Carey Tucker is the creative force behind Hypepotamus’ rich and organic content. In the past six months he has created 120+ stellar articles and blown me away with his ability to think creatively, talk shop with ATL’s tech leaders, and strategize content distribution. Carey got involved in startups via the Hype job board (a Sideqik internship) and a few months later I hired him on as our main writer. Now it’s time to send him back into the wild for a full time job. It would be a travesty for his talent to leave the startup ecosystem – one of you better hire him immediately (although the thought of losing him feels like a cheese grater to my soul).
What startup/tech projects have you worked on?
Sideqik / Atlanta / Marketing Intern: At Sideqik, I received a crash course in all things digital. This was my first startup experience and under the mentorship of Roger López, I gained an understanding of marketing theory, learned about effective digital marketing tools, and received my first experience in creating content.
Hypepotamus / Atlanta / Assistant Editor: My job is to conceptualize, create, and analyze content surrounding the city’s leading entrepreneurs and new ventures. To date, I’ve written 70% of this year’s highest performing pieces and have had over 120 articles published. Playing a part in telling the story of Atlanta’s startup ecosystem has been a real privilege.
We&Co / Atlanta / Email Marketing Coordinator: Using MailChimp, I design and send consistent email campaigns to customers, leads, and users. We&Co has provided me with a fantastic opportunity to not only learn a new tech platform, but also to create content using a different and previously unfamiliar voice.
What tech/tools are essential to you?
For editing photo and video, I couldn’t live without Aperture or Premier Pro.
When it comes to digital marketing, Canva has been a brilliant alternative to Photoshop for creating visual content. Google Analytics allows me to constantly understand how, where, and when users interact with a site. Google Docs/Sheets have made it possible for me to work from anywhere with an Internet connection.
In my everyday life, I use IFTTT to put the Internet to work for me. It truly is a life hack.
How do you stay informed & on top of emerging trends?
When I first dove into the world of digital marketing, Avinash Kaushik’s Blog, Occam’s Razor, was and continues to be a kind of textbook for me. These days, I constantly scroll my Twitter feed looking at tweets by publications like TechCrunch, Search Engine Land, and Business Insider Tech. A few influencers I also really like are Dharmesh Shah, Sam Altman, and Paul Roetzer.
What are your best technical or creative skills?
I can look at a set of data, group of quotes, or collection of images and be able to tell a story to which others can relate. Writing is something that’s always come natural to me.
I spent my college years doing street photography as a hobby and developed a passion for the art of capturing moments. I have a keen eye and always try to evoke an emotional response with my photos.
What’s next on your list to learn?
I’m hungry to learn as much as I can about the more technical side of marketing. As the digital world continues to mature, there will be an exponential amount of insights and tools at marketers’ disposal to learn even more about consumer behavior, from acquisition to conversion. I always want to strive to be ahead of the curve.
I’d love to learn Java and am always looking to improve my photography skills.
Why the interest in startups and the technology field?
I love that startups have innovation at their core. No technology is future proof, but companies that are founded as an alternative to the status quo will always be better suited to react to change.
I appreciate the passion that drives a project. Startup employees are not simply collecting a paycheck. They get up in the morning because they believe their company’s product/service will actually solve someone’s needs.
I relish the ability to make your voice heard. At a large corporation, a creative idea merits a pat on the back and a, “get back to work, kid.” At a startup, everyone from interns to CTOs have an opportunity to express their opinion.
Interested in working for a startup, mid-sized company, or a corporate giant?
I’m interested in working at a startup for the aforementioned reasons. All in all, I’m craving a gig where I can find a mentor and continue learning every day of the week. I’m someone who gets restless when not learning new skills, theories, or technologies.
