We’re looking to hire a Digital Marketing Assistant. A great fit would be someone who is detail oriented and enjoys working with teams to execute projects big and small. The full description is below!

DIGITAL MARKETING ASSISTANT

Out & About Communications, an integrative marketing and communications firm based in San Diego, CA, is seeking a go-getting Digital Marketing Assistant to join our team. This part-time position will include day-to-day administrative duties, assignments with quick turnarounds, scheduling content, updating design files, website updates and projects as assigned. Get the full scoop below.

TO APPLY, SUBMIT YOUR COVER LETTER, RESUME AND SOCIAL LINKS TO HELLO@OUTANDABOUTCOMM.COM.

THIS ROLE IS FOR YOU IF…

• You can work well under pressure. You get a task that needs an edit to polish it off, and you say “I got it!”
• Working with tools like Hubspot, WordPress and scheduling tools is your jam. You like playing around with the nitty-gritty details to polish off each product.
• You’re a digital maven. You love digging into all things digital. It’s pretty obvious to you if something looks like it isn’t designed for web or social media.
• You know enough about Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop to be dangerous. You can navigate your way around design files to edit and update them.
• The digital work is awesome, but you also enjoy working with a team to brainstorm, educate interns and plan events.
• Typo! Eek! Some call you the grammar police.
• Client photoshoots, video filming and costume prep, oh my! All of this sounds great and you’re on board to help where help is needed.
• You spot website bugs quickly and enjoy understanding UX, UI, and responsive design and how it works across platforms and browsers.
• The idea of working with a creative team — virtually and in person — sounds like an amazing experience to partner and learn from others who love their craft.
• Bottom line, you’re up for jumping in to learn and get your hands dirty on projects big and small.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Basic understanding of Adobe Creative Suite, social media, scheduling tools, WordPress, HTML and email marketing tools.
• Fluency in Google Docs and Dropbox.
• Ability to work quickly and efficiently under pressure with strong communication skills.
• High attention to detail when making edits and reviewing documents.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, preferably in graphic design, marketing or journalism.
• 1+ years of hands-on experience with tactical marketing projects from development to execution.
• Must be based in sunny San Diego, CA.
• A self-starter who has a genuine passion for marketing, excellent judgment and an efficient work ethic.

WORK BENEFITS

• Flexible working environment (onsite and remote)
• 401(k) benefits available
• Breakroom stocked with snacks and beverages
• Regular team “lunch and learns”
• Parking available onsite

WORKING CONDITIONS

We operate in a collaborative environment, so the ability to work and communicate well with others is a must. Our office is climate controlled and has moderate noise levels.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Mobility and sensory abilities required for the organization of events, computer use, telephone access, and communication one-on-one as well as in group meetings. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. Must be able to lift 20 pounds and sit or stand for long periods of time. Work will include some long hours, evenings and weekends.

STATUS

PART TIME, HOURLY

CLASSIFICATION

NON-EXEMPT

We have great news! We recently found out we won a Gold Hermes award for our Integrated Digital Marketing Campaign for Coastal Payroll. We’re so grateful — for the award, which is going to look great in our office, but even more so for the dynamic relationships we have with our clients that allow us to achieve this recognition.

The Story Behind the Award

We started working with Coastal Payroll about a year and a half ago. The company had a really firm concept of who it was as an organization, its company culture and its unique identity. Team members knew what made Coastal stand out — but they weren’t necessarily leveraging that voice and sharing the message clearly.  

From the start, our relationship has truly been a partnership. We’ve gotten to know various team members and departments and developed a solid understanding of their goals as an organization. We’ve come alongside, as an extension of the company, to work through the team’s changing needs — daily. Everything we do is about driving toward the goals we establish — and tweaking or overhauling as company and department goals change.

With that level of trust, we’ve been able to accomplish a lot, including:

• Regular e-newsletters and emails
• Video series
• Social media posts
• Website optimization
• Marketing collateral
• Lead and referral partner engagement
• Events communications
• And more (a lot more)

Strategic Outlook

As we developed a relationship within the organization, working directly with the sales team has been key to our success. It’s more than just building an attractive campaign. We talk with team members to get an idea of their goals — as well as their interactions with potential customers, pain points, hesitations and common questions, and conversions. This helps us build a strategy that actually drives numbers.

Having Fun

At the end of the day, Out & About Communications and Coastal Payroll are first and foremost about people — and doing great work for them. One of the best parts about working with clients like this is our ability to really dig deep and create exciting content that converts. We all end up having a great time and developing concepts, even as we geek out a bit about the things we’re passionate about.

Thank you to Coastal Payroll — and all our clients — for entrusting us with your message and letting us work our magic to help you reach your target audience. We’re excited about lots of new projects on the horizon and can’t wait to see what comes of them.

Come learn more about how we can make these things happen for you. And follow us on Instagram to stay up on all that’s going on with us.  

At Out & About Communications, we love transforming and launching new websites for our clients that will help them connect with more of their target audience and grow their businesses. Here’s our latest website reveal for MJP Wealth Advisors, based in Connecticut.

At the beginning of each website redesign project, we sit down and listen to the mission and values each client wants to convey to their target audience. Then we create a design to help better achieve those goals, as well as infuse tested and proven digital strategies to generate more traffic and leads to reach that audience more effectively. Learn more about our process.

It’s also important to note that we never use templates or off-the-shelf themes. Every site we create is custom to fit each client’s unique needs. The site is responsive and mobile-friendly so prospects can move through each page quickly and easily find information while they’re out and about.

MJP Wealth Advisors had a website that could benefit from a facelift. It needed a more seamless user experience with clear actionable items on each page, like call-to-action buttons. Most importantly, it needed to tell more of its story: that its team brings balance to clients’ financial lives.

The firm also wanted to showcase its awards and new employee photography as well as provide better access to client resources and the client portal. So, we got to work!

We started with the value proposition — the main point MJP wanted to convey — and made that the first statement visitors read when visiting the homepage. It’s not just about financial planning and wealth management; it’s about what kind of life clients want to live long into retirement: one that gives them the balance and freedom to make the most of every day.

Before

The previous home page had a call-to-action to “learn more” that was almost hidden. Now, the call-to-action is front and center and encourages users to not only learn more, but begin the process of balancing their financial life with MJP Wealth Advisors. The homepage is more about the client and less about the firm. This allows prospective clients to start to feel like the firm really understands them and what they want.

After

Another important item is the risk-free assessment prospects can take to get started. Instead of dedicating a page to this, which could get buried or missed, this call-to-action — which leads to the assessment — was added to the bottom of every page.

We then moved on to reorganization of the site, starting with the navigation. The pages were re-sorted under new tabs to create a beginning, middle and end to users’ paths as they move around.

As mentioned above, one of MJP Wealth Advisors’ main goals was to make the client portals and resources more accessible; so we added these items to the navigation so they can’t be missed. The resources tab also houses the blog and other tools and resources clients or prospects might need to find quickly.

Top Navigation Before

Top Navigation After

The services page has been streamlined with easy-to-read sections to clearly convey all service offerings. The process page maps out the path clients will take. Both these pages bring much-needed confidence and clarity to prospective clients, who are probably feeling confused about where to start.

The team page also got a major facelift, to showcase the team’s updated headshots and bios. Team pages are often one of the most highly visited pages on a site because prospects want to see who’s behind the curtain. When you’re selling services, you’re really selling your team, so giving this page a lot of love will make a positive impact on your first impression and your bottom line.

Finally, MJP Wealth Advisors wanted to easily showcase the awards and recognition they have received over the years. They have a lot to be proud of. We folded that into the About Us section. The awards section is important because it builds trust and credibility and lets other people say how awesome you are.

Thinking of redesigning your website? Here are some more of our tips to get started. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to chat more. We’d love to hear from you.

At Out & About Communications, we’re committed helping you grow your business by strengthening your messaging, amplifying visibility and increasing leads.

One way we can drive more traffic and create a higher ROI for your brand is to redesign your website. You only have one chance to make a first impression and your website is often the first place your prospects interface with your brand. It’s very important to position your brand with the right design, copy and strategy to put your best foot forward.

How do you know if it’s time for a web redesign? Here’s a quick rundown of what to know and where to start.

Once a web redesign is on the table, Out & About has a specific website approach and process in place that will ensure every step is being addressed. Let’s take a look.

What is Out & About’s website philosophy?

Your business isn’t cookie cutter, and we believe your website shouldn’t be, either. That’s why every website we create for our clients is custom — not from an off-the-shelf theme. We build around your company goals, vision, target market, and how you want your brand to look in one year, five years, and beyond, then we get to building — from the ground up. (If you’re wondering how much you should be paying for a custom site, we’ve broken it down for you here.)

How do we do this? We rely on three pillars: design, content and marketing strategy.

Design that tells your story

When you think of search engine optimization (SEO), design might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but a well-designed site actually fuels your SEO efforts. That means visitors are going to be compelled to look around, get past the home page and stay on your site longer. Longer visit time means a lower bounce rate that often translates to a higher lead conversion rate.

When designing, it’s important to ensure you’re making the site as easy as possible for end-users to understand your message, navigate pages and respond to key calls to action (CTAs). We design with end-users in mind, considering how it’s going to impact their experience overall.

Content that speaks their language

People are too busy and overwhelmed these days to read a content-heavy site. What they do is scroll and look for headlines. That’s why having effective headlines as well as short and concise content is vital for powerful searches.

In our initial discovery discussion with you, we’ll outline your goals and objectives, and then conduct keyword research to help support them. We’ll then sprinkle those keywords strategically throughout your site to optimize content.

The key here is sprinkle. Gone are the days of stuffing your site with as many keywords as possible. Google’s algorithm is looking for organic content that appeals more to humans than robots. We find the voice of your target market and write the way they would speak and search. We can also help you hone in on words that might be too heavy or ambiguous to your target market and splice them out of your headlines to drive more traffic.

Architecture that stands the test of time

We don’t just build an amazing website for today. We build websites that are relevant and effective for years to come — ones that incorporate a holistic cross-channel marketing strategy to meet the unique needs of each client.  

Your website should seamlessly connect with your social media presence, advertisements, collateral, and in-person experience, so by the time your target audience contacts you, there’s no question about your company’s vision, mission, and services. Your website should be a tool to bring them a solution, so they keep coming back to you.

What is Out & About’s website process?

This philosophy might sound really great, but now you might wonder, how we actually accomplish these goals. We have a proven three-step process to get your new site up and running and generating leads!

1. Discovery and Design —In this stage, we’ll meet with you to learn  your company goals, target market and current needs for the website. After we have a clear understanding, we’ll design wireframes and draft copy with your objectives in mind.
2. Build and Test — Once step one is approved, we’ll build and lay out the site with content and images. We then test the site for responsive design across all browsers and devices to ensure compatibility. Pages will be filled up with final SEO-optimized content, meta tag descriptions will be added and we’ll test the site again for overall user experience.
3. Launch — We launch your website with Google Analytics hooked up and provide support with any questions and further testing. We launch late at night to ensure little disruption and a more seamless user experience. Ultimately, you own the website. We can hand it off to you to manage or help you with different levels of support as needed.

This is all part of Out & About difference. Your goals are our goals. We operate as an extension of your team and are always a call away. We won’t just hand you a website and say, “good luck.” Together, we’ll map a strategic plan for you and we’re flexible enough to grow as your business grows.

Let’s dazzle your clients together. Contact us to get started.

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Hi there! My name is Kaithleen Apostol and I am Out & About’s digital communications intern for fall. 

Out & About is a team composed of bright, talented individuals, and I’m excited to be part of it! I’m a senior at the University of California, San Diego, pursuing my degree in communication. Having grown up alongside San Francisco’s thriving art scene, I’ve been a creative for as long as I can remember. Dabbling in photography, music and writing, I’ve always appreciated the arts. Now that I’m in college, I’ve had a plethora of experiences that have allowed me to explore my passions. I’m a social media maven in love with all things beauty, foodie and nerdy. When I’m not in the office, you can catch me out and about trying new restaurants found on Yelp, exploring Southern California, or building playlists on Spotify.

Hi there! My name is Kaithleen Apostol and I am Out & About’s digital communications intern for fall. Out & About is a team composed of bright, talented individuals, and I’m excited to be part of it! I’m a senior at the University of California, San Diego, pursuing my degree in communication. Having grown up alongside San Francisco’s thriving art scene, I’ve been a creative for as long as I can remember. Dabbling in photography, music and writing, I’ve always appreciated the arts. Now that I’m in college, I’ve had a plethora of experiences that have allowed me to explore my passions. I’m a social media maven in love with all things beauty, foodie and nerdy. When I’m not in the office, you can catch me out and about trying new restaurants found on Yelp, exploring Southern California, or building playlists on Spotify.

Hi there! My name is Kaithleen Apostol and I am Out & About’s digital communications intern for fall. Out & About is a team composed of bright, talented individuals, and I’m excited to be part of it! I’m a senior at the University of California, San Diego, pursuing my degree in communication. Having grown up alongside San Francisco’s thriving art scene, I’ve been a creative for as long as I can remember. Dabbling in photography, music and writing, I’ve always appreciated the arts. Now that I’m in college, I’ve had a plethora of experiences that have allowed me to explore my passions. I’m a social media maven in love with all things beauty, foodie and nerdy. When I’m not in the office, you can catch me out and about trying new restaurants found on Yelp, exploring Southern California, or building playlists on Spotify.

Hello everyone, my name is Drew Lauer. Born and raised in St. Charles, Missouri, I am currently attending Drake University’s School of Business, studying marketing and information systems in Des Moines, IA. In addition to my studies, I enjoy playing on Drake’s Division 1 football team. This summer, I’m excited to be part of the Out & About Communications team as a Digital Communications Intern. This is a perfect opportunity for me to dive into the digital marketing world. I know there is a lot to learn from Lauren Hong and her talented team. I look forward to receiving a hands-on education from such a successful entrepreneurial company down here in sunny San Diego!

Fun facts:

• I am the first Division 1 football player to score a touchdown in China.
• I enjoy listening to new music.
• I also love playing outdoor basketball with my friends.