Applecore Interactive is hiring!

Content Development Specialist

AppleCore Interactive is an award-winning interactive marketing communications agency known for its fresh approach. Its commitment to excellence and superior relationships with its clients has been fundamental to its success.

AppleCore is currently accepting resumes for a Content Development Specialist position.

Job Purpose:

The Content Development Specialist will make a valuable contribution to our Internet Marketing team by researching, writing and editing content for the web and interactive media (optimized for search engines). It will also require research and copy writing for printed media, such as promotional material and annual reports. Providing quality and relevant content is paramount to the overall success of a client’s website or marketing campaign. Clients vary, so candidates must be able to write according to the “language” of different industries. Attention has to be given to usability of online content, keeping in mind user psychology, structure and placement of information.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Content Development Specialist performs a wide range of duties including:

• Researching, writing, editing and proofing web content for client websitesportals from scratch.
• Writing, editing and proof reading copy for client websites, marketing materials etc. based on existing written materials supplied by clients.
• Proof reading, editing and writing content on a regular basis for ongoing maintenance of websites and other collateral material.
• Final review and check of web page content before publishing.
• Writing content for online newsletters, blogs, brochures, magazine articles etc.
• Inserting keywords and hyperlinks throughout copy as appropriate.
• Provide input into the development of client websites to ensure search engine optimization.
• An effective writing style that is fresh, consistent and user friendly.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or post-secondary education in marketing, communications, public relations, journalism or English; or relevant degree or certification
• Technical degree and/or MBA are a plus.

Experience:

• Two or more years writing experience would be considered an asset.
• Ability to write in a variety of formats and styles for multiple audiences.

AppleCore’s founding principle is to be a good place to work and a good place to do business. If you excel in a team-based environment, have a passion for excellence in interactive communications, have superior written and oral communication skills, strong internal motivation and project management skills, this may be the position for you.

Send your electronic resume to careers@applecore.ca

Applecore Interactive's continous strive for new heights and reaching the top!

Applecore Interactive is a proud sponsor of adventurer and Everest climber TA Loeffler and she has in turn carried AppleCore’s flag to many heights.

Here is a photograph of Applecore’s latest height: Mount Kilimanjaro – the highest peak in Africa.

In addition, the flag has been to the summit of Mount Denali (highest in North America); Aconcagua (highest in South America), Elbrust (highest in Europe) – close to summit, and Everest (camp 2).

Next year the flag will make another attempt to reach to top of Mount Everest.

The flag is a symbol of Applecore’s continuous quest to strive for new heights and reaching the top!

Applecore Interactive wins two IABC Pinnacle Awards in Electronic/Audio Visual/Interactive Communications

Local business communicators honoured at annual IABC Pinnacle Awards gala

ST. JOHN’S, NL - Local business communicators have once again honoured their own at the 6th Annual Pinnacle Awards. The Pinnacle Awards program was developed by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) - Newfoundland and Labrador Chapter to recognize excellence in business communications throughout the province. A total of 17 awards were presented at the awards gala on June 5, 2008, with winners receiving awards of excellence and merit.

IABC presented two prestigious individual awards. Caron Hawco, ABC of Caron Hawco Communications, received the 2008 Communications Professional Award of Excellence. This award recognizes a communicator who practices exemplary communications and encourages communication excellence in the activities and initiatives in which they are involved. This award acknowledges Hawco for her leadership, professional accomplishments and outstanding efforts to improve business communication in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Award of Excellence for Organizational Leader was presented to Frank Fagan, CEO of Bell-Aliant. The Organizational Leader is a prestigious award that recognizes an individual who is not an IABC member or communications professional, but who has demonstrated leadership, vision and commitment to excellent communications. Whether involved in private, public, not-for-profit sectors, the recipient of this award will have made contributions to business communications by initiating, supporting, and/or participating in effective, successful communications programs.

Sponsors of the 2008 Pinnacle Awards include: Presenting Sponsor – m5pr, Platinum Sponsor – Steele Communications, Silver Sponsor – CNW Group, and Bronze Sponsors – Fortis Properties, Johnson Insurance, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Mount St. Vincent University, Newfoundland Power and the Atlantic Lottery Corporation.

A complete list of award winners is attached

For more information contact:
Kathy Dicks-Peyton, ABC
2008 Pinnacle Chair
709-689-9279

IABC Newfoundland & Labrador 2008 Pinnacle Awards Recipients

Employee/Internal Communications
Award of Merit

Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association
Eastern Health

Issues Management/Crisis Communication
Award of Excellence

Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses’ Union

Brand Communication
Award of Excellence

m5pr

Media Relations
Award of Excellence

Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association

Brochures/Special Publications
Award of Merit

Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association

Newsletters (print)
Award of Excellence

Memorial University
College of the North Atlantic

Award of Merit
Eastern Health

Electronic/Audio Visual/Interactive Communications
Award of Merit - two awards presented to:

Applecore Interactive

Writing
Award of Excellence
Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association

Graphic Design
Award of Merit

Eastern Health

Advertising (Traditional Media)
Award of Excellence

Memorial University
m5pr

2008 Organizational Leader
Frank Fagan, CEO of Bell-Aliant

2008 Communications Professional Award of Excellence
Caron Hawco, Caron Hawco Communications
-30-

For more information contact:

Kathy Dicks-Peyton, ABC
2008 Pinnacle Awards Chair
(709) 689-9279

21 Factors that Influence the First Impression of Your Website’s Visitors

When a new visitor comes to your website for the first time an initial impression will be formed pretty quickly. A good first impression will drastically increase the chances of that visitor returning again, and a bad first impression will be difficult to overcome.

This list looks at 21 factors that will influence your visitor’s impression within moments of arriving at your site. These are just some of the factors, not a comprehensive list. Feel free to list some others in the comments that you think should be included. Here they are, in no particular order.

1. Load Time – Most of us are very impatient and slow loading pages will not make us want to return. On the other hand, pages that load quickly will encourage visitors to navigate through your site knowing that they won’t have to wait very long for each page to load.

2. Error Messages – If new visitors to your site are getting error messages and are unable to access your site, they’re not going to be impressed and they won’t be back. There are a number of different errors that can occur. BlogStorm recently published an article Why Businesses Need a Website that Works, which takes a look at one unsuccessful website with an obvious problem.

3. Colors – The look of your site will obviously be a factor in your visitors’ first impressions. The colors of your website can have a huge impact on the overall attractiveness of the site. Choosing the right color combinations can be difficult, but fortunately there are a number of online tools that can help. For a list of resources and links to some articles on the psychology of colors, see Find the Perfect Colors for Your Website.

[ Read Entire Article ]

Choosing the Right Colors for Your Web Site

Do colors influence web site visitors? Several years ago, having a web page (as a business or as an individual), was an indicator of prosperity, and required a certain amount of financial power. Nowadays, almost everybody has one. They are easy to create (thanks to instant web page generators), even if they are not always works of art.

The main problem resides primarily in choosing the right colors for the web site. It is not always easy to properly assort the background color with the text color. The readability of a page can be influenced negatively if the color contrast is badly chosen. The background of web pages is white by default, like a sheet of paper.

[ Read Entire Article ]