To celebrate Red Door’s 10th anniversary this year (double digits!), we would like to share our personality, core values, and overall excitement through a series of “top 10” blog posts on the 10th each month.

The Morale & Culture Committee jumped at the opportunity to tackle the “Top 10” blog post for May. Since the main function of our committee is to make Red Door a great place to work, we thought we’d tell the world (or whoever reads this post) why employees actually enjoy working here. We surveyed the company and here are the top 10 reasons why we love working at Red Door:

1.       We:30

 Every Wednesday, the offices gather for a break from work to enjoy snacks, connect, and learn fun facts about the We:30 person of the week!

2.       There is a work hard, play hard mentality

 Dennis takes a break from a long day of work to challenge the San Diego Chicken to a game of chess. 

3.       The talented, positive people

 Our San Diego crew stops to say Cheeeese!

4.       The folks here are not just colleagues, they’re friends

 Zee, Anne, Julie, Lexi, Allison, Merima & Natalie enjoy some off-camera bonding while working on a Rubio’s shoot.

5.       It’s a creative environment where everyone is encouraged to share

 Creativity doesn’t stop with our work! Members of our Search, Social, Analytics and Email teams share their Halloween spirit with the office.

6.       We’re given the opportunity to work to our strengths

 Natalie shows off her newly awarded CPA Certificate. Congrats! 

7.       The company is flexible – We can organize our schedules and locations as needed

Telecommuters Michele & Malani show off their work spaces and preferred way of communication with the office – skype!

8.       No ‘jerks’ allowed

Members of our Philanthropy Committee, Red Door Caring Hearts, show their silly side before helping serve lunch to seniors near our downtown San Diego office.

9.       On any given day, there are two or three people who just happen to wear the same outfit

It’s a twin thing with Jeannie & Reid, Adam & Mike and Charles & John.

10.   The close-knit group in Denver

Our Denver crew in their brand new office!

- Red Door Interactive’s Senior Strategist to discuss emerging social media channels, personas, customer journey mapping and consumer insights -

Denver, Colo. – April 18, 2012 – Tony Felice, Senior Strategist at Red Door Interactive, a strategic partner dedicated to ensuring businesses engage their customers wherever they are, will present at Ad Club Denver’s “3rd3rsday” roundtable Thursday.

The free virtual event entitled “Voices from the Echo Chamber: Harnessing the momentum of emergent channels, and being ready for the next big thing,” will cover some of the red-hot platforms and more.

Felice will lead the discussion that includes the following topics:

• Three key lessons from social media’s darling du jour: Pinterest.
• Similarities between platforms such as Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram and why people are using them.
• Understanding what your customers are trying to do: personas and customer journey mapping (cases and examples).
• Using consumer insights to position a content strategy for the future.

To register for the free webinar, visit http://www.newdenveradclub.com/.

 
Marathon. It’s a scary word. Evocative of other scary words like endurance, sweat, pain, focus and commitment. But Red Door’s employees know how to turn scary into sensational and how to make completing an endurance event a life-changing experience. Technology Supervisor Ron Hadler, Design Director Jeannie Fratoni and Associate Creative Director Sarah Hughes are hitting the ground running with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training (TNT), the largest endurance sports fundraising program in the world.

Since its start in 1988, TNT has raised over a billion dollars to fund research and treatment for blood cancer patients around the world. The program unites and inspires participants with the motto, “Together we train to beat cancer.” Ron, Jeannie and Sarah are doing just that with early morning runs, weekend workouts, track practices and a whole lot of fundraising. Collectively, they’ll be raising a minimum of $4,350 and will complete The San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Full and Half Marathon on June 3rd. And Red Door’s Caring Hearts are supporting them along the way.

Bright and early on Saturday, March 3rd, Caring Hearts volunteers got out on the course to run aid stations at TNT’s first training run at Mission Bay. The group helped the runners stay hydrated and hyped by handing out waters and enthusiastic high fives—and they cheered extra loud when our very own Red Door runners came past. Check out the photos from the event, and show your support by donating to Ron’s and Jeannie’s fundraising efforts!
• Jeannie: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sd/rnr12/JeannieFratoni
• Ron: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sd/rnr12/rhadler

Come out to see Jeannie, Ron and Sarah do something sensational as they cross the finish line at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series on June 3rd. And when TNT’s next event comes around, remember that ‘marathon’ doesn’t have to be such a scary word—especially when you’ve got a whole team training with you!

 
To celebrate Red Door’s 10th anniversary this year (double digits!), we would like to share our personality, core values, and overall excitement through a series of “top 10” blog posts on the 10th each month.

March - When you think LEPRECHAUN, what comes to mind?  A little man with horseshoes, clovers and blue moons? A pot o’ gold at the end of the rainbow? Or maybe you are familiar with the traditional Irish version of a Leprechaun as a cobbler.  Well that’s all fine & dandy, but did you ever think about how a Leprechaun might go about filing taxes? No, probably not (we wouldn’t blame you…taxes are boring, right?).   That’s why, in the spirit of both St. Patty’s Day and tax season, the Accounting Department at Red Door  put together a list of adjustments and deductions that we think would be most common on a Leprechaun’s tax return.  Who knows, you may find some that apply to your own tax situation and help you claim your own pot o’ gold.

* For purposes of this blog post, we assume Mr. Leprechaun is actively involved in the business of cobbling, as well as protecting his pot o’ gold (via any means necessary) and promoting his image as a Leprechaun.

1. Health Savings Account – Form 1040, line 25, Attach Form 8889

With the stress of protecting his pot o’ gold starting to take a toll on him, that Mr. Leprechaun opened a Health Savings Account (HSA) in 2011.  He can claim a deduction for the amount he contributed to his plan in 2011, less any funding distributions, limited to $3,050.  Quick tip: you can elect to treat any contributions made from January 1, 2012, through April 17, 2012 as if contributed in 2011, so it’s not too late to claim an additional deduction for your 2011 tax return!

2. Moving Expenses – Form 1040, line 26, Attach Form 3903

With his growing interest in cobbling authentic cowboy boots, Mr. Leprechaun relocated his cobbling business from Ireland to the great United States of America.  The cost of shipping his household items and the three nights he spent at O’Sullivan’s Tavern & Inn qualify as deductible moving expenses, since his new business location is more than 50 miles (actually, it’s about 5000 miles from California to Ireland!) from his old home AND he worked full time for at least 39 weeks the first 12 months of his relocation.  Sorry, but the 2 pints of beer every night at the tavern are NOT deductible.

3. Alimony Payments to the Fairy Ex-Wife - Form 1040, line 31a

It happened faster than two Kardashian Marriages, but Mr. Leprechaun now makes monthly payments to his ex.  The good news: he can claim an adjustment for AGI for 100% of those payments.  The other good news: his ex must claim those payments as income.

4. The Greener the Better – Form 1040, line 52, Attach Form 5695

To keep utility expenses down in his tree house, Mr. Leprechaun invested in Energy Star certified windows and doors.  He can claim a credit for 10% of these residential energy purchases (including any labor costs allocable to the installation).  The only downside is that there is currently a $500 lifetime limitation for this credit.  See Form 5695 for additional qualifying purchases and additional limitations of the credit.

5. Poteen Rehab Program – Form 1040 (Schedule A), line 1

Mr. Leprechaun has been swigging plenty o’ Poteen with his cousin, the clurichaun. This past year, he enrolled himself in a program to rid himself of “the guid ould stuff.”   

6. Someone Stole Me Lucky Charms! – Form 1040 (Schedule A), line 20, Attach Form 4684

 Mr. Leprechaun returned home from a long day of cobbling to find his stash o’ lucky charms had been stolen! He can deduct the smaller of his cost basis or decline in market value of the lucky charms, net any reimbursement he received.

7. Tax Prep Fees – Form 1040 (Schedule A), line 22

Yes, Mr. Leprechaun knows that the best solution for maximizing his tax refund (or minimizing his tax liability) is to consult an accountant.  And the luckiest part of doing that? All these expenses are deductible: the cost of tax prep software programs (i.e. TurboTax), fees paid for electronic filing of your return and even the convenience fee charged by credit card processors if you paid your tax with a credit card.

8. Legal Fees – Form 1040 (Schedule A), line 23

On April 1, Mr. Leprechaun was caught by a human who demanded a pot o’ gold in exchange for his release. Two days later, the human discovered the gold was, in fact, CHOCOLATE gold coins, and not the real, cold hard stuff. Needless to say, the human filed a lawsuit against Mr. Leprechaun. Mr. Leprechaun is able to deduct fees that he incurred in defending himself against criminal charges arising from his business, which in this case, is his business of trickery.

9. A Fiddling Fun Hobby – Form 1040 (Schedule A), line 23

In his free time, Mr. Leprechaun enjoys playing his fiddle at local Irish Pubs.  He can deduct any expense directly related to this hobby, such as the cost of fiddle strings and bows, but only up to the amount of income he earns and reports while performing.  *Be sure you read up on the differences between a “hobby” and a “business” before you try to claim this deduction – there’s a very fine line.

10. Gambling Losses – Form 1040 (Schedule A), line 28

One of his favorite pass-times is betting on Lucky Clover down at the Del Mar Horse Races. He is able to deduct his losses to the extent of his gambling winnings reported on Form 1040, line **Gambling winnings may also include non-winning bingo, lottery, and raffle tickets.  Be careful on this one – you must be able to prove your losses, so be sure to keep all tickets and stubs for reference.

You’re in luck!  The Federal government has extended the 2011 tax return filing deadline by two additional days this year!  Since April 15 falls on a Sunday and government offices in Washington D.C. are closed in observance of Emancipation Day on Monday, April 16, you’ve got two extra days to figure out how Mr. Leprechaun’s deductions and adjustments can work for you.

For some more St. Patrick’s Day fun, visit Accounting Assistant Lauren Arcangelo’s Pinterest page: St. Patty’s Day Pinterest

Subject to 7.5% adjusted gross income (AGI) limitation: You can deduct on Form 1040 (Schedule A) only the part of your medical and dental expenses that is more than 7.5% of your AGI, which can be found on Form 1040, line 38. See Publication 502 for more info on qualifying medical and dental expenses: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf

Generally, you must reduce each personal casualty or theft loss by $100 when figuring your deduction. This deduction is also subject to a 10% adjusted gross income (AGI) limitation: You must reduce your loss by 10% of your AGI, which can be found on Form 1040, line 38.  See Publication 547 for more info on claiming casualty and theft loss deductions: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p547.pdf

iMedia
Mikael Greenlief, Online Media Planner, Red Door Interactive

Having been entrenched in some aspect of online and digital marketing since the start of my career, I have heard countless times from clients and colleagues, “show us the numbers,” “show us the analytics,” “show us the stats”.  These requests are valid and quite important.  The data often help us glean insights upon which we can develop strategies and execute them. However, there is another reference point that is of equal importance; unscripted, observable research.

Most traditional forms of research are typically conducted with a few premises that present some gaps in understanding human intention and behavior, including:

1. Asking a select group of people to provide their true opinions about a brand or product.
2. Surveying a large sample size of randomly-selected people a large volume of questions, hoping to get a “true” understanding of their behavior.
3. Posing real-time questions about their experience post interaction or purchase (in-banner surveys in web forms).

Looking at some of the principles of psychology and sociology, people often don’t know why they do what they do, or say what they say and find it difficult to answer such questions in a group setting. Most times they act on feeling, impulse or habit.  It’s the way they’ve always done it or what they’ve always thought. To provide some context, think about the last time you brushed your teeth. Did you think through the process of getting your toothbrush, rinsing it off, grabbing the paste, opening the lid, putting it on your brush, closing the lid and then start brushing your teeth? It’s safe to say that you probably did not. It was habit, instinctual. Another good example might be the last time you went to a restaurant, had a wonderful (or awful) experience and wanted to share it with your friends on Facebook. Did you put a lot of thought into what you said then wrote and rewrote it while fine tuning your position throughout? Most likely you wrote what came into thought, shared your true and honest opinion as a result.

The unaided, unbiased, qualitative information provided from watching consumers in action in their own environment can be extremely useful – sometimes more so than web analytics – in driving both online and offline marketing strategy. Brushing your teeth may seem like a mundane, habitual act, but for companies that are able to watch, it can offer numerous insights that can drive product design (how do they hold their brush), packaging (is the tube easy to open) and product type (is there too much foam in the paste, do we need to alter the ingredient mix) just to name a few.

All forms of research are valid and can provide brilliant ideas. That means organizations can’t become narrow-minded in their approach and not see the bigger picture that comes from getting too mired in digital numbers and prompted questions. In order to fully understand the consumer, marketers must also observe actual behaviors, listen to their unaided opinions and understand the context of the situation. Taking this into account along with the more popular forms of research (survey, focus groups, statistics) will help companies understand the complete picture of human behavior in order to develop the most effective plan.

Read article on iMedia here>>> 

- Web Developer, Search Marketing Manager bring experience, depth to agency –

San Diego – March 1, 2012 – Red Door Interactive, a strategic partner dedicated to ensuring businesses engage their customers wherever they are, announced the addition of Matt Vild, Search Marketing Manager, and Nick Knol, Web Developer II, to its team.

With more than a decade of experience, Vild will manage strategies to help achieve client SEO and paid search objectives while Knol will help create intuitive solutions for various customers.

“Matt has a great deal of experience working on both the client and agency side as well as a proven track-record using effective platforms and tools to help clients achieve their branding and acquisition goals. He will play an instrumental role as we optimize client marketing programs,” said Amy Carr, Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Red Door Interactive. “Nick also possesses a great deal of hands-on experience and is an expert at aligning technology with client goals.”

Vild comes to Red Door with an extensive consulting background that includes experience at Sharp HealthCare where he worked with a variety of team members and hospital leads on formulating online marketing strategies specific to their services. In earlier years, Vild managed SEO and social media marketing campaigns at NBC Universal, MEA Digital and eCity Interactive. Vild received his Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Kent State University.

Prior to joining Red Door, Knol was the Software Developer at DealCurrent and integrated more than 1,800 third-party daily deals into the company’s SQL architecture while also facilitating publisher scheduling and customization. In addition, he was a Software Developer at Centigon Solutions where he was responsible for redesigning the company’s flagship mapping product which increased data load and performance significantly. Other experience includes Software Developer at Allstate where he developed prototype iPhone applications for the company’s mobile initiative as well as the Lead Developer and Chief Architect for the FinancialForecaster tool at Analysis Factory. Knol earned his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

About Red Door Interactive, Inc.
With offices in San Diego, Carlsbad and Denver, Red Door Interactive, Inc. is a strategic partner dedicated to ensuring businesses acquire, convert, retain and engage their customers wherever they are. The firm holds more than a decade of expertise in successfully developing and executing communications initiatives across all touch points to deliver real, measureable results. Clients include Cricket Communications, CND (Shellac), Rubio’s Restaurants, Inc. and Charlotte Russe. Find out more about Red Door Interactive at http://www.reddoor.biz.

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© 2012 by Red Door Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved.

- Company’s Cross Channel Marketing Director to discuss how to drive offline sales with location-based social, search tactics -

SAN DIEGO – February 7, 2012 – John Faris, Director of Cross Channel Marketing at Red Door Interactive, a strategic partner dedicated to ensuring businesses engage their customers wherever they are, will speak Monday at Las Vegas’ MAGIC S.L.A.T.E.

The presentation entitled “Driving offline sales with location-based social and search tactics” will help marketers mobilize and localize existing social and search strategies to drive offline activity.

Faris will discuss how consumer purchasing decisions are becoming more influenced by brand and product research conducted online, and how specialty retailers can adapt. According to Google, 89 percent of consumers who buy in key retail categories in-store have conducted online research prior to purchase. To capitalize on consumers’ new inclination to research online before purchasing offline, marketers need to go beyond awareness and direct response campaigns, and start influencing the purchase decision-making process.  This means ramping up mobile content and campaigns, social check-in campaigns, and local search engine marketing efforts.

More information is available at http://www.magiconline.com/slate.

About Red Door Interactive, Inc.
With offices in San Diego, Carlsbad and Denver, Red Door Interactive, Inc. is a strategic partner dedicated to ensuring businesses acquire, convert, retain and engage their customers wherever they are. The firm holds more than a decade of expertise in successfully developing and executing communications initiatives across all touch points to deliver real, measureable results. Clients include Quiksilver, Sutter Home Winery, Cricket Communications, PETCO, Rubio’s, Charlotte Russe and Eagle Creek. Find out more about Red Door Interactive at http://www.reddoor.biz.

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© 2012 by Red Door Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved.

We’re hiring! Looking for a Project Manager to join our Denver office.

Is This You?  From project kick-off to lessons learned, we’re looking for a dynamic team player to execute projects to meet client project goals. You can handle the minutia while keeping the big picture top-of-mind. You will be comfortable having the authority to make quick decisions on the fly as well as know when it’s appropriate to lean on subject matter experts for their insights. You will be able to clearly communicate status, actions and risks to clients while keeping teams engaged and motivated and forward-thinking. You have a dedication to quality and know how to provide value without compromising project goals.

Learning & Growth: You are organized, detail-oriented, and have the ability to learn quickly in a fast-paced environment. You are adept at learning and able leverage new technologies and project management best practices throughout the project life cycle. You will have opportunities to gain mastery in and execute Lean and Agile best practices within the project life cycle. You will engage in career/professional growth opportunities through supervision, mentoring and on-going training.

Our projects: You have the opportunity to manage both external and internal teams throughout complex, multiphase projects. You execute on a variety of project types such as engine optimization (SEO) strategy, online media and web site and application development. You welcome the opportunity to provide solutions and improvements to our project process through regular in-project retrospectives and post-project reviews.

Our team: Working under the larger umbrella of the Project and Process Management team you will join a strong team of project managers. You work with our Senior Estimator and Quality Architect to provide continuous improvements to projects. You provide mentorship to junior members of our team and serve in a leadership role within the PM and project teams.

Is this you? If so, APPLY NOW!

Current Open Positions:

• Director of Business Development, Denver with a proven track record of developing and growing meaningful relationships.
• Senior Web Developer with strong back-end development experience with LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP) technologies.
• Search Marketing Manager who can gracefully manage SEO and paid search objectives and develop people.
• Senior Strategist with expertise in turning research into insights and delivering compelling presentations that resonate with executive audiences.
• Project Manager who is a dynamic team player with excellent judgment to execute projects to meet client goals. 

About Red Door Interactive
With offices in San Diego, Carlsbad and Denver, Red Door Interactive, Inc. is a strategic partner dedicated to helping businesses continually evolve by offering a broad array of services. We help brands including Cricket Communications, Eagle Creek, Quiksilver, Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill, and Petco connect seamlessly with customers across all touch points.

- Denver agency finds new location to accommodate expanding team -

Denver – February 2nd, 2012 – Red Door Interactive, a strategic partner dedicated to ensuring businesses engage their customers wherever they are, announced today its move to a new Downtown office space.

Since opening its doors in Denver three years ago, the agency has grown by more than 50 percent and the change was necessary to accommodate its rapidly-expanding team and client base.

“The new location is a great fit for our team and will allow us to expand our multi-office communication and stay connected through advanced technologies,” said Jaime Heather Intile, VP of Business Services and Managing Director in Denver for Red Door Interactive. “In 2011, we were recognized as the top Web Developer in Denver by the Denver Business Journal in terms of revenue which reiterates that brands are coming to us to help them achieve their online goals. We’re looking forward to helping more businesses in Rocky Mountain region!”

Each of Red Door’s three locations possesses a special theme and the Denver design concept is Modern Lodge. The goal is for employees and guests to feel warm and welcome in their work environment and décor entails a fun faux animal-head art installation and the inclusion of natural elements and accents such as beetle kill wood. The office will maintain its open layout, but will also offer small meeting rooms, a gathering hub with built-in booths and bars where people can eat and host informal meetings.

The agency is looking to hire new team members for numerous positions, including Director of Business Development, Art Director, Sr. Web Developer and paid internships in Business Services, Marketing Communications, Research and Strategy, Business Development and Online Advertising. More information on these positions is available at: http://www.reddoor.biz/careers

The new office is located at 1001 17th Street, Suite PL150, Denver, Colo., 80202.

About Red Door Interactive, Inc.
With offices in San Diego, Carlsbad and Denver, Red Door Interactive, Inc. is a strategic partner dedicated to ensuring businesses acquire, convert, retain and engage their customers wherever they are. The firm holds more than a decade of expertise in successfully developing and executing communications initiatives across all touch points to deliver real, measureable results. Clients include Quiksilver, Sutter Home Winery, Cricket Communications, PETCO, Rubio’s, Charlotte Russe and Eagle Creek. Find out more about Red Door Interactive at http://www.reddoor.biz.

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© 2012 by Red Door Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved.

- Co-Founder will select industry’s best campaigns for Mobile Standard Ad Units -

SAN DIEGO – January 19, 2012 – Jeannie Fratoni of Red Door Interactive, a strategic partner dedicated to ensuring businesses engage their customers wherever they are, will judge the 2012 IAB Rising Stars Mobile Ad Format Competition.

Fratoni, an experienced judge and member of the Mobile Rising Stars Agency Working Group, will critique the organizations’ competition, including more than 60 mobile ad concepts suitable for smartphones and connected devices.

“I’ve judged for numerous industry awards such as the Webby Awards, the Internet Advertising Competition (IAC), the International WebAward Competition and the Davey Awards. It’s a great honor to be a part of such a significant competition that will play a key role in determining new guidelines for mobile online advertising,” said Jeannie Fratoni of Red Door Interactive. “The judges will be responsible for selecting the industry’s best that will then become the IAB Mobile Ad Format Standards. I’m excited to represent Red Door on this front!”

The IAB’s Rising Stars is a program that goes beyond the basic standards to capture innovation in creative-friendly ad units for the good of the industry. Submissions are evaluated on the following criteria: user experience, branding, functionality, page integration and adoptability. The winners will be announced February 26-28 at the IAB Annual Leadership Meeting.

“If the success of Rising Stars Display is any indication, Rising Stars Mobile is likely to be a real motivating factor in revving up mobile interactive advertising with blue-chip brands and publishers,” said Peter Minnium, Head of Brand Initiatives at the IAB. “These prospective ad formats are sure to be great enhancements to the already established mobile advertising guidelines from other organizations like the MMA.”

About Red Door Interactive, Inc.
With offices in San Diego, Carlsbad and Denver, Red Door Interactive, Inc. is a strategic partner dedicated to ensuring businesses acquire, convert, retain and engage their customers wherever they are. The firm holds more than a decade of expertise in successfully developing and executing communications initiatives across all touch points to deliver real, measureable results. Clients include Quiksilver, Sutter Home Winery, Cricket Communications, PETCO, Rubio’s, Charlotte Russe and Eagle Creek. Find out more about Red Door Interactive at http://www.reddoor.biz.

About the IAB
The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) is comprised of more than 500 leading media and technology companies that are responsible for selling 86 percent of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive’s share of total marketing spend, and of its members’ share of total marketing spend. The IAB educates marketers, agencies, media companies and the wider business community about the value of interactive advertising. Working with its member companies, the IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices and fields critical research on interactive advertising. Founded in 1996, the IAB is headquartered in New York City with a Public Policy office in Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit www.iab.net.

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© 2012 by Red Door Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved.