresh beginnings. I see the little baby goslings following their parents, and fat bunnies ready to give birth. The trees are profusely spreading, sending their seeds into the wind. Trees are so efficient at this, that we find the seeds in every corner of every space - even where you least expect it. And although not all end up in a place that may be conducive to growth (like in the vacuum), so many more will be able to continue the pattern of life. You just have to give them something to grow on and a little TLC. Our websites and advertising services are much the same. When properly planted and maintained, they will grow into a very large, thriving and profitable endeavor. In order to grow a successful campaign, we will start with a beautiful graphic design that can be for web or print design. Then, we can add all types of digital animation, flash animation or any number of video production, photography services and programming services. But the magic is in the maintenance to make it grow. Our Search Engine Optimization, SEO copywriting and Search Engine Marketing Services are the food for growing big in Google. Everybody needs a little TLC.

Our professional advertising agency is often contracted by major marketing companies to do the creative work involved with a variety of projects from website design and development to video production and print design. Although we offer marketing services in conjunction with our advertising capabilities, we are more often than not employed for production purposes and delve into marketing when appropriate and applicable.

As a novice in the field, I used to think that DDA could take on all marketing and public relations work in addition to advertising. We’re fully capable and the combined experience of those who comprise our team is quite extensive. Alternatively, I once thought it was strange that so many marketing companies outsourced creative production. Today, I’ve come to realize the need for both areas of business, and for that matter, the need for them to be separate, specific entities that work together to accomplish a similar goal.

DDA’s production process is seamless, making it easy for clients or marketing agencies to be our main point of contact for direction and feedback. Whether clients come to us directly or through one of the many marketing companies we work with, the end result is the same… a great overall experience and a strong product for an unbeatable campaign. Everything considered, I could definitely see DDA expanding to include full-fledged PR and marketing divisions, but only time will tell.

We won’t tell you what you want to hear.

But that doesn’t mean that you’re not going to like what we say.

It’s common practice in the world of business to say whatever you need to to turn that prospect into a customer or client. Unfortunately this holds true with some marketing and advertising and website development companies — specifically the latter, as I have seen the victims firsthand.

At DDA, there is none of that. I am involved in a lot of conferences as part of New Business Development and if a project is not the right fit for us, we can’t meet a deadline, or if we feel the client is making a bad move, David will tell them.

And no one has complained as of yet. We are upfront with every project we undertake, whether it’s video production, animation, website design and development or illustration. We never try to add on services or additional work unless we feel that it truly needed to help that particular business or client succeed.

As someone who is in the process of buying a car and who has dealt with one too many people promising a whole lot and giving very little, it’s refreshing to know that there is a company that will give it to you straight.

Yesterday, we had a large floor cleaning machine in the studio that was to get the 360 degree rotation treatment. The 360 degree rotation treatment is when we take 36 digital photos from the same angle of an object but rotate the object 10 degrees for every picture. We then crop out the background in Photoshop and import the images into a program called VR Worx. VR works is a program that allows you to create panoramic images and 360 degree rotating images. All 36 images are compressed into a quicktime movie that has special controls built right in. These controls allow the user to have total control of where they want the camera to be pointing. The user can rotate and zoom the object so as to see it as if it was sitting right in front of them. This quicktime movie can then be embedded into the product’s website to allow users to see much more than your standard 2d picture. It is definitely a nice way to put big things in small packages!

At DDA, we are proud to offer fully integrated advertising campaigns. With the wide array of services we provide, from video production to graphic design and copywriting to programming, we can provide any company with complete digital advertising services. We can build any marketing campaign from the ground up, design company logos, build custom and unique websites, and promote products with brochures, or we can work with established businesses looking to extend their marketing efforts with print designs or trade show ads.

But most importantly, everything at DDA is customized to fit your company’s exact needs. Our websites, for instance, are not created from templates and are custom built. And with the knowledge of our programming department and video production team, your website can be molded to exact specifications, integrating high-end video, search functions, and anything else you need. The sky is the limit when you choose DDA!