Meet the newest addition to the Idea Kraft team, Mary Catalfamo. As Content Strategist, Mary brings her wordsmithing skills to client projects and manages the Idea Kraft content marketing calendar. Keep reading to learn more about Mary, her background, and why she falls down all the time.
You’re Idea Kraft’s Content Strategist! What does that mean and what do you do?
I provide copywriting for our clients – this could mean writing content for websites, emails, or coming up with messaging for assets that support campaigns, events, and other projects. I also handle Idea Kraft’s content marketing, which includes blog post writing and social media management.
What did you go to school for?
I studied newspaper and online journalism. I was also an English major.
Favorite part of your job?
I like that Idea Kraft is a small and highly collaborative team. I’ve worked on small teams before, but there was never much creative brainstorming or feedback. From my first day, I could tell that everyone wanted me to succeed and make me feel welcome.
What’s one piece of advice you can offer to someone who wants a job like yours?
Trust the process – in writing and in life! Deadlines, word count, and brand voice used to be intimidating, but successfully adhering to them for years has given me confidence and actually challenged me to be more creative. Also, don’t be afraid to embrace the next opportunity that sounds rewarding, even if it isn’t your end goal or you’re not completely sure how it serves your end goal.
Tell me something weird about you!
It might not be weird, per se, but I’m pretty frequently falling onto the floor trying to get into yoga arm balancing poses. I try to do some arm balancing practice while watching TV or in between chores.
What’s your go-to pizza topping?
Pepperoni and green olives!
Favorite punctuation?
The em dash! It just fits my writing style so well. I try not to lean on it too heavily, though, or use it to avoid rewording a sentence. I’m also staunchly on team Oxford comma.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A marine biologist! I was surprised to find out in my twenties that it was actually very common for girls in the early 2000s to want to be marine biologists, but I still don’t know why. I don’t even remember why I wanted to be a marine biologist. If you have the answer, please let me know.
Guilty pleasure?
I’ve always loved the soundtrack to the first Mamma Mia movie, and I’m also a big fan of the sequel’s soundtrack. The guilty pleasure part is that I prefer these covers to ABBA’s original tracks. Meryl Streep singing Dancing Queen will always brighten my mood.
Favorite social platform?
It’s TikTok, or the “clock app” as the kids would say. (Are they still saying that)? TikTok is far and away the best platform I’m on for creativity and entertainment. But there’s also such an authentic, unforced community element. I never comment on content except on TikTok, where leaving a comment pretty much always results in interaction.
Favorite accounts to follow?
TikTok:
- Timm Chiusano (@timmchiusano) / work inspiration, sans productivity shaming
- Internet Princess (@raynecorp) / the best takes about being a woman online
- Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) / they’re funny and I begrudgingly root for them
- Meredith (@wishbonekitchen) / cooking inspiration
Instagram:
- Cover Junkie (@coverjunkie) / When art and editorial really come together, it is just *chef’s kiss*
- Amanda (@houses.of.new.england) / they’re so cute!
- The Cut (@thecut) / the best captions
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