Lucky Employee Number 13 at New Media Strategies (NMS)

New Media Strategies (NMS) was a leading digital communications agency that specialized in social media and online reputation management. The company was founded in 1999 by Pete Snyder and his partner Jon Huggett. NMS was one of the first companies to recognize the potential of social media as a powerful tool for branding, marketing, and public relations.

Over the years, NMS worked with a wide range of clients, including some of the world's most recognizable brands and companies, such as Coca-Cola, Ford, Procter & Gamble, and AT&T. The company also provided services to politicians, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

NMS had a reputation for excellence in its field and was recognized with numerous awards, including Ad Age's Agency A-List and PRWeek's Digital PR Agency of the Year. However, despite its success, NMS was not immune to the challenges facing the digital marketing industry. In 2014, the company was acquired by Meredith Corporation, and its operations were merged with another Meredith subsidiary, MXM.

This article provides an in-depth look at the history of New Media Strategies, its services, clients, and achievements, and its ultimate fate as part of Meredith Corporation.

History of New Media Strategies

New Media Strategies was founded in 1999 by Pete Snyder and Jon Huggett. The company was one of the first digital agencies to focus on social media and online reputation management. In its early years, NMS provided services such as online advertising, web development, and search engine optimization.

However, the company quickly recognized the growing importance of social media and shifted its focus to this emerging field. NMS began working with clients to develop social media strategies that would help them engage with their audiences and manage their online reputation.

In 2004, NMS achieved a major milestone when it was hired by General Motors to manage the company's online reputation. This was a significant win for the company, as it marked the first time a major corporation had hired a digital agency to handle its online reputation.

Over the next few years, NMS continued to expand its services and client base. The company established itself as a leader in social media and online reputation management and began working with some of the world's most recognizable brands.

In 2009, NMS was acquired by Meredith Corporation, a leading media and marketing company. The acquisition was seen as a significant move for Meredith, as it signaled the company's commitment to expanding its digital marketing capabilities.

Services Offered by New Media Strategies

New Media Strategies offered a wide range of services to its clients, including:

• Social media strategy development: NMS worked with clients to develop social media strategies that would help them achieve their business goals. This involved identifying the target audience, selecting the appropriate social media channels, and developing content that would engage with users.
• Online reputation management: NMS helped clients manage their online reputation by monitoring social media channels and responding to customer feedback. The company also provided crisis management services, helping clients navigate negative publicity or crises that could damage their reputation.
• Social media advertising: NMS developed and managed social media advertising campaigns that targeted specific audiences and promoted products or services.
• Influencer marketing: NMS identified and worked with influencers who could help promote a client's products or services on social media.
• Content creation: NMS developed content such as blog posts, videos, and infographics that could be shared on social media channels and help clients engage with their audience.
• Analytics and reporting: NMS provided clients with detailed analytics and reporting that tracked social media performance and provided insights into user behavior.

Clients of New Media Strategies

New Media Strategies worked with a wide range of clients, including some of the world's most recognizable brands. Some of the company's notable clients included:

• Coca-Cola: NMS worked with Coca-Cola to develop a social media strategy that would help the company engage with its customers and promote its products. NMS created a Facebook page for Coca-Cola that quickly became one of the most popular pages on the platform. The company also developed campaigns such as the "Share a Coke" campaign, which encouraged consumers to share pictures of themselves with personalized Coca-Cola bottles on social media.
• Ford: NMS worked with Ford to develop a social media strategy that would help the company engage with its customers and promote its products. The company created a Twitter account for Ford that quickly became one of the most popular accounts on the platform. NMS also developed campaigns such as the "Fiesta Movement," which encouraged consumers to test drive the Ford Fiesta and share their experiences on social media.
• Procter & Gamble: NMS worked with Procter & Gamble to develop social media strategies for a range of brands, including Tide, Olay, and Old Spice. The company created social media accounts for each brand and developed campaigns that encouraged consumers to engage with the products on social media.
• AT&T: NMS worked with AT&T to develop a social media strategy that would help the company engage with its customers and promote its products. The company created a Facebook page for AT&T that quickly became one of the most popular pages on the platform. NMS also developed campaigns such as the "It Can Wait" campaign, which encouraged consumers to pledge not to text and drive.
• Politicians and government agencies: NMS worked with numerous politicians and government agencies to develop social media strategies that would help them engage with their constituents and promote their agendas. The company worked with the White House to develop a social media strategy that would help the Obama administration engage with the public.
• Nonprofit organizations: NMS worked with numerous nonprofit organizations to develop social media strategies that would help them engage with donors and supporters. The company worked with the American Red Cross to develop a social media strategy that would help the organization raise awareness and funds in the wake of natural disasters.

Achievements of New Media Strategies

New Media Strategies achieved numerous awards and accolades during its time as a leading digital communications agency. Some of the company's notable achievements included:

• Ad Age's Agency A-List: NMS was named to Ad Age's Agency A-List in 2008 and 2009, which recognized the company as one of the top digital agencies in the world.
• PRWeek's Digital PR Agency of the Year: NMS was named PRWeek's Digital PR Agency of the Year in 2010, which recognized the company's excellence in social media and online reputation management.
• Webby Awards: NMS won numerous Webby Awards for its work with clients such as Coca-Cola, Ford, and Procter & Gamble. The Webby Awards recognized the company's excellence in digital communications and social media.
• Adweek's Social Media Agency of the Year: NMS was named Adweek's Social Media Agency of the Year in 2011, which recognized the company's leadership in social media and online reputation management.

Challenges and Closure of New Media Strategies

Despite its success as a leading digital communications agency, New Media Strategies was not immune to the challenges facing the digital marketing industry. In 2014, the company was acquired by Meredith Corporation, a leading media and marketing company.

Following the acquisition, NMS's operations were merged with another Meredith subsidiary, MXM. The merger was seen as a strategic move for Meredith, as it allowed the company to expand its digital marketing capabilities and offer a more comprehensive suite of services to its clients.

The closure of NMS was a significant loss for the digital marketing industry, as the company had played a pioneering role in the development of social media and online reputation management. However, the legacy of NMS lives on, as its innovations and best practices continue to shape the digital marketing industry today.

The closure of NMS also serves as a reminder of the importance of adapting to the changing landscape of digital marketing. The industry is constantly evolving, and companies must be willing to innovate and pivot their strategies to stay ahead of the curve.

One of the key challenges facing digital marketing today is the growing concern over privacy and data protection. In recent years, there has been increasing scrutiny over the ways in which companies collect, use, and store user data. This has led to new regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the US.

As the digital marketing industry continues to evolve, it will be important for companies to prioritize transparency, accountability, and user privacy in their marketing strategies.

Employee Number 13

Chris Abraham was one of the early employees of New Media Strategies and was hired as employee number 13. Abraham joined NMS in 2000, just a year after the company was founded, and played a significant role in the development of the company's social media and online reputation management capabilities.

Abraham brought a wealth of experience to NMS, having worked in the digital marketing industry for several years prior to joining the company. He had previously worked in web development, content creation, and online marketing.

At NMS, Abraham quickly became an integral part of the company's team and played a key role in the development of social media strategies for clients such as Ford, Coca-Cola, and Procter & Gamble. He was known for his innovative approach to social media and was one of the early advocates for the use of blogs and other social media channels as a way to engage with audiences and build brand awareness.

Abraham's contributions to NMS were recognized with numerous accolades, including Adweek's Social Media All-Star and PRWeek's 40 Under 40. He also played a key role in the development of NMS's culture and values, which prioritized collaboration, creativity, and innovation.

After leaving NMS in 2006, Abraham went on to start his own digital marketing agency, Abraham Harrison LLC. He continues to be a thought leader in the digital marketing industry and has written extensively on topics such as social media, content marketing, and online reputation management.

Chris Abraham's contributions to NMS helped the company establish itself as a leader in social media and online reputation management. His innovative approach to social media and his commitment to excellence helped shape the company's culture and values, and his legacy continues to influence the digital marketing industry today.

Conclusion

New Media Strategies was a pioneering digital communications agency that played a significant role in the development of social media and online reputation management. The company's innovative approach and commitment to excellence helped it establish a reputation as one of the top digital agencies in the world.

Despite its success, NMS was not immune to the challenges facing the digital marketing industry. The company's closure serves as a reminder of the importance of adapting to the changing landscape of digital marketing and prioritizing transparency, accountability, and user privacy in marketing strategies.

While NMS may no longer be in operation, its legacy lives on through the innovations and best practices it developed. The digital marketing industry will continue to evolve, and it will be up to companies to innovate and adapt to stay ahead of the curve.