Vogue and Conde Nast Launch Another Social Media Tool, but Do We Really Need It?

It’s not exactly a secret that Conde Nast has been a little late to the whole Internet thing. Look no further than the fact that their most famous fashion title–Vogue, in case you weren’t sure–only got a dot com a few years ago. So it makes sense the famed publisher is trying to make up for lost time.

Today Conde Nast launched new social media tool “Social Sidekick.” The in-house developed tool works as an aggregator for most-shared content from W, Style.com, Glamour, Self, Teen Vogue and Lucky. It sounds sort of fancy but all it actually means is that on those sites there will be a window at the bottom of the page, which splashes out popular content from the aforementioned sister sites–basically, it’s an aggregator like any other aggregator on any other site. It’s not a bad idea–especially from the advertising perspective–but it’s certainly not groundbreaking, or as Business Insider says, “It’s nice to look at, but it won’t make a big difference to the bottom line.”

It was also reported today on WWD, that Conde Nast (International) will launch yet another app–this time for London FNO. This, and the Social Sidekick, are only the latest in a long string of digital developments at the publishing house, including an FNO NYC app, launching Voguepedia, implementing mobile codes in their biggest titles, the mysterious new digital property (a Vogue archive?), and in a weird reversal, launching a Style.com print magazine. This isn’t even to mention all the iPad and mobile apps that the publishing house has rolled out in the past year or two.

But while we commend Conde for their tremendous effort, and are excited for many of the new developments (Voguepedia, hello!), some of this smells at least a little like a gimmick-style tactic–an attempt to get people to click by slapping on some newfangled digital “tool.” Or is Vogue just trying to figure it all out, like the rest of the traditional media world? What do you think? Are you excited to try their new gadgets?

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Saks is hiring a Senior Manager for their Social Media team!

Who will be the lucky one…Saks needs a Senior Manager in their New York office!

Job Description:
• Design and format all creative for Saks Fifth Avenue social media outlets, including Facebook tabs, twitter graphics and SaksPOV blog postings
• Act as the social media liaison to Saks.com and SFA store creative teams, to insure all social media images and layouts are on brand and consistent with company-wide efforts
• Act as the Social Media team’s expert on design trends within the social media space to advise on best practices and emerging platforms
• Create and manage the design of all SFA social media platforms – Facebook, YouTube, Tumblr, SaksPOV, twitter, etc. – in partnership with the Editorial Director, SaksPOV and the Social Media Manager
• Manage the creative content development calendar; coordinate and format all needed assets; upload all postings to SaksPOV
• Manage and liaise with SFA’s social media agencies to establish creative project objectives, deadlines and expected outcomes
• Work with vendor community and saks.com team to create creative assets as needed (i.e. email banners, logos, images)
• Cut, edit and post video using Final Cut Pro and Flash
• Collaborate with the saks.com and store creative teams in the development of project concepts and design approaches
• Translate marketing and merchandising strategies into accurate and visually compelling designs for the upper echelon of the Fashion/Retail industry, with an eye towards social media
• Executes designs quickly and performs additional tasks as required
• Page views/month on Saks Fifth Avenue blog and blog hit pick up
• Engagement on SFA social media platforms
• Successful completion of creative projects, according to set deadlines

Skills:
Knowledge – level of education required, special certifications or licenses: Bachelors Degree in Multimedia Design, Web Design or Graphic Design experience is strongly preferred.

General business acumen, other required skills
• 4+ years experience in web design.
• Proven expertise in: Adobe Digital Suite/Photoshop CS4 or above (including Acrobat), WordPress, Dreamweaver CS5, Illustrator CS5, HTML, CSS, XML, Javascript, Quark Xpress and digital camera software.
• Experience using Flash ActionScript and FinalCut Pro/video editing is not required but strongly preferred.
• PC proficient in MS applications including: Excel and Word.
• Experience designing and producing high-caliber websites, email campaigns, and banners as well as working knowledge of designing for mobile and other emerging devices.
• Excellent typography and design sensibilities and technical expertise, coupled with an understanding of web usability, information architecture, front-end development, and SEO best practices.

Experience – level or related/unrelated work experience, number of years in prior jobs
• 4+ years of professional experience in e-commerce and/or retail brand environment.

Competencies – technical or other skills such as position specific software, financial skills, leadership, team building, training
• Strong verbal and visual communication skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to demonstrate creative and strategic problem-solving skills.
• Excellent time management, resilience, and the ability to work independently as well as in collaboration within a fast-paced team environment.
• Comfortable working under tight deadlines and on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Fashion and luxury brand experience strongly preferred.
ability to work independently as well as in collaboration within a fast-paced team environment.
• Comfortable working under tight deadlines and on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Fashion and luxury brand experience strongly preferred.

For more information and to apply, please visit Saks’ Career Page.

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