MITTON Media. We do the work, you get the credit.

Does productivity improve when pets are allowed in the workplace? Do you bring your "best friend" to work? Author Laurie Tarkan shares her thoughts on the perks of bringing your pet to work.

When seven out of 10 workers hate their jobs or have "checked out," employers are facing a crisis. Jim Harter, Gallup's chief scientist for workplace management and well-being, says, "There is a gap between knowing about engagement and doing something about it in most American workplaces." Business writer Ricardo Lopez shares details of the recently released Gallup "Disengagement" survey.

Establishing the value of your personal brand to any employer takes more than the ability to do a given job well. It also involves your ability to get along well with others, showing loyalty to those to whom loyalty is due, being dependable, and keeping a cool head in all situations. In his book, A Year of Growing Rich: 52 Steps to Achieving Life's Rewards, Napoleon Hill offers his suggestions for strengthening the value your personal brand along a career path up the corporate ladder.

You spend a lot of time, money, and man hours looking for the highest quality candidates available in today's workplace. Finally, after weeks of painstaking effort, a candidate sits in your office. You extend the offer and it is rejected. Back to Square One. Click here for tips about how you can start closing more offers of employment...starting today!

Laid-off workers turning to starting their own businesses. Business writer Courtney Rubin reports that if the job market doesn't turn around soon, many recently laid-off workers are prepared to take matters into their own hands. According to a new CareerBuilder survey, more than a quarter of workers laid off in the past six months said they are considering starting a business of their own. Click here to read more.

When it comes to employee recruitment, is your company suffering from “Inside-the-Box Syndrome?“ John Mitton, President of MITTONMedia, offers "How To" suggestions to help you climb out of the box and begin reaching and engaging higher quality applicants.

How do you blend everything going on in your professional life with everything that is going on in your personal life? For instance, in my case, it is going to be a pretty crazy end of the week and weekend. Our son graduates from high school this Saturday. In-laws and out-laws are arriving. There are rooms to be cleaned, party supplies to gather, briskets to be smoked, and graduation presents to track down. And in the midst of this "graduation chaos," I have to stop everything for an international client conference call Saturday morning. If you ever find yourself in similar situations I invite you to click and read "The Right Way to Leave the Office on a Friday," helpful tips for achieving work/life balance.

MITTONMedia is a recruitment advertising agency with clients, both national and international employers, who implement a matrix-style management structure within their organizations. Used properly, the matrix model is a very effective tool for keeping everyone on the same page within the organization. However, it is not a good fit for every candidate. So the question becomes how do you go about recruiting potential applicants that fit this system? MITTONMedia shares suggestions to make your matrix-style recruitment and hiring as pain-free as possible.

What's the best way to find out what people think of your business and where they think you need to improve? Just ask them! Regularly surveying your customers can provide a direct insight into how happy your products and services make your customers, what deficiencies hurt your bottom line, and on what kind of new product development you should focus your efforts. Inc's Tim Donnelly shares tips for writing an effective "Customer Survey" for your business.

Nothing better than a little Monday morning humor to help get your week off to a great start in the office. MITTONMedia shares "Top-10 Time Management Tips to Outwit Your Boss and the Workplace."

Transform Your Effectiveness!"Wow. The week really flew by in a hurry. I don't feel like I accomplished anything." Sound familiar? MITTONMedia shares 10 Tips for Transforming Effectiveness in the office and other areas of your life.

Many new businesses are confused about the best way(s) to go about doing advertising. We live in an age of "Distracted Dispersion." There are thousands of ways to send and receive information: Newspaper, TV, radio, billboards, cinema, social media, blogs, websites, YouTube, Vimeo, mobile texting, and hundred of other options. Trying to decide which media outlets do the best, most cost-efficient job in advertising a company's products and services often leads to "Paralysis By Analysis." Click here for ideas about how to get started...

What makes the ideal choice from all of the available online marketing companies? How can the consumer save money while maximizing results? What is most important when searching for a better page ranking? As a first step review this informative article, "Achieve Real Results With Online Marketing Companies" It was posted in the blog section of www.SEO411.com on February 20, 2013. MITTONMedia can help with your online marketing. Send an email request to me at jmitton@mittonmedia.com or call 832.969.5627.

Are you convinced filling out an online application is a complete waste of time? That the application and your resume disappear into a "Black Hole," never to be seen again? In our MITTONMedia workshop for recruitment professionals,"Beyond Post & Pray: A Recruitment Advertising Toolbox," we cover how/why some companies unknowingly train candidates to NOT apply online. Read this insightful article, written by Suzanne Lucas, to learn more about what happens during many online application experiences...

MITTONMedia is known for our cost-efficient, effective recruitment programs for energy sector jobs around the world. According to the most recent jobs report, the energy connection is healthy. Growth in the energy sector is one of many factors contributing to a healthy jobs report. Unconventional oil and gas production have created more than 1 million jobs with 800,000 more expected by 2015. Read more...

Sometimes having a Monday holiday makes it REALLY tough to roll out of bed Tuesday morning. I came across this wonderful article, written by Adam Evergood, in case you need any inspiration when that alarm clock goes off early tomorrow morning.  Enjoy!

Do you have a plan and process to validate your efforts for both the Customer Service side of the business as well as your HR-related Employee Recruitment Programs?  Targeted In-House Surveys, done correctly and on a consistent basis, will help you save time and money on your way to ensuring peak performance in all areas of your company. John Mitton, President of MITTONMedia, shares examples and tips about how to get started.

A strong personal ego paired with high self-esteem are often necessary qualities for starting and growing a small business. However, these same qualities can sabotage an effective advertising campaign for that small business if they lead to self-focused instead of customer-focused advertising messages. MITTONMedia President, John Mitton, offers his thoughts about how to avoid "The Ego Trap." 

A Quick Response (QR) Code is a two-dimensional code that can be scanned by smartphone cameras to automatically pull up text, photos, videos, music and URLs. QR Codes, if used properly, are an effective tool for Advertising and Employee Recruitment Programs. MITTONMedia® and our online marketing group, “Idiot Proof AdvertisingSM,” design QR Codes and enhanced QR Code “Internet experiences” for advertising campaigns and employee recruitment programs including highly successful, student-friendly, college recruitment initiatives. MITTONMedia President, John Mitton, shares some QR basics to help you get started. 

I am a big fan of “What if?” scenario cogitation.  Watching last Sunday’s AFC Championship Game between the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots, a new “What if?” opportunity popped into my head. What if an apparently fantastic advertising idea suddenly backfired? Pepsi aired a TV spot during the 3rd Quarter commercial break promoting a site where you could download a copy of the favored New England Patriots “Official Team Anthem,” as performed by Aerosmith.  The wheels started tu...

Author Courtney Rubin shares the most recent tale of woe. The one about the "American Dream" being flushed down the gutter thanks to the "Rent-A-Cop" mentality of yet another overpaid, under testosteroned city official. Hear now the latest tale of licensing fees and requirements and their latest victim: A seven-year-old Oregon entrepreneur and her lemonade stand.

"In Wheel Time" rocks the radio airwaves as one of the most entertaining car shows you will ever hear! The MITTONMedia office staff hasn't seen much of me around the office lately. Not that they are complaining, right?

"Why QR Codes Won't Last." An interesting article written by Jon Barocas talking about what he sees as the replacement for QR Codes, Mobile Video Search (MVS.) Please read what Jon has to say and then email your thoughts and opinions to me at MITTONMedia: jmitton@mittonmedia.com.  

Simple Explanation of "Social Media"

Is your company getting ready to jump on the online advertising bandwagon? Before you do, check out article by Jon Mitchell in ReadWriteWeb: 

How will your child's college major hold up in today's workforce? Michelle Singletary's article cautions college students and their families to pay attention to what different college majors are worth in today's workforce because, as Ms. Singletary writes, "Not all college majors are created equal!"

We wanted to let you know that MITTONMedia has just launched a website for one of our new clients, L3 Design. L3 Design is a landscape design and construction company which caters to a discrete clientelle in upscale neighborhoods around the Houston area. (If you've driven through River Oaks, you've seen their work.) L3's consistent growth, the majority of it coming through word-of-mouth referrals, can be partly attributed to the creativity of their designs, the quality of work performe...

We are happy to announce that MITTONMedia has been recognized for our customized employee recruitment advertising strategies and award-winning creative production by being nominated in the "Best HR Service Provider" category for the 7th Annual HR IMPACT Awards!   Need help with your advertising? Call MITTONMedia!

Why should you care about the impact of Gen Y in your workplace? What you read here might surprise you... 

In the December 8, 2011 issue of Practical ECommerce, Sig Ueland writes about, "The 20 Most Expensive Keywords."  

The Art of Ordering a Breakfast Taco “Soliz Casa de Tacos” is the name of a legendary breakfast taco place in our neighborhood. “Soliz,” as it’s known by the locals, is perched on Dulles Avenue directly across from the Ft. Bend Community Library.

 "In Wheel Time," a radio car talk show produced by MITTONMedia, recently did a live broadcast to help support the 2011 MD Anderson Children's Cancer Center Toy Drive. Coffee & Cars, a Houston automotive club, hosted the event at Vintage Park.  Gearhead Flicks produced this video which captures the spirit of caring and sharing felt by the crowd that day.

I remember the morning my pant leg caught the edge of a surprisingly sharp desk drawer. Riiippp! Tore the pant leg to pieces in all the wrong places.

Whether it's advertising for products or services, B2B, or employee recruitment, MITTONMedia always stresses the importance of "Retina Burn" to our clients. When someone needs to buy something you're trying to sell, is the name of your company one of the top 3 that pop's into the persons head? If it isn't, chances are you will lose the sale.  What can you do to ensure your business doesn't get lost in the shuffle? My good friend, Sean Luce, recently shared three ideas in...

It's that time of year again when the pressure is on to stage a successful office Christmas party. Financial guru, Dave Ramsey, offers these suggestions:   Make sure spouses can come. I’ve had jobs where the spouses were not allowed.

Are you choosing advertising tools for all the wrong reasons?   When helping clients plan monthly, quarterly or annual advertising budgets, one of the first things we do is use our "MITTONMedia Value Pyramid" to measure the return-on-investment they have been receiving from various advertising tools. We ask three questions: - Is the advertising resource Effective?

This morning's issue of "Media Life" reports hefty holiday spending by retailers on local TV to lure shoppers.   According to the article, the outlook for consumer holiday spending isn't particularly strong this year, with forecasters predicting growth of 2.5 to 3 percent over 2010, about half last year's growth rate.   So why is local TV advertising so heavy?

MITTONMedia planned and placed an integrated support campaign for a Stewart & Stevenson job fair last week. Elements included targeted radio recruitment ads, social media, email blasts and other tools.   Over 700 candiates attended the job fair.

MITTONMedia and the radio car show we produce, "In Wheel Time," are proud to part of the leadership group promoting this year's "Toy Drive for the MD Anderson Children's Cancer Center." Additional beneficiaries include the Harris and Montgomery County Women's Shelters and victims of the recent Tri-County Wildfires.  ...

MITTONMedia got to ride along in a 2012 Ram Runner at this year's Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) "Texas Truck Rodeo" in San Antonio.

MITTONMedia continues to go the extra mile for our clients.   On Sunday September 18th, not only did we secure the front page and the third page of the Houston Chronicle special “Careers in Engineering” section for our clients, we also secured value added for them in the form of two articles which were published about their hiring opportunities and growth.   These articles allow our clients to go into more depth about their company, their career openings, and it allows them to stand ou...

MITTONMedia produces the radio "Car Talk" show, "In Wheel Time."   Mac DeLaup, President and Managing Partner of John Eagle Honda, talks with co-hosts Don Armstrong and Mike Herzing about car dealers and how to pick the right one. Mac also tells "In Wheel Time" listeners about a special "Care 2 Spin" event happening on September 17th at the John Eagle Honda dealership, 290 @ West Road. There will be food, games, prizes and classic cars on display from 8a-12noon to help raise dolla...

Six Flags/St. Louis is now hiring for Fright Fest!  Immediate openings for limited number of positions. Apply online TODAY at SIXFLAGSJOBS.com.

You own a business. Eventually you will find yourself having to sit down and write something for an ad or marketing piece. "Advertising Copy" as we call it. Or you are an HR professional having to write a job ad that will make you stand out next to hundreds of competitors and get quality candidates to respond.

Doing pre-show research for "In Wheel Time" radio show has led to some interesting discoveries. Like this short video clip found at Devour.com. Around 4-minutes of the most insane vintage race crashes.

Tired of waiting, many employees have begun to take their careers into their own hands and say good-bye to corporate America. They hope to find a more secure, or at least fulfilling, future. They are reinventing themselves by starting their own companies or by pursuing long-put-off dreams that include creative or charitable endeavors. When asked about the risks involved, those leaving put it very simply: "What do we have to lose?" Click here to read the story:

Former Houston Rocket, Robert Reid, drops by our "In Wheel Time" radio show to talk die-cast model cars with hosts Don Armstrong and Michael Herzing. Click here to watch the video: MITTONMedia is the Executive Producer for "In Wheel Time," heard every Saturday morning, 7:05 to 8:55, on NewsTalk 1070AM/KNTH in Houston, Texas. You can also listen to the show live via streaming at www.1070knth.com, and click "Listen Live." For sponsorship information, please send an email to jmitton@mittonmedia.com...

A few ideas from Lou Dubois about how to maintain repeat business from your customers: "Customer loyalty and repeat business are the cornerstones of today’s market conditions. In the words of many industry professionals, losing a customer is the absolute worst thing that could happen to your company. This mantra has always stood true, but when you’re fighting with competitors for every dollar, customer retention is key.

 "An Entrepreneur's Life" shares 11 powerful reasons why you need a "blog" for your local retail business: When local retailer’s blog it gives your shop personality. There’s a business principle that people like doing business with other people, not nameless, faceless corporations. Your blog is your local business’s “name and face,” and gives your customers and clients a way to interact with your business on a personal level.

With renewed worries about the economy in the wake of the downgrade of the nation’s credit rating, nearly 10,000 people showed up for a transportation job fair at Chicago State University. Everyone from the CTA to Southwest Airlines to railroads and the military were on hand.  U.S. Rep.

Jeff Graebert, President of "Action Landscaping & Design" and "Action Custom Pools." Are you in need of quality landscape design and/or pool design services? Jeff Graebert walks you through an introduction of the capabilities and services his companies have to offer. He also shares information about the quality of their workmanship and enhanced lifestyles now enjoyed by home owners who have retained his services.

BG Products Providing Oil Service Prizes for "In Wheel Time!" If you have been following MITTONMedia News, you know our firm is the Executive Producer of "In Wheel Time," one of the most popular "car talk" shows in the Houston market. Heard every Saturday morning, 7a-9a, on NewsTalk 1070AM. One of the show's sponsor's, BG Products, has just announced they will be providing "Lifetime Protection Oil Service with BG MOA" as one of the weekly prizes on the radio show.

Texas oil and gas employment highest since 2008 In today's edition of the Houston Business Journal, reporter Melissa McEver writes about the employment boom in the Texas oil and gas industry.  Given the number of oil and gas Engineer and skilled-workforce recruitment advertising campaigns MITTONMedia is involved in at the moment, we definitely agree that something is going on in Texas!  Here's Ms. McEver's article: "Employment in the oil and gas industry in Texas has soared above ...

Given MITTONMedia's active involvement in recruitment advertising campaigns for the oil service industry, this story caught our attention. Some of the several thousand former NASA contractors being put out of work by the termination of the space shuttle program are finding a soft landing in Houston's vast energy sector. After a couple of lean years, local energy companies are hiring again — and many like what they see in the large and highly skilled pool of jettisoned space workers.

From the "recruitment advertising" side of MITTONMedia: The current shortage of truck drivers is a major concern to the transportation industry. As the need for truckers is growing, the labor pool of qualified personnel is shrinking. According to the American Trucking Association, retirement and turnover are two causes behind today's shortage.

MITTONMedia is looking forward to this morning's video shoot with Jeff Graebert, President of Action Landscaping. Video will be used to produce online commercials, postings to Action's website and social media sites.

There's a reason why some video clips are called "Screen Tests!" Thanks to web designer/developer Jeremiah Mohr for being such a good sport. We wanted to do a quick lighting and sound check with our new state-of-the-art HD video camera. Unfortunately for Jeremiah, he was in our offices at the time.  Asked him to "wing-it" and talk about what he did and services offered by his company.

MITTONMedia delivers results! Launched a multi-market radio campaign today for a transportation company. Just received this note from one of the regional managers: "We’re getting good response from the Dumas radio stations.

Fun look at what really is going on right before they flip the switch and "In Wheel Time" goes on the air each week. Click here to see video. Big welcome to "In Wheel Time's" two new Co-Sponsors, JEEP and RAM Trucks.

Online video advertising is an effective tool for your company: products and services; branding; introduction of new services; demonstrations, "Before/After" case studies; employee recruitment and retention; "Virtual Tours" and much more. For information about MITTONMedia's online HD video production, send an email to info@mittonmedia.com. Or call 832-969-5627.

TV food advertising influences kids' choices Well I guess sometimes you do need to do a study in order to be able to validate the obvious. Researchers at the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Psychology, Health and Society recently studied the food preferences of 281 children between the ages of 6 and 13. Results? Children who watch television commercials that advertise unhealthy foods are more likely to want to eat high-fat and high-sugar foods.

Always felt this way but now there is conclusive proof! Click this link to read how Radio makes Britons happier than TV or the Internet: Radio Makes Britons Happier!

Fluor: MITTONMedia is producing a series of Training Events for the Fluor Human Resources Department in Houston. Through of strategic partnerships, we developed a series of training seminars designed to help the modern human resources professional to more effectively and efficiently interact with both management and employees. The Phase One module consists of training exercises and information on how to better communicate on a one-to-one basis, including how to see things from the other person’s...

Lutech Resources: MITTONMedia is currently expanding Lutech Resources recruitment advertising and marketing efforts into new global markets, including Canada and Australia. Using our advanced research tools, MITTONMedia determined key travel routes of the experienced Oil, Gas and Construction professionals that Lutech is looking to recruit. As a result MITTONMedia developed a comprehensive Airport Signage media campaign designed to reach these international travelers and alert them to the many a...

Aker Advantage: MITTONMedia® has developed and is implementing a custom Onboarding and Orientation website for Aker Advantage, a global leader in the Engineering and Construction Industry. The website will allow new hires to review an orientation video created by Aker and MITTONMedia that answers most questions that new hires have when starting a new job. Additionally, the website contains specific information about payroll, benefits and other information and FAQ’s, that are designed to keep eac...

Watch the video: Speed Thrills, Baby! MITTONMedia's John Mitton participates in the Cadillac VSeries Performance Academy. Event was at MotorSports Ranch, just outside Angleton, Texas.

As mentioned in this article, Facebook ads are growing at an unbelievable rate: Facebook ads To learn more about how MITTONMedia can help grow your business through Facebook advertising, send us an email at info@mittonmedia.com. Happy to help!

At a recent networking event I heard someone ask the question, "What do the Yellow Pages and Nursing Homes have in common?"  The answer was, "They're both really expensive and usually used by people in their mid-70's." I don't know about the PC value of that statement but I do know the value for our advertising clients. MITTONMedia works with a lot of different businesses who have taken the dollars they used to spend in the Yellow Pages and transferred them to a MITTONMedia managed Search E...

MITTONMedia is pleased to announce the launching of our "new look" website! MITTON has come a long way since opening our doors in 1995. We wanted our site to reflect more of our accomplishments, capabilities and services.

MITTONMedia helps to successfully launch a brand new radio "car show": "In Wheel Time" Visit the In Wheel Time Facebook page: Visit the In Wheel Time website: