David Howard, M.C.M.
DavehowardLA@gmail.com
DavidEHoward.com
323-447-1556

      

SUMMARY

• Ten years of creating brand campaign concepts, identities, strategies, and copy at my own company.
• Clients have included Disneyland.com, Warner Bros., HP, Rent.com, and others.
• Five years of experience in  successfully translating content-driven social media into increased traffic
• Masters, Communication Management University of Southern California. Practicum: A Study of Brand Loyalty and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

AWARDS

Addy Award, 2013 Bronze Award Micro Site, Cars Land
Addy Award, 2013 Bronze Category: Integrated Campaign – Cars Land
Interactive Media Award, 2012 Outstanding Achievement: Holidays at the Disneyland Resort
Interactive Media Award, 2011 Outstanding Achievement: Holidays at the Disneyland Resort
Interactive Media Award, 2011 Best in Show: Disneyland Mobile Site
Web Marketing Association Award 2011 Outstanding Website:  Disneyland Soundsational Summer (including a perfect score for Copywriting)
Named one of the Best Fake Politicians on Twitter by Current TV.

      

CONTRACT:

Herbalife (March 2014 to current)

Brand Marketing Consultant and Copywriter

• Develop an Editorial Style Guide for new direction and voice.
• Create content and write mini-sites.
• Devise communication strategy for various brands and blogs.
• Write consumer facing digital marketing materials.
• Advise marketing department in regards to online content.

Rent.com (September 2012 to May 2013)

Brand Strategist, Copywriter

• Developed a new brand voice for a major player in the Apartment Rentals space
• Re-Wrote the entire site to fit the newly developed voice
• Wrote content, social media and blog posts
• Developed and wrote humorous and straight-forward instructional and promotional videos
• Created social media campaigns

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online (July 2010 to February 2012)

Copywriter and Brand Author

• Primary content and copywriter for Disneyland.com (online and mobile)
• Created concepts and content for award-winning, seasonal mini-sites
• Worked within a very specific, yet magical, style guide
• Updated Disneyland.com, WaltDisneyWorld.com and Facebook for new content, product, offers and attractions
• Created backstories for new park characters
• Trained media ambassadors on how to present concepts to the press
• Crafted special offers while balancing the needs of marketing, business, legal and production
• Trained new employees on style and protocol

 

FREELANCE OVERVIEW (2004 to Current)

Rebel Industries
Freelance Social Media Writer, Strategist and Content Manager

The Dark Knight Rises – Bat Signal Search Sweepstakes

• Managed a Twitter community (@BatSignalSearch) during a live sweepstakes during Comic-Con 2012
• Wrote all  tweets in accordance to brand and legal guidelines
• Selected and awarded over 200 prizes based on live tweets during a five-hour period
• Engaged in live re-writes and adapted to circumstances presented by a high-volume live event

Gallo

• Wrote a detailed 50-page plus social media voice and strategy guide for the launch of a new liquor brand

• In accordance with brand requests defined a voice for the upscale 24-35 male market
• Created a strategy for Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest
• Wrote 100 days of suggested updates, themes and content in sync with world events

Pia Communications

Brand copywriter
Created internal video scripts for new products for HP

Booeep.com, Los Angeles, CA
Web Content Manager/ Social Media and Content Writer

• Managed official websites for actors, athletes and personalities — including Chuck Liddell, David Alan Grier, Christopher Lowell and Forrest Griffin — from concept to completion to maintenance
• Responsible for daily updating of twenty sites for newsworthy events and press on a daily basis
• In cooperation with clients, established look, feel and objective of each site while managing client expectations and goals
• Wrote and researched all content (SEO/SEM) for each site
• Served as primary company contact for all talent, managers and publicists
• Worked with clients to optimize social networking with a result of increased traffic

TheWB.COM

Digital Media Consultant

• Promoted network and online-only properties on TheWB.com (“Chuck,” “V,” “Eastwick”)

• Conducted grass roots marketing via social networking, media, and bookmarking platforms (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Digg, etc. resulting in a increase in online viewers
• Specialized in creating memorable Twitter characters, building strong followings (4000+) and pointing traffic towards WB online and Warner Bros.-produced shows
• Used social media best practices (WOMMA) to engage communities with 1000+ friends/fans/followers

Film Radar.Com

Freelance Content Writer

• Contributor to website for independent film
• Writer of nearly 100 interviews, articles and reviews for a long-running blog with a strong cult following
• Conduct one-on-one and junket interviews with talent and directors for upcoming independent films. Interviews have included Wes Craven, John Turturro and Matthew Broderick.
• Build and maintain relationships with publicists and other members of the independent film community

Ranker.com
Freelance Content Writer

• Contributed articles to Ranker, a content aggregation site. At one time was the most popular writer on the site. Material has generated over 200,000 hits.

Crackpot Press.com

Web Producer/Content Writer

• Producer and Head Writer for online magazine
• Write three to five articles per week on sports, fiction, entertainment and politics.
• Use social networking tools (Facebook, Twitter, Digg, etc.) to increase traffic between 20-50%
  every year for five years
• Interviewed by websites and television shows such as USA Today TV
• Built a steadily increasing readership via blog outreach. The work of Crackpot Press has been featured on MSNBC.com, WallStreetJournal.com, Wonkette, Crooks and Liars and dozens others.

 

NON-PROFIT:

American Diabetes Association, San Fernando Valley
Producer, Sponsorship (May 2004 to July 2009)

• Produced KIDS ROCK THE WORLD, a yearly event created to empower children with Juvenile Diabetes
• Worked with agents and managers, booked physically challenged celebrity guest speakers.
• Established relationships with local companies (NBC-Universal, Warner Bros., Nickelodeon, Los Angeles Dodgers) for sponsorship.

 

EDUCATION:
University of Southern California (May 2014)
Masters, Communication Management (MCM)

San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA (1992)
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Studies and Writing, Magna Cum Laude

References Upon Request
Available for Relocation