A day in the life of a Digtial/Web Controller

as told by Andersen's Helen Simpson

The structure of my day usually depends on what is screaming to me,
 
“Helen, get me finished now!!!”

from the ever elongating list of things I needed to have completed last week.  Unfortunately in the world of computers things normally take longer than first predicted, and being that I am the Web/Digital Controller, you can imagine that my entire workload has something to do with computers.  

My days are filled with variety and I find I can be juggling ten jobs a day or wading deep into the depths of web design and concentrating on one tiny piece of html coding. However, writing about a day where I concentrate on coding a minisite page will not make for an exciting riveting read.  So allow me to jot down the general mechanics of a crazy day in the life of the Web/Digital Controller for Andersen Press.

Note: The following jobs usually have phone calls interspersed between them, as my number is also the general enquiries number and my ears are unfortunately pray to a lot of businesses cold calling to offer me their services.

“No thank you, we are happy with our current supplier but please feel free to send us an email.”

So herbal tea to start with (makes me less jumpy and full of nervous energy).

Then check my emails.  I don’t receive too many as my job mainly consists of the small team of me, myself and I.

Then onto a social network spree.  We have Myspace, Twitter and Facebook profiles, and coming soon to a computer near you, a fabulous Bebo account.  Must check updates, messages, update Andersen’s status (just how is Andersen Press feeling today?), upload pictures, videos and lots more fun things for Andersen friends to enjoy.  This part of my day rarely feels like work, and is always accompanied by a slight nervous guilty feeling that I will be caught on Facebook while at work.  I need to keep reminding myself it IS work.

A quick interruption to scan some delicious looking artwork onto our shared hard drive for our designer to use later.

Then check the progress of the Andersen eBook list (home and export) and make sure that everything, if not perfectly on schedule, is most definitely moving forward at a reasonable pace.

Snack on a banana to stop the gnawing hunger pains and the embarrassing noises accompanying them.  Perhaps take a sneak peek at the canteen menu to torment myself about the food to come.

On to the variety of author-related jobs I need to do.  These include updating minisites, creating fun downloadable  (crosswords, wordsearches etc), making PDF files for books or extracts.  These jobs are usually a lot of fun and every author is looking for something different, so monotony is not a problem.

Quick update needed for the news page from the Marketing and Publicity manager.

LUNCH!

Refreshed and alert, I decide to switch to a job that needs a high concentration level.  So this usually involves editing video or short website creations.

First, though, I must send a copy and burn one of our books, and send it off on a journey across the world for our rights team. I spend my working hours surrounded by discs, a waterfall cascading down all sides of my desks.  One day I shall be buried beneath them with no way out.  Dig me out Andersen staff! Dig me out!

Just created the first Andersen Press book trailer for Hacking Timbuktu and have launched it online through the social networks, Youtube and our website. I am currently nervously anticipating the feedback. I have also taken to grabbing any author or illustrator that comes in, and forcing them with smiles, to go through a short video interview, that can be edited and uploaded onto the internet.  I think it is important to close the gap between the author and the reader.

Quick break from web stuff to frank the post.

Concentration level now no good for intricate jobs and so I start researching online for exciting marketing opportunities we may have, and catch up with the digital archive, which involves copying out discs and making sure we have multiple copies of all files, just in case.  I have a slight OCD about discs, rooted in a deep mistrust of technology.  One scratch on a disk can leave me tearing my hair out because the entire thing is now corrupt.  But have no fear! I created another ten copies. Well done, me.

Now it is home time.  I remember to place my favourite mug in my drawer so it doesn’t get taken by the cleaners, plug in the soothing music and make my way home.