Z Blog

Email. This technological beast might not seem so human, but it has become the primary means of forming human connections. What’s in my inbox? Much of it is a roadmap of communication with my clients. Some of it forms the basis of my to-do list. There’s also calendar invites and inspirational content that I intend to read carefully some day. (What can I say; I have good intentions!) And, of course, some if it is pure junk. While we rely heavily on email to do our jobs, many suggest that perhaps email is on its way out. While we patiently wait for a revolutionary collaboration...

As a longtime lifestyle blogger, I have watched the world of online influence evolve over the last decade. Initially, people (who later earned the title of “blogger”) set out to create online diaries documenting their life, interests and personal projects. At this point, bloggers were writing and sharing content online as a hobby. Today, the life of a blogger, or an online influencer, has evolved into much more. Bloggers and other online superstars with large social media followings have become the next celebrities and are America’s top crop of influencers. Take *Dancing with the Stars*. A few seasons ago, Bethany Moto, a YouTube lifestyle vlogger...

By Kelli Haller, Account Manager As a blossoming account manager at Intrinzic, I’ve picked up a thing or two. Projects can easily be derailed, however I’ve found four keys to successful project management that I hope you find useful. ###Get organized Projects, big and small, are full of little details. Things can go wrong, tasks need to be accounted for and, of course, the client needs some attention too. It’s important to be organized, so details don’t go unnoticed. Be sure to have a list of clear deliverables, so you know exactly what everyone should be doing. Trust me when I tell you, the client...

Ah, that dreaded four-letter word: MEET. “Let’s meet.” “I think we should meet.” “When can you meet?” How can something that can be so powerful and meaningful to our work be dreaded by so many? Because many of today’s meetings have become unproductive, overused and are often misused as placeholders – excuses for pushing the work until the next meeting. Yet meeting in person, if set up for success, can yield great ideas, create productive collaboration and power decision-making. Here are three things you can do today to not only eliminate the dread, but to actually make meetings more productive and meaningful. 1. ####Create an...

I have a confession. When I started my workout training over a year ago, I didn’t exactly love it. Let’s be real... I hated it. I was the master procrastinator, filling my time with other *very* high priority engagements (watching multiple seasons of *Mad Men*, while eating a container of black raspberry chip ice cream). So, how did this hate for boot camp turn to love and a deeper understanding of self-discipline that helped fuel my career? Well, first there were a few painstaking lessons I had to learn… ###1. Baby steps, my friends (one tiny step at a time) Baby steps to the gym,...

When it comes down to it, no one likes a micromanager. Yet, it is a complaint that employees virtually everywhere still make. When you consider how the soul of any brand comes from the inside, the importance of a positive company culture, free from complaints of poor managerial style, becomes astonishingly clear. Countless people have been quoted as summarizing this argument quite well: Steve Jobs, Reed Hastings, and even Tina Fey, all agree that the best managers are the ones that expect great things from their employees and give them exceptional latitude to do so. Nearly seven out of ten managers find themselves in leadership...

There have already been several occasions in my brief career where I have sat in meetings, listened at conferences and participated in one-on-one conversations and been told what millennials are and are not. I always leave with one common thought: “No, I am not.” With this generation quickly becoming one of the largest and most active parts of the workforce, there have been several articles written about millennials: who we are, what we like, what we don’t like, how to hire us, how to retain us, why not to hire us, why we’re great, why we’re the worst, etc. The list goes on and on....

Staying inspired is easier said than done. When you get in that inspiration rut, follow these five tips to stay inspired. ####1. Have a Glass of Wine Studies have shown that while alcohol may impede memory and awareness, it simultaneously increases our ability for creative problem solving. Sometimes you just need to let yourself unwind and get those ideas flowing! ####2. Learn Something New One way to get myself out of a creative rut is to learn something new! Many of my ideas come from what I’ve learned through new discoveries and adventures. New knowledge, skills and understandings are a constant source of inspiration. Whether...

Content marketing is one of the most talked about terms in marketing. It’s popping up in articles, news feeds and company planning meetings. People are often asking me what I do as a content strategist and what exactly content marketing is. Do I write? Do I edit? Do I proofread? My four-year old recently asked me and I responded with one of the simplest answers so far: I help companies tell stories. Really though, content marketing does much more than just tell stories. It works much harder than that. Done well, content helps brands connect and resonate with consumers. It helps put your brand, your...