Monday, January 20, 2014

Seeing the Growth of Punch

When I first started here at the beginning of the summer, Punch TV was a small television network that was not very widely known. There were not many employees- just the minimum needed to successfully run the business. The company was located in Signal Hill, CA in a small upstairs office building with hardly enough computers for everyone to work.

Now, only about 2 months later, I have seen massive changes in Punch TV and how the business is run. We are on our way to becoming a part of Direct TV in September, which is a huge move for this television network. We are moving to a much larger office building in downtown LA next week, which I am really bummed that I will not be here to see. There has been a significant, dramatic increase in the numbers of likes and followers that we have on social media sites. There are new employees and interns coming in every week- the office is becoming much more crowded and there is always something to be done.

The changes mentioned above are just some of all that has been going on around here. Punch TV is moving forward in every aspect- a new look, a new website, a new wide array of fans, a new building, new employees...the list is endless. In a couple months I am sure that Punch will be on a completely different level than it is now.

Seeing the growth in this television network in the short amount of time that I have been here really excites me and shows me just how much is possible if you really work hard and set your mind to something. This has taught me just how much time and effort goes into making a television network successful.

From the marketing standpoint, you need to find your target market and niche, figure out how to reach them, make an effective campaign, and distribute it timely, efficiently, and cost effectively. Then there's the financial responsibilities, the editing and production, the brainstorming of new shows and ideas, contacting companies and people to sponsor us or submit their show ideas, and so much more.

I am proud to say that I have been a small part of the journey of Punch TV Network and I am excited to see where they go in the future. I know that there can only be good things awaiting Punch TV.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

My Last Day

Well, its already my last day here at Punch TV Network. Time sure flies! I really am disappointed to be leaving. I feel as though I am just starting to really get to know everyone and to understand how everything works around here. Also, as I mentioned in my last post, Punch is growing considerably and it will be sad to not be here to watch it grow and expand.

As my first experience interning, I must say I could not be happier with with starting here at Punch TV. I have gotten to know just what it takes to run a company, all the way from simply being there to answer the phones to brainstorming new ways and processes to advertise and market the company, to producing the actual shows. I have also learned how to better interact with people, whether it be a coworker or a client on the phone.

I want to thank Sharifah Hardie specifically for everything she has done for me. For giving me the chance and the opportunity, for teaching me so much about Marketing, and for providing a friendly face and environment to come into every day.

I will always remember my time at Punch, as it was my first experience doing what I want to do, in the "real world." I hope that I can continue to watch Punch grow as a television network and studio, and it makes me proud to know that I was a part of that.

Friday, August 2, 2013

The People behind Punch- Mr. Collins

So its Friday, August 2nd, and I only have a few more days here at Punch TV Network. I was thinking about my time here, and what exactly stood out to me, or seemed notable to write about for these last few entries. And I came to the decision that the employees- the people here at Punch TV, are some very important individuals who deserve some credit for all they do.

Everyone plays an important role in the making a television network happen- the Marketing Director, the Communications Director, the Sales people, the editors, the Accountant, the producers, the receptionist...but none of that could exist or be possible without the dream and determination of Punch TV Network's CEO, Mr. Collins.

Mr. Collins is a very talented, diligent, and hard-working man who shaped what is now known as Punch TV Network. He went through a lot to get here, and continues to do everything he can to make both the television network and the employees within it successful. Mr. Collins has a great personality and is always a pleasure to have around and in the office. He makes sure to be a part of everything that is going on- from editing the shows to coming up with marketing ideas to managing the finances.

I admire the passion and dedication that Mr. Collins has for Punch Television. He is the kind of person that will succeed in whatever is presented to him, one way or another. I am glad that I have gotten to know Mr. Collins through this internship and I know that it will only be beneficial to me to say that I have worked for him here at Punch.


Thursday, August 1, 2013

Here I was, at the end of my sophomore year of college, a Marketing major, and about to start my summer. I was already halfway through my college years and still wasn't sure where I wanted to go, what I wanted to do, or who I wanted to be after graduation. I needed to get involved, to learn more, to gain experience. Is Marketing truly what I want to do? And if so, what kind? What field? How do I get there? So many questions that I needed to answer, but I didn't know where to start. I knew that in order to be successful and find a job after graduation I needed to do something. I needed to find an internship. But how?

I had created an account on Internships.com in March, and applied to some possible internships. But nothing had seemed to work out. It was now the beginning of June, and I thought for sure that my chances of doing something that would help towards my career goals this summer were gone. Then one morning I woke up and checked my email, and I had a message from the Marketing Director, Sharifah Hardie from Punch TV Network in Long Beach. She thought my resume was impressive and wanted to schedule an interview! I was so excited, I called them right away and came into the office a couple days later for my interview.

First walking through the doors of Punch TV was so surreal. This was my first real interview, at a real television network, to do something I was truly interested in. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly, and right away I could tell that it would be a great environment to be a part of. Sharifah greeted me with a big smile on her face, and made me feel so comfortable as she was interviewing me. She was understanding of my limited schedule, and told me she would work with me to find something that worked. She explained how I would gain so much Marketing and social media experience working at Punch TV that I would be set for any job I wanted to hold in the future. Little did I know how right she was.

I took the position of a Marketing Intern for Punch TV Network and started coming into the office 2 days a week for 8 hour shifts. I was able to really become a part of the Punch TV family right away, as I was put right into the action and all of the behind-the-scenes work that went into making a television network successful.

My first day on the job, I got to sit in on a meeting with Sharifah and the Vice President, Shariff Hasan. They were discussing the company and the different ways that we could advertise and promote the network. Things like choosing domain names, creating a website, figuring out how to get the funding, calling companies to sponsor you...who knew there was so much that went into it? Simply sitting there and listening to their conversation was so intriguing to me. I noticed them using words and phrases such as "Marketing Platform," "Target Audience" and "Brand Judgement," that I had learned in my Marketing 300 class the past semester. Hearing these things said and discussed in this environment made it so much more real to me. I found myself thinking, "I could see myself sitting here and leading a meeting like this."

Throughout the next few weeks, I came into work and got to do things like submit press releases, come up with ideas for a Marketing Campaign, update the company's Brand Bible, post to/learn more about social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook fan pages, and so much more.

It really made me feel important when Sharifah had me come up with my own Marketing Campaign and pitch my ideas to her. When she liked what I came up with, I got to type it up and make it into a real campaign-something I would be doing as an actual Marketing Director for a company. I put the time in and did the research to come up with ideas to promote Punch, such as having contests on social media sites, hosting Q&A sessions with the actors, getting the viewer's input and applying it to shows, posting "behind-the-scenes" pictures and videos, and hosting viewing parties for loyal fans. The company is actually going to use some of these ideas, which really makes me feel accomplished and proud.

The work I did with Punch TV's social media sites has made me a lot more comfortable in using Facebook, Twitter and blog sites. I understand the importance of gaining a following, having a large number of fans, and how to achieve that. I now know that it is crucial to post frequently, include lots of videos and pictures, and use a ton of #hashtags! I also learned all the strategies about when to post about certain things, how often, and what to say.

Recently, I was asked to do an interview with the Vice President, Shariff Hasan. I was so excited to actually be on film, and be a part of something that would be documented and go up on Punch TV's website, Facebook page, YouTube, and maybe more. I got to interview Shariff from the perspective of a college student studying Marketing, and ask for his advice on how to become successful. He responded to me by telling me about his journey, and what he suggests students like me should do to reach our goals. He helped me understand that staying dedicated and persevering through all of the obstacles is key to becoming successful. Being a part of this video was definitely one of my highlights of being at Punch. 

All of the people who work at Punch TV are not just employees and coworkers, they are a family. Amidst the hard work and long hours that everyone puts in, there is always time left for laughs, jokes, birthday celebrations, and the occasional pizza lunch delivery. Being new at all of this, I had a lot of questions to ask and assignments that I did not fully understand. However, that never worried me because I knew that I could ask anyone for help and they would happily lend a hand.

Interning at Punch TV Network has been so beneficial to me because it is so much hands-on experience. With it being a smaller company, I have been able to really be a part of the team and complete tasks that the real employees would do. Instead of putting me in another room and giving me busy "Intern" work like sorting papers or organizing desks, Punch treated me like a real employee and gave me the experience I need to help me when I graduate college.

I have learned so much here, and will miss my time at Punch TV. However, I truly feel like it has significantly helped me grow and understand more not only about the field of Marketing, but about all that it takes to run a business. I feel much more prepared and ready to now continue my Marketing career path. I am certain that this experience and knowledge that I have gained will be very beneficial to my future in more ways than one. At the very least, entering my junior year of college with this internship under my belt will provide me with more confidence than I have ever had before. Thank you Punch!


#I Want My Punch TV!