From April 2014 to June 2021, I worked as a member of the Senator John Heinz History Center’s Marketing & Communications department. I began as Web and Social Media Content Manager and continued as Senior Digital Marketing Manager. My role oversaw the museum’s public-facing digital initiatives, including the website, social media, email marketing, and more.
If you have a need to view my full portfolio, which goes further in depth into the below categories and provides more concrete examples, please email me at sarah(at)sarahreck.com.
Digital Strategy
Responsible for digital content strategy and implementation. Worked collaboratively with Marketing & Communications colleagues, along with colleagues across various museum teams – curatorial, learning, advancement, etc. – to provide a robust digital strategy utilizing the museum’s digital toolkit: website, social media, email.
Content Creation
Developed, drafted, and edited content across various digital channels, including but not limited to, social media, website, blog, emails. Content varied from exhibit and event promotion, historic storytelling, #TBT, sharing of artifacts and archival pieces, longer-length blogs, civics and mission-driven education, and fundraising and membership marketing.
Social Media Management
Maintained content calendars for social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Wrote social media content and managed schedule. My management saw a proven track record of audience growth and community engagement. Helped produce social media assets. Documented trends, hashtags, and social media campaigns. Reported on analytics, including direct comparisons between museums.
Email Marketing
Oversaw the email marketing program and schedule at the History Center, which includes a 45K+ subscriber database across multiple targeted lists. Worked with colleagues to strategize content development. Lists included general interest, membership, teachers, youth & families, and dedicated lists for our Italian American, African American, and Jewish Archives lists. Used Constant Contact, but also have familiarity with MailChimp and Salsa Engage.
Website Oversight
Served as project manager for the design and relaunch of the History Center’s website in 2014. Served as website administrator and manager, responsible for all website maintenance and updates. The History Center’s website runs on WordPress.
Digital Advertising
Executed successful digital advertising campaigns using Facebook and Instagram Ads and Google Ads. This included writing and editing copy, choosing visuals, customizing Stories sponsored content, and maximizing schedule and spend.
Video Production & Editing
Without a dedicated video producer on staff, I also led video production efforts. Some videos I produced and edited include short-form promotional videos, curator talks, History at Home features, and archival footage.
This video was created during the “Toys Takeover” promotion of the Toys of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s exhibit. It went viral three years later, amassing over 300K views as of October 2020.
This stop-motion video was created to promote the Toys of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s exhibit as part of a series of toy-themed shorts.
During museum closures during the pandemic in 2020, when the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh put out a call for videos of people singing “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” I asked staff, family, and friends to record their performances. I stitched the video together into this.
Additionally, I created a series of GIFs for social media use. You can find the History Center on GIPHY.
