An article by Dr Kareen Schlangen, Head of the Start-up Service at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences

In times of contact restrictions and working from home, live streaming, digital seminars and the topic of employer branding (marketing strategies for companies) are more important than ever. This is what the media agency "ex animo media" stands for with its specialisations as a strong partner for films, websites and landing pages as well as targeted social media management. Managing Director Philipp Haberkorn made a name for himself last year with his young company, which is now based in Braunlage, despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

On 1 September 2019, Philipp Haberkorn and two fellow students founded the media agency "ex animo", based in Nordhausen, as a result of a specialisation during his studies. With the help of start-up coaching, qualification workshops and expert feedback from Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, the founding team's knowledge of start-ups and the agency's business model matured. The young company of the three students offered its clients all forms of online contact between companies and customers: from the website with individually and professionally created films and images to holistic social media management and a Google-optimised online shop. The first, formative orders came about during their studies and serve as a respectable reference for the work of the young founders, including an Audi subsidiary in Ingolstadt and the Ritter von Kempski private hotels in the southern Harz region.

However, the high of the start of the company's existence with exciting projects was followed by a number of challenges. The original founding team of three disbanded completely after a short time. The first coronavirus lockdown also made it extremely difficult for Philipp Haberkorn to continue his solo business. However, he knew how to use both circumstances in his favour. Together with a freelance partner in the photo and video sector, he launched a film campaign to accompany the tourism metropolis of Braunlage in the Harz Mountains on its way back from the coronavirus lockdown. Haberkorn used the resulting reach and increase in sales to professionalise ex animo media's service portfolio and to grow the team to five employees. For the young company, the past year has also seen the positive side of the pandemic, namely the crystallisation of core competencies. Tutorials (explanatory films) for employees and customers are particularly in demand at the moment, as it is currently almost impossible to impart knowledge in person. Only audiovisual media can convey as much information as face-to-face dialogue.

Incidentally, the brand name ex animo is Latin and means "from the heart". In this name, the media agency realises its corporate philosophy, which asks about the deep, inner drive of all its customers: Why do you do what you do? The clients of ex animo Media, such as Madelaine Ulrich (Marketing Manager at Ritter von Kempski Privathotels), appreciate this profound quality standard: "A team that sees the project as a whole and thinks outside the box. An absolute recommendation!" (Source: Google MyBusiness)