Danny Ayers

Current

• Product Development, Online Strategy, & Marketing at CenturyLink Interactive Services (formerly EMBARQ)

Past

• Director, Interactive Media / Web Strategy at Media General Broadcast Group
• Regional Manager, Internet Operations at Media General Interactive
• eCommerce Developer / Content Manager at XTN Communications

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Education

• East Tennessee State University

Recommended

12 people have recommended Danny

Connections

256 connections

Industry

Online Media

Danny Ayers’s Summary

A results-producing marketing and online strategy director with 10 years of experience in leading, executing, and evolving successful online operations and business to business marketing initiatives.

My primarily focus has been in developing and leading the day to day operations of online and interactive operations through innovation and new business development in the interactive space.

As a result, I have extensive experience with developing and building out web systems, utilizing a wide-range of analytics, and in leading efficient, highly tuned day-to-day operations over a variety of different aspects of online / mobile products and services.

Being a results oriented leader, I depend on an analytical nature to combine with strategic thinking and extensive experience in the online space in order to execute successful win-win opportunities for team members, clients, and peer stakeholders.

I have had the responsibility to oversee all aspects of operations on both a regional and local level. These include systems development, programming, design, new product and new business development, P&L responsibilities, business analysis, financial reporting, advertising, sales, marketing, promotion, content development (text, photos, blogs, features, social media, streaming media, rich media, and video) and audience growth.

Danny Ayers’s Specialties:

Leadership, strategic planning, problem solving, information and online systems development, new business / product development, content development, hyper local, analytics, marketing, social media, search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), operations, project management, change management, team building, training; P&L responsibility; sales, advertising; web design / development, rich media, digital video, online communities, and web systems.

Danny Ayers’s Experience

• Product Development, Online Strategy, & Marketing

  CenturyLink Interactive Services (formerly EMBARQ)

  (Public Company; EQ; Telecommunications industry)

  May 2009 — Present (7 months)

  - Online strategy, product development, and program management.
  - Market research, evaluation, and implementation.
  - Content & broadband video strategy development.
  - Product management, development, requirements, and integration.
  - Business development, partnerships, and vendor integration.
  - Identify and realize business opportunities via analytics, research, and demographics / personas.

• Director, Interactive Media / Web Strategy

  Media General Broadcast Group

  (Public Company; MEG; Newspapers industry)

  July 2007 — April 2009 (1 year 10 months)

  Develop and execute overall business (web and mobile) strategy. Key business surrounded online news and information, content development, hyper local, user generated content, online advertising and marketing campaigns and products, delivery management, third party integration, web development, social media, new product development, innovation, and local media portal development
  
  Includes utilizing the latest web technology and trends, combined with meticulous analysis of web analytics to develop, launch, and promote new products and services to businesses and clients with positive ROI and profitability.
  
  - Identifying market opportunities and define product vision and strategy.
  - Determine, understand customer needs and gather product requirements.
  - Develop new products and enhance existing products.
  - Content management system strategy and development.
  - Led, manage, and prioritize web development teams (via agile software development)
  - Communicate complex technical products and services to team members, clients, and partners on the capabilities, use, and integration of new products and services in order to maximize investment and generate results.
  - Led promotional, marketing, and community / public relations outreach teams.
  - Monitoring, analyzing and interpreting data (web analytics) related to products, services, and web sites in order to gauge trends, make adjustments and shift strategies accordingly.
  - Passionate advocate for online media, web applications, mobile, & social media.
  - Ensure compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley, CAN-SPAM, and general accounting practices, P&L management, and procedures.

• Regional Manager, Internet Operations

  Media General Interactive

  (Internet industry)

  April 2001 — July 2007 (6 years 4 months)

  Responsible for leading interactive operations, business analysis, strategic planning, and new business growth and development for an online media news and information network of websites for Media General’s southeast region.
  
  Day-to-day responsibilities included online / interactive product development, business analysis, P&L (and other financial reporting), advertising, sales, marketing, promotion, content creation/development, SEO/SEM, audience growth, web systems / CMS, general management / maintenance of websites, leadership of web development teams and initiatives, HR, and brand development for online network of websites.
  
  - Responsible for new business and product development through interactive services and products.
  - Founded and managed day to day operations of online community news and information websites and established effective media brands in the online space.
  - Developed overall concept, branding, marketing, and web strategy.
  - Monitoring, analyzing and interpreting data (web analytics) related to products, services, and web sites in order to gauge trends, make adjustments and shift strategies accordingly.
  - Developed and implemented broadband video strategy.
  - Coordinated and built web systems and coordinated third party vendor integration.
  - Evolved business from "start up" to $1M+ revenue producing enterprise.
  
  
  Additionally, as a member of the regional executive team, I worked with partners in broadcast and publishing as the region’s Director of Content to design, develop and implement customer strategies that consisted of online, print, and television products.
  
  - Served as a market executive to coordinate synergies of traditional media (TV & Print) and new media (online & mobile) to generate new products and services (in an agency-like approach termed convergence.)
  - Developed and built new online websites, television segments & shows, print publications, and overall new content development across multiple media platforms.

• eCommerce Developer / Content Manager

  XTN Communications

  (Internet industry)

  August 1999 — April 2001 (1 year 9 months)

  Designed and developed eCommerce and online advertising / marketing solutions for business and civic organizations. Oversaw content, design, and development for twelve online newspaper publications. Established product selection, pricing, and programs. Assisted in web site promotions, marketing, and in communicating online concepts (content, marketing, & selling strategies) to traditional media staff members adopting to Internet.
  
  - Evolved sales strategy to generate revenue increases by more than 200% over first year.
  - Closed and consequently became project lead for largest client in company history.
  - Established second affiliate office and expanded business development to new market.

Danny Ayers’s Education

• East Tennessee State University

  Bachelor , Technology: Digital Media, Web, Interactive Media , 1994 — 1999

  2005-2006 MBA program (incomplete due to relocation)

  Activities and Societies:

  EDGE club (Engineering, Design, & Graphics Enthusiasts)

Additional Information

Danny Ayers’s Groups:

American Marketing Association, Triangle Interactive Marketing Association, Newspaper Association of America

•    KIVA
•    Online Advertising Professionals
•    ThoseinMedia
•    Social Media Marketing
•    INTERACTIVE GROUP
•    Omniture Enthusiasts
•    Tweeple
•    East Tennessee State University Alumni
•    INTERACTIVE & DIGITAL MEDIA GROUP
•    Triangle AMA
•    Interactive Analytics

Danny Ayers’s Honors:

2007 Media General Leadership Program
2007 NAA ACME Awards (2) - Sales support materials & online sports news coverage
2006 D. Tennant Bryan Award - (Innovative interactive media news coverage)
2005 Regional Addy Award
2004 Tennessee Press Association - Best Website
2001 Tennessee Press Association - Swept interactive advertising category (1st, 2nd & 3rd),

Danny Ayers’s Contact Settings

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