We applied for the WeWork Creator Awards, specifically pitching an idea that we thought could win the launch category. We had the chance to win a $72k-$180k grant!

How amazing is that!? If you haven’t heard, WeWork has committed $20M to empower creators globally.

We put ourselves out there. We were ambitious. We brought forward a big idea….

And…. we lost. (Cue the sad music.)

Not only did we lose, but we weren’t even chosen as finalists to get the chance to speak at ACL Live in Austin, TX. And, if you haven’t been there, it’s such a cool venue!

But hey, THAT’S OK!

BTW. We still went to the Creator Awards here in Austin, TX. And it was a total blast!!

(Check out our snaps below)

So, why do we think we lost?

Simple. We could have executed our idea better. Check out our submission video to see what I mean. Could have been better, right??

We tried hard to explain the idea of a future we want to build. But I’m not so sure we communicated it well enough. Based on our current workflow and people's schedules, we ended up waiting until the day of the deadline to write up our idea, shoot, and edit the video. We submitted it at 10:47 PM. 1 hour and 13 minutes before the deadline. EEK!! Not a good idea!

EEK!! Not a good idea!

The other reason we think we weren’t picked is that our idea wasn’t community focused enough. At least, not compared to the winner. Check out the winner’s idea! Sooo. goood!

Congrats to Deven Hariyani with Kwaddle. We are so excited for you. Like seriously, this is a game changer. To get that kind of funding, to promote a novel idea... what an accomplishment.

We’re definitely envious! :) And we’ll be back again next year!

How do we feel about next year?

If WeWork decides to commit another $20M next year, we’re definitely competing again. This time, we’re going to be more prepared, create a well-rounded idea and take more consideration on how the community can benefit from our mission.

So, we will definitely need to adjust our initial concept. And possibly our mission.

We still feel EMPOWERED! We are ready to ignite change and cut through the clutter of the digital industry. Even though technology is growing at an unprecedented rate, we’re struggling as a society to keep up and use it to the best of its ability.

And even moreso, there’s a growing disconnect between businesses and technology. For example, business owners constantly tell us the difficulty in understanding how the digital landscape is really changing their company.

How is WeWork Changing our Business?

Get ready, WeWork, because we’re applying again for next year’s Creator Awards. And it’s going to be better than ever!

WeWork provides a funding solution for emerging artists and entrepreneurs. They are making dreams a reality for innovators all over the world.

As an innovative company with a strong passion for what we do, this is beyond exciting! Resources like what WeWork provides are what push things out into the market.

We feel like our voice can be heard through WeWork and we can be a part of something bigger than ourselves!

The moral of this blog post and one of my favorite quotes… “Don’t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” - Babe Ruth

And that’s exactly what Movento Media plans on doing.

THANK YOU, WeWork!!

The post WeWork Creator Awards: WeLost appeared first on Movento Media.

Who the heck are the people working at Blackhawk? Does anyone know? No? Ok cool, then keep reading…

Let’s get to know this small (but mighty) team!

Jonathan started Blackhawk in 2016 out of a passion for marketing and sales and a desire to see growth in small businesses. Jonathan received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He then went on to receive a M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Iowa. Following his M.S., Jonathan attended Cornell University and earned his M.B.A. He is married and has 3 beautiful children. Jonathan is a diehard Spurs fan and enjoys all aspects of basketball.

Harvey was born and raised in Austin. Since joining Blackhawk, Harvey uses his talents to bring joy and laughter to the team. He got his name from the Suits character, Harvey Specter, because he's always ready for a meet and greet. Harvey enjoys long runs, belly rubs, and sleeping in between client meetings.

Sarah loves a good success story, which is why she puts all her heart into Blackhawk - to help small businesses succeed. Sarah received her B.A. in History/Government from the University of Texas at Austin, then went on to work in Human Resources at the University of Iowa. Sarah is married to Jonathan, and they have 3 amazing kids (and two big dogs). Sarah is addicted to distance running, having run countless half marathons and marathons.

John is outgoing and extremely friendly, always quick with a smile or joke. He possesses a genuine desire to help local entrepreneurs grow their business with the help of his expertise. John graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Technological Entrepreneurship and Management. He is happily married and resides in Austin, TX.

Jennifer is super excited about her future and is more than ready to start building her skill set at Movento Media. Her ultimate goal is helping clients achieve their marketing goals. Jennifer is a recent graduate of St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, with a degree in Marketing. During her time at St. Edward’s, she was a member of the University’s NCAA Women’s Soccer Team. She enjoys the outdoors, barre classes, and experiencing life. As a student at St. Edward’s, Jennifer worked on many projects that included but was not limited to, marketing plans, analytics, and strategies.

Delanie was born and raised in Austin. She has big plans for a future in marketing and is excited to start her journey as a part of Blackhawk. Delanie is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin pursuing a B.A. in Advertising with a minor in Business. She loves spending time outdoors, going to the Greenbelt, hanging out at Zilker, or going out on the lake with friends. When she isn’t at a concert or music festival, she’s at home listening to music, drawing, or somewhere lost in an art gallery. She’s creative, outgoing, and personable, qualities that make her a great fit for our team!

The post Meet the Team appeared first on Movento Media.

If you don’t know about the awesome Blackhawk team, then you’re missing out on some pretty great people. Don’t worry though, you’ll get to know us in the many more blogs to come!

How do we work so well together? How do we get along? How do we have fun? Here’s a sneak peek into our most recent adventure - Hardcore Mini Bikes!

Looks like fun right? We definitely enjoyed some quality team bonding time together. However, although we like to have fun, we also value our interpersonal communication in the office. So, we spent an hour sitting in a conference room having an open conversation about what values matter most to us. Here’s what we came up with…

Accountability: We do what we say we’ll do and hold each other accountable for our responsibilities.

Commitment: We never give up on each other no matter what. We are a support system for one another and will give everyone the benefit of the doubt.

Awareness: We are aware of our team’s values, strengths, weaknesses, and skillsets.

Honesty: We don’t lie to each other, and we value forgiveness. Simple as that.

Loyalty: We protect the mission of our company and stay loyal to our core values.

Respect: The golden rule is slightly flawed, so we made a couple of tweaks. Treat others the way they want to be treated.

Humility: We are all willing to fail. We don’t have too much pride and accept when we’re wrong. We listen. We ask questions.

Be a Warrior: We’re fighters. We’re opinionated. We fight for what’s right and what’s in the best interest of our clients, our company, and ourselves.

Confidence: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Take initiative. Trust your team. Trust yourself.

Move Fast: Perfection is the biggest killer of productivity. We don’t worry about being absolutely perfect. We focus on speed and edit the details as they come.

Encouragement and Reassurance: We show thankfulness to our team. We praise our team. Most importantly, we provide redirection instead of blatant rejection.

These interpersonal values and group norms are what we expect of ourselves and our colleagues. They demonstrate the number of ways we work together to create a company that strives to be the #1 place to start your career.  By sitting together and having a group conversation about these norms, everyone has a chance to offer their input, and they become more important to establishing the culture of our agency as a whole.

The post The Team Talks Interpersonal Values appeared first on Movento Media.

Here at Movento Media

we pride ourselves on offering our clients untouchable quality and freaky fast speed to marketing results. We launch campaigns in days or weeks (not months!). Most firms have internal processes, checks and balances, and a constant stream of communication that honestly slows down everything.
Lucky for you, we’re a completely different breed of digital marketing agency.

Speed to market, speed to results, and speed to revenue is everything. Our clients know that. Investors know that. And once we realized speed was essential to success, we built our entire operation around being quick.

With every new project, every new campaign launch, and every new hire, we’re constantly asking, “Is this the quickest approach possible that will also achieve the best results?”

When we take a moment to ask tough questions, we refer back to a few underlying core values that our company has come to live by.

The Blackhawk core values are actively represented in our team members and our practices.

Establishing and iterating core values has become increasingly rare among companies nowadays. We want to encourage you to understand and act on core values in the workplace.

So, what exactly do we value here at Blackhawk? We would love to give you insight into our amazing organization…

These may seem basic and you’re probably thinking “well duh, that’s what every company values… what makes you guys special?”

Well, we’ll tell you why we’re special.

Actually, instead of telling you… let us show you!

Speed

Our entire methodology is centered around speed. We work quickly to deliver results beyond your expectations, so you can see the power that marketing has on the success of your company.

Transparency

We are 100% transparent internally, and we’ve found that our clients absolutely love it. We have nothing to hide. We have no secrets. (Well, we do have secrets, but we are comfortable sharing them.)

Commitment

We are loyal to our business deals and will honor your marketing goals while treating you with the utmost respect. We have a deep, genuine commitment to our clients and vow to never let you down.

Innovation

We’re not concerned with the other guys. We’re setting the bar for digital marketing and standing out from the crowd! We want to cut through the over-saturation of the same old strategies and campaigns and show people what smart marketing can do.

Collaboration

Our staff appreciates taking time to share different ideas and viewpoints in order to come together on the best ideas EVER! No, but really, the best ideas and plans come from collaborating with your colleagues.

Hard Work

We’re not a huge, well-known company yet. Therefore, we have to work that much harder to build our brand. We have to work that much harder to establish recognition and reputation. But we love what we do and enjoy all aspects of it!

Establishing core values is important for any company… big or small, old or new. We love to put ours into practice every day and want to see that become the norm in other businesses as well.

The post Our Core Values appeared first on Movento Media.

Ahh, social media. While this topic may seem completely exhausted by now, it’s constantly evolving and changing. You really can’t stay away from it! Maybe your company has social accounts such as Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, but you don’t post very often and don’t have a substantial following as a result. Or maybe you just don’t think social media is very important. But if you struggle with brand awareness and recognition and you can’t seem to lock down new customers, this is probably why!

Social media may not seem like a complicated concept anymore now that we all have our own personal accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and maybe even Snapchat… so, what makes a company account different? Well, there is a science to branding your company and image on social media. If you’re using social media, i.e. as immediate access to your customers, make sure it is to your advantage as an owned advertising tool.

Wondering what I’m talking about? Feeling overwhelmed? Prepare to be enlightened.

Here's how to take full advantage of social media platforms...

It’s a new age. You simply have to have it. If a consumer searches your product category or your service industry on Google and your name pops up, great! (Especially since it means your SEO is effective). But, alas, as they continue to investigate your company, there’s no sign of a Facebook page. Or a Twitter page. Or any form of social media page for that matter. There may be a website (which can be enough for some people), but where is the personality? Where’s the bond?

It’s on your nonexistent social media pages.

People will find a different company to check out if they have social media pages and content to help paint the picture of what it’s like to purchase from this business. A website is great and can provide tons of information. But at the end of the day, people still want to see a human aspect behind the company. They want to see pictures and view your accomplishments, read about your community service, view the engagement you have with the public, and maybe notice that their neighbor follows you, too.

Create accounts, post often, mix it up, and promote your brand! This is the essential first step in ensuring you widen your brand exposure and market scope.

You have total and complete control over the content. You can make your company and everything it encompasses look as attractive as you could possibly want. You have control over the content produced, what is posted, how it’s posted, what the post includes (images, video, embedded links, etc.) when it’s posted, hashtags used… the list goes on! Create your own *free* campaigns by using a certain hashtag and encouraging others to use it in their posts about you. Show a variety of fun things your company is doing. This includes happy hours, community service events, team building activities, and more. Showcasing your workplace culture and the tight-knit community will also look attractive to potential employees. In all, you can control how your post will be perceived by your followers. You get to boost all your accomplishments and the positivity surrounding the company.

The engagement opportunities are endless. Consumers have been spoiled by the engagement aspect of social media, and they don’t want to be let down. Engagement with people on your social pages can be tricky, but, if done well, it can be truly invaluable and speak volumes about your customer service. A lot of people judge a company’s customer service based off of how quickly they tweet back or respond to facebook comments. (Notice: I said “how quickly”... because it’s already assumed your company WILL respond.) Whether it’s a complaint or a compliment, it should always be addressed and should always be addressed with a people-first attitude.

Don’t leave your followers and customers wondering. Check pages often to see the most recent comments and messages and answer every. single. one. This can be a laborious job, which is why it is sometimes someone’s entire job. The bigger the following, the higher the follower engagement. Make this engagement a positive and engage back. Make your followers feel special and favorite their tweets… acknowledge them! You’re a real person and you see them! People love that stuff.

You know the term “Word of Mouth”? This is how it’s done now. Building off an engagement that we just talked about, social media is the modern vehicle for word of mouth advertising. People don’t hold back online and can either blast or boost your company. At the end of the day, the average person is your biggest online promoter. People have tons of followers and friends and what they share is multiplied to even more people. Don’t lose sight of the magnitude of this exposure. Your company name can be shared online in the blink of an eye.

Don’t let it hurt your company’s image. Create fun, positive things that are encouraged to be shared. Respond to people’s posts about you with funny or sarcastic comments. Use a language and tone that connects you with your followers. They’ll be more likely to share your name. Relate to your target through your social posts. This will generate more word of mouth advertising on the consumer’s end.

It’s completely necessary for branding. A website represents your brand and might tell the story of your company. Social media brands the company even further than that. Show off the fun side of your company’s brand and image. Put faces to the business and highlight successes. Social media gives you the chance to get creative with branding ideas and helps keep you relevant. It’s a lot easier to update your social media than your website, so keep your brand fresh on here.

The whole point of social media is to create a branded image. Sit down and figure out what you want that to be, then represent it in your posts! Keep a common theme across platforms and establish brand credibility.

It doesn’t discriminate. No matter what products you sell or what services you offer or what industry you’re in… you CAN use social media to market yourself. Just like how there’s a lot of different kinds of people on social media with different interests; there’s room for all different kinds of businesses. Whether you’re a coffee shop, a landscaping company, a hotel, or literally anything else, you have so much to put online. Don’t limit yourself because you’re not a huge company or what you do doesn’t seem “relevant to social media.” Everything is relevant to social media, so go ahead and get that out of your head. Put your best foot forward, make an account and post away!

Wrapping it up...

Building out your business social media is very important. And although it shouldn’t be daunting, it is always evolving and popularity between platforms shifts, so stay on your toes. Don’t fall into a routine on your social pages. Keep things fun, different, fresh, quirky, and surprising. Get people to notice and stir up some buzz. The rest is history!

The post The Power of Social Media Marketing appeared first on Movento Media.

You applied for a job and didn't get it.

Now you’re asking all kinds of questions. And it’s really messing with your confidence. You might be asking yourself, “What could I have done differently? How could I have been more proactive? Was it something I said in the interview?” Before you jump into an emotional breakdown, take a deep breath and keep reading. I  know the feeling, and I want to share with you the most important knowledge for landing your dream job!

Would you believe that before I landed the best position I could’ve imagined, I applied and interviewed for over 40 jobs? I WAS COMPLETELY DISCOURAGED!

But, I didn’t give up and neither should you. I’ve seen far too many people making the same mistakes, including myself. These mistakes are inevitable, but if you don’t learn from them, you’ll keep making them over and over again. I am sharing my experience to be helpful, friendly and to serve as a resource to you. If these steps worked for me, then why can’t they work for you?

I can guarantee if you follow this guide, your chances of landing the job will increase exponentially. It is important to mention however that sometimes you can’t land your dream job on the first shot. Consistency is key, and you should continue to apply for jobs endlessly until you land one that matches with your work ethic, morals, and personality. If you still don’t get an offer, at least you know you tried your absolute best.

So, without further ado, let’s get that offer:

Know Your Target Market. The first thing you need to do is know what you want and where to find it. In the job world, you need to know the players. Which company is on a hiring spree? Which company is showing rapid growth? Those are strong indicators that they need to hire… and hire fast!

If you’ve ever been on the other side of the equation and have received hundreds of resumes from qualified people who all want to be hired, think about the interview process from the recruiter’s perspective. He/she must go through all of the resumes and cover letters to find the perfect candidate. Position yourself through your resume and cover letter as the perfect candidate who can go above and beyond to do the work for them.

Do your research, check out multiple sites and start narrowing positions down. I knew that I wanted to work for a small business in Austin, TX  doing digital marketing. So, that’s what I looked for and is exactly what I found.

Content Mediums. Build a resume and portfolio that showcases your personal brand to a company. Show off different writing styles, social media content, advertisements for separate campaigns, different versions of design work, etc. Don’t include too much of the same thing (i.e. press releases) to avoid over-saturation of content and to highlight more variety and experience. Here’s a snapshot of my portfolio site:

A lot of people will have the same type of work samples and projects, so you’re probably struggling with how to differentiate your work. I was stuck in the same situation until I started gaining new and different experiences to add to my portfolio. The best way to differentiate yourself from the other candidates is to have experience and multiple work samples from as many areas as possible.

Challenge yourself to do something you’ve never done before!

Research. Once you’ve decided on what you want then start the application process and familiarize yourself with the company. Visit the company website and social media sites. Learn all about the company image, message, goals, theme, team, departments, etc. This can help you position yourself well in an interview to show how you fit in and play to their needs.

Looking at the services a company offers is an intriguing perspective to bring up in conversation. Here’s what caught my eye on the Blackhawk website.

You know when something just seems perfect? And you didn’t know how to describe it until you saw it for yourself? Yeah, me too. I knew that the skills Blackhawk specializes in were what I wanted. I liked what I saw and felt like I would fit in really well there.

Create Interest.  People hire people, not applications and resumes. Call the office, email them, connect with an HR Director on LinkedIn and message them. Show that you’re eager and interested.

When I called my potential (now current) employer to touch base on the application I had submitted, he moved me on to the next phase of the interview and emailed me saying it was great initiative to call him (see below).

A simple, effortless phone call does not go unnoticed. It can make a positive difference in how the hiring manager and company perceive you.

Follow up again. Yes, following up is so important I’m putting it on here twice.

Every job I’ve ever had involved me following up multiple times throughout the application and interview process. Email them and let them know you enjoyed meeting and speaking with them. Acknowledge how excited you are about the opportunity to potentially work for the company. Clearly state you are looking forward to hearing back from them. You have to make your own opportunities. Great jobs don’t just fall into your lap. You have to want them and work for them.

The Message You Want To Convey. Show your passion and interest. Don’t call just to call. Be excited. Actually, talk. Answer questions and speak like it’s an interview. Even if it’s a casual follow-up call just introducing yourself, answer their questions like they’re writing down your answers.

When I made my initial follow-up call, everything I said was written down and taken into account when Blackhawk was deciding if I would be the right candidate for the position.

Is that not intimidating?! I could hear him typing through the phone and knew I needed to be on my ‘A’ game. Just look at those notes… he wrote down everything I said. Prove to them that your goal is to be the best person for the position. Ask about the next step and push them a little bit.

Business Goals. After multiple rejections, it was easy for me to lose sight of my personal business goals and I started to lack self-esteem. Take encouragement from someone like I did. My dad was so excited for me just after the first interview. He knew I would get the job and helped me see my own qualities and set my own goals.

Then… I got the job!

Know your goals. What’s the ultimate outcome you’re desiring? Go get it and make it happen. And, with that, I send you on your way! I have full confidence in you and know you will crush your next interview - as long as you keep these things in mind and want it bad enough.

Be excited for the opportunities out there, stay hungry and know that I’m rooting for you!

The post So You Want to Work in Digital Marketing? Here’s How! appeared first on Movento Media.

Hello to all Blackhawk clients! This one's for you.

Clients deserve more than relationships… they deserve their own culture. We are excited to show off the culture we’ve created with our clients because, well, it rocks! We always strive to go the extra mile with our clients. We genuinely want what’s best for them and know they’re depending on us to execute Extremely Fast Marketing Results. I mean, that’s why they chose to work with us.

We do more than meet deadlines, build kickass websites, increase conversions, and create monumental ad campaigns. We become friends with our clients and make it easy for them to approach us with anything they might need.

When you commit to Blackhawk, you’re committing to not just some killer marketing, but a team of genuine people who want to create an enjoyable relationship with you. We treat our clients with complete and utter respect. How are you supposed to foster a positive culture if there’s no respect? Easy answer: you can’t.

We care about our clients’ well-being and enjoy getting to know their life outside the office.

We value the companies we serve JUST AS MUCH as our own internal employees. Hard to believe I know… but it’s true! We will go to the figurative ends of the earth to help and provide for our clients. This creates trust, which, in turn, creates a trustworthy culture.

We want our clients to understand and appreciate how hard we work to create exactly what they need when they need it.

We love our clients and love the culture we have built with them. We love working with them and giving them the answers they’re searching for.

Shout out to you. Because you rock!

The post Our Client Culture appeared first on Movento Media.