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• 9 Internet Market Predictions for 2010
• Metro Studios helps families connect with their loved ones in the military
• Stepping outside the box at Metro Studios
• Youth Marketing: Don’t be so 2008.
• 15 free guides that really teach you useful stuff.
• Giving thanks and giving back.
• Whet your appetite with a video for Scottsdale Community College.
• Inside the Photographer’s Studio
• Learn to play hockey the Metro Studios way.
• We probably know your password: 5 tips to improve your online security

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It’s that time of year when predictions, goals and lists dominate the media. Who am I not to oblige? Here’s my list of Internet marketing trends that will dominate 2010:

9. Exponential growth of smart phone users.

Forget texting – Grandma’s downloading apps for her new iPhone. In 2010, smart phone technologies and operating systems will continue to improve dramatically – resulting in a larger base and variety of users. For example, when the Droid phone went on sale last month, it sold 250,000 units in the first week alone. Google’s Android operating system will continue to gain popularity – in fact, it’s predicted that Android will be the number two operating system in the world by 2012 (second only to Microsoft Windows).

The bottom line: Make sure your internet marketing efforts are smart phone friendly – for many people, their phone may be the only way your marketing reaches them.

8. Bing surpasses Yahoo! to become the number two search engine.

Since Microsoft’s purchase of Yahoo! earlier this year, the perennial number two search engine has continued to lose market share to Google and now Bing. Microsoft has heavily focused its marketing efforts on Bing – particularly through TV advertising. As a result, more and more users are looking to Bing for their online searches – while the sun continues to set on Yahoo.

The bottom line: Continue to optimize your website for Google’s search standards – it’s still the world’s most popular search engine. But don’t discount Bing. Keep track of how your company’s keywords perform on Bing throughout 2010.

7. More businesses focus their marketing efforts on social media.

Every day, more companies are creating business pages on Facebook. For example, on Facebook alone, Grey Goose Vodka has more than 100,000 fans and a vibrant community where fans can download and discuss cocktail recipes. That’s the way to do it. This year, Pepsi is withdrawing all of its Superbowl advertising in favor of focusing its efforts on a social media campaign with a charitable partner. That’s 23 years of Superbowl commercials and millions of dollars being shifted online.

The bottom line: Roll up your sleeves and learn more about social media marketing. You can do it well – you can do it poorly, but the worst response is to not take part at all. (Shameless plug: At Metro Studios, we’re more than happy to help you develop and execute the best social media strategy for your business).

6. Social media becomes more targeted.

It’s both the advantage and the Achilles heel of Facebook – virtually everyone you know uses it. But with such a large network, it can be difficult to connect with people who have similar interests to you. In 2010, we’ll see new social media sites that are targeted to specific interests and audiences.

The bottom line: Don’t assume Facebook and Twitter are the only social media options for your company. Find out if there are social media sites where you can reach your target market more easily.

5. A major company will completely screw up a social media campaign.

I’m going out on a limb here (but that’s what predictions are for, right?). I think a major company will take on a social media campaign and do it so badly that it will damage its reputation for years to come. We’ve seen hints of this in the past with AOL and Best Buy, but this is going to be a very special mistake.

Here’s why it’s going to happen - most of corporate America still doesn’t understand internet marketing, or what consumers expect online. In 2010, consumers expect personality, transparency, and truly outstanding customer service from businesses online. Corporate America’s standard marketing techniques will not work in the social media environment – and it will take a major campaign’s failure to teach this lesson to everyone else.

The bottom line: Watch and learn from their mistakes.

4. The blog makes a comeback.

In 2008, Wired Magazine published an article about blogs being a thing of the past in this age of Flickr, Facebook and Twitter. How did the rest of the world respond? People kept blogging. Yes, the use of Twitter and Facebook grew exponentially, but forums and blogs have continued going strong.
Thanks to smart phones and integrated web technologies like Tumblr, blogs are easier to create, maintain, and promote more than ever before. One blogging trend I do predict is that blog entries will be a) more frequent, and b) a little shorter as more people will be posting blog entries using their smart phones.

The bottom line: If your company blogs regularly, keep going! Consistency and new, relevant content are key when it comes to gaining a good blog following.

3. You (the consumer) gain greater control over who advertises to you.

Websites like Twitter have given advertising control back to consumers. The average consumer is no longer at the mercy of spam campaigns and marketing that misses the mark. Instead, through tools like Twitter and Facebook fan pages, consumers can choose who markets to them. If a marketing campaign becomes aggressive or annoying, consumers can simply “unfollow” or “unfriend” with the click of a button.

The bottom line: Make sure that the way your business is reaching out through social media is meaningful and effective – and above all – find out what your target market is really looking for.

2. Advertisers will ask for less, but know more.

Gone are the days where you’ll be required to provide your name, address, phone number, favorite color, and rights to your firstborn child when you sign-up for a promotion through a company’s website. In 2010, marketing departments are growing more savvy. They’ll ask for less information from you up front – but the information they gain through other outlets will reveal much more. You can expect to be asked for your Twitter username or to become a fan on Facebook, which will provide much greater insight into your demographics, likes, and dislikes.

The bottom line: Is your company promoting your Twitter and Facebook accounts on your website? You should be.

1. Coupon sites will rule the year.

It seems technology and the economy have combined to create an amazing opportunity for consumers through an old standby – coupons. Who doesn’t like to save money? In several of the e-mail newsletters I subscribe to, I’ve seen more coupons used. There’s no doubt that a demand for coupons still exists. In fact, “Printable coupons” gets searched over 100,000 times per month.

The bottom line: Add coupons to your online marketing plan. It’s a great way to increase sales whether you run an online business or a brick and mortar store.

Note: For the past several months, Mallory Fondell has worked as an intern with the Metro web team. To say she’s done a fantastic job would be putting it lightly. Mallory has been an incredible asset to our team doing everything from graphic design to coding web pages. As her internship draws to an end, it’s no secret that we’ll really miss having her around the office. Below is Mallory’s firsthand account of her experience at Metro Studios.

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Mallory Fondell (far right), works with two members of the web team on a project.

A few months ago, HTML was nothing more than a foreign language to me. I am not a computer science major, so as a designer, I never thought I would be learning the code behind web design. I was so wrong…

Having an internship in the Web Services department at Metro Studios was definitely a step outside of my comfort zone. I’ve never gone into something so blindly before, but it’s been more rewarding than I could have ever imagined.

My first few weeks, I got to witness how all of the “cogs in the wheel” turn in the web department. I learned about search engine optimization, social media marketing, HTML coding using cascading style sheets, and how to write content for the web. I was blown away with the talented people who work here and how close they are with each other. (The pool table is pretty sweet, as well!)

While shadowing each part of the web department, I got to observe a website go from just an idea to a functional, eye-catching site. After becoming familiar with this new language called, HTML, I was let loose on my own project!

There aren’t many internships where you’re guided through a project from start to finish, but at Metro Studios, that was their number one goal for my internship. It wasn’t about filing and making copies, it was about learning. The skills I learned at Metro Studios have made me more knowledgeable in my classes and a step ahead of my peers. I’ve even learned things that my professors don’t even know!

My time at Metro Studios was more than just something to fill my college requirement – it was an opportunity to learn something that I wouldn’t have otherwise. It was an opportunity to meet great people and build a diverse network of experts. It was an opportunity to build my portfolio and allow me to say, “Look! I did that!”

Internships are for stepping out of your comfort zone, ignoring your fears, and trying something new.

Metro Studios realizes that students want to learn, and with every opportunity, the people at Metro Studios will do everything they can to help you succeed.

Recently, I had the opportunity to hear Clint Runge give a presentation on youth marketing –specifically to Generation Y (people born after 1981). Clint is the Creative Director at Archrival, a youth marketing agency in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Clint’s presentation was full of thorough research and helpful information – and sparked my own thoughts about how we can effectively market to Generation Y.  Here’s my take on it.

Recognize the major differences between Generation X and Generation Y.

In order to understand how to reach out to Generation Y with your product or services, we first need to understand how Generation Y differs from their predecessors, Generation X.

• Generation X’ers grew up asking the question, “How can I be different?”. A typical Generation Y’er asks the question, “How can WE be different?”
• Generation X’ers have an attitude of exclusion.  Generation Y’ers have an attitude of inclusion.
• For Generation X’ers information was provided by encyclopedias and the mainstream media. For Generation Y’ers, information is people-generated through Wikipedia, Twitter, and more.

So what do these differences mean when reaching out to Generation Y?

Generation Y establishes brand trust through their friends (not corporations or advertisements).

No matter how memorable, clever, or funny your latest ad campaign was, it’s unlikely to create a deep sense of brand trust between Generation Y and your company.   Instead, Generation Y develops trust through their peers and friends.

So how can your company build trust with Generation Y? Create targeted internet communities (vertical social networks) that are related to your project. More and more Generation Y’ers are seeking smaller online communities built around common interests.  For example, Sneakerplay.com is an online community devoted to people’s love of sneakers.  Through the site, shoe manufacturers can learn more about what type of sneakers people love, as well as advertise their own products.

The first screen Generation Y looks to is their mobile device.

Unlike Generation X or even Baby Boomers, television and computer screens are not the “first screen” that reaches Generation Y.  For this generation, it’s their mobile devices.

How does this affect your business? It’s important that marketing campaigns geared towards Generation Y are mobile device friendly – because it may be the only way your campaign is viewed.

Brand loyalty is rare among Generation Y.

It’s difficult to swallow – but true. No matter how much you try, it’s unlikely that Generation Y’ers will remain loyal to your product or brand. Generation Y’ers are constantly looking for the next big thing and will willingly switch brands to get it.

So how can you keep business coming back to you? Focus on continually upgrading your products – and less on reinventing your marketing plan every three months.

For example, the iPhone was first released in June 2007, its updated 3G version was released in July 2008, and most recently, the 3GS came out in June 2009. While the iPhone’s marketing strategy has not changed dramatically over that time, its capabilities have grown and changed often -  keeping the iPhone at the top of the market as the “next big thing.”

Generation Y is drawn to causes where they can collectively make a difference.

Not only do Generation Y’ers ask, “How can WE be different?” they also ask “How can we MAKE a difference?”   Generation Y’ers have a strong belief in causes – but they have a limited willingness to get involved. They often choose causes that are simple to support and don’t require research.

Overall, Generation Y is drawn to causes where a collective group of people can make a difference, rather than one person changing the world.

Types of businesses that appeal to Generation Y’ers include Chipotle’s environmentally-centered philosophy, as well as MyStarbucksIdea.com where people can post new ideas for the company, with the most popular ideas being implemented.

What’s next?
The main takeaway for me is that marketing requires a different approach with different generations. Overall, you need to evaluate how your company is reaching its targeted generations, and adjust your strategy to most effectively reach those groups.

When it comes to the information that’s available on the web, how do you sort out the helpful from the unhelpful, the good from the bad, and finally figure out how to get the best use out of your new iPhone?

I stumbled across this gem of an article entitled, “15 Free Guides That Really Teach You USEFUL Stuff”.

And I’ve got to say, I’m impressed.  Here are a few highlights:

The Unofficial Guide to the iPhone
Learn how to perform both the most simple and the most challenging tasks, how to get fresh applications, and the latest tips and tricks for your iPhone. Download

Twitter: Best Practices & Tips
Still wondering what’s the big deal about Twitter? This guide teaches you how Twitter works, cool Twitter tools, and suggests interesting people to follow. Download

The Idiot’s Guide to Photoshop
Photoshop can be overwhelming to learn when you first start out.  This guide covers shortcuts, cheat sheets, and walks you through all the basic applications of Photoshop. Download

The Essential Guide to Buying a Laptop
Want to buy a new laptop, but don’t know where to start? Checkout the Laptop Buying Guide.  It will help you choose the right laptop for your needs and provides a look at the most recent models. Download

November is a time to be thankful. And at Metro Studios, we have so much to be thankful for.  The world’s best clients. Amazing co-workers. And another great year of innovative marketing solutions.

As part of our efforts to give back to the communities around us, we donate our time and marketing talents to many worthy causes around us.  Here’s just one example.

This month, Metro Studios will be launching a new website for His Hands Free Medical Clinic as part of our ongoing pro bono community efforts.  His Hands Free Medical Clinic provides free medical care to thousands of people each year.

We’re thankful for the doctors, nurses, and volunteers who freely give their time to the clinic in order to improve the lives of those in need.  And at Metro Studios, we’re proud to have even a small part in their noble efforts.

To learn more about His Hands Free Medical Clinic, or to get involved, please contact them at (319) 862-2636.

An interview with Kirk Hayden, photographer and videographer at Metro Studios

How did Metro Studios get started in photography?

More than 20 years ago, Metro Studios started out as a video production company. In the last five years, with the explosion of digital photography, a client would request that we also could provide a digital still of a video shot for photography use.

Clients found that our high quality stills looked better than even a standard photography shot. It was then that more clients looked to us for photography services, too.

How long have you been providing video production and photography with Metro Studios?

It will be 21 years in January.

How would you say Metro Studios is different from other photography studios?

We’re different in several ways:

• Our cost is typically lower, especially if we’re also doing a video shoot. For clients looking to have both video and photography work done – if they hire separate vendors, each will spend a good deal of time setting up shots. However, once we’ve set up a shot for video, often with a few light adjustments, it’s ready for photography – allowing us to reduce our overall cost.
• Metro Studios’ original area of expertise is in video production. Many people don’t realize that video production is harder to light and make look good than still photography because of the wide variety of shots and angles you’ll be shooting. As a result, our photography shots benefit from our detailed experience and outstanding lighting with video composition.
• We really listen to what our clients want and include them throughout the creative process.

What is your creative process for preparing for a photo shoot?

1. We start by listening to our clients. We find out what their marketing goals are, then work with them to create a vision for how their photography will achieve those goals.
2. We then provide them with as much of our expertise and guidance as we can. We work to develop a clear sense of what they want the consumer to walk away feeling, and then we put our experience to work to create a high quality shoot. We like to give our clients creative options for their shoots, since they’re not simply hiring us to point and click, but to create an entire mood for the photo.

Why do you think someone should use a professional photographer for their business, instead of simply shooting photos themselves?

Even though in today’s world, virtually everyone has a digital camera – but very few have the technical knowledge and experience that makes for great photography. Without professional photography, all too often, headshots end up looking more like mug shots, and product shots look like they belong on Craigslist instead of on your website.   For really professional photos, you need high quality lighting and composition.

What makes for a great shot?

There are two aspects to a great shot – composition and lighting. Our goal each time is to create a specific mood for whoever looks at the photo.

What advice would you give to someone interested in becoming a professional photographer?

• Be willing to experience lots of different photography situations. In most markets, you’ll need to be versatile – not specialized, so having experience in everything from shooting people, products, landscapes, and architecture will help you stand apart.
• Be flexible and easy to work with – always make sure the entire process is a great experience for your client.

Interested in talking to Kirk about photography? Contact Metro Studios today.

This summer, Metro Studios was contracted by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, a USHL hockey team, to meet a wide variety of marketing and production needs for their 2009-2010 season. We’re thrilled that Metro Studios can be ONE place - so many solutions for the Riders. Here’s our take on Metro Studios’ style of hockey.

Rethink everything you know.

The Riders came to Metro Studios looking for a complete branding and production upgrade – transforming a simple hockey game into an entertainment experience. We were up for the challenge.

Forget shin guards, go for the big screen TVs.

We installed four huge video screens above the ice rink, with cameras located across the arena to capture every angle of the game.

Light up your fans.

We developed a production plan from scratch, including video content which will play during the pre-game show and during the game. The video clips include player interviews, sponsor mentions, advertisements, and custom clips for each game.   We even produced an original music video just for the Riders.

Forget the net – take it to the web.

Our web team built a new website for the team featuring high definition videos on every page, a design worthy of the NHL, and increased opportunities for fan interaction with weekly e-mail updates. Our website blends seamlessly with our production coverage – enabling the Riders to post game coverage just minutes after the final buzzer.

Don’t wrap your hockey stick – wrap your production trailer.

As part of the project, we hooked the Riders up with a 52 foot production trailer that serves as the command center for all in-game production.  We wrapped it in a custom skin designed by our art director to give it a unique Riders’ branding.

Hook the public.

Metro has produced a number of TV and radio commercials to promote the upcoming season throughout the area. We’ll also produce a 30 minute TV program every Saturday throughout the season, featuring Mark Carlson, the Riders’ head coach.

“We couldn’t be happier with Metro’s work.  We’re confident these changes will bring the Riders to a new level of competitive intensity this year, while growing our fan base, and giving people a new appreciation for the team,” said Jeff Jauch, co-owner of the Riders.

So, what’s next for Metro Studios? We’re getting our mullets cut on Friday.

Recently, several high profile websites such as Twitter and Facebook were victims of hacking – resulting in hours of downtime for the micro-blogging site, and significant delays on Facebook. These attacks followed a series of security hacks on websites this summer.

What can we learn from this?

• Poor web security has consequences.
• Online security matters.
• As individuals, we need to improve the way we handle security online.

Here are several security best practices we recommend to our web clients:

1. Never store credit card data on your website. Use a reputable third party, Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) company instead. By doing so, you’ll save your company the risk of a security breach that could cost your company money in fines, repayment, or any number of lawsuits.
2. Don’t use the same password on every account you have. Weak passwords are one of the greatest security weaknesses online. Your password should:
   • Have a minimum of 8 characters
   • Be a combination of letters, numbers, and punctuation
   • Not consist of a real word
   • Avoid using personal information such as your:
     • Birthday
     • Pet’s name
     • Significant other’s name
     • Street name
     • Social security number
     • Favorite color/number
   • Not include any of the 10 most common passwords according to PC Magazine.

   If having a wide variety of complex passwords seems daunting, we suggest you use a password management system such as http://www.keepass.info. This downloadable program enables you to use one secure master password to access your password list.

3. Use caution with “secret” questions that can be used to recover or reset your password. Questions such as “What is your favorite pet’s name?” or “Where did you go to high school?” are answers that can easily be ascertained by someone you know or through your Facebook profile.
4. At your business, limit internal access to passwords. Only the appropriate person should have access to passwords or secure areas of your website – other members of the company should not have access.
5. Work with reputable vendors who are committed to web security. Questions you should potential web service providers include:
   • What security measures do you have in place to prevent hackers from accessing my website?
   • Do you have your own dedicated servers?
   • Do you maintain a firewall?
   • Do you encrypt passwords in your database?

At Metro Studios, we take web security very seriously. We never store credit card information, and your secure information is always encrypted. We also stay on top of the very latest hacking and security trends to ensure that everything we build is airtight against potential security threats.

At Metro Studios, we love tailgating. So, we were thrilled to work with Grill Topper – a company that sells specialty tailgating items – turning ordinary grilled meats into works of art by searing your favorite team’s logo on to the surface of the meat to extra-large, college-specific grilling mitts.

Over the course of the summer, we staged and shot photography, produced videos, and created an e-commerce website from the ground up for Grill Topper.

Here’s an inside look at the project:

Lifestyle shoot, featuring alumni enjoying a BBQ.

This lifestyle shoot featured Iowa Hawkeye alumni, grilling after the big game.

Campground shoot featuring a family grilling outside on a summer day. Grill Toppers aren’t just for tailgating!

Christmas morning shoot, with Dad opening his new grill glove and Grill Topper.

This shot, staged by Metro’s food stylist, shows that a Grill Topper can be used on virtually any kind of meat.

Here’s an outdoor picnic shot featuring the Oklahoma Grill Topper.

This shot was designed to show how to use the Grill Topper in a more formal setting.

The Wisconsin Grill Topper at its best - the Grill Topper works great on steaks!

A close-up shot of hot dogs using the Michigan Grill Topper. Don’t they look good enough to eat?

The completed website - check out all the Grill Topper products (and Metro Studios’ handiwork) at their website.

It seems like everyone’s talking about social media. But when it comes to social media and your business - how do you separate the truth from the tweets? I’ll debunk five social media myths for you.

1. Social media is the ultimate internet marketing solution.
   While using social media is a great part of an internet marketing strategy – it’s just that – a PART of it. When it comes to internet marketing, like many aspects of business, there’s no “silver bullet”. A combination of ongoing internet marketing strategies will have the greatest impact online.
2. Social media is one-way communication.
   Social media platforms are designed for conversations – not a sales platform. Through social media, you can personally connect with current and potential customers, providing them with feedback, responding to any problems, and helping them engage with your people and products.
3. Using social media to grow my business is a fast process.
   Using social media to grow your business is a slow cooker - not microwave - process. It takes time to build quality relationships, establish trust and respect, and develop your unique communication style. But in the end, you’ll find taking it slowly makes for more quality growth for your business online.
4. Automated social media is better than no social media.
   Social media is designed for personal interaction. For the vast majority of Twitter users, there is nothing more irritating than being asked to interact with an automated “bot”. Having real people at your company use social media lends authenticity to what you do.
5. Social media is difficult.
   It doesn’t have to be. Many people assume that to effectively grow their business through social media, they must use every single social networking site on the web. That would be impossible – and not very effective! A great way to use social media is to select 1-2 networks that will provide the most interaction with current and potential customers.

Interested in learning how your business can use social media? Attend one of our upcoming free seminars on the topic! Learn more about the seminars or register online.

At Metro Studios, we’re throwing party streamers, splashing in mountain streams, and have tears of joy streaming down our cheeks!

What’s the occasion? We now offer streaming HD video services!

Actually , we decided to celebrate our streaming HD video services through a blog entry– and explain to you what a streaming HD video server is – and why it’s an incredible tool for growing your business.

What is a streaming HD video server?

A streaming HD server is a powerful resource that enables high quality HD videos to be broadcast over the web. It allows for a data flow between the server and your computer that’s more than twice as fast as a typical video. What’s more, it results in decreased video load times and less buffering for a streamlined viewing experience.

Why should I use a streaming HD video server?

1. More people are watching high-quality video content on the web.
   In the month of April 2009 alone, 9.5 billion videos were viewed online – an increase of 24% from just a year ago. Hulu, a website that provides HD streaming video has grown 470% in the past year, and is second only to YouTube in the number of videos streamed.¹ As the number of online viewers grows, it’s important to reach them with your own message.
2. The average person is more likely to watch, rather than read when it comes to web content.
   In today’s world of skimming and 5 second page surfing (see our article on how people read online), one of the best ways to effectively get your message across is through high quality video content.
3. Your video is protected through digital rights management.
   With a streaming server, you can rest assured that your video won’t be used or abused. It isn’t possible for viewers to obtain a copy of your video without permission, which means that what’s yours, stays yours.
4. Viewers expect HD video quality.
   With the advent high definition technology such as plasma TVs and BluRay DVDs, the average consumer has grown used to high definition videos. Standard definition videos now look amateurish compared to the high quality of HD.
5. It’s inexpensive.
   Using a streaming HD server is a surprisingly cost-effective way to promote your business to a wide audience, typically costing just dollars per minute of video each month.
6. We’ve got it under control.
   At Metro Studios, we’ll provide complete support for your streaming HD video solution. We can:

• Plan and produce your video content
• Shoot , edit, and finish your video in HD quality
• Design a striking webpage for your video content
• Direct search engine traffic to your online videos
• Provide comprehensive, ongoing support along the way

What’s next?

Take a look at the HD videos we’ve produced and are streaming for Coe College. Then, contact us to learn more about using streaming video for your business.

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¹(Nielson Online, Online Video Market Share Report, April 2009. http://www.todaytrend.net/youtube-maintains-top-ranking-by-total-streams-and-hulu-grows-490-percent-year-over-year-according-to-nielsen-online.html.

What does it take to become a skilled location scout for photo and video shoots?  As Metro Studios’ resident eagle location scout (and senior producer), I’ll be your guide as we explore the badges you can earn on the trek known as “Location Scouting”.

Read more

Editor’s note: We had the pleasure of having Gina Volk intern at Metro Studios this spring. She was a bright, helpful intern and we already miss her (the photocopier misses her, too.) Here’s her take on an inside look at Metro Studios.

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When I first walked into the office at Metro Studios that would be my home for the next 10 weeks, the first words to come out of my mouth were, “Wow! They have a pool table! That’s awesome!” Little did I know that I would learn so much and have so much fun with the people at Metro Studios in the weeks to come.

Working at Metro Studios is sort of like being a member of a large family. You work hard together while having a lot of fun. But of course, with every family, there are some rules. So here it is: my internship survival guide for Metro Studios.

1. Be creative. You are working in an environment where people offer up creativity from every direction. Think outside of the box, and don’t be afraid to color outside the lines. Your idea may be exactly what they’re looking for!

2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Everyone at Metro Studios has expertise in a different area, and they enjoy helping interns grow and develop their skills and interests.

3. Speak up! Don’t be afraid to speak up when the time is right and you have a great idea! Even if they don’t end up using your idea, they still like the contribution you give. They’ll appreciate the effort you made and will know that you take this internship seriously. However, just make sure your idea is well-thought and straightforward.

4. Try new things. As an intern for Metro Studios, be prepared to assist in a wide variety of areas and tasks! I’ve helped with a wide variety of things such as:

• Researching and writing
• Learning to code webpages
• Running the teleprompter
• Showing a mascot how to line dance
• Becoming best friends with the photocopier

By being willing to lend a helping hand wherever it was needed, I learned more than I thought possible in 10 weeks.

5. Be thorough and meet your deadlines. Do your best to finish projects on time and to the best of your ability. If you procrastinate, you’ll end up wasting valuable time.

6. Smile and be prepared to laugh. In the Metro Studios office, it is impossible to work an afternoon without laughing at least once. Make jokes and don’t be offended if they pick on you! It really means they like you! Remember, you’re family now.

Metro Studios is an amazing place to work. I didn’t know a single person who looked forward to working on Monday, until I came here to intern. Their positive attitudes are tangible! Metro Studios is truly one of a kind company.

It’s been a busy, exciting few months at Metro Studios! Here’s a quick look at some projects we’ve recently been working on.

ACE Awards Live Webcast

We had a great time producing the ACE Awards Live Webcast for hundreds of in-person and online viewers.

Scottsdale Community College

Scottsdale Community College’s Department of Culinary Arts asked us to shoot a series of promotional videos for their program. We learned the secrets of making those cool vegetable garnishes, filleting a huge salmon, frosting a fancy cake… the chefs and students didn’t have to ask us twice to sample their creations!

Kirk shooting a close-up for petit-fours, when he wasn’t busy thinking up food puns.

Getting volunteer diners was a piece of cake!

The Grill Toppers Photo and Video Shoot

What a week it was when Metro Studios took on The Grill Toppers project. Our facility was transformed into the ultimate grilling event, complete with dozens of pounds of meat, countless side dishes, as well as numerous place settings to match all of the NCAA team colors. After getting our product shots, we took the gear, food, and props on the road to several different locations.

Donna, our food stylist extraordinaire, lends her expertise, while Susan, our art director, drops in the lemons “just right.”

Connie, Metro’s senior writer/producer, dresses the set. By the time we finished each shot, the food had been sprayed, glued, and was completely inedible.

Our newest “intern” samples some extra prop food and lends morale support during the shoot while her dad, Aaron, takes care of the video editing.

Kendra, Metro’s project coordinator, directs one of the actors on his grilling technique.

With the photos and videos completed, we are looking forward to building The Grill Toppers website this summer.

Commercial Shoot with Wisconsin Football Coach Bret Bielema

Bret Bielema, head coach for the University of Wisconsin football team was the star of our recent commercial shoot at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. I wonder if the Big 10 schedule came up in conversation?

Metro Studios’ Social Media Seminar

John Whaley, our Director of Internet Marketing spent a day with Phoenix business professionals teaching them how to grow their businesses through social media marketing.

Whew! As you can see, it’s been a whirlwind spring - but it was spent doing what we enjoy most - providing our clients with effective, innovative solutions.  Like what you see? Please contact us if you’re interested in learning more about the solutions we can provide for your business.

To see more photos of Metro Studios projects, visit our Flickr photostream.

• Do you hate writing blog entries?
• Is it a challenge to come up with new topics?
• Are you admittedly baffled by blogging?

Blogging can be easy, enjoyable, AND increase your business - if you do it the right way.

Here are 9 easy ways to dramatically improve your blog.

1. Write articles that readers will benefit from.

For example, Kraft Foods doesn’t write articles for their website entitled, “Buy more Kraft Foods products”. Instead, they post simple, delicious recipes¹ that use Kraft ingredients.

If your blog articles are informative and helpful, instead of a direct sales pitch, more people will visit and revisit your blog.

Additional benefit: Writing informative articles builds your reputation as being an expert in your field.

2. Keep it short and focused.

According to research by Nielson Online², Americans spend an average of 56 seconds on a webpage. Taking into consideration that the average person reads about 300 words per minute, I recommend blog articles be 250 - 500 words in length.

3. Watch your paragraph length.

Have you attempted to read extremely long paragraphs online? It’s difficult.

In fact, eye-tracking studies show that online readers tend to skip large blocks of text. It’s visually overwhelming for readers to see long paragraphs online, so break them up into shorter ones.

4. Use bullet points when providing a series of information.

Bullet points:

• Attract a readers’ eye.
• Highlight important information.
• Help readers’ find what they’re looking for more quickly.

5. Provide detailed subtitles throughout the article.

This technique helps draw readers into paragraphs farther down the page. A note of caution: I don’t consider “My conclusion” to be an interesting subtitle³.

6. Include links to your website in your article.

This will drive readers to key information on your website. Plus, clicking on links is fun!

7. If including an image, make sure it has a purpose.

Most people come to a website looking for information, not images. Make sure that key points of your text are most prominent.

8. Don’t be afraid to show some personality!

Don’t hide behind the company you’re writing for – people want to know that a real person (like Lindsay Talsness) is writing the article. I strongly encourage using pronouns like, “we” or “I” instead of “the company”.

9. Include a call to action.

Such as, “Don’t have a blog yet? Looking for ways to grow your business online? At Metro Studios, we’d love to help you. Contact us today to get started!”

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1. Polynesian-glazed meatballs are a favorite at my house.
2. Nielsen Online (2009). Nielsen Online provides topline U.S. Data for March 2009 [Electronic version]. Retrieved May 8, 2009, from http://nielsen-online.com/pr/pr_090414.pdf
3. However, this subtitle is interesting.

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