Chris joins NDG as a Senior Programmer with over 12 years of development experience, including websites for companies like Marriott, Washington Post, US Air Force and US Navy. When he’s not at work, Chris enjoys spending time with his two kids—3 and 5 years old. He also likes watching football and basketball, and is a huge Chicago Bears fan (but he secretly cheers for the Redskins).

We’re thankful to have Chris on the team and proudly welcome him to the NDG family!

We recently launched the NDG mobile site, so now you can see what we’re up to on your smartphone or tablet. You’ll even notice a new client on the roster, Orleans Homes.

Orleans has had a tradition of building and delivering outstanding homes since 1918 and we are thrilled to be working with a company that focuses on a “simply happy” customer experience and building fantastic homes.

Of course, the NDG staff has been hard at work bringing these exciting new changes to life and we’re pleased to welcome two new members to the team: Art Director Ola Elrefai and Proofreader/Junior Copywriter Sean McKenna.

With a summer this hot, we can’t wait to see what fall has in store for us at NDG.

ACTIVITIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Help coordinate and manage client projects and day-to-day tasks for Marketing Managers
• Proof all materials and update all relevant information
• Provide account management staff with administrative support within the agency and at client meetings
• Create documentation, follow up with contacts, execute all client requests
• Attend all internal meetings with Marketing Managers to create documentation and notes
• Provide follow-up administrative services as requested
• Facilitate client revisions to collateral when requested
• Produce project change orders and instruction memos
• Review all ads for accuracy and make revision requests when necessary
• Keep projects organized and accurate, and maintain written documentation of all client requests
• Ensure client projects are running smoothly and on budget
• This position reports to the Director of Account Services

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong attention to detail
• Exceptional organizational skills and time management skills
• Effective, professional communication skills

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO:

• Degree in Advertising, Marketing, Business, English, New Media, Journalism, or similar course of study from an accredited college or university
• Experience within the advertising, marketing, real estate, land/community development, or homebuilder industries

Please click here to apply.

Recently I had the pleasure of seeing iconic designer and potter Jonathan Adler take the stage at the Corcoran College of Art + Design to share insights into his career and to discuss the evolution of his “happy chic” approach to design.

Jonathan Adler’s pottery and home goods are known for their impeccable craftsmanship, clean design, bold patterns, and sense of whimsy. Adler now has his own brand and 18 stores worldwide, with one opening in Georgetown later this year.

As a graphic designer, I have often turned to his work for inspiration, some of which has even made its way onto presentation mood boards. His interior designs often feature many of the same principles we use in design and advertising, like mixing bold patterns and textures to create more visual interest.

While I was probably one of the few graphic designers in the audience, it was an inspiring lecture for all creative people to attend. Jonathan Adler is truly passionate about his work, and has been the source of much inspiration in my own work.

Your primary responsibility will be quality control. Daily activities: 75% proofreading, 15% copywriting, and 10% administrative. Proofing of digital products like websites, emails, etc., will be required, but this skill can be learned on the job by a competent print proofreader. All applicants will be required to take proofreading and basic copywriting tests.

Competitive pay and benefits available. Please visit www.NDGCommunications.com for more information. No calls or recruiters please.

If you’ve worked in advertising before, you may have worked at one of those agencies—you know, the kind where everybody is miserable, overworked, underpaid, and nobody stays for very long.

Well, we don’t roll that way. NDG Communications is an advertising and digital marketing agency located just outside Washington, D.C. in La Plata, Maryland. NDG offers a work environment where creatives are truly respected and appreciated, where schedules are reasonable, where compensation is competitive, where the office is usually empty after 6pm, and where your career can grow as fast and far as you can.

• COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION
• GENEROUS BENEFITS PACKAGES
• WORK WITH A TEAM YOU’LL LOVE
• WORK WHERE YOU’LL TRULY BE APPRECIATED
• FAMILY ATMOSPHERE & LIFE-WORK BALANCE
• TAKE YOUR CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVEL

What’s it like to work at NDG? Click here for some insights.

NOW HIRING: Full-time position

ART DIRECTOR
We’re looking for someone with strong and tested skills who wants to take their career even further, learn more, achieve more, and create truly great work with a great team.
• Lead designer for all assigned projects
• Collaborate with creative director, art directors, copywriters, designers, and   programmers
• Mentor junior designers and help ensure quality and consistency
• Strong Adobe Creative Suite skills / Mac OS platform
• Portfolio of advertising agency or similar work
• Minimum 5 years professional design work experience
• Agency experience required
• Mastery of communication, conceptualization, and visualization skills
• Focus on the details, efficient time management

TO APPLY PLEASE INCLUDE cover letter, resume, required salary range, and URL link to samples or include a brief PDF portfolio in order to be considered.

LEARN MORE and apply online at our website.

No phone calls or recruiters, thank you.

In celebration of National Bike Month, we wanted to recognize our resident cyclist and fellow NDG team member, Steve Wilk!

Steve first started riding seriously in 1988. Shortly thereafter he joined the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club, as well as the Snow Valley Spring Water Team.

Although he used to race, these days Steve prefers the occasional century ride. Last fall, he participated in the Sea Gull Century, a hundred-mile ride throughout the scenic roads of Wicomico, Somerset, and Worcester counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Unlike other sports, cycling doesn’t require a tremendous amount of skill or investment to get started, and it has great health benefits. It’s also an easy way to reconnect with the community, all while helping our natural environment by reducing our carbon footprint.

For Steve, the greatest benefit of cycling is being able to meet new people and see new things!

Click here to learn about other members of the NDG team.

What you say and when you say it means everything on social media!

Do you want more people to see your Twitter content? Post it on a Monday between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.!

In a recent article from the NDG Knowledge Base, you’ll find out the best times to post on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and more.

Do you want more likes and shares on Facebook? Create content people want to actually share!

Another great article reveals that the biggest factor for creating engagement is creating content that is relevant to both your brand and your customer. Click here for more great insights into creating engagement on Facebook.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more insights and news from the NDG Knowledge Base.

With 10.4 million monthly visits originating on mobile devices, Trulia is releasing a new ad platform that will allow advertisers/homebuilders to place geolocated ads on the most trafficked pages of the Trulia smartphone app and mobile website.

Mobile banner ads will appear above search results mapped by zipcode and will show a contact name, phone number, and photo.

Why is this such a big deal?

• 30% of Trulia’s weekend traffic is from mobile devices
• Homebuyers searching on mobile are 60% more likely to take the next step
• Mobile searches have grown by 250%

However, it’s about more than advertising to mobile users—it’s about offering content specific to a user’s geographical location and tapping into the buyers who are most likely to visit your communities and homes.

Click here to learn more about Trulia’s new geolocation
mobile advertising platform.

It’s no secret that homebuyers are using their smartphones and tablets to conduct new home research and to find new homes while visiting neighborhoods. With ownership of smartphones and tablets skyrocketing, mobile advertising has now become an effective way to create brand awareness and generate sales.

Here’s some recent news about mobile trends we wanted to share:

• Tablet owners say they are less likely to use a laptop or desktop computer after purchasing their tablet.

• 70% of mobile searches result in action within one hour.

• What works in traditional online advertising will not necessarily be successful with mobile campaigns.

What’s the conclusion we can draw here? It’s that if you haven’t started seriously considering mobile advertising, now’s the time. Mobile is where you want and need to be to connect with savvy new home buyers on the go—and now at home as well.

Click here to learn more about how you can use mobile advertising to connect and engage the right buyers to generate real results.