The First of Our Three-Part Spotlight Blog Series featured on Holly M Communications 

By: Maddy Grimm
The moment you entered your first college classroom you were probably thinking, “I have no idea what I’m doing.” Spoiler alert: You’ll probably still feel that way even when you get your degree! I’ve been there and still feel like that sometimes. With that being said, I wanted to share what I’ve learned from my experiences and everything I wish I knew before I graduated. So here are a few pieces of advice from one recent grad to the next! 

1. Build a portfolio
Future employers will want proof that you know how to do your job. Use any relevant work experience you have to craft a compelling portfolio and explain your creative process. Include it on your resume as a link or a separate presentation to woo potential employers.
In an article of advice for recent grads, Forbes cites, “of the 86 percent of recruiters that look at online portfolios, 71 percent report that it can influence their hiring decision.” Plus, it helps you stand out when compared to a candidate with equal qualifications. When you’re first starting out in an entry-level job, you can’t afford not to stand out.
Not sure how to start? Get advice or reviews from your peers and professors. Use a free website builder like WordPress, Wix, or Weebly to get started and one that allows you to easily update it. If you have trouble with website development, design, or maybe even writing, you can also ask your peers for help. 
And what if you don’t have great work samples from class or internships? Get creative. Pick a favorite brand of yours and draft up a few work samples that would match their brand identity. Better yet, you can even offer your skills to a local small business or non-profit that could benefit from your work.
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2. Make friends (with your professors, peers, and alumni)
It would be great to think that studying and work experience is all that counts to hiring managers, but it’s just not the case. According to a study by Glassdoor, your chances of getting an offer are significantly higher if you were referred by a current employee than if you weren’t. 
The more people you know the better. 
Finally, if you take an active interest in your job search or future profession, you’d be surprised how many people will volunteer to help you. My dad met Holly Mueller in a networking group and introduced us. That was my only connection to her, and here I am contributing blog posts to her website, along with being given many other incredible opportunities since we first met. 
Always be open to meeting new people and connecting. One study referenced in Top Resume claims that, “60 percent of jobs are found through networking — not online.”  Having someone send a job posting your way or telling you from the source that a new job opportunity is being posted soon is a huge leg up on the competition.

3. Make a plan for after graduation
The sooner you start your job hunt the better but don’t be discouraged if you don’t graduate with something already lined up. According to a study on the topic cited by Top Resume, the average job search in the U.S. takes five months. I really tried but I still wasn’t lucky enough to land a job before I graduated. So at least make a plan. Where will you live? Are you interested in working at an agency or in-house somewhere? Make a list of potential places (or even start a google search of all full-service agencies in the city where you want to live, which is what I did) and just start applying. Seriously, apply everywhere and factor that into your plan.
TL;DR Version

• Build a portfolio of your work that you can share with potential employers that will show how awesome you are at your future job and how serious you take your work
• Get help from your peers and professors to help you craft your portfolio website
• Be willing to meet new people and make connections (peers, professors, alumni, other people in your field or better yet, people who have your dream job)
• Make a plan for after graduation– where you’ll be, what jobs to look for, and your professional goals​

​Full letter:

Dear homeowner,

I hope this letter finds you well. As a local realtor with The Golden Group of Keller Williams, I just wanted to check in and see how your home listing process is going. I understand that you've been unsuccessful in trying to sell your home. I also understand just how special your home is and what it may take to not just LIST it, but sell it. I've done my research and can see that you've exhausted many options and tried hiring the "best" in the business, only to find yourself stuck. The problem with the "best" realtors is that everyone wants them...which then means less time actually spent working with you, updating you, and completely devoting themselves and their resources to selling your home. While I can offer you some of the most unique listing services in the market, I can also offer you something arguably more important - My undivided attention and complete dedication. I would love a chance to discuss listing your home and how I might best serve you with my expertise and devotion. If you would like to know more about the exclusive listing services I can offer you. Flip this over! 



Condensed letter:

​Dear homeowner, 

I hope this letter finds you well. As a local realtor with The Golden Group of Keller Williams, I just wanted to check in and see how your home listing process is going. While I can offer you some of the most unique listing services in the market, I can also offer you something arguably more important - My undivided attention and complete dedication. I would love a chance to discuss listing your home and how I might best serve you with my expertise and devotion. If you would like to know more about the exclusive listing services I can offer you, Flip this over! 
 

Another day, another busy morning. With a million things on your mind or demanding your immediate attention, it’s hard to take a minute to yourself.  You start getting ready for the day. But as you step out of the shower and quickly search for something to throw on. You stop. Even in all your morning chaos, you turn to your trusted, warm, and most comforting piece of clothing- your monogrammed kimono robe. Immediately you’re taken back to your wedding day.  You wanted something to share with your bridesmaids on your special day. Something you could remember your special day with every time you wear it..Comfortable, functional, but more importantly, memorable. Now no matter where you are or what you’re doing, you feel that same warmth you felt on your special day. It takes you back to the moments leading up to your big moment. And you’ll always remember it. 

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I established a brand voice, wrote copy and designed the website for a new company, Golden Renovations company. 

I established  a brand voice, created website copy, and designed the website for the newly launched, Golden Years Senior Living Solutions & Care.

View the website at www.thegoldenyrs.com 

CLE3D wants to help raise your profile as a high-tech real estate agent by using state of the art technology! So, we made it easy to share your marketing materials online. Using a shareable website link, clients can view your 3D tours on their computers, tablets, or on their mobile devices. You can also place your 3D model showcase on the MLS as a virtual tour link. Or, post it on social media for potential clients to view at any time!
 
 
About
 
CLE3D advanced property imaging will capture every detail and feature of your listing so you can focus on the selling! With our still and aerial photography, 3D tours, and property videos, you are well on your way to earning that commission- and fast!
 
Any real estate agent can take a few photos of their listing. But do you want to be the agent with the few, low quality, poorly lit photos of their listing? Or do you want to be an agent whose listings stand out?  Or more importantly, an agent that SELLS their listings?
 
 
Forget wasting your time taking low quality shots of your listing. Or showing your listing to buyers who aren’t actually interested. With our professional, high quality photos, buyers know exactly what the home has to offer.  With our drone footage and drone photos, buyers know exactly what the area is like around the home. With our 3D virtual tours, serious buyers can complete a virtual walk through and THEN reach out to you to schedule a showing. With all or just some of these services, you’ll have an enticing marketing tool ready to woo potential buyers. Let us be the one part of your listing you don’t have to worry about. We shoot, so you can sell!
 
 
AERIAL: Licensed, insured, and ready to capture every angle of a property! We use high quality, trusted cameras and advanced equipment to give you a high birds eye view of your property with the neighborhood around it! If your listing is near downtown Cleveland, the lake, or other notable areas, these photos are the best way to show it!

​3D TOUR: Our 3D tours are total game-changers. We can provide an interactive, virtual walk through of your property that you can share with potential buyers with a website link. Share the link with your customers and they can view the entirety of the home online and at their own pace! 3D tours also help you know your true customers. People who view an online tour and still request for an in person showing, are the people most likely to make the sale! Plus, save a ton of time that would be spent traveling 24/7 to showings!

STILLS: Using high quality cameras and a strict photography method, we can capture interior and exterior photos of your property. We also take advantage of all the natural light the property has to offer so your photos look authentic and inviting!  Further, we take our time to capture many angles of each room so you can have a variety of shots to choose from. We will also edit the photos after the shoot to ensure that they look vibrant and appealing. We can even add a true, blue skyline to your photo if it was captured on a cloudy day.

VIDEO: Using our top-of-the-line equipment, we can further capture and feature elements of your property in an easily shared and viewed, video format. Use a video captivate buyers and highlight specific characteristics of your property inside and out. Or, focus on the grand exterior of the home and surrounding neighborhood with a “birds eye view” or “drone” video. Both formats of video can be customized in content and length. They can then be easily shared or uploaded on social media, Zillow, YouTube, or your personal websites!
Whether you are listing homes for new families, or showcasing a commercial property, your presentations deserve that WOW factor! Improve your online real estate presence. Make yourself and your listings stand out! Give us a call at 216-352-1197 to schedule an appointment. We’ll take it from there!

​A cup of coffee is just that, right? Your caffeine boost to start your day, your afternoon pick- me-up, or maybe its a social activity or a way to kill time. But it doesn’t have to be just that. If you love coffee and you love dogs, your daily cup of coffee can be so much more than just that! Your cup of coffee every day can be the opening of a cage at an animal shelter. Your kitchen coffee station can become a dog rescue station too!

If you want to make a truly rewarding coffee purchase, rewarding like, “who’s a good boy, here’s a treat”, you need to buy Grounds and Hounds coffee! In addition to their adorable and creative marketing, “every pound saves a hound,” each coffee brew is incredible too. The unique taste and pairings of each light, medium, or dark roast howls with flavor that will make you want to lick the “bowl” clean with each brew you taste. Besides the noteworthy taste, every blend is hilariously named to resemble a dog activity and follows a dog theme. Some of my personal favorite blends include, “Morning Walk,” “Belly Rubs, and Alpha Blend." How can you say no to drinking an irresistible cup of coffee jam packed with flavor AND help save dogs at the same time?

Drink a cup of coffee that does more than just indulge that caffeine fix. Give yourself and so many dogs the treat of Grounds and Hounds coffee. 

Hear that? Audiobooks is giving away a free audiobook! Now’s your chance to catch up on that growing mountain of books on your “must read” list. All you have to do is try their subscription service for a month. In a month’s time YOU could be the one bragging about all the books you’ve had the time to read. While you drive to work. While you do the dishes. Walk the dog. Must we go on? Here’s your chance to read while you multitask. With your free audiobook! ​

Shanna Delaney is a singer-songwriter for the husband-wife indie pop duo known as By Light We Loom based out of Cleveland, Ohio. Although the group founded in August of 2014, Shanna has been making music and playing in various groups for over ten years now.

Jenna Fournier is a singer-songwriter and guitarist most known as the front-woman for the shoegaze/dream pop band, NIIGHTS also based out of Cleveland, Ohio. The band is currently signed to both an American and Japanese Record Label. 
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Q: Have you faced any challenges being a woman in the music industry? If so, what are they?

Delaney: Yes, many. Where do I start... There have been several challenges, but the one that comes to my mind has more to do with music professionals, such as sound technicians and band managers, and their interactions with me. Sometimes I feel like sound guys talk down to me like I do not have knowledge of musical equipment or technology. Some will even be rude or try to tell me what I want or need on stage. I have found that I have to go in really confident from the start with them and, unfortunately, be a bit curt in order for them to respect what I am saying and what I would like. The greatest example of rudeness from a male in the industry I encountered was when we were opening for a rather big band (I'll leave out their name). The band was really nice, but their manager was extremely arrogant and rude. We had been at the venue for three hours, and we were two hours past our soundcheck time due to his inefficient methods. When we finally got on stage to sound check, he came up to me and told us he did not want us to sound check now and instead line check right before we played. Then he very rudely, and super slowly, started explaining to me what a line check was, indicating that he thought I had no idea what it was and this was my first time ever performing. I had been in a band eight years at this point. 

Fournier: Venues will sometimes bill my band with other bands simply because both are female fronted. I wonder sometimes if they even listen to the music. I have also had stalker-types to deal with, and received inappropriate messages from both ‘fans’ and men who actually work with the band in one way or another, and often have men lingering at the merch booth not buying anything.

Q: Have you ever received any special treatment or privileges based on your gender?

Delaney:This may have happened, but I am not aware of it if it has. However, I may have had special treatment from the audience before, offering to buy me a drink or something like that.

Fournier: Sometimes men offer to help carry gear, but I prefer to load my own stuff so I know it’s accounted for. I don’t know if you’d call that special treatment though.

Q: Do you feel pressured to change your appearance or behavior because you believe it is crucial for your success in this industry?

Delaney: I would say yes and no to that. No in that the genre in which we are in is pretty open to personal style and attitude. I think if I were in the pop genre, there would be a lot more pressure on appearance for sure. However, there is pressure in general for a band to have what is called "a brand" by marketing professionals, and in that, there could be pressure to look a certain way depending on what the marketing firm has decided your brand should be.

Fournier: I don’t personally feel pressured to change my appearance, but I’m not interested in pop-stardom commercial success. I do believe that women in music are often expected to be young and attractive, and they will be picked apart for their looks. A male musician once told me that he gets angry when he sees a girl on stage in jeans and a hoodie, which made me angry to hear. I’ve also heard men comment about girls playing in mini-skirts, accusing them of using their bodies to sell their music. So, it feels like we can’t win. We will be stereotyped or judged however we dress. Woman are objectified in general, but especially so in the entertainment industry. As far as behavior, I do feel the need to demand respect, because it’s not always given to me, and when a woman is assertive, she is called a bitch. When a man is assertive, he’s called confident.

Q: What is the best part about being a “successful” female musician?

Delaney: The best part about being a musician in general is getting to meet and talk with people about their lives. I have also felt honored by people who have told us our stories mean something to them or that they do not know why, but my singing made them feel something. Emotional response is one of the reasons musicians do what they do. In addition, it is always fun to see little ones in the audience look up at you mesmerized, and it reminds you that they are watching everything you say or do, and in that moment, you are a role model for them.

Fournier: It’s amazing to me to be able to travel and share something I created with people all over the world. Music has been so therapeutic for my and brings me so much joy, and if I can inspire other people, especially young girls, to play or create, that makes my heart smile.

Q: In your experience, has the music industry changed for women in recent years?

Delaney: Again, in certain genres, I do not think so. However, I think with the increased popularity of indie music, the presence of a strong female lead who looks and acts the way that is true to herself has become more popular and accepted, maybe even admired. I do think the industry has seen some progress in the fact that we see more female role models in all areas of the industry: musicians, writers, producers, managers, sound engineers, etc., and unlike past decades, such as the 50s, 60s, and 70s, these women are being taken more seriously and receiving credit and admiration for their work.

Fournier: I think it has gotten better, but there is a long way to go before I would say it’s an equal playing field for men and women. However, women are able to get some recognition & exposure because of the internet, and movements like Riot Grrl, in a way that they couldn’t in the past. People are talking about feminism, and I hear men comfortably and proudly identifying as feminist. Female artists and all-female bands are making great music and getting noticed.

Q: What advice do you have for aspiring female musicians?

Delaney: I think the advice I would give to any musician is to just stay true to yourself. It sounds cliche, I am sure, but it is true. Write the music that you want to write, the music that is in you, and perform in a way that demonstrates who you are and in a way that feels most comfortable and freeing to you. At the end of the day, you will have people that love you and people that are critics, but if you can look at yourself and be proud of your art and who you are, that is all that really matters. Truly.

​Fournier: Stay true to yourself. Learn your instrument and all your gear inside and out, and keep challenging yourself. Be confident and just make the music you want to make and share it.