Digett

Digett State of the Union: 2014 in Review, and Looking Ahead

Mark Figart — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 12:03:57 +0000

Digett State of the Union: 2014 in Review, and Looking Ahead

Mark Figart Tue, 01/20/2015 - 6:03am

Tonight at 8pm Central, President Obama will deliver his sixth State of the Union Address. I’ve not made such a tradition my own, and think now might be a great time to start letting the world know what’s going on at Digett.

It’s time for Digett to be transparent

We’ve always espoused a philosophy of Transparency for our clients, but I’ve frankly not walked the walk, failing to communicate meaningfully over the years with both staff and clients. I’m hoping to correct this in 2015. Before I talk about the year ahead, though, let me talk a little about what happened last year.

Some good, but lots of bad and ugly

My 2014 was arguably a personal disaster. Never would I have imagined facing the challenges brought on by divorce. Trying to run a business while the rest of my life seems to crumble around me has been challenging.

Most difficult has been the change in relationship with my 7-year-old son. Less than one year ago I was able to see him, play with him, hold him and talk to him every day for hours at a time. Now I’m lucky to see my little man for more than just a few hours each week. Worse is knowing how hard this whole change must be on him, and how little influence I seem to have at times to make him feel better.

I still have to manage what remains of the divorce process, and will be dealing with the effects of divorce for years to come. I don’t wish a similar experience on anyone.

Darkest before the light

I’m not complaining, as there is much for which to be thankful. I am coming to understanding how perceived hardship can provide exactly what we need for growth to occur. “No pain no gain” goes a popular expression, and I believe it on many levels.

I’ve been able to leverage the pain brought on by unexpected turmoil in the pursuit of personal growth, and find myself now somewhere higher on the mountain, looking back down on another time when I seemed unable to catch more than rare glimpses of joy. It makes no sense for me to now regret the past, as it must have played an important role in my having found the presence now to find joy all around me.

Mindfulness, I think, is my “Word of the Year,” and has become a rather constant pursuit for me.

A few accomplishments

That Digett has been profitable through my own year of crisis is testament to the skill and maturity of the Digett team. Valarie has done an amazing job keeping us focused and productive, as evidenced by our completion of some 27 client projects. My decision to make her a partner earlier in the year was a good one.

We’ve attracted excellent clients over the years and boast an exceptional retention rate. 2015 marks our fourth calendar year, for example, to work with Everplans, an exciting startup led by a team in NYC of some of the most interesting and enjoyable people we’ve had the pleasure of working with. Same goes for San Antonio-based Padgett Stratemann, whose progressive marketing and IT leadership stretch us at every turn. Of course we added some incredible new clients to the roster in 2014, too. Catto & Catto is one that I’m extremely proud of, and we launched a new website for them in December.

Speaking of retention rate, we’ve built a highly seasoned team of domain experts ourselves, the “newest” of which, J.D. Collier, has been with Digett for over four years. Valarie Geckler is the old-timer of the gang, at seven-plus years, and Amy Peveto has a respectable five years’ time with Digett. In 2014 we also made part-time employees out of two impressive interns, Wes Mills and Jennifer Edwards.

Not all was rosy, admittedly, as is always the case when hiring doesn’t work right. But I’m hopeful that we learn from every hiring experience, regardless of the outcome, and that we’ll have the wisdom to apply that experience on the next go-round. We should have ample opportunity to try to get it right in 2015, as we’re going to need some additional help.

Why not celebrate?

Having closed the books on a profitable year, it seems only fitting that we hold a celebration. We aborted our first attempt due to an illness, but finally got everyone together on January 10 at Il Sogno Osteria (that’s “dream tavern”) at the Pearl for a fabulous dinner.

We upheld our white elephant gift tradition, and I found this year’s exchanges to be particularly funny (and fun). J.D.’s wife, Laurel, showed all of us up with her homemade extension cord Christmas wreath. The woman, by the way, has unparalleled talent in the world of crafts.

So, what’s in store for the year ahead?

Team development

We are investing in professional development at Digett like never before. Valarie and I both have joined executive peer groups that are already paying off in the way of ideas and accountability. We each meet monthly for an all-day session with our respective groups to hear outstanding presentations from professional speakers on relevant business topics and to air our own business challenges with other members of the group who, in turn, provide feedback and often ask tough questions.

One direct outcome of the peer group experience is Digett’s implementation of weekly one-to-one meetings between staff. These are 30-minute (or shorter) conversations that keep us better connected with business and personal issues that may not otherwise get uncovered. The goal is not only better overall communication, but also accountability to help keep us all moving in the right direction with our own professional development.

Culture

As a team we developed and documented what we refer to as our guiding principles two or three years ago, but we’ve neither made them public nor made them highly visible to assist the positive evolution of our culture. That’s a topic worth writing about, so I’ll share our guiding principles in an upcoming post. Internally we’ll be considering how to best ensure we are reminded of them daily.

Seeking growth

I already alluded to more hiring, and 2015 will likely see us expand the team from the current four full-timers to a more robust six.

Additionally, we’ll likely expand reliance on key partners for capabilities where we are either still developing, or where we don’t see a strategic advantage to bringing such capabilities under our own roof. As our content marketing services have grown, so has our dependency on quality external writers. I think partnering is ideal for developing the best content for Digett’s clients because it gives us access to the best editorial talent in any given industry.

As important as anything else in 2015 will be scaling Digett’s business development capabilities. I’ve pretty much been responsible for finding and closing deals since founding the company, and we don’t have the revenue yet to support hiring someone to focus on sales on a full-time basis.

This means I’m going to have to improve my own effectiveness through a combination of better time management and, frankly, conquering the fear that makes me either procrastinate or chase the wrong deals altogether. That’s hard for me to say out loud, but the truth is I’ve got a long history of avoidance behavior that has often hindered not only my own potential, but that of Digett as well. Yes, I’m working on it!

My goal is not selling more deals, but better ones. This doesn’t always mean larger, although we’ll undoubtedly see average project size increase as we focus on deals that are a better match for our skills and our mature processes. Such projects are more profitable, not only because they imply a higher skill set and greater value, but because they often match us with clients who are more prepared to move swiftly and efficiently, thereby allowing us to compress project durations and move on to the next opportunity.

We’ll continue to refine our skills related to demand and lead generation, and hopefully add a few more sucess stories to our growing portfolio. Not only do our lead gen services allow us to provide long-term value to clients, they serve as an important source of consistent and predictable month-to-month revenue. Pairing monthly retainers with fees from project-oriented activities like designing and building websites helps smooth out month-to-month revenue fluctuation and improve predictability.

The biggest, hairiest goal of all

Overall, we’ll look to double our monthly revenue by the end of the year. This is a huge undertaking, and will stretch every muscle in my being. At forty-nine, I’m afraid I’ve developed some well-seated bad habits, and accomplishing this level of growth means replacing them with more functional behavior.

The change will also require our team to work miracles. They’ve proven capable of doing so already, though, and I’m excited about the opportunity that our growth will provide for all of us.

A year of infinite possibility

I can’t predict much about what 2015 will bring, but I can say with certainty — given our determination to change behaviors — it will be exciting. And regardless of what comes our way, I’m betting it’s going to be fun.

Submitted by Holly on Tue, 01/20/2015 - 11:51pm

So happy to read this Mark, and very proud of you for all that you have overcome. You are more than capable of growing both in business and in self in 2015, and I can't wait to read and see your passion develop into something that benefits more of those who surround you. Happy 2015... I have a feeling that this year is going to be a great year for you.

Submitted by Kyle on Wed, 01/21/2015 - 1:56pm

That was a bold state of the union address.

Thanks for sharing so much.

Let me know how I can help.

Submitted by Mark Figart on Wed, 01/21/2015 - 2:16pm

@Holly: Thank you! Yes, 2015 is going to be a great year!

@Kyle: Your business is all I can ask for. Am so looking forward to working with you.

Submitted by Catherine on Wed, 01/21/2015 - 5:37pm

Say it loud. Say it proud.
You got this!

Submitted by Bert on Thu, 02/26/2015 - 2:20am

As always, I wish you the best and share your message.

Submitted by Amy Peveto on Thu, 02/26/2015 - 8:30am

Thanks, Bert! Have a great weekend.

Submitted by Scottie on Thu, 02/26/2015 - 9:32am

Great state of the Digett! Keep on keepin' on.

Submitted by Amy Peveto on Thu, 02/26/2015 - 9:40am

That's the plan, Scottie, thanks!

Submitted by Adrianne Carnes on Thu, 02/26/2015 - 9:51am

Mark, i consider your state of Digett to be an act of Daring Greatly. It was personal and informative, which I know brought on vulnerability.

I am confident that you and Digett will rise to your expectations.

Best wishes.

Submitted by Mark Figart on Thu, 02/26/2015 - 9:54am

@Bert Always good to hear from you Bert and I appreciate the support.

@Scottie Blast from years' past. Thank you, and keep on keepin' on we shall!

@Adrianne Great to have the support of fantastic clients like yourself. Onward we go.

Submitted by Mark Figart on Fri, 02/27/2015 - 8:01am

@Rick Thank you, buddy. I appreciate your kind words and support, and I hope to see you soon.

We're Accepting Applications for Spring 2015 Internships!

Amy Peveto — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 15:50:31 +0000

We're Accepting Applications for Spring 2015 Internships!

Amy Peveto Wed, 11/05/2014 - 9:50am

The holiday season is almost here, which means it’s time to start our search for our spring 2015 Digital Marketing, Digital Design, and Web Development interns. We’ve got exciting projects in the works, and we would love to have an intern team tackle them with us!

3 reasons to intern with Digett

Gain hands-on experience

Forget making coffee and fetching lunches. How about making a promotional video, designing an event program, or building a website?

If you want to learn what it’s really like to work for a digital marketing agency, this is your perfect opportunity.

Work side-by-side with executive leadership

Have you ever interned somewhere and been stuck in a separate room with a bunch of other interns, working on meaningless busywork? We do things a little differently.

Our interns work side-by-side with our team on real-world projects, benefiting from our decades of digital marketing experience.

Grow your portfolio

We work with you to help you complete projects that add to your portfolio, expanding your expertise and making you more attractive to potential employers.

What previous interns are saying

“Being able to work with such a friendly team and a welcoming work environment...I instantly felt like I belonged from my first day.”

“It's nice to hear that you're doing a good job and that you're not taken advantage of because you're an intern. It helped boost my confidence as a designer.”

“The project was intimidating at first and I wasn't sure I would be able to complete it to [Digett’s] standards, but I ended up creating a pretty cool video! It is now something I can show off proudly on my portfolio.”

“...if I felt stuck or not sure what to do, there was always a lot of open communication with the team….when working individually, I felt I got to learn a lot and develop as a writer and marketer.”

Apply now for spring 2015

We’ve got three internship positions — Digital Marketing, Digital Design, and Web Development — and are looking for the best local students to fill them.

Visit our internship program page to:

Read more about internship requirements
Get lists of your likely projects
Learn how to apply

Looking forward to seeing what you can do!

One Internship, Many Lessons Learned

Michelle Burk — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 17:24:17 +0000

One Internship, Many Lessons Learned

Michelle Burk Wed, 08/13/2014 - 12:24pm

As the summer is coming to an end, my time here at Digett is coming to an end, as well. The chance to intern at Digett has been a wonderful opportunity and reassured me (not that I needed it!) of how much I want to be a graphic designer, which is perfect, considering I am entering my final year of college.

My internship gave me the chance to gain hands-on experience and sharpen my design and professional skills, which makes me a better potential employee in the creative careers world.

Time is limited

In school, we are given plenty of time to complete projects, and constant reminders of how we will definitely not have as much time to work on projects in the real world. It’s true.

When I am given a project at Digett, I typically need to get it done within a tight timeframe, meaning I don’t have as much time to ponder sketches and concepts, or decide to completely overhaul the design a week before it is due.

A tight schedule forces me to come up with an efficient design concept, execute it, nitpick the details and finish it while fulfilling the client’s wishes. In the end, I would almost consider this just working productively — getting things done and moving on to the next task in order to keep the workflow going.

Don’t be shy — communication is essential to success

As a self-proclaimed introvert, it can sometimes be difficult for me to speak up or ask for help when I need it. I knew this was something I would need to work on once I start my job search, and interning at Digett gave me a chance to boost my communication skills in a professional environment.

Whether it is giving your input on a project, requesting feedback on a design you worked hard on, or finding the right questions to ask at a client or team meeting, communication amongst coworkers and clients is essential to being productive and successful.

Other notable things I learned

Some things I also had to throw in:

Setting all disdain aside, InDesign is actually not that bad.
I now know where to find the best GIFs to express every thought or reaction I have.

Projects completed

Digital ads for Van Delden Wastewater Systems and Authentic Custom Homes
Updated Twitter imagery for several clients, including an ACG private equity event and Digett
Print and digital magazine ad for the ACG private equity event.
Print ad for Authentic Custom Homes
Designed whitepapers for a business software client
Designed guide to native plants for Authentic Custom Homes
Created a logo for Digett’s Internship Program
Blog posts for Digett

..it has been a design-filled summer!

And from here…

I will be continuing my studies in Graphic Design in New York City, where I can completely surround myself with art, design, and tons of local coffee shops to try. I am looking forward to taking my experience and lessons learned from interning at Digett and applying it elsewhere — whether it’s in school or in the business world.

Best of luck to the future interns, and a sincere thank you to the Digett team for having me this summer!

(Editor’s note: We have truly enjoyed having Michelle with us this summer. From our first discussion she impressed us with her poise, skills, and positive attitude. We’ll miss you, Michelle — come visit us anytime!)

Wrapping Up My Summer at Digett

Jennifer Edwards — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 15:12:33 +0000

Wrapping Up My Summer at Digett

Jennifer Edwards Tue, 08/12/2014 - 10:12am

Although San Antonio’s hot, steamy weather may say otherwise, summer is coming to an end and so is my internship here at Digett. These past few months have been a whirlwind of new projects and lessons for me, helping me grow both professionally and as an individual. Even though this is my second internship here at Digett, there still hasn’t been one dull moment for this digital marketing intern.

It’s never done the first time

As a marketing intern, I spend a lot of time writing, editing, and revising different content for our clients. Whether it’s a monthly newsletter for custom homes or a blog post about strategy, it will never be done on the first try. No matter how hard I worked on the first draft, there was always room for improvement.

At first, this can be frustrating — it might feel like someone is bashing your work. However, a first draft is supposed to be just that — a draft. Odds are you’re not going to be able to get all your thoughts down in a perfect, concise way the first time. Trust me.

Rather than look at editing as a dull and repetitive process, take it as a time to improve and grow as a writer. When writing the first draft, a particular sentence or word may have seemed perfect, but when taking a second look you realize it doesn’t even make any sense!

Cut the fluff

As a writer, I use to feel like I should write more, filling in the spaces with adjectives and extra details. But this isn’t always ideal for marketing.

During my summer internship, I assisted in writing content for some of our clients’ websites. With the use of research, old content, and a well-drafted site copy, I was able to start generating content for each client. But there was an issue: I was adding too much fluff.

Shorter paragraphs that get to the point make it easier for the customer to read and understand what is being offered. Unnecessary details and filler words make it harder for the customer to read. Plus if you have heaping paragraphs on every page, the reader might be discouraged to continue through all the content, attempting to find the message.

Before you say goodbye…

I’ve had an amazing time interning with Digett, so when I was asked to stay during the fall, how could I say no? With such a collaborative, friendly, and open work environment, I feel there is still so much to learn from the Digett team.

So yes, I will be staying with Digett during the fall, continuing to improve my writing and marketing skills. I’ve loved being challenged by the projects I am assigned here and am excited to see what other projects I am faced with!

(Editor's note: We're so excited to have Jen with us again for the fall. Looking forward to finishing many more great projects with her!)

[Image Credit: Nic McPhee - license]

Need a Great Web Developer? Hire Through Codeup.

Amy Peveto — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 14:51:19 +0000

Need a Great Web Developer? Hire Through Codeup.

Amy Peveto Thu, 06/19/2014 - 9:51am

Whether you’re a startup or well-established San Antonio business, finding developers can be difficult; it can take months — even a year or two — to find a skilled developer. But this year we found and hired a great candidate in less than two months. And we did it through Codeup.

We need more developers

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that software developer employment is projected to grow 30% from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations.

But as we’ve experienced while interviewing job candidates (and even interns midway through Computer Science degrees), there’s an enormous gap between what the San Antonio market needs and the skills applicants have.

Self-teaching is the name of the game for many, but development is such a complex beast that it’s hard to narrow focus and hold oneself accountable.

This leaves many smart people unable to learn skills critical to a growing industry, and businesses unable to fill lucrative job openings.

No need to fear, Codeup is here!

This supply and demand problem was well-known to Codeup founder Michael Girdley, who time and again talked with business owners who believed the lack of programmers and developers was normal and a problem that couldn’t be solved.

Together with Jason Straughan and Chris Turner, Girdley built and launched Codeup, a San Antonio-based intensive 12-week boot camp that turns mere mortals into first-class computer programmers.

Attendees have their butts kicked through three months of all-day classes taught by industry experts and entrepreneurs. They learn the foundations of web development — HTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, and Javascript — and at the end of the course present real-world applications they’ve built to employers who are looking for those exact skills.

Codeup gives its graduates the ability to walk into a job with a good employer and be useful from day one. Not only is this beneficial to employers, it gives graduates a set of skills they can use to improve their lives.

We hired through Codeup

Codeup’s first graduating class presented their applications to potential employers at a Demo Day on April 22, 2014. Digett President Mark attended those presentations, and two weeks later hired one of the graduates, Travis Flatt, as a UX Engineer.

“The Codeup Experience has more to offer than rote learning of a programming language,” says Travis. “There's structure and purpose to it, and it’s a great opportunity to make connections within the San Antonio web development community. Codeup is built with the end goal of creating professional developers, which is a broader scope than simply 'learning some code'.”

Not only was Travis’ application, Eat Safe SA, creative and well-architected, he also presented the project well and distinguished himself from others in the program — just what Mark was looking for.

“I had a strategy,” Mark admits. “I figured if I could get the inside scoop on who the really good developers were, I could eliminate a good chunk of the risk that seems to always accompany a new hire. Turns out it wasn’t hard. The students themselves talked openly at Demo Day about who they thought were the rock stars, and Travis’ name was one that kept coming up. I thought he had a great mix of skills to complement our existing team, and so far that’s proven correct.”

Codeup makes our team stronger

Digett’s strongest selling point is that every one of our team members is an expert in his or her field — it’s the combination of these strengths that allows us to provide the best possible results with our projects.

Hiring through Codeup is the easiest way we’ve found to bring on a developer whose skills complement our team and lead to a more successful business.

“It is awesome to partner with an amazing company like Digett,” says Codeup co-founder Chris Turner. “They truly understand that great team members are what makes their business so successful. We’re proud to be a part of that.”

Register for Codeup and save

We believe in the power of Codeup, and want to help you take advantage of this opportunity to change your life in three short months.

Simply register for Codeup at this link and enter Digett in the referral field to receive $100 off the cost of the Codeup program.

You will be challenged, but you will succeed. And your life will never be the same. Code on!

My Summer Bummer & Lessons Learned

Gabrielle Kinderknecht — Wed, 21 May 2014 13:40:04 +0000

My Summer Bummer & Lessons Learned

Gabrielle Kind… Wed, 05/21/2014 - 8:40am

Now a graduate from University of the Incarnate Word, I have obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design with minors in Business Marketing and Art History. I didn’t think I would be bummed to get my degree but now that it’s summer my internship at Digett is coming to an end. I’m bummed to leave such an amazing company and employees who make Digett stand out. I’m trying to be optimistic and not focus on what I’ll be leaving, but instead on what I will offer my next employer from the things I have learned at Digett.

Working alone and together

At a small company like Digett, I usually work alone on tasks handed to me. Learning how to manage my time depends on the priority of the project assigned.

Some companies will have your boss constantly pressuring you to complete a deadline, but when you do not have that constant push, who is responsible for meeting those deadlines? Yourself.

Becoming a self-starter and learning to manage time can be challenging but writing a list can help prioritize deadlines. We can avoid feeling overwhelmed if we take it step-by-step and project-by-project. If we avoid looking at the whole picture and instead break things down we can bypass feeling overwhelmed. Instead we can feel accomplished when we get to scratch out things on the list. Companies admire people who are self-starters and want employees who have these skills.

Getting along with your peers and being able to work on a project is a key role in any company. You see these people everyday so if you cannot get along your work environment won’t be enjoyable. Even if you cannot seem to agree with a person’s beliefs, learning how to be civil to complete a project is a must. Fortunately I never had a problem at Digett, because all their employees have great relationships.

Working on communication

Interning for Digett requires you to write a blog article once a month. Working with Digett’s blog manager Amy, I have learned a lot of the ins and outs of blogging.

I admit that I am horrible with grammar and wording sentences to catch the audience’s attention. She has guided me on improving my sentence structures and writing on the web. Her advice was that “writing take a lot of practice.” I cannot agree with her more — you can become a great writer over time but like anything else, it takes experience to improve your writing.

This will be my eighth and final blog article at Digett and I can honestly say I feel a lot more confident in writing than when I started. I know these skills will be a vital when writing emails to clients or putting together presentations or even choosing a nice slogan when I am designing for a brand or company.

Working for experience

Internships are highly recommended for employers to understand how you work with others and how you can be valuable to their company.

Many look at money when they are choosing a job or internship. A lot of people do not see past the “I’m working for free” and do not see the gains to having real world experience with clients.

Although many internships are unpaid, I don’t feel like I was cheated at Digett because I gained a lot of real world experience I couldn’t learn at school. It’s not about working for money all the time it’s all about learning.

I wouldn’t trade a stack of cash for what I learned here at Digett and I’m excited to take what I’ve learned and apply it elsewhere.

Working to get a “big girl job”

Now I’m off to find a job in graphic design and after interning at Digett I feel a lot more confident in my presentation skills and my work. Showing confidence in an interview helps the employer believe you are qualified for job. I am excited to show off my work, now that it is all complete. I hope to get good feedback on my portfolio and constructive criticism to better my work.

You can view my portfolio on my webpage here. Stay updated with me on Linkedin and Instagram. So this isn’t goodbye, it’s an “I’ll see you later.”

(Editor’s note: We’ve been so excited to have Gabie with us for two semesters. Gabie, a final congratulations on graduating, and we wish you the best of luck in your career. Stay in touch, and take care!)

What I’ve Learned Interning at Digett

Jennifer Edwards — Tue, 20 May 2014 14:37:22 +0000

What I’ve Learned Interning at Digett

Jennifer Edwards Tue, 05/20/2014 - 9:37am

As my Spring internship at Digett comes to an end, I have been thinking about my time here and what it has meant to me. These past few months at Digett have been amazing, allowing me to grow as an individual and expand my professional experience. Digett’s work culture has influenced me to get the most out of my internship, pushing me to keep improving every day.

My projects

Blogging

One of my main projects here at Digett was writing blogs about different marketing strategies and topics. I know this might sound simple, but writing blogs takes a lot more work than simply sitting down and writing.

First, I would thoroughly research the topic (I need to make sure I know what I’m talking about!). Then, creating an outline allowed me to map out what I was going to talk about and in what order. After, I would start writing.

Once I’ve written the blog post, I would edit the blog multiple times with my editing wizard co-worker, Amy. The post would be edited around three times at least before being ready to be published. Each blog post pushed me to be a better writer and to think outside of the box.

Video creation

My favorite project at Digett was creating a promo video for ACG’s Private Equity Two-Step Equity event. This required storyboarding, scripting, editing, hiring voice talent, and layering vocal and background music tracks.

At first, the project overwhelmed me. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to pull it off. However, once I started forming the storyboard and script, the project started to click. I also could not have finished the video without feedback from my supportive Digett co-workers.

Pinterest optimization

Another fun project I had was Pinterest optimization for Authentic Custom Homes’ Pinterest account. I was able to enhance their pins by linking them to the company’s website and adding searchable keywords to the description.

Pinterest is already a favorite website of mine, so being able to work on it and look at gorgeous pictures of custom homes was really fun.

Communication is key

During my time here at Digett, I learned how valuable communication is in the workplace. Not only did I know about my own projects, but was updated at every Monday team meeting about what was going on with all our clients. With everyone in the loop, knowing what needed to be done was much more clear.

Furthermore, open communication about my projects with my co-workers allowed me to receive beneficial feedback.

Thankfully this isn’t goodbye

I can’t express in one blog post how grateful I am to have had this opportunity at Digett. The team accepted me with open arms and were always willing to help out. Coming into a new internship is always kind of scary, but the Digett team made it easy to feel like I fit in.

Thankfully this isn’t goodbye though! I will be interning at Digett through the summer as well and am very excited to learn even more while here. I am excited to continue improving not only my professional skills, but also my personal skills.

My other articles

Do Less, Do Better, Get More

Mark Figart — Tue, 13 May 2014 21:51:31 +0000

Do Less, Do Better, Get More

Mark Figart Tue, 05/13/2014 - 4:51pm

If, as Joel Gascoigne writes from Javea, Spain in a recent post, “The key to startup productivity is managing energy, not time,” then a similar concept applies in marketing.

The idea that “in content marketing it’s not quantity, but quality, that matters” is not a new one, and only mildly tangential to an arguably angry post I published recently on the Digett blog.

Since that rant, however, I’ve climbed down from my high horse and am now engaging in a more productive internal dialogue aimed at improving the quality of Digett’s work product.

How, I ask myself, does one lead an organization to deliver ever greater work for our clients? Joel got me thinking about the importance of renewal, which leads directly to the first of three ideas I am pursuing both in personal and work life in order to find more meaning.

Great work originates from creative minds

You can’t light a fire with a wet match. I believe, though, we all are blessed with an eternal pilot light which — when sheltered from the storm of (mostly useless) thoughts that invade and occupy our brains — can spark a masterpiece. Creativity is enabled from within, and only by the aspiring creator.

As leaders we must start with an honest look in the mirror. We practice and strengthen our self-awareness, and as we do our presence yields positive energy associated with, for example, joy and gratitude. Then we help others achieve the same awareness through teaching, mentoring, and encouraging. And voilá, those from whom we expect greatness often rise to the challenge, be they programmers, designers, editors, analysits, or bad-ass project managers. In this state of being, renewal comes continuously.

I’m not saying it’s a bad idea to “get away” from time to time. For some it’s downright important. But I suggest that we should be separating ourselves from our vocational passion in order to seek balance in our lives (think Tao Te Ching) rather than to “refuel.”

We may envision an outcome, but we experience only the journey

My most meaningful achievements have never correlated with my so-called “goals.”

When I was a young boy I took on the enormous challenge of running a trap line in the swamps and rice fields of southeast Texas where the intersection of the Piney Woods and Gulf Coast form an outdoorsman’s paradise. While I was a power user of checklists to help ensure I always had the vast assortment of tools, baits, all-terrain vehicle repair items, ammunition, and warm weather clothing I might need at any moment, I did not have a list of goals back in my desk drawer at home that led me to become an expert trapper.

I simply lived every day as if it were my last, experiencing every moment — every breath of ice-cold fresh air, every painfully cold extremity, every thrill of success, every disappointment — as if I may not have another full day of moments in my future. I followed my passion, and I have never been happier than I was then. Goals were never a part of that picture.

I don’t have anything against goals, per se, and some people apparently find great benefit in setting and pursuing them. But for me, my goals have generally ended up reprenting an ideal in the form of a “destination” of some sort.

As it turns out, I’m a lot less effective at finding fulfillment in destinations than I am at discovering wonder, intrigue, and amazement along the path I’m on now; whatever path that may be.

Given my own experience, I see no choice but to serve up this perspective to my team at Digett. It’s not “happy clients” we are striving for, for example. It’s not a profit margin of 25%.

I ask only that my teammates give themselves to the present; that they experience every moment without lamenting the mistakes of yesterday or anticipating the possible rewards of tomorrow. Let this moment, this task, this challenge, serve to awaken our hearts and minds.

We cannot more effectively serve our clients anywhere else but in the present, and why would we want to try to dwell elsewhere, anyway?

In this process we gain access to a joy, passion, and a previously-unknown creative capacity. Along this journey great work takes form.

Be prepared for “inefficiency” in pursuit of creativity

Great works take time. Nobody says “Ol’ Abe Lincoln took way too long to write the Gettysburg address.” I wasn’t there, but I bet the President took his precious time distilling his thoughts on the war down to ten sentences. Yes, ten.

If we are experiencing the journey fully, then what do we care how long it takes? Sure, we have client budgets to consider. Sufficient budget or not, though, are we better off staying in business if we are living in the hell of mediocrity? Count me out and sign me up to walk the plank as long as I can be free to truly live those last few steps.

If great work takes time, then one may ask, “How on earth will we get our quota of articles published this month?" Well, maybe it’s time to reconsider the overly-ambitious editorial calendar as the perfect place to begin our new adventure. How about chopping eight monthly articles down to two? Or one? Or one every two months?

I guarantee you that if you’re producing mediocre content now — and if you’ll shift the same time you have invested in the eight articles into producing one high quality piece of content — you’ll be better off. We are all practically drowning in a sea of mediocre content, so what makes you think yours is somehow going to rise above the noise? Stop doing mediocre.

To conclude, I beseech thee, dear reader, to abandon thy commitments to engage in activity that doesn’t matter. Save your energy for the stuff that does. It will likely mean you do less, but in so doing you will do better.

[Image: chris]

The Secret to Landing Your Dream Internship

Amy Peveto — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 13:48:32 +0000

The Secret to Landing Your Dream Internship

Amy Peveto Wed, 04/02/2014 - 8:48am

I’ve looked at hundreds of resumes and spoken with dozens of applicants for Digett’s internship program, and have learned a lot about the interview process from an employer’s perspective. Ready to hear the single biggest secret to landing your dream internship?

Make it impossible for me to cut you

During big recruiting pushes I see 50 or so resumes a week; it’s my job to separate the wheat from the chaff and make sure I’m not wasting my time — or Mark’s — on applicants who are unqualified.

I’m looking for almost any reason to disqualify applicants so that I’m able to schedule fewer phone calls and in-person interviews.

Since our interns are college students with little to no relevant job experience, I have to rely on more granular screening methods.

The owners of bad resumes and non-responders are first on the chopping block. Alternatively, a nicely-formatted resume and solid communication skills make it harder for me to bump someone from the list without speaking to him or her first.

So, how should you go about impressing me (or any other recruiter)?

Create a sparkling resume

Whether or not you have relevant job experience is less important in an internship setting (at least for Digett’s program).

What’s more important is your ability to write a resume that doesn’t make you look like a complete juvenile.

Drop the emoticons

“Smiley” and “winky” faces may be appropriate in texts and informal conversation, but they do not belong on a resume.

I’ve only seen this on a couple resumes, but even that makes me worried. Keep your statements fact-based and professional.

Microsoft Word is not a qualification

The days when the ability to type, save, and print a Word document was a special skill have been over for at least a decade.

Take it off your resume right now and replace it with a skill specifically related to your field of interest — Photoshop, FinalCut Pro, QuickBooks, etc.

Triple-check your work

Earlier this year I was handed a resume by an International Business major working toward his MBA, and within 10 seconds had found four typos — he misspelled both his major and the name of his university.

Pay attention when your computer’s typing program indicates that a word is misspelled. Print out your resume and go through it manually word by word, and have a friend look it over, too.

There is zero excuse for typos on your resume. If they pop up on your resume — the document which represents you to any company to which you apply — I hold little hope for your ability to communicate professionally and provide excellent work for our clients.

Beef up your online presence

This is a more complex challenge for those interested in entering the marketing or social media fields, but at minimum everyone should have a LinkedIn profile that includes everything on their resume, plus a little bit more.

Most of the LinkedIn profiles I see are sparse, and they all look the same. So when I come across one that looks great and provides me lots of information on the candidate’s experience and skills, there’s no way I can pass it up.

This is a total #humblebrag, but I’m quite proud of my LinkedIn profile. It’s not the fanciest, but it’s got all the info from my resume, plus a decent photo, my skills and certifications, a handful of my publications, links to the Digett and my personal blog, etc.

Learn on your own time

The best people in any industry are the ones who consistently take advantage of ways to learn more about their craft.

Classes offer fantastic learning opportunities, but you won’t be in school forever; your industry, no matter how well-established, will change over time.

Read books and blogs related to your chosen field
Find a description of your ideal job, see what skills are required, and get to work learning them
Surf the web for free tutorials and webinars, take extra classes, etc.
Find a mentor in your industry from whom you can learn

When school isn’t giving you the education you need to find an internship or job in your ideal field, you need to be willing to go the extra mile on your own.

If you’re not willing to do this — if you’re not passionate about doing your best — perhaps it’s time to consider a different vocation.

Forget everything you’ve heard about intern/job hunting

Instead, take a lesson from this awesome LinkedIn presentation. Get your resume in shape, kick your social media presence into a higher gear, put effort into learning more skills, and go forth and intern!

Everything I Knew about the College Job Hunt Was WRONG - And Here's How You Can Succeed from LinkedIn Higher Education

[Image: Liz Welsh]

Say Hi to Digett’s Spring 2014 Interns!

Amy Peveto — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 15:20:56 +0000

Say Hi to Digett’s Spring 2014 Interns!

Amy Peveto Tue, 02/04/2014 - 9:20am

Our internship program is in its third semester, and we’re happy to have a great group of ladies with us this spring. Their first day was in January, and we’ve already got them involved in numerous client projects.

Divya Chinchinada - Developer

Divya recently graduated with a Master of Science in Computer Science from St. Mary’s University. She’s got strong programming skills, and we’re dropping her into as many Drupal build projects as we can.

Jennifer Edwards - Marketer

Jen is a junior at Trinity University, interested in Business Administration, Communication, and Marketing. Her previous internship experience and sharp eye for copyediting make her a great addition to the team.

Gabrielle Kinderknecht - Designer

If Gabie seems familiar, it’s because she was one of our Fall 2013 interns. We like her so much and her skills are so top-notch that we asked her to stick around for one more semester!

What’s next?

Over the next few months we’ll have these three knee-deep in code, designing email templates and print pieces, creating scripts and storyboards, adding to their portfolios, and — of course — blogging.

We’re excited to be working with such great students, and look forward to all they are able to accomplish this semester.

Digett

Digett State of the Union: 2014 in Review, and Looking Ahead

It’s time for Digett to be transparent

Some good, but lots of bad and ugly

Darkest before the light

A few accomplishments

Why not celebrate?

Team development

Culture

Seeking growth

The biggest, hairiest goal of all

A year of infinite possibility

LEAVE A COMMENT

We're Accepting Applications for Spring 2015 Internships!

3 reasons to intern with Digett

Gain hands-on experience

Work side-by-side with executive leadership

Grow your portfolio

What previous interns are saying

Apply now for spring 2015

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One Internship, Many Lessons Learned

Time is limited

Don’t be shy — communication is essential to success

Other notable things I learned

Projects completed

And from here…

LEAVE A COMMENT

Wrapping Up My Summer at Digett

It’s never done the first time

Cut the fluff

Before you say goodbye…

LEAVE A COMMENT

Need a Great Web Developer? Hire Through Codeup.

We need more developers

No need to fear, Codeup is here!

We hired through Codeup

Codeup makes our team stronger

Register for Codeup and save

LEAVE A COMMENT

My Summer Bummer & Lessons Learned

Working alone and together

Working on communication

Working for experience

Working to get a “big girl job”

LEAVE A COMMENT

What I’ve Learned Interning at Digett

My projects

Blogging

Video creation

Pinterest optimization

Communication is key

Thankfully this isn’t goodbye

My other articles

LEAVE A COMMENT

Do Less, Do Better, Get More

Great work originates from creative minds

We may envision an outcome, but we experience only the journey

Be prepared for “inefficiency” in pursuit of creativity

LEAVE A COMMENT

The Secret to Landing Your Dream Internship

Make it impossible for me to cut you

Create a sparkling resume

Drop the emoticons

Microsoft Word is not a qualification

Triple-check your work

Beef up your online presence

Learn on your own time

Forget everything you’ve heard about intern/job hunting

LEAVE A COMMENT

Say Hi to Digett’s Spring 2014 Interns!

Divya Chinchinada - Developer

Jennifer Edwards - Marketer

Gabrielle Kinderknecht - Designer

What’s next?

LEAVE A COMMENT