This morning we received a pre-recorded phone call from Com Ed letting us know that due to a severe problem and an emergency on their end, that we would be losing power from 12:30 pm – 2pm. Ug… In the middle of the work day without power. In a matter of a few hours, we were going to lose our voicemail, server, and computers. All business as we know it would have to stop for the hour and a half. What a perfect opportunity for a team event!

On the bright side: At least they let us know in advance and we were able to shut down our machines and our data so there wasn’t any danger in corrupt files or fried machines. And this will force us to take a leisurely lunch break and relax as many of us tend to work straight through the day.

So off we went, after shutting down the office, we piled into a few cars and had a GREAT lunch at Riverview Tavern on Damen. Complete with a toast to Com Ed for reminding us that when you can turn a curve ball into a home run. What could have been a stressful, annoying and frustrating afternoon became a memory of fun, laughter and much needed play time. I’m so sorry for those that missed it because they were out of the office today. Thanks Com Ed! Cheers. :)

Sandstorm Design is looking for a personable and tech-savvy pro to run our office. “Why do I need to be tech-savvy to run an office,” you ask? Because a big chunk of the work we do is web-based, and there are A LOT of moving pieces that go into making a web site go live.

Your office admin responsibilities will be your typical, run of the mill administrative tasks: answering phones, managing the office on a day-to-day, ordering supplies and snacks, scheduling events and travel, etc. To do this well, you need to be detail-oriented, and have advanced knowledge of MS Office and excellent communication skills (both written and verbal).

Web responsibilities will be pretty basic, so you don’t need a degree in computer science or anything, and we can train you on most of it if need be. You’ll be a support (not a lead) on any project you’re part of, so you’ll always be able to ask for help. If you do have any knowledge of HTML or CSS, or familiarity with content management systems, we’ll likely give you some preferential treatment in the selection process.

If you think you’d be a great addition to our team, please send your cover letter and resume to jobs@sandstormdesign.com. Or check out our listing: http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/ofc/1927398121.html

After months of collaboration, health care education, Medicare explanation, web application development, voice over talent selection and a bit of instructional design, we are proud to announce the launch of Ask Blue Medicare, an interactive health care web application to help users understand Medicare health care coverage options from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. After going through the application, I feel confident I can help my parents through the Medicare process and explain the difference between A, B, D, gap and advantage. If you can’t, and you know someone who is around 65 years old, you should send them to check it out. (There’s closed captioning as well as the ability to increase the type, too.)

Our inspirational quote will appear on our own calendar page (September 22) with our company name and  url. What a great way to increase our visibility and get a little free publicity. I love PR and marketing, and I love to win. This is such an honor. And a fun way to share a little insight about our marketing firm and the people who work here.

So you might be wondering, what was our winning quote and inspiration: “To become an exceptional leader, take the time to help others achieve their dreams” The extra special part – I found out today, on my birthday.

Welcome Michael. We are so looking forward to working with you.

Thanks Trish! Looking forward to a great year :)

What I am most thrilled about is that so many companies are hiring this year – big and small agencies, corporations, associations, etc. This is good for the marketing and advertising industry, and even better for the Chicago people, for my friends, and my family. When companies hire, we all win – and putting together a job offer is my most favorite thing to do. In the interactive space, there is so much going on right now that when we call Creative Circle for some help, the position we are looking to fill is always in “high demand.” So what are we looking for? Great interactive account managers, web developers, UX designers, and we’re still on the lookout for that right marketing copywriter. Write us an interesting email and send us your best work (via URL please, no attachments), and we’d love to hear from you.

When it comes to SEO and marketing your website, the high level concepts don’t often change (write strong original content, continue to add to that content, attract quality links, etc). What does change are all the new things you can do to increase your odds that people will come back to your website and promote your content, which in turn drives more traffic. Of all the website SEO tools, I like Website Grader. (and no, they didn’t pay for that link). When I find a tool I like, I share it. And what I like most is that Website Grader put together in a very organized fashion what they look for in the analysis, what you can do to improve your website, and if you want more help, where to go. And it’s free.

For years we have been working on going for the gold, striving to make that emotional connection, and helping our clients do the same. Strategic marketing and strong branding can’t necessarily help silver medalists, but it can help companies who are tired of hearing from their sales team that a competitor just won their business, again. With strong positioning, a consistent brand, and a strategic message, marketing can bring a brand to life, clearly demonstrate added value, and in the end, be that one “gut” feeling that makes your company win the gold (over and over again). Ready to start training for that gold medal?

Welcome David. We can’t wait to work with you.