I don't have much of a tech blog, and since I'm dealing with websites still, I thought I'd just get this recorded here.
Just released the new website, and its not populating to my browser correctly. To get my computer to recognize the new IP Address we're pointing our website to, I ran the command:
ipconfig /flushdns
Wow, as a BYU MBA, I'm learning a wide array of skills. Brigham Young University helped me get hooked up with a very cool internship.
Monday, July 7, 2008
get 'er done
I've been put in charge of a few vendors to get my projects done. I'm learning a lot in dealing with them. Thursday, I had to have everything in place for our new website to go live. The vendor has been really difficult to work with and commuicate with. On Wednesday, they actually sent me an email saying I interrupted too much.
I didn't care! I only wanted it set up, I wasn't worried about their schedule. I went to their office Thursday afternoon to discuss what was left and to make sure they were working. Trying to respect their need to focus, I didn't bother the programmer too much for the first hour. Then I went and asked about the progress and he told me he was woring on soething entirely different!
So I sat there and discussed it with him for 10 minutes and then 10 minutes later the programmer had given me what I wanted. I was excited and I was apalled at this web-designers system! They charged us for an hour of work when 20 minutes was what was needed! Well, from now on I will make sure they repeat back to me exactly what I want.
That's the principle I'm trying to highight-- know what you want and make sure they can tell you. Until then, they do not have permission to start the work.
I didn't care! I only wanted it set up, I wasn't worried about their schedule. I went to their office Thursday afternoon to discuss what was left and to make sure they were working. Trying to respect their need to focus, I didn't bother the programmer too much for the first hour. Then I went and asked about the progress and he told me he was woring on soething entirely different!
So I sat there and discussed it with him for 10 minutes and then 10 minutes later the programmer had given me what I wanted. I was excited and I was apalled at this web-designers system! They charged us for an hour of work when 20 minutes was what was needed! Well, from now on I will make sure they repeat back to me exactly what I want.
That's the principle I'm trying to highight-- know what you want and make sure they can tell you. Until then, they do not have permission to start the work.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Soon to say Goodbye
I'm taking a break from packing to say I'm moving out of Wymount! And while packing sucks, air conditioning blows cool air all over the house and I'm excited to have it again. (figure I'm about 20 days short of a year)
So first years, stay away... stay as far away as you can.
Hope everyone is having a good summer.
So first years, stay away... stay as far away as you can.
Hope everyone is having a good summer.
Friday, June 27, 2008
what day is it?
Haven't been on this in a while. Wow this has been an intense summer! For the first time in my life, I actually forget what day it is. I think it's partially because I just don't hae time to pay attention but I'm also haviing a lot of fun so who cares what day it is--just enjoy it!
It's been really fun to get into Celio and see everyone running at 150 mph getting ready to go to market and now we're slowing down a little to make sure we're doing things right and being consistent.
I got some cool respoinsibilities yesterday and now am very involved in coordinating the marketing internationally. I'll tell ya what, you can have an awesome internship in a small company and get some great titles on your resume. But you also have to make sure you are very results oriented.
I wish I was this focused on results back when I played hockey in highschool-- I might have doubled my varsity goals (from 2 - 4) :)
It's been really fun to get into Celio and see everyone running at 150 mph getting ready to go to market and now we're slowing down a little to make sure we're doing things right and being consistent.
I got some cool respoinsibilities yesterday and now am very involved in coordinating the marketing internationally. I'll tell ya what, you can have an awesome internship in a small company and get some great titles on your resume. But you also have to make sure you are very results oriented.
I wish I was this focused on results back when I played hockey in highschool-- I might have doubled my varsity goals (from 2 - 4) :)
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Project Summary
My largest task I've had so far is getting up a new website for Celio. I believe my technical skills from my previous career made me a strong candidate for this internship. I'm not using those technical skills directly so much as I'm leveraging them to better advise our vendors as they put pieces together for us.
However, this has been such an educational process. Previously I worked for a public university and it was not an environment that was very results driven-- stuff got done, but deadlines were often passed. This has been such a fun place to learn to do business. I've got a budget to get my projects done, but getting something that works isn't the most important part-- I also have to make sure the website converts to revenue in some way.
So I'm getting to dip my toes into some market-research by exploring what effectively steers customers-- this isn't just ad-copy but also making sure the site is friendly and intuitive. You can only get so far with intuition-- it also comes down to anlayzing data and seeing how customers are actually behaving.
Another task I'm taking on is writing some copy and analyzing the messages. A large part of building a brand is consitently showing what the brand is and does. The are some unique challenges because our product isn't a laptop, but it lets you use your smartphone in a similar manner. How do you communicate that to consumers concisely?
I'm really greatful for the chance to explore this company and this market. It's definitely fast paced and it is a great opportunity to learn how marketing works. Going with a startup has been good for a few reason. I didn't have much marketing background, so getting to start immediately is going to give me about 2 extra months of marketing experience. Also, I'm getting such broad experience in so many areas. Utah has a strong venture backed startup industry-- I'd really suggest people look at it thoroughly when they are looking for jobs and internships.
However, this has been such an educational process. Previously I worked for a public university and it was not an environment that was very results driven-- stuff got done, but deadlines were often passed. This has been such a fun place to learn to do business. I've got a budget to get my projects done, but getting something that works isn't the most important part-- I also have to make sure the website converts to revenue in some way.
So I'm getting to dip my toes into some market-research by exploring what effectively steers customers-- this isn't just ad-copy but also making sure the site is friendly and intuitive. You can only get so far with intuition-- it also comes down to anlayzing data and seeing how customers are actually behaving.
Another task I'm taking on is writing some copy and analyzing the messages. A large part of building a brand is consitently showing what the brand is and does. The are some unique challenges because our product isn't a laptop, but it lets you use your smartphone in a similar manner. How do you communicate that to consumers concisely?
I'm really greatful for the chance to explore this company and this market. It's definitely fast paced and it is a great opportunity to learn how marketing works. Going with a startup has been good for a few reason. I didn't have much marketing background, so getting to start immediately is going to give me about 2 extra months of marketing experience. Also, I'm getting such broad experience in so many areas. Utah has a strong venture backed startup industry-- I'd really suggest people look at it thoroughly when they are looking for jobs and internships.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Why a Startup?
So I'm on the bus from Provo to Salt Lake. Most of my entries on this will be written while on the bus (using this REDFLY that I'm promoting during my internship) so you know... no getting worked up about my spelling errors because ths bus bouncs a lot!
From what you can see in the other blogs, I'm one of the few students that climbed on board with a small-company. I did this because I wanted a strong look at a company going through the Venture Capital process. In fact, the only bad thing about this internship is the commute (I'm pretty whiney about it) and that I didn't take a couple of week vacation (I'm going on a cruise for-sure when I graduate now!)
I really suggest going with a startup company if you have interest in it. I do think you have to do better research into things like the market your entering, the executive/founding team, t he product and areas like that. If it doesn't work out, you won't have a big name on your resume so I believe you should study the company out well and make sure it will match you an take your career where you want it to.
The internship has been a lot of fun. I've been given a lot of responsibility and a lot of freedom to meet my objectives. Its also nice because I'm getting to touch a lot of areas of marketing. I'm doing some direct-advertising, some brand management, and some market research.
I also see what everyone was saying about learning a lot more in the job function. I've learned some cool ideas for prototyping products and researching with those. I am even learning strategy about dealing with world-wide suppliers. My last year of classes has definitely been a good framework for how to market within a start-up, but this is definitely helping to fill that Skeleton in.
If you'r interested in a start-up I really suggest it. I thoroughly enjoy the lack of red-tape that I was plagued with before. I like working with pretty advancded technology. And I like working with a clean-slate in marketing-- I'm not tied to any previous images that people may have had.
From what you can see in the other blogs, I'm one of the few students that climbed on board with a small-company. I did this because I wanted a strong look at a company going through the Venture Capital process. In fact, the only bad thing about this internship is the commute (I'm pretty whiney about it) and that I didn't take a couple of week vacation (I'm going on a cruise for-sure when I graduate now!)
I really suggest going with a startup company if you have interest in it. I do think you have to do better research into things like the market your entering, the executive/founding team, t he product and areas like that. If it doesn't work out, you won't have a big name on your resume so I believe you should study the company out well and make sure it will match you an take your career where you want it to.
The internship has been a lot of fun. I've been given a lot of responsibility and a lot of freedom to meet my objectives. Its also nice because I'm getting to touch a lot of areas of marketing. I'm doing some direct-advertising, some brand management, and some market research.
I also see what everyone was saying about learning a lot more in the job function. I've learned some cool ideas for prototyping products and researching with those. I am even learning strategy about dealing with world-wide suppliers. My last year of classes has definitely been a good framework for how to market within a start-up, but this is definitely helping to fill that Skeleton in.
If you'r interested in a start-up I really suggest it. I thoroughly enjoy the lack of red-tape that I was plagued with before. I like working with pretty advancded technology. And I like working with a clean-slate in marketing-- I'm not tied to any previous images that people may have had.
Monday, May 12, 2008
I've been found!
Well, I just saw a letter from MBAMA saying they knew this was my blog. I haven't been broadcasting who I am because I am frankly a terrible writer.
Oh well, now that I've been found out, I guess I better step it up.
I start my internship on April 24th, and I have been working for Celio Corp. I really wanted to do marketing but at the same time go with a company that was in the Venture Capital Rounds.
Hope everyone is having good summer!
Oh well, now that I've been found out, I guess I better step it up.
I start my internship on April 24th, and I have been working for Celio Corp. I really wanted to do marketing but at the same time go with a company that was in the Venture Capital Rounds.
Hope everyone is having good summer!
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