Oddpodz launches site for creative professionals and business with an idea engine. Not another social network, career/job brokerage platform or lowest-cost project bidding site, but a destination for buyers and sellers of creative services with content, connections and collaboration tools.

    /24-7PressRelease/ - SAVANNAH, GA - July 16, 2008 - Oddpodz new site represents a transformation from a pure online social network for creatives to a business-to-business property serving the $300B creative services marketplace. Web 2.0 and user generated content is changing the way creatives and creative service organizations market themselves, are accessed, are evaluated, and procure new clients. Oddpodz is leveraging technology and marketing to bring these buyers and sellers together in an educational, inspiring and interactive environment called a creative Idea Engine, bringing collaboration, content and connections to one place for creative professionals and business.

After making a very costly choice with one of their key service providers, Oddpodz realized that finding the right creative resources in an efficient, comprehensive way was far too difficult and risky. Lack of know how and experience in a vendor selection process and choosing a provider that is not a good fit for the project can severely negatively impact one's future or a product's market success. Through learning this costly lesson first hand, came the clear new strategy, purpose and offering for Oddpodz.

Currently, locating creative resources online can be a grueling process. The majority of top search engine results can be irrelevant if a buyer does not know what type of service provider they need. Sponsored search results may be even less appropriate as they are generated from paid words and sponsors, not the best provider. Additionally, many talented companies still don't have strong Web presences, so creative buyers can't truly evaluate their work or find specialty providers.

Oddpodz first launched in 2007 as a basic social network for creative people. Despite its course corrections, it has attracted thousands of members and ambassadors from around the world including entrepreneurs, creative industry professionals, students and educators.

We've learned a lot from our journey. Creatives and those working with creative companies told us just socializing online is not enough for busy, creative professionals. Conversations, collaboration, content and connections to advance creative ideas, careers and business interests are key to active online engagement, explained Karen Post, CEO of Oddpodz. We are confident we have something that is not currently being provided to the professional creative market. Creative services and industries are huge markets. This market includes everything from marketing and advertising to packaging, broadcast products, publishing, and new product design. While there are fragmented offerings, most do not offer ways to validate the service provider, or screen for specialized expertise; nor do they provide complimentary content, tools and features to further generate new creative ideas and creative work.

About Oddpodz

Oddpodz vision is to be the Web's most important destination for buying and selling of creative services. Our initial focus is on the Marketing/communications niche. That's where the founders came from and we understand this space. Soon we will expand to cover a grander universe of creative sectors like film, fashion, and architecture.

Oddpodz, LLC was founded by entrepreneurs Karen Post and Jocelyn Ring. Karen is an international branding expert, and speaker. She has been featured in a broad range of media; including Bloomberg TV, CBS Early Show, The New York Times, The New York Post, NPR, Fast Company and The Boston Globe, and her writing is published internationally, including a column for FastCompany.com. She is also the author of Brain Tattoos: Creating Unique Brands That Stick in Your Customers' Minds. Jocelyn a former investment banker and brand strategy consultant.

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