From the classroom and into the industry, what are today’s marketing students carrying with them into their careers?

#TheGroundFloor welcomes University of Pittsburgh junior and Andrew Exler Marketing Intern Cate Cinti as she walks us through her main takeaway from her classes: the four stages of campaign planning. She discusses how to succeed in each of these steps and why they matter. She also shares some insight into facing the rapidly changing environment of the marketing industry.

An important skill set to own in your life is your time management. Whether you're running a business, climbing the corporate ladder, or chasing your dreams, mastering your time can be the key to success in both your professional and personal life.

As someone who took a risk when I started my own business in 2019, I know firsthand the chaotic world of deadlines, meetings, and endless to-do lists. I pride myself on my time-management and organization skills and am happy to share a few tips to help you master this yourself. 

Whether working with a new client or simply talking through my approach on social media, my philosophy is (mostly) always the same. It’s simple. My philosophy on social media, and in life for that matter, is that IT IS OKAY TO FAIL as long as you learn from those failures and try again. Throughout my life, I've realized that the fear of failure is often the biggest roadblock for many brands and leaders.

My philosophy is simple: embrace the fearlessness of trying, failing, and then trying again.

The digital world offers a glass ceiling full of growth opportunities in the rapidly evolving business landscape. As businesses, nonprofits, and individual professionals strive to make their presence known in a competitive marketplace, the imperative of establishing a social media presence has gone from an option to a non-negotiable necessity. This does not mean every business or organization needs an overly robust presence, but they should maintain some presence on more popular platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. Of course, platform selection is highly dependent on your target audience, but you get the gist.

In this edition of #TheGroundFloor, I share the simple, straightforward reasons why every business, regardless of size or industry, should conscientiously maintain a strategic and purposeful presence across social media platforms.

Chances are, you've come across the term User-Generated Content (UGC) or seen it thrown around in marketing discussions, but it's still a bit of a mystery. UGC has become the not-so-secret weapon for many brands in the online realm.

So, what exactly is UGC? Read the full blog to find out!

In the ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, staying ahead of the curve is essential to remain relevant and appealing to your target audience. For years, brands have concentrated on reaching Generation Z and Millennials. However, businesses must adapt and consider the next generation - Generation Alpha - as we move forward.

In this edition of #TheGroundFloor, I'll explore why Generation Alpha should be on your marketing radar and how you can engage with this emerging audience.

This one is for the C-Suite Executives and major decision-makers. If you don’t fall into that category (just yet), but you understand the importance of social media for a business, pass this along to the right person.

To the C-Suite Executives & Decision Makers of the world, in this edition of #TheGroundFloor, I feel compelled to share something that might not be on your radar but absolutely should be: social media. I understand that for many of you, the world of hashtags, likes, and posts may not seem too important and far removed from the core focus of your business. However, I'm here to show you why social media is a crucial tool for your brand and why hiring the right professional in this domain is a smart move. So, let's dive into Social Media 101!

The significance of a well-prepared crisis management plan for your marketing team (or the individual who manages your online presence) cannot be overstated. It becomes even more critical when it involves safeguarding your brand's reputation on social media during turbulent times. Whether you're dealing with a global crisis or a situation unique to your business, the insights shared in this edition of #TheGroundFloor will prove invaluable.

In a fast-paced digital age where information spreads like wildfire, the consequences of a crisis can be harsh and unforgiving. But don't worry, I am here to help you navigate this turbulent landscape with empathy and a bit of lightheartedness, if appropriate.

In today's fast-paced digital world, the “playground for success” has shifted from the traditional brick-and-mortar establishments to the vast and dynamic realm of the internet. As the person who built this digital marketing business, I can be your guide on this exciting journey through the world of digital marketing!

Digital marketing is like a giant playground where businesses and nonprofits interact with their audience in a virtual world. It's a comprehensive strategy that utilizes various online channels and tools to promote products, services, or causes.

In today's interconnected world, where social media posts have the power to spark movements and Instagram stories can change lives, nonprofit organizations cannot afford to overlook the potential of social media. As someone passionate about helping nonprofits make a meaningful impact, I'm here to tell you why prioritizing your social media presence should be at the top of your to-do list.

Andrew Exler Consulting was “officially” launched 1 year ago.

On paper, I have had the most successful year of my career, but that was not my goal in year 1. I knew my first full-year in business would be filled with peaks & valleys. I knew I would experience great wins, while also preparing myself to know that not everything would go as planned. I gave myself “cushion” to fail, understanding that when you fail, the only way to go is up.

As I look back on year 1 and prepare for year 2, here are a few things I learned along the way.

I believe LinkedIn is the most under-utilized social media tool we have in our society. Besides health and family, your professional network is the most valuable asset you have.

There are many ways to be successful on LinkedIn & maximize your presence. There is no scientific data to guarantee your success, only personal experience and analytical data which can provide guidance.

Here are my top 3 tips to maximize your LinkedIn presence.

2020 has been a tough year for a lot of people, we know that. However, for MANY people, tough times aren’t exclusive to 2020.

KINDNESS IS KEY!

“It was frustration in my last job search that led me to a new realization: I didn’t have to just rely on cold outreach or applications and wait for someone to see my resume to show that I had value. I could somehow bring people to me, build awareness and make noise - in other words, how marketing teams employ inbound marketing.”

#TheGroundFloor welcomes Kushaan Shah, where he discusses how inbound marketing can salvage your job hunt.

Kushaan is currently a growth marketer at a digital health company, Livongo and is based out of San Francisco, California. A University of Maryland graduate, Kushaan has spent most of his career in tech, with experiences spanning consulting, product, and various marketing roles. He has been writing regularly since 2014, with his work having been featured in the Huffington Post, Washington Post, IBM’s Social Business Insights, The Almanac and more - his current interest is at the intersection of marketing, current events, and social psychology, which he writes about at his blog The Marketing Mind Meld.

What qualities make a great entrepreneur? #TheGroundFloor is thrilled to welcome guest contributor, Myles Cutler, for this week’s edition to discuss how he became a CEO while still being a college student.

Myles is the CEO of FRY’D Brands and a fellow Ohio University Bobcat. Growing up, Myles always had a huge passion for business and sports, so once he visited and heard about the sports management program at Ohio University he knew that he had to become a Bobcat. Myles is now 22 years old beginning his senior year at Ohio University while also working full-time as the CEO of his own quick service brand, FRY'D!

I am very excited to welcome Myles to #TheGroundFloor!

I always allowed a toxic environment to surround & consume me throughout my life. I figured it was ok to associate with a person who is always negative. I figured it was normal to have words of negativity in my regular vocabulary. It wasn’t until I took a step-back on my life to see the big picture.

I was allowing daily experiences, negative people, and negative words impact my daily life. In early 2019, I decided that I was going to make a strong effort to rid myself, personally, of toxicity. It tooks small steps to remove certain negative aspects from my life. I made it my focus to eliminate:

• Toxic Environments/Culture

• Toxic People

• Toxic Vocabulary

Read more to learn how you can rid yourself of toxicity.

Life shouldn't be easy.

It’s important to own & celebrate your failures. If you can accept failing, you have already taken a step towards success.

Ask for help. Learn every step of the way.

This edition of #TheGroundFloor is exciting as it is the first podcast edition. I’m thankful to my friend, Matt Scoletti, for having me on his podcast called “Livin The Dream”.

In this podcast we talk about:

• What it takes to be happy

• Esports (& Lost Tribe Esports)

• Depression

• Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh

• My New Summer

• Life

• & more!

Enjoy this week’s edition of #TheGroundFloor!

Have you ever had a coach of some sort in your life? Have you ever been a coach? There are opportunities to take those experiences & transfer them into your professional life.

Guest Contributor, Tyler Pepe is a Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at the start-up nonprofit, My New Summer. Before COVID-19 impacted the world and changed his plans, Tyler was completing graduate work in Organizational Behavior and Development at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya in Israel. While abroad Tyler served as Head Coach and Captain of the undefeated Herzliya Stars in the inaugural season of the Israel Lacrosse League. Prior to this Tyler spent 5 years as a Regional Director at BBYO.

I am very excited to welcome Tyler to #TheGroundFloor as he talks about winning at work

What is your dream job? Do you have what it takes to land your dream job at 26 years old?

#TheGroundFloor is thrilled to welcome guest contributor, Jesse Goleman, for this week’s edition. Jesse landed his dream job at 26 and he shares his secrets in this week’s blog!

Jesse is currently the goalkeeper coach at Northeastern University and the owner of Goleline, a strength and conditioning company tailored to the needs of goalkeepers. Jesse also currently holds the position of Director of Goalkeeping at Valeo FC. Jesse founded Goleline in the summer of 2019. Prior to that, Jesse has coached at Centenary University (NJ), Chatham University, Seton Hill University and Carlow University. During his assistant coaching stints, Jesse has coached over 20 all-conference selections, and one conference player of the year. In 2016, he was also on the coaching staff of the year. Jesse has also served in positions including Campus Recreation Coordinator at Centenary University, Youth & Teen Athletics Coordinator at the Pittsburgh JCC and Fitness Director at The X Health & Fitness Club in Pittsburgh.

Are you allowed to take a vacation from work? Is this something you should be guilted over?

As times have changed and remote working environments are becoming normal for many businesses, separating work from personal life has become more & more difficult. Many employers believe that since their employee is working from home, or can easily access their “office” from their computer, that they need to be working productively at every moment possible. This has certainly created a negative stigma around time-off, vacations and even tracking your hours since it is so difficult to step-away from work.

Luckily, I have a great network on LinkedIn & Twitter who provided some great advice.