Elemento L2

Elemento L2 is the multicultural marketing agency that drives word of mouth and retail engagement. Take a peek inside our chemists' minds and see what's brewing in the marketing lab.

[elementol2]

Día de los Muertos’ Growing Interest in the U.S. [INFOGRAPHIC]

Halloween came and went but for many U.S Hispanics, halloween is only one holiday they celebrated past weekend. As the festivities around the two-day celebration that pay homage to the lives of loved ones who passed away —  known as Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead —  wrapped up yesterday, our research team at Elemento L2 took a closer look at this spiritual holiday’s growing interest within the U.S.

Check out the infographic below and let us know what other examples of Día de los Muertos influences tricking into American culture you’ve seen this year in the comments below. 

To full-view the infographic, click here.

[elementol2]

Brands are joining the celebration for Día de los Muertos

Here at Elemento L2, we’re paying tribute and celebrating the lives of our loved ones who have passed away by decorating calaveras and enjoying some traditional pan de muerto. In recognition of Día de los Muertos, we’re taking a look at the themes and symbols brands have adapted to celebrate the holiday.

Image Courtesy of Discover Gold

Themes and symbols most commonly found to celebrate Día de los Muertos:

Family

Skeletons (Calacas a.k.a. La Catrina)

Skulls (Calaveras}

Marigolds

Pan de Muertos

Monarch Butterflies

Confetti (Papel Picado)

Candles

Altar (Ofrendas)

Photographs

Brands are adapting to Día de los Muertos: And they are taking inspiration from Día de los Muertos themes and symbols

Nike Cortez: To release a Day of the Dead sneaker inspired by marigolds and skulls. 

Stripes Convenience Stores and Coca-Cola: Will offer two limited-edition Day of the Dead celebratory cups inspired by the Mexican celebration, Stripes Stores and Coca-Cola logo. With headquarters in Texas, the cups will only be available in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. 

SweeTarts: Set to release a new skull and bone shaped edition just in time for Día de los Muertos.

Pixar: Slated to be released in the fall of 2017, the Día de los Muertos animated film titled, ‘Coco’, centers around a little boy who discovers how how “families stay woven together across time through the simple act of remembrance.”

PopSugar Latina: Developed articles with DIY food and decor ideas in honor of Día de los Muertos just in time for the celebration. Take for example this DIY candied apples idea inspired by sugar skulls. 

We want to hear from you: What other fun references have you see in celebration of Día de los Muertos?

Yuliana Salinas

Account Coordinator, Elemento L2

[elementol2]

Why Multiculturalism Is Now America’s General Market

Joining the numerous events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month this year, Chicago played host to Latino Fashion Week (LFW) -- a fashion show and tour dedicated to Latino fashion within the U.S. As a fashion and art enthusiast, I knew I’d find fashion pieces I’d love but little did I know I would see real, breathing examples of multiculturalism evolving as the new U.S general market. 

Image Courtesy of GPC Blogs

“Us vs. Them”

Working with our planning team at Elemento L2, this reality is something we repeatedly see pop-up within our research. According to a report by LatinWorks, conversations on multiculturalism continue emphasizing an artificial divide between Latinos and non-Latinos. Though the idea of “Total Market” has dominated topics this year, advertisers continue having an “us vs. them” approach. Realistically, America’s largest cities are 51 to 71 percent multicultural, moving away from acculturation and Chicago is no exception. 

Take a look at LFW’S tagline, for instance: “By Latinos, for Everyone.” This clearly demonstrates an understanding of the changing U.S. demographic. The fashion event showcased Latin inspired designs that appeal to the broader audiences but it also featured designers like Roksala Bogutska, a Ukrainian designer who showcased her collection among Latin designers. 

Transculturalism

A new term has emerged among marketers: transculturalism. As Richard Slimbah explains, “transculturalism is rooted in the quest to define shared interests and common values across cultural and national borders.” This means, people today aren’t confined or defined by their cultural backgrounds but all all around them to find elements that best identify with them -- whether it’s within their own culture or outside.  

At LFW, is was refreshing to see such a diverse crowd of guests -- African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos and Caucasians -- mingling and waiting for the show to begin. In fact, the event hosted diverse vendors. Though not all vendors were Latino or pieces Latin inspired, they recognized their guests have an appeal for fashion pieces inspired and various cultures. Having local multicultural vendors present like the Shen Yun Orchestra added to this coexistence of cultures and the sharing of common interests. 

It’s clear that in extremely multicultural cities like Chicago, people from different backgrounds pollenate each other’s interests. The general market is evolving. It’s no longer about “us vs. them” but rather, a new more diverse “us.”

What are some examples of transculturalism you’ve found around you? Share with us below. 

Alejandra Alvarez

Account Coordinator

[elementol2]

Don’t Be Networking Neutral

While networking is an important part of my role as elemento L2′s Business Development Manager, it’s been even more important for my overall career development, and it has played a major role in every other aspect of my life. Most of us can come up with personal examples of a relationship gained through networking that has had an impact on our lives.  

Networking does not come naturally to most people though, so it’s important to understand that overcoming an initial hesitation to network can be easy if we understand both why it is important to network and how to do it effectively.

Why Network?

Networking is crucial to personal and professional development, and starting now allows you to build a base of contacts you’ll have for years to come. Networking is for everyone, and it’s really easy to do so! 

Networking provides you with the opportunity to discover something new whenever you exchange information with other people. It is also a chance for people to get to know you, what you do for a living, what your aspirations and passions are. But more importantly, I’ve learned that networking is about giving and if you give, you get. In other words, networking is congruent with the purpose of life -- to love, give, serve and add value. 

How to Network

There are two well-known approaches to networking: 

The goals-based approach is what comes to mind when we think of networking -- a one-time transaction -- and it is often one person needing something from someone else. Meanwhile, values-based networking is done with unknown long-term benefits. By developing a relationship based on mutual interests over time, eventually a situation may arise where one person can help the other.  For me, networking has been a combination of both approaches. It is good to remember that life is constantly evolving and changing, and we don’t know what situations we will encounter and when.  Where to Network

Virtually every social setting provides an opportunity to network. From events designed with networking as a clear goal, like a reception or a career fair, to more casual and less obvious situations like grocery shopping! If meeting people at events is difficult for you, start slowly. Push yourself to find new opportunities and just keep practicing. It will become more natural over time. Something I remember to ask myself is: what do you have to lose? Not convinced yet? Seek to meet resourceful people who know lots of other people!

Know your Story Well

It’s important to know in advance what you would like others to know about you or what you need from them. For career purposes for example, having an “elevator pitch” is a quick way to effectively introduce yourself - remember to cover who you are, what you do, what makes you competent, what value you could provide and anything that makes you unique.  Listen and Be Interested

Listening with intent to someone else’s story is as important as knowing yours and sharing it. Be genuinely interested, and ask about someone’s job or hobbies to give you a context about them. This gives them a chance to explain future opportunities or something they’ve got going on right now that you or someone you know may be able to help with. 

Follow Up and Follow Through! 

Ask if you can get in touch, give the other person your contact info, or take theirs. If you say you’ll follow up, do it! It’s your word. In order to maintain meaningful relationships it is key to genuinely care about helping people you meet solve problems. To do this, you must learn enough about people to have a reason to keep in touch and regularly connect people with one another. Remember, it’s all about giving! 

Irene Acosta Moreau Business Development Manager

Do you have a tip for networking? Have you gotten better at it? 

[elementol2]

How To: Shoot a Compelling Hyperlapse

When browsing through your social feeds, what usually gets your attention? Is it a simple status update? How about a photograph, or better yet, a video?  

If you’re like the majority of people, when browsing your social media feeds, your attention tends to go straight towards some sort of visual. That’s because seeing something is much more attracting than reading a regular text update on social platforms. According to a study by Socialbakers.com, photos alone account for 75 percent of posts worldwide. In fact, many of the most popular social networks have modified their algorithms to enable this type of content to rank higher in preference within their news feeds. With this in mind, we can expect to see a huge BOOM in visual storytelling – and one of the best ways to create a compelling story is through video timelapses.

Timelapses are a unique way of showcasing an event.  Whether you catch the setup or photograph the action, the results always give that extra little spark to your footage. While challenging to shoot, moving timelapses (also known as hyperlapses) are an even more special way of highlighting an event, and creating one is a surefire way to not only tell your story differently but also spark engagement and buzz among your viewers.

At Elemento L2, timelapses are one of the various styles we use to tell stories, so we’re excited to share our process with you. Check out this quick tutorial showcasing the process our production group follows when creating timelapses but first, just a few notes:

You can use the same capture settings you would normally when shooting a timelapse

Make it a rule of thumb to take at least 100 shots.

Have patience! You don’t want to rush through and miss capturing something. Timelapses can be time consuming but the effort is sure worth the wait.

Enjoy!

Matt Lawton

Elemento L2-- Production Group

[elementol2]

An Open Letter to 2015-- From Elemento L2

Dear 2015,

You do not know us very well, but you should start getting to know us pretty soon. Ask 2011, 2012, 2013 and your not-so-distant relative 2014. They can give you good references of what is yet to come.

At Elemento, we take every year very seriously, so we wanted to give you a heads-up. “What should I expect during my long – but so short – 12-month life?” you may ask. Well, first of all, Elemento is ready to welcome new clients, like P&G, Disney and a few others that are ready this year – your year – to become our partners. Next, our co-founder, Marco López, is now part of the board of AHAA: The Voice of Hispanic Marketing. Additionally, our team has been growing, and there even more people will be coming in to squeeze in some more creativity – with a strong dose of ROI – into every single program we do. What else…? Oh yeah! We know our clients at Coca-Cola and Target are going to have great year, because multicultural has become a core of their strategic imperatives.

This year, we can also tell you that the total market approach is old news. Our clients have been doing it since a while back, so please let some of this year’s conferences know that it’s no longer an innovation, and refer them to your cousins 2012 and 2013 (don’t send them to 2014… he still thought it was something new).

We also foresee our company expanding – but more on that later. We don’t want you to freak out with so much information just yet, 2015. You will also see us visiting many time zones, but we hope you don’t spill the beans of success ahead of time (like when the Walking Dead social media team gave away the finale). That would suck. In fact, let us handle your social media – we have an amazing team that is ahead of the game and quite resourceful.

Please be kind to us by making sure the days that we have to finish pitches are the days that are magically extra long. (We hope this is not a huge request.) We also want to ask that you own every hour, of every week, of every month, and make sure our team of experts can account for every hour as well – it can only lead to profitability.

2016 is already looking at you, so let’s set the bar high. If I can give you one last word of advice, please be good to us… and maybe you should partner up with the sun; we need some good weather and warmth. We have a feeling your year will be the one to beat.

Now, get ready, set… GO!

Sincerely,

The team at Elemento L2

[elementol2]

AHAA elects Marco Lopéz to Board of Directors

It's another exciting day for Elemento L2! 

Recently, Elemento L2's EVP of client services and co-founder, Marco Lopéz, was elected to AHAA's Board of Directors. As a board member, Marco will work closely with AHHA's governing bodies and Executive Director Horacio Gavilan to support the organization's advocacy initiatives and thought leadership strategies designed to increase corporate investment in Hispanic and multicultural marketing. 

Way to go Marco! Check out the AHAA's formal announcement here.

[elementol2]

Holiday Help: The Perfect Office Party Outfit

It’s that time of the year again! I can assure that everyone has missed wearing four layers of clothes to work as the frigid, cold wind rudely awakens you on your morning commute. The plus side of this cold means only one thing - holiday parties are just around the corner!

 As your email quickly fills up with holiday party invites – let’s remind ourselves on a few holiday party golden rules! 

1. LBD (Little Black Dress): Is always a safe route to avoid being over or under dressed – just make sure its office appropriate. You can wear the short dress for NYE.

2. Winter White: The idea of white only being a summer color is totally outdated. For a casual but chic look, try a winter white sweater with black denim and a leather wedge. Dress it up with some accessories and you’re good to go! It’s the perfect solution for a holiday celebration with friends!

3. Metallics: Spruce things up with a metallic piece. One of my favorite looks for the season is metallic shorts (with sheer tights), a chiffon top, and wedges. Make sure to pair metallic with subtle pieces so that it’s not competing with anything. 

4. Jewel Tones: Be unexpected in jewel tones this season. Teal and magenta always make for a good contrast and with the right accessories you’ll be holiday party ready!

5. Jumpsuits: Tailored jumpsuits are the perfect piece for making a statement. Pair with some heels and a bold necklace to complete your look.

  Most Importantly – ENJOY THE FESTIVITIES! Put the phones down (okay okay, you can snap a few photos to upload later) and cheers to those around you for another fantastic year!

  Always,

Alejandra & Xenia 

Account Coordinators

[elementol2]

New Year, new job? Elemento L2 is looking for two Creatives to join these three and let the marketing magic happen! If you're ready to jump in the ring with us, start by clicking here: http://linkd.in/1AKFC98 & http://linkd.in/1AKIoLB

[elementol2]

History 101: Intro to Latinos

A few years ago, I had the privilege of teaching Latino Studies at the high school and college levels. The first day of class, I would always surprise the students with a pop quiz and promise them an A for the class if they answered two questions correctly – obviously this was before the rise of smartphones and accessibility of Google (I’m dating myself here). The questions were: 1) What is the oldest city in the contiguous United States? and 2) What is the official language of the United States? The correct answers are San Augustine, FL (founded in 1565 by Spanish settlers, decades before Jamestown Virginia, the first U.S. colony) and none (the US does not have an official language). No one ever answered both correctly.

So why were these two questions so important? Well, because these questions would set the tone for my class for the rest of the year. The name of the class was “Intro to the Barrio,” and the main objective was to not only teach Latino history and culture within the context of U.S. History but also make my students active participants within their communities. The reason for this is that although most of my students (who were 90% Hispanic) were taught U.S. history throughout their educational careers, Latino contributions seemed nonexistent, at least within their textbooks. I wanted them to understand that their history and culture have been present in this country since before its independence and that we have contributed ever since. I wanted them to understand that we are an important demographic and that we have and will continue to contribute to U.S. growth.  

A quick glance at the numbers will tell you how important we are to this country: According to the U.S. Census, we comprise about 17 percent of the US population (53 million people), and this number is projected to double to 30 percent by 2050. It also tells us that the U.S. is the fifth-largest Spanish-speaking country in the world after Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina. Finally, according to a Nielsen report, Latinos have already surpassed the trillion-dollar buying power mark and are projected to surpass one and a half trillion by 2017.

All this means that while we haven’t reached our potential when it comes to representation (8.4 percent voter turnout, and we only hold  3.3 percent of elected seats nationally), U.S. companies are starting to listen and understand.

No longer are Spanish-language TV and radio the only vehicles (albeit still very important ones) to market to Latinos. We are everywhere, and we like what everyone else likes – we listen to what everyone else listens to, watch the same shows everyone else watches and participate in the same sports most Americans do. There are, however, also cultural norms that, if paid attention to and understood, will pay dividends to those that do. So what does that mean? Hiring chihuahuas to advertise your product on TV will no longer be enough. Latinos must be part of the leadership and marketing teams that are responsible for these companies’ growth. We’ve become an important consumer base, and it must be reflected within company structures. It must also be reflected in the types of advertising companies do and the people within those advertisements. You don’t have to overtly pander to the Latino consumer, but you must integrate it within your overall marketing strategy. Brands will not be able to survive if they do not do outreach to Latinos. Moreover, companies must engage with the Latino social fabric. We are very loyal consumers, so contributions through sponsorships, scholarships and programs such as Coca Cola’s Club Balon Rojo will demonstrate the company’s commitment towards the Latino Community. 

So as I would teach my students in my Intro to the Barrio class, Latinos have been and will continue to be an important part of U.S. history and culture. What will you do about it?

Jesse Iñiguez, Grassroots Manager 

[elementol2]

Why the #ALSIceBucketChallenge was Social Media Marketing Gold!

At Elemento L2, we’ve seen a fair share of campaigns take off and go viral while some... don’t quite make it through. In all honesty, what brand doesn’t dream with their campaign going viral? Imagine having thousands of people tweet and share your content with their friends and with the world. Once in a while a brand is able to do that, as is the case with the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. It started as a challenge from one friend to another but to date, thousands of people have participated including celebrities, athletes, and other prominent figures (not to mention two of our very own Elemento L2 chemists). 

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has become a social media trend that managed to not only raise money, but also increase awareness of this deadly disease. The success is in its distinction from other non-profit campaigns. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is about challenging someone you know to either donate $100 or dump a bucket of ice on his or her head and post a video of it. The fun part is challenging someone before you dump the ice bucket on yourself and continuing the chain. It’s engaging and the timing is perfect! In the middle of a hot summer, people will want to cool off. It shows that knowing your audience and timing are crucial in having a successful campaign.

Getting consumers to share your content:

As marketers we know the best way to get your content buzzing is by giving people something that catches attention and generates a feeling of excitement while inspiring to share the content seen. In the case of ALS, it’s not simply doing the challenge but filming it as well. And everyone has posted videos. Getting celebrities to share the content with their followers did a lot to get the campaign more attention. People who didn’t know about ALS have jumped on the bandwagon after seeing videos of their friends or favorite celebrities participating.

I know all of my Ukrainian friends, some of who barely speak English, have done the challenge and my newsfeed is filled with their videos. Other brands have taken up the initiative and posted videos of their employees doing the challenge at the end of a workday. Not all have been able to successfully do the ice bucket challenge and some people have gotten hurt in trying to outdo others. 

Utilizing social media to its utmost:

There is no better way to get the attention of millions of people than through social media and the ALS ice bucket challenge did exactly that. People shared content on multiple platforms. There were short Instagram clips share by us regular folks and elaborate videos shared on Facebook by the likes of Bill Gates and Paul Bissonnette. Interestingly, Facebook in particular has seen a lot of videos uploaded directly to their platform rather than sharing those on YouTube or Instagram. Twitter has seen mentions of ALS jump from barely anything in the beginning of the summer to 600K mentions in the last month. 

Below is a chart from Topsy showing the extreme spike in numbers.

Image courtesy of USA Today News:

Lastly, the power of a good cause is in itself a great way to get people involved. According to alsa.org, the ALS Ice Bucket challenge has raised over 88.5 million dollars as of August 26th and the association has almost 2 million new members. So while you’re still waiting for your friends to challenge you don’t forget to head over to alsa.org and donate as well!

Iryna Hutnyk

EL2 Project Coordinator

[elementol2]

Capturing a Great Image: Simpler Than You Thought

One of my favorite hobbies is photography, and due to the amount of awesome special events we execute at Elemento L2, I’m constantly tempted (and even encouraged) to bring my camera along with me, which means I get to practice during work hours!

While mastering the art of photography certainly takes practice, my experience has taught me that capturing a great image is much easier than you think! Though there are many components that come into play when taking a picture, focusing on the key elements can help you capture the perfect image.

Before we begin, let’s debunk that myth that says taking a good picture depends on the quality of your camera, lens and artistic eye. The truth is, with today’s technology, even camera phones are capable of snapping a great shot.

As an art student and a creative, I’ve learned that the camera does not make the photographer, but there are habits that you can incorporate into your practice to improve. With these next three tips, you’ll see how applying these photo-taking skills regularly will not only become natural but you’ll have the pictures to prove it! 

1.    Read your light.

Your camera does not see light as your eyes do. A key tip is to look for your light source and have your subject face it so that you can take full advantage of the available light.

Sometimes, however, this is impossible. Light sources are not always available or maybe your subject is not movable, but this is exactly why your camera has a flash, so use it! Do use it sparingly, though. Using a flash can kill a picture in a snap (literally).

Pro tip: If you want to create a cool silhouette have your subject against your light source, and have them make a dynamic pose.

2.    Composition is key.

Before you take your shot, take a look around. Then take a look through your lens. Is there something special you want to include in the picture? Or is there something you should crop out? An ugly water bottle or piece of garbage may not look good with the rest of the scene; remove those undesired objects when possible. Also, remember what focal point or main subject you want to capture, and try to enforce it with the rest of the scene.

Trying different angles can improve your picture too. Usually, when you are trying to take a picture that is meant to portray an energetic environment, giving a tilted angle to the photograph can help deliver the motion that a straight composition lacks.

Pro tip: Review your picture from corner to corner after taking it and maybe take a second one without that little detail that escaped your artistic eye in the first attempt. 

3.    Wait for the perfect moment.

Taking your time is always a good habit, but a bad habit is to snap the same scene over and over again, thus ending up with 50 frames of the same scene.

Sometimes, you’ll find yourself in situations where you know something exciting is about to happen and it’s going to happen fast. In this case, prepare your camera ahead of time, be ready and then snap away! You will most likely get unique moments in each photograph.

For example, at our Copa Coca-Cola youth soccer tournament, there were a lot of action-packed moments and one-time opportunities to snap the picture. But being able to anticipate those moments helped me get some great images for the client!

Pro tip:  Sometimes you’ll have to sacrifice something in the picture to capture it, and it’s okay! I personally do not like using flash, but sometimes I have to use it in order to be able to get that moment.

Pro tip #2: DO NOT FORGET TO FOCUS! An unfocused and blurry picture shows nothing, so always focus before snapping your picture. 

These are just some basic habits that I try to apply every time, regardless if I’m using my Canon60D or my iPhone. Lastly, and most importantly, PRACTICE! Taking pictures and experimenting with new techniques is always fun and will help you develop a keen sense of detail.

PIlar Amado

Creative Coordinator

[elementol2]

Summer Interning with Elemento L2

It’s hard to believe summer has flown by so quickly! It seems like just yesterday we were not only celebrating the adrenaline rush of the World Cup but also welcoming back our amazing intern, Nick Gadsby, for another summer with Elemento L2.

In honor of his last week (and before we begin the waterworks!), we asked Nick to share some highlights from his internship with us to give you a glimpse of what it’s like to spend a summer creating brand chemistry at Elemento L2. So without further ado, here’s Nick! (P.S. – We promise there was no bribery involved in the writing of this blog post!)

Kicking Off the Internship!

This summer, I began my second internship with Elemento L2, and just like during my first summer here, the team was engaging and helpful in trying to assimilate me into the workplace.

I began my internship expecting the same family atmosphere I grew to know, but also mixed with the opportunity to be challenged and continued to grow professionally. The workload never overwhelmed me, but it was a manageable mix that allowed me to stay busy.

Experiential Marketing Up Close and Personal

For me, experiential marketing is that perfect mixture of shaping and cultivating an idea while watching it fully grow as an end product directly on-site at the actual event. While I may not have gotten the chance to be a part of an on-site activation, I was able to experience many aspects of the Elemento workforce, helping out in projects with projects like Copa Coca-Cola, the beginning of our work with new client DeliverCare Rx, and programs involving Coca-Cola’s sponsorship with the Mexican National Team.

Brainstorming 101

During my internship, I got to experience my favorite part of the job with the creative department – brainstorming – in order to generate ideas for a health care client.

I went in hoping I would get the chance to be involved in a planning process from the get-go for various clients, and I was not disappointed. The brainstorming session was exactly what I expected it to be! I enjoyed that I could share my ideas for an event and have them valued, and the best part was being able to feed off of and build up others ideas in moments where I felt creatively stuck.

Because Your Professor Can’t Teach You This…

Overall, I was able to apply what I had learned in the classroom to the opportunities I was given; however there were also valuable experiences I gained which could never be taught in a classroom.

During this time, I have gained a sense of how to react in real time to a problem when something isn’t working out and how to help facilitate and find a solution. I learned about time sensitivity and how to make sure tasks are completed far ahead of time in order to assure that you have a safe cushion in case chaos ensues and something doesn’t work out for some reason or another.

Elemento is Like Your Long lost Family

I think what I initially found, and still continue to find, to be the most impressive about working at Elemento L2 is the amazing environment within the workplace. It feels like it’s a big family, and I can’t image having to work in a less social office where work becomes just another job instead of a part of your life.

Here, there is an undeniable sense of family amongst all the workers. It helps to nurture a comfortable, open environment where you feel valued for the work you do even from day one! 

In My Opinion…

I can’t imagine a better company to want to work for. Not only will you get more hands-on experience and work than you would at a large corporation, but I can also guarantee you’ll have fun doing it at Elemento!

All I can say is that if you want to learn about marketing and enjoy your time while you’re doing it, then Elemento is the place for you. For those looking for internships in the marketing world, you definitely may want to consider Elemento.

Nick Gadsby

Elemento L2 Intern

[elementol2]

Elemento L2 is hiring! Is it your turn to create some marketing magic with our chemists?

We're fresh from our first 2014 Chemistry Summit and feeling recharged and ready to tackle even more exciting projects! With that said, we're also looking for a new chemist to join us in the marketing lab and become a part of our ever-growing team family! If you think it's time for you to join us in the lab, check out the details below for more information. 

SENIOR ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR -- BILINGUAL

Full-time (Chicago)

Elemento L2 is in search of a bilingual Sr. Account Supervisor for our Chicago Office. This is an exciting opportunity to use your strategic and experiential expertise to help shape the direction of amazing programs. The Senior Account Supervisor will report to Account Director to ensure strategies and deliverables are aligned across two accounts.  Elemento L2 is a leading multicultural marketing agency that drives word of mouth and consumer engagement. We've grown rapidly over the past three years with two offices in both Chicago and Atlanta and managing experiential, PR, Social Media, Shopper Marketing and Creative programs for large clients.  BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bilingual English/Spanish

At least 6 to 8 years of account management in experiential and multicultural setting 

Should possess superior client interaction skills--problem solving, negotiating, influencing, decision making--and be able to counsel clients' top executive management on marketing issues

Should have agency-wide responsibility for account profitability, new business solicitation, and quality of account service and employee development

Sound understanding of the US Hispanic market and other multicultural markets 

Exceptional at managing multifaceted marketing programs and accounts inclusive of experiential and digital/social media with little supervision while also managing/delegating to account staff 

Extremely well organized with strong attention to detail and skillful at multi-tasking

Travel required

Bachelor's degree required

For the full job description and more information, please visit here. 

[elementol2]

Top 4 Must-Have Financial Organization Apps

Finance-savvy businesses and individuals know one important thing: being financially responsible starts with being organized. This can get difficult when digging around to find a particular statement or forgetting to pay credit card bills, but, thanks to numerous advances in technology, it’s easy to track multiple accounts at once, access personal information safely and securely, and pay bills with just one tap. As Elemento L2’s finance managers, we’re sharing with you four great tips and tools to help you get organized and stay organized: 

For years, paper statements were the best way for companies and suppliers to convey account information. However, having paper statements for several bills can lead to confusion and disorganization very quickly. Eliminate the clutter by going paperless! Many companies have the option to receive invoices and statements online rather than through the mail. For the businesses that don’t offer a paperless option, scan the physical documents received in the mail and upload them onto a computer. Applications like CamScanner allow the user take a picture of the form with a smartphone and convert them into a PDF. Check out more benefits of going paperless here.

Price: Free

Available on: Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows 8 Phone

   Source: SmartBlogLife.com

2.     Store all digital documents in one location

Go one step further by organizing all digital documents in one convenient location. Dropbox is a free application that stores everything in one connected cloud and syncs changes to all connected devices. The app allows the user to organize financial documents into separate folders and sub folders for different accounts or billing periods. Access personal information from anywhere, safely and securely, by downloading Dropbox to a smartphone, laptop, or logging onto dropbox.com

Source: Dropbox.com

 Price: Free

Available on Android, iPhone, iPad, Kindle Fire, and online

3.     Access multiple accounts in one place

Instead of searching several accounts, stay on top of personal finances by accessing all the information in one place. Mint.com is a website that pulls data from multiple financial accounts to track all activity in one convenient location. Besides checking up on finances, users can also set up a budget designed to meet personal needs and attain goals. Download their free mobile app to access accounts on the go. 

Source: Mint.com

 Price: Free

Available Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows 8 Phone and online

4.     Monitor bills

Never miss another payment again with Check; the app that reminds users to pay their bills, gives access to pay on the spot with a smartphone, monitors bank accounts and credit cards to eliminate surprises. Overdraft fees and late charges are a thing of the past when you use Check to ensure all bills are paid on time!

Source: Check.me

Price: Free

Available on Android, iPhone, and iPad

These four apps make it easier to have a pulse on personal financial standing and tracking. Say goodbye to paper clutter and late fees! Now let’s get to creating and monitoring those budgets! What other tools do you find helpful in keeping on top of your finances? Have you used any of these apps before? 

Michelle K. & Ayesha

Elemento L2 Finance Managers 

[elementol2]

Top 5 Tips that May Land You That Job

Landing that highly sought-after job as you launch your career is tough. It’s not just about searching for available positions, but also how you stand out during the interview that can make all the difference. Whether you’re starting off your career or thinking of switching jobs, these five tips will help you brush up on your job-hunting skills in order to land that job:

1. Convey Excitement

This seems like a simple and common request, yet I find more often than not many candidates struggle with this portion. I always do a quick phone screen before bringing a candidate in for an interview, and if you’ve gotten this far, this means you have successfully caught my eye from the other 100+ candidates. So far, so good!

2. Don’t Slack Phone Interviews

This is no time to slack – start doing your company homework. This is your opportunity to separate yourself from the rest. From a recruiting standpoint, I’ve read your résumé and know how you look on paper, but what I really want to hear from your end is excitement and genuine passion about your background and past experience, and more importantly, what you’re looking for in future experiences – particularly with our company.

So how do you convey this? Just pick out one or two things that you learned while at a past job or internship and what the positive impact was. Additionally, show me how this experience is transferable to our company and how excited you are to begin a new journey.  

3. Explore Start-Ups Too!

No matter what field you are trying to break into, it’s extremely important to look at companies of all sizes, not just Fortune 500 companies. Explore start-ups or small businesses – companies that are just starting to make their mark on their industry. These businesses are constantly looking for new talent with fresh ideas and an eagerness to learn and work.

4. Consider Part-Time and Contractor Work

More and more recruiters are seeing gaps in résumés due to low job markets. As a graduate, you’re competing not only with your classmates, but also with experienced professionals who are eager to get back into the workforce. For this reason, companies are looking for candidates who are willing to do contract or part-time work, a growing trend that can be positive for both the company and the candidate.

While a full-time position is the end goal, looking for contract or part-time work can help get your foot in the door, and if that opportunity doesn’t become long-term, it will at the very least have given you experience and knowledge in your field that you otherwise wouldn’t have.

5. You got the job, now what?

So you’ve set yourself apart, nailed the interview and landed a job – congratulations! Now comes the real work. You want to do your job and do it well, but once again, don’t forget to set yourself apart as a valuable asset to the company. You can do this is by learning the entire life cycle of the process you are managing, something that will allow you to assess any gaps or improve efficiency in processes.

Another way to set yourself apart is by making yourself available. While you’ll have plenty of tasks of your own, there will inevitably be some downtime, and when that happens, reach out to assist another team or committee. Why does this contribute to your success? For one, it allows you to build a rapport with people in different departments, all while helping another team out. Secondly, it will showcase your willingness to help and try new things and keeps you top of mind with peers and management.

With these tips in mind, what other tips have proven to be helpful for you? Go ahead and share with us.

Happy hunting!

Gabby Galivan

Elemento L2 HR Manager

[elementol2]

From One World Cup to the Next…

The 2014 FIFA World Cup is now over, and a part of me seems to be clinging on to every last piece of content the countless media channels have disseminated. As a marketer that plays in the space, I enjoyed almost every bit of the network coverage, brand activations, national pride displays, social media impact, viewing parties, FIFA outcry and above all, the competition. However, I can share my point of view on those matters at a later time. Today, I would like to share why this World Cup has been the best of my lifetime.  

First, let me define the parameters of my lifetime. Born in the 80’s, I slept through Italian player Paoli Rossi’s goal scoring outbreak in Spain ‘82, obliviously played in my grandparents home while the country hosted in Mexico ‘86, enjoyed my first World Cup carne asada viewing party in Italy ‘90, periodically glanced at the party our country hosted during U.S. ‘94, and teenage life priorities took over during France ‘98 and Korea & Japan ‘02. I don’t have the slightest clue of my whereabouts during Germany ‘06. In 2010, my son Claudio, who was two years old at the time, helped me prepare for my South Africa trip as we shopped for authentic Mexican gear at the culturally infused spot known as “El Mercado” de Los Angeles. 

Our trip to L.A. was our first major father-and-son adventure, which we both handled smoothly. It was during the flight back that the crazy idea of taking him to the next World Cup crossed my mind. I knew it wouldn’t be an easy sell with my girlfriend, so I made it a point to observe the nature of the property during my 2010 trip. I also took advantage of a self-imposed job assignment at the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil to take more diligent mental notes.

Last November, I was blessed enough to have the opportunity to act on my crazy idea and secure the trip. In the planning process, I easily recruited my friend, mentor and business partner – our very own Marco – to bring his teenaged, straight-A producing, responsible, and soccer fanatic teenaged son, Alex, to Brazil as well. Our crew was complete, tickets to Brazil confirmed, and now, the only thing left was to wait for the draw. 

Initially, my responsible side told me that I should play it safe and go conservative on the routing after the draw revealed a couple challenges. My more adventurous side said “F%#K it, you have a strong crew, you’re familiar with the good and bad of the event, and it’s BRAZIL!” The end result was a journey that included 12 flights, 18 hours of driving and nine matches across nine cities in 24 days.

So here’s the reasoning behind my earlier statement regarding this World Cup being the best of my lifetime: 

Brazil was a gracious host.

Much was written about the chaotic state the country of Brazil would be in during the games. But instead of the anticipated, we experienced a warm welcome from the Brazilian people in every city we visited and couldn’t get enough of the landscape. There was so much to see, eat and do in between matches from the bustling metropolitan jungle of São Paulo, commercial hub of Manaus, tranquility of the remote beaches in Natal, and the breathtaking views of Rio.

Additionally, Elemento L2 prepared six teen winners of Copa Coca-Cola for the trip and they had the experience of a lifetime without any hiccups. 

Social media allowed me to bring my friends and family on vacation.

Although I still know a couple of social media channel holdouts, the vast majority of my friends and family are connected to at least one of the most commonly used channels, which allowed me to take them on my journey from day one.

I live in a dual world, so having to two teams in the tourney is ok.

As a Mexican American, I have a strong affinity towards the Mexican National team and el equipo de todos, the U.S. National team. Regardless of the venue or tourney, I always proudly represent both teams, especially during the World Cup, which has led to both confused faces and like-minded encounters with others. Interestingly, I witnessed the same duality displayed by Colombians, Chileans and Argentinians. 

The Elemento family allowed me to disconnect.  

It’s one thing to submit your vacation request to your employer before disconnecting, but it’s another to leave your three-year-old company running for a month. But our team had my back and Marco’s the whole time, and it was very gratifying to experience that leadership and support from them.

Above all, my around-the-clock time with Claudio was everything.

Initially, my idea was to show him everything about the Brazilians love for the game – from the celebrations to the playing environments. I was able to deliver on that vision and also adapt to things that appealed to him along the way. For us, Brazil was a rollercoaster ride where every day was a new adventure and “we can’t do it” was replaced with “let’s figure out how.” After Mexico’s victory versus Croatia, I asked for his vote to stay, and he just smiled, replying “I love it here. Ask mom.” It was the only battle cry I needed to go sell the idea.

In closing, I’ve set precedent for the World Cup of a lifetime with my family. And now, the countdown has begun for my two-year-old, Ilan, to get his World Cup party started in Russia.

Ivan D. López

Managing Director