Trend Pie, a Narragansett digital marketing company, is looking for University of Rhode Island students to intern and take part in an innovative field. Trend Pie uses influencer marketing to promote mobile apps primarily using social media as a tool. They utilize what are called social media influencers, people with a large following on social media, to help market brands, applications and companies.
It all began in a dorm room by Trend Pie founder, Victor Ricci, who went from an ordinary college student at Seton Hall University to a social media influencer after posting a viral Vine video showing how to remove an egg yolk using a water bottle. Shortly after, Ricci received over a million followers and was approached by agencies to promote their products.
“I didn’t like being in front of the camera, it just wasn’t for me,” Ricci said. “So one day I just stopped making videos and started thinking how can I use the information I’ve learned doing this myself.”
Shortly after, Ricci started an online marketplace allowing companies to buy influencers in a way similar to Amazon. However, after a few months the website proved unsuccessful. Ricci then began trying to rethink the industry and eventually began the company Trend Pie, going from an influencer himself to an influencer marketer.
Today Trend Pie is a million dollar company that has worked with clientele everywhere, from one-man shops to AOL, Yahoo and Unilever. The company utilizes an innovative strategy breaking from industry standard traditions. Instead of paying influencers after posting a video, Trend Pie pays influencers on a daily basis, which has boosted influencer engagement. The company also brought down the industry standard of $3.39 per app install down to just 40 cents per install.
Trend Pie, which is now located in Narragansett, is looking for student interns who will gain valuable experience in one of the fastest growing fields. “Digital ad spend is expected to reach $100 billion by 2020,” Ricci said, “Digital ad spend just passed traditional ad spend. It’s exploding and there’s certainly no shortage of jobs in this industry.”
“We want people who can grind it out. Sometimes you’re going to have not a lot of work to do, and sometimes you’re going to have a lot of work that needs to be done pretty quickly,” Ricci said. “We can teach you how to use Photoshop or Access, but unless you have that inner fire, it doesn’t really make sense for you to be in a company like this.”
The company does not have any specific requirements, like specific experience or majors. Interested students can apply via URI’s RhodyNet or email Victor Ricci directly at: [email protected]. Ricci is looking for applicants to send something creative that can grab the company’s attention.
**CORRECTION: The Cigar listed Victor Ricci’s email as incorrect, the right email is [email protected]**