A year ago, I didn’t know what I was doing. My life had undergone a significant shift from anxious, unemployed post-grad to job-titled professional within what seemed like a matter of seconds. As most novice adults, I was enthralled with the idea of creating work that contributed to a small sliver of social good, yet totally freaked out that I was accountable for things other than the upkeep of my fading summer tan.

Many companies go through a stereotypical hiring process. They post their open positions to a job board or career site, wait for applications to come in, then run the submitted resumes through a filter. If the applicant doesn't have the appropriate keywords in his/her resume, the candidate is not even considered. If an individual is lucky enough to catch the hiring manager's eye, they'll bring the applicant in for a series of lengthy interviews and potentially make them an offer. We have a very different approach. 

This is a guest post by PCR contributor Nick Rojas. 

Lead-capture forms, we’ve all seen them, those annoying little boxes that show up on the many web pages we visit, asking us to divulge our names and email addresses. Truth be told, according to some research from LinkedIn, 57% of IT buyers actually lie on these forms by giving false information. Don’t be surprised if you see John Smith whose email address is noneofyourbusiness@nomail.com and a myriad of other pseudonyms showing up in your databases.

While some industries are slower to adopt digital processes, others have dominated it. One major aspect of this prompt, digital ideology is social media. As marketers, we can all agree that tools like Facebook and Twitter are indispensable for any brand concerned with having a successful social strategy, but to be prosperous on such platforms, you must have timely, engaging content. Yes, it’s much easier said than done. However, a few sizeable brands have shown us that reactive marketing on social media is an attainable goal as long as you have the right plan in place.

Oreo and the Superbowl

One of the most memorable and noteworthy examples of reactive marketing on social media was Oreo’s “Dunk in the Dark” tweet in lieu of the great Superbowl XLVII blackout. Oreo’s ad agency, 360i, expected the unexpected and compiled a social media team of 15 people including copywriters, strategists, artists and Oreo executives. The Oreo executives were on standby for instant approval on content. While some material was pre-planned, like images designed with each team’s colors to announce the winner, the organization knew they had to be ready to act in the event of something big happening.

This is a guest post my Ivan Serrano. To check out more of his inforgraphics and marketing content, click here.

With the average smartphone user spending nearly three hours a day on their various devices, it’s important for businesses to make sure they’re adapting to new mobile trends.

One of the biggest mobile trends facing businesses is online shopping and how customers use their mobile devices to make purchases. Whether it be searching for a store location or comparing prices, people are finding it more convenient and necessary to use their smartphone to connect with businesses.

Whether you are updating your contacts with new blog content or sending a newsletter, emails allow you to connect with your subscribers and build fruitful relationships. However, this is not going to happen automatically. You will need the best email practices to help you.

Email is still a common form of communication, but as inboxes fill up with thousands of emails on the daily, it becomes icreasingly difficult to attract and retain user attention. Many people just start ignoring emails that do not seem immediately important to them, or unsubscribe altogether. You need to make your emails stand out so that people don't turn a blind eye. Here are a few things to consider as you continue your email endeavors.  

Transparent practices are everything to PCR. Our client relationships, work environment, and overall model of business are based upon honesty and integrity. As marketing continues to progress toward user experience design and analysis, we believe it is vital to fuel the discussion on transparency and help organizations realize the importance of openness with their customers, employees, and strategies. This weekly series highlights the organizations who are getting it right and who other businesses can look toward for guidance.