As a self-proclaimed Kindle addict, I was on the verge of hysteria when I heard about the “Kindle with Special Offers,” a new, cheaper version of the famed e-reader that displays advertisements. Horror struck me as I thought through the effects on the user experience.

Will I be reading The Help, about to find out the “God Awful” that Minnie did to Miss Hilly when all of a sudden an ad pops up for Crest Toothpaste? Ironic? Yes. But that is not the time nor the place where I want to be interrupted with an ad.

Will I be engulfed in the latest Sookie Stackhouse novel only to be blasted with HBO ads about True Blood? Don’t get me wrong, I sport my Team Eric t-shirt with pride, but I'm interested in reading about the magical town of Bon Temps, not watching it. And heaven forbid I go to “turn” the page while reading The Hunger Games and be mentally ripped out of the arena for a department store’s back to school ad!

After envisioning myself chasing down the Amazon execs, bow and arrow in hand, I decided to do some research and find out exactly what impact these new ad displaying Kindles will have on my fellow Kindle users.

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While reading The Charlotte Observer the other day, I came across an article about a respectable doctor in Charlotte who did a not-so-respectable thing. (I’m not naming any names as I enjoy my current status as a lawsuit-free citizen.) As I’m shaking my head in disbelief, I notice that 23 people have clicked the Facebook Like button. I am then left to wonder, what exactly do these people like about this? Do they like this doctor? Do they like what he did? Do they like that this controversy was brought to light? Or is it possible that we, a socially-connected society, are becoming addicted to Like .

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There are many different ways to look at and define a company’s brand. My personal favorite is covered in the book The Hero and The Outlaw, written by Margaret Mark and Carol S. Pearson, Ph.D. This hefty tome outlines a system for identifying brands by comparing them to archetypal personalities.

So what’s an archetype? Well, it’s a universally understood symbol or pattern of behavior that’s used in myths and storytelling across different cultures. It’s sort of like a stereotype or a generic personality.

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Once upon a time in a creative land far, far away, account managers were viewed simply as project planners and not creative-types. These account managers were expected to know about budgets, timelines and client relations, with very little input on creative concept, design and implementation. But as the creative world evolved into a digital-centric universe, so did the role of its account managers. Digital producers emerged with an entirely new playbook, or shall I say, storybook.

My, what big ideas you have! Today's digital producers are active participants during concepting meetings, thinking strategically and contributing big ideas. We bring a unique skill set that combines project management expertise and a strong passion for digital marketing. Digital producers need not be shy about sharing ideas among designers and developers. After all, collaborating with a team is far better then strolling through the dark, scary forest all alone.

Mirror, mirror on the wall... As the liaison between clients and the creative team, digital producers must be sharp communicators. Just like the magical mirror in Snow White, delivering delicate news is sometimes part of the job description. Perhaps a client is hesitant to trust a remarkable design concept, or a developer wants to incorporate an ubercool feature that just isn't in the budget. Digital producers must tread lightly as they carefully determine who truly is the fairest of them all.

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