As with any relationship, the one between employers and interns is a two-way street. While hiring an intern is one thing, attracting one is a variable often overlooked. Focus on what you want out of an intern, present those qualities in your search and you’ll be able to find the right applicant in no time. Continue reading →

The digital age is funny. The majority of people I hear from who are not in the internet/digital business always make statements like, “Doing business on the internet must be an easy way to make a quick million,” or “I need to get into the digital business. Everyone is doing it and you can make so much money.” Don’t forget my friends, there’s more to the internet than e-commerce success stories and the “quick million” everyone’s chasing. You can lose a lot of money too.
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The most commonly used KPIs are the ones that are least understood. For too long analysts and executives have focused on the amount of visitors and the number of conversions, without focusing on the most important aspect: visitor behavior.
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It’s been just over a week since Instagram announced the launch of web profiles for user accounts. Yes, the popular photo-sharing app that was once reserved for mobile is now available for desktop viewing. But what does this mean for users, and more specifically, brands? Continue reading →

Since the explosion of Pinterest, there hasn’t been much expansion on the photo sharing site’s easy to use “pin and like” format. While there’s nothing wrong with if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it, any major developments that could hint at the future of Pinterest have been virtually non-existent. That is, until the introduction of secret Pinterest boards earlier this week. Continue reading →

When you are starting a company or marketing for one that is jumping into social, it is very important to get the root usernames that match the brand name. For instance if you are Coca Cola, you would not want to be @drinkcocacola on Twitter or Instagram. That would be a silly social media sin. But what if someone else has your username? Well, man up and let’s get to it. Continue reading →

Congratulations, Instagram junkies! Your faithful iPhone photography and unprecedented user engagement has led to a wealth of new and exciting opportunities for you to take advantage of… ahem… I mean, for you to be taken advantage of. Continue reading →

A well-shot product picture or fancy graphic shared on Facebook or Instagram can easily translate to sales. The makers of Whims, a new social network app, want to flip the script and make it all about words again. Not just any words though, well-designed, stylish graphics of any saying, quote or lyrics that fits your brand’s fancy.
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If you’ve caught any of the presidential debates thus far, you’ve noticed the integration of social media into the greater media’s coverage of the 2012 election. Whether it’s a Twitter scrawl across the bottom of a television screen or online polling that requires a Facebook login, social media and politics appear to be attached at the hip more than ever before. Continue reading →

I heard a radio ad on the way to work the other day and it nearly made me drive off the road. A national company was advertising it’s product, and at the end of the spot the company encouraged listeners to visit its website. Later, we started talking about why social media is more powerful than a website, and how critical a social presence is to any type of marketing campaign. There is a reason major consumer brands like Coca Cola have increased its social media spend by 48% while decreasing its traditional media buys: it’s effective.
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Google+ now has over 40 million users, but 83 percent of these global users have inactive accounts. While this startling statistic has left some to think that running a Google+ for business is pointless, there is a new infographic that breaks down the demographics of the social sites members. If you know the demographics of your own business, it’s possible to compare your target audience with the Google+ data and decide whether a Google+ for a business you own is a worthy endeavor. Continue reading →

Turning a new invention from just a hazy dream to a physical product is one of the most arduous tasks that one could ever undertake. For Apple, this process seems just as simple as opening the mail, taking a shower or eating a snack is for you or me. So while there has been criticism of iPhone 5 for not as being groundbreaking as some expected, I believe that Apple has created a near perfect device. Continue reading →

Since the emoticon’s formal birth in 1982 at the Carnegie Mellon University, and its further expansion by the Japanesse, the ever-popular smiley face has been popping up in emails and text messages across the world. With its brand new operating system, the Apple iPhone features a large number of new emoticons within the iOS 6 emoji keyboard. Prepare to look at the emoticon differently than ever before. Continue reading →

Even before Facebook purchased Instagram, the highly successful photo-sharing app changed the way that many businesses shared photos and information. After all, using Instagram for business is a simple way to creatively and effectively share images of your products or services in action. With help from unique tools like Olapic, Statigram and Ink361, it’s becoming even easier to propel your business forward using this extremely popular app.
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Traditionally, when someone thinks of ROI, a monetary return on investment is what comes to mind. When marketing a company and looking at costs, the return on investment is an incredibly important factor. However, in the ever-growing world of digital, ROI has taken on a new meaning: Return on Influence. Unlike traditional ROI, this is a way for a company to gauge social efforts and effectiveness of its online marketing strategies based on the way users engage with the brand. Continue reading →

Alex Macksoud is an Advertising major at Central Michigan University. He was one of five Blue Wheel Media summer interns. Upon completing his semester as a digital marketing intern, we asked Alex to sum up his experience in a blog post.
The performance of “A Whole New World” was his idea. Continue reading →