It just makes sense to reach out to new media players like bloggers, podcasters and videocasters. “We’re in the process of building a more formalized set of services around social media,” says Throckmorton. “How can we become content creators and help our clients build and distribute content on their own? We recognize GarageBand and iMovie as important solutions. They come out of the box with our computers, and to be able to sit at your desk and chop up a movie without having to use any professional services is huge for us.”
The Squad has created some podcasts and videos for its own blog called Exclamation, found at its website, and has hired a media director to head up its efforts. The team plans to make full use of iLife applications, but it also could also reach for pro solutions like Final Cut Pro and Soundtrack Pro. “There are really no limits to where we can go,” says Mandell. “I envision us creating and distributing high quality videos for our clients that will allow us to reach their target audiences directly in addition to going through traditional media channels. That’s an exiting step for us.”
LaunchSquad also uses video to stay in touch. The company is opening a New York office and plans to use iChat for videoconferences. “We have one employee in NY now who works out of his home office,” says Mandell. “I frequently do a video call with him using iChat. It’s fast, interactive and also free. And it makes a big difference to have that face time. We’ve also used video iChat when people are on the road. They can just log in from wherever they are and they’ll be in the meeting.”
Rock-Solid Reliability
In the deadline-driven world of PR, computer crashes can cost clients. LaunchSquad simply can’t afford down time. “It’s a very deadline driven business and we cannot be hamstrung by our machines,” says Mandell. “With the Macs, we just don’t have to worry about it. They don’t crash and we basically don’t need to spend time or money on IT problems.”
“Reliability is huge for us,” says Zoe Vandeveer, a member of the Squad. “In my previous job, my PC would crash all the time and I was constantly going to tech support. Here, no one’s computer crashes. That lets us get our work done without stressing over computer problems.”
The company hasn’t needed an IT department and has utilized a consultant very sparingly during the last seven years. “It’s relieving to not have to worry about computer issues,” says Mandell. “We’re a services firm and we need to be accessible to our clients. It’s going to impact the company negatively if we have to worry about computer problems and spend a lot of time figuring them out.” Mandell estimates that the Squad has saved big money over the years. “It’s far less expensive in the long run to go with Macs,” he says. “Especially when you figure out all the ancillary costs — IT and tech support — that you would incur with PCs. I estimate that we’ve saved tens of thousands of dollars.”
LaunchSquad’s troop of notebooks also has to be rock solid. Employees are free to tote their machine and use it anytime, anywhere. “We really encourage people to take their laptops home,” says Throckmorton. “They like having a machine that’s enjoyable when they take it home. They can take advantage of it for their personal lives, for whatever they want.”
“Macs are just fun,” says Vandeveer. “I had a PC at my last job, I didn’t want to take it home. Here I want to take my Mac home. It’s a computer that you want to use all the time for work, or not for work, or a combination of the two.”
That same freedom and reliability has fueled LaunchSquad’s success. “No one here is a computer scientist,” says Mandell. “We’re marketing people, English majors, writers. No one here wants to worry about computer problems. They’re an annoyance and they create negativity. The Macs are freeing because nobody has a computer issue. The Macs just work.”
