My role as Digital Marketing Executive has me involved in a variety of tasks on a daily basis. This includes writing content such as blogs and landing pages, and optimising content for clients to rank on search engines such as Google. I am yet to take on my own clients, however my role will enable me to have me managing my own set of clients in the future, and oversee their Digital Marketing strategy and activities which includes SEO, PPC and content.
I found out about an internship opportunity at Innovation Visual through a Graduate Connect webinar with the Alumni Engagement Team on ‘Careers in Digital Marketing’. Tim Butler (Business Economics, 1994), is the Managing Director, and offered to host a webinar with the Alumni Team to support students and recent graduates.
During my internship I was very much part of the team, working on billable work to gain results for the company. Some of the tasks that I completed were keyword research for clients, a very important task to understand what consumers are searching for, getting to understand and use different Content Management Systems, observing sales meetings, writing content, and I was also heavily involved in promoting a digital marketing event that the company was running in October. My internship ended with a visit to Brighton SEO, one of the biggest search marketing conferences worldwide! I also completed HubSpot and Google Ads training and qualifications which was really beneficial moving forward for my career. My internship was very much a balance of learning and completing tasks for clients.
I would advise people to try to gain work experience where you can. I got noticed by Innovation Visual by not only applying using my CV but also by following them on social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter. Following and interacting with companies you may be interested in working with on social media is a great way to stand out. The jobs I undertake are varied and working for an agency requires you to be organised and efficient.
Show that you are passionate about the industry, have commercial awareness and are enthusiastic in wanting to learn. Marketing and particularly digital marketing is always evolving and changing, you won’t ever know everything there is to know however you must be able to adapt to change and be keen to learn. A good tip is that you can change behaviours but you can’t change attitude! Finally, do some research on what sort of marketing role you desire. Agency work is often more varied than working for a single client however there is more room for error, as agencies hire fewer people. A good bonus is that you can learn from your mistakes quickly!
My best experience at the University of Liverpool was meeting the people on my course and getting a wealth of knowledge about the Marketing industry. My MSc really helped me develop my team work and interpersonal skills through undertaking group work which I found really enjoyable.
My top tips for students wanting to work for a marketing agency would be to try and understand what your career aspirations are before you apply or start any degree programme, and have this in mind when you actually complete your degree. Admittedly, when I did my undergraduate degree, I was a bit confused as to what I wanted to achieve and it wasn’t till I completed my postgraduate degree that I really knew what I wanted to do. It helps to reflect on your learning continually and make a note of anything you have really enjoyed or resonated with. Make the most of the Careers and Employability Service and any other free events and talks you can go to! They can help with anything from your CV to applying for jobs. Finally, have fun! Join some societies and clubs, make friends and get involved in any extracurricular activities.
At the moment, I am still very much in the learning and development stage of being a Digital Marketing Executive. However, I would like to eventually be competent and confident in my role within a couple of years to become a Senior Digital Marketing Executive or Marketing Manager.
Graduate Connect webinars
The Alumni team host Graduate Connect Webinars each month enabling alumni to share their expertise and experience with the University’s global community of alumni and students. Topics range from Marketing and Entrepreneurship, to Wellbeing and Blockchain. To view previous webinars, visit the Digital Library area of Liverpool Connect.