Editor’s note: “Ask the Performance Marketer” is a regular series in which MediaWhiz’s performance marketing, SEO and digital media experts answer some of the most popular questions we from clients.
Mike Sisto, MediaWhiz’s director of performance marketing, has worked in performance marketing for 14 years. He’s seen it all, from the earliest days of the industry to the current evolution in which media, mobile, content, SEO and many other digital media channels are mixed together. Needless to say, he knows how to help his clients engage, acquire and retain customers more profitably.
Recently, we sat down with Mike to discuss some of the most common questions he gets from clients about accountability in affiliate marketing campaigns, email acquisition and optimizing lead quality.
How do you ensure accountability of affiliates for campaign and creative materials compliance?
We first establish accountability with each affiliate by employing a suite of external and internal tools to monitor advertisements. We hold publishers accountable for compliance violations. Once our high standards are made clear, the possibility of losing out on business due to compliance violations exerts pressure on affiliates to comply with advertiser guidelines. With adherence, publishers have the opportunity to cultivate a long-term business relationship with MediaWhiz as they continue to provide quality traffic via compliant marketing practices. (more…)
Editor’s note: “A Day in the Life” is a regular editorial series in which MediaWhiz employees discuss the intricacies of their work.
When you visit MediaWhiz’s New York office, in the heart of the Financial District, Nandita Joshi will always greet you with a smile. Nandita, HR recruiter, has been with MediaWhiz for a little more than two months and says that she enjoys her experience working in the HR department.
Recently, I sat down with Nandita to learn what her typical day at the office is like.
Name: Nandita Joshi Title: HR Recruiter Location: New York City
Sultan Riaz: If you had to explain your job description in one tweet, what would it be?
Nandita Joshi: Taking an employee through the entire employee lifecycle, from recruitment to development.
SR: How do you commute to work on a daily basis?
NJ: My daily commute is fun. I commute from Astoria; it’s about a 45-minute commute to the Financial District.
SR: What is the first thing you like to do (work-related) when you get into the office?
NJ: I like to make a to-do list of all of the important tasks I need to accomplish for the day. It’s great because it give me perspective for what I need to achieve for the day and it’s a morale booster in terms of crossing those things off my list when they are complete. (more…)
Editor’s note: “Around the MediaWhiz Nation” is a regular editorial series in which MediaWhiz employees from across the country discuss the intricacies of their work.
Name: Maria Loreto Title: Media Planner Office: New York University: Pace University College Major: Marketing with a Concentration in Advertising
Prior to joining MediaWhiz full time in 2012 as a media planner you were an intern in the company’s Display Advertising unit. What attracted you most about the internship opportunity with MediaWhiz? I liked that the internship post looked like an actual job posting with real tasks and job responsibilities. Most importantly, though, I wanted to get into the digital marketing field. All of my previous internship experiences revolved around digital PR, which is something I didn’t want to pursue. The internship with MediaWhiz was an opportunity for me to get into the digital marketing field.
What was your first day like at MediaWhiz? It was great! Usually when you come in on the first day [of an internship] there is nothing for you to do, but our previous display media strategist booked a conference room and gave me a three-hour class on display advertising, MediaWhiz and Hyper Marketing Inc. He also trained me on Mediaplex MOJO, which is our ad server. That training served me well because that is what I use every day; it’s my bread and butter.
What type of goals did you set for yourself before starting the internship? When I came in for the interview I realized how little I knew about display advertising. So, one of my goals was to learn as much as possible about display advertising.
Do you believe your goals have been met? Definitely. I started at MediaWhiz as an intern and now I manage my own display campaigns as a full-time employee.
How was the school-work balance for you? It actually wasn’t bad. I had multiple internships throughout college, but this one was different because I took it in the summer right after I graduated, so that allowed me to join MediaWhiz as more than a normal college-based intern.
What do you feel was the best thing about the MediaWhiz internship? The training. The training I received during was exceptional. It was exceptional enough for there to be no problem when I started as a full-time employee.
Would you recommend this internship to someone who was in the same major as you? I was a marketing major, which can be pretty broad. Most people want to get into marketing and PR, but if you’re interested in digital marketing I would definitely recommend an internship at MediaWhiz.
Editor’s note: “A Day In the Life” is a regular editorial series in which MediaWhiz employees discuss their work and lives and how the two interact.
Name: Ori Carmel
Title: Vice President of Performance Strategy
If you had to explain your job description in one tweet, what would it be? Build mechanisms that are sophisticated and advanced. Provide quality services and quality leads to companies. Make real money.
How do you commute to work on a daily basis? I take the 1 train from the Upper West Side. I try switch to the 3 train when it comes across [the platform]. The commute usually takes about 30-35 minutes.
What is the first thing you like to do when you get in the office? Get coffee!
What is the first thing you like to do (work related) when you get in the office? I usually check my email first to see if there is anything urgent from the night before. We have people who are working on the West Coast, so a lot of times there are urgent things coming from those offices. Otherwise, I check emails to start the workday. (more…)
Each month, MediaWhiz Hot News sits down with a member of the MediaWhiz team to discuss their life and work. It’s a chance to get to know your colleagues better while also learning a little more about what makes them tick.
Recently, we spoke with Morris Laniado, account manager, client services, to discuss the client services team. This interview was conducted while Laniado was still working in MediaWhiz’s Client Services Division. Recently, he moved to the agency’s Sales Department, where he now works as a sales executive.
Hot News: How long have you been with MediaWhiz?
Morris Laniado: One year.
HN: Describe your day-to-day role / responsibilities.
ML: My primary responsibility is client management. It is my job to ensure our clients’ money is being spent as efficiently and prudently as possible and that they are happy with our work and the services we are offering them.
I look for opportunities to find new and creative ways to drive traffic to clients’ websites. Working in client services, I manage several simultaneous campaigns and programs for multiple clients. This requires me to work with all of the MediaWhiz business units and various teams to ensure success for each client’s campaign.
HN: What do you like best about your work?
ML: I really enjoy building long-standing relationships with my clients and getting to know them on a personal and professional level. I feel it’s important to have the client feel that they are emotionally invested you, as the client services manager, as well as in MediaWhiz as its digital media agency. Having that depth of personal and professional investment is what I believe helps set MediaWhiz apart from other agencies. (more…)
When she’s not finding new ways to build MediaWhiz’s client base, Tracy Norton, manager of business development, is helping others in need. She is riding in the MS 100 bike race this fall to benefit the MS Society of New York and to help find a cure and raise money to treat those living with Multiple Sclerosis.
We asked Tracy for her thoughts on what the ride will mean to her and those suffering from MS and MS-like symptoms.
“I ride with Team Nan-Am, which stands for Nancy (who passed away this year from MS) and Amy (who is living with the disease)—two people who are close to me and other riders on our team.
“We were one of the top fundraising teams last year and hope to be again this year.
“Last year, I had an accident mid-route and was unable to complete the 100 miles, so this year it’s personal in more ways than one.”
By Keith Trivitt | @KeithTrivitt | Director, Marketing and Communications
Nick Karahalios is the type of person one could sit down with for a chat and not realize that 30 minutes have passed—that’s how engaging he is in conversation. In fact, that’s exactly what happened when MediaWhiz Hot News sat down with Nick last month to discuss his work at TLA, the accounts receivables business and how he manages to keep track of 50,000-plus accounts.
Answer: he has a crazy-good memory.
But it’s more than that. As manager of client services for TLA, Nick says he takes great pride in his ability to remember the intricacies of various TLA accounts, which clients prefer phone calls, which respond best to email and which he knows are going to be difficult to receive payment.
In short, Nick is a master multitasker. He ensures TLA’s accounts are paid out on time and that money is coming in from clients in an orderly and timely process. It’s not an easy job, but it is one he thrives in, as evidenced by his winning May’s Whiz Award.
“Luckily, my memory is really good,” says Nick. “Sometimes, I even impress myself with what I’m able to remember. I have an ability to focus in on every client while also knowing the broader accounts-receivable issues that need to be addressed.
“The success of TLA’s accounts receivable and client services efforts is a team effort.” (more…)
