The #MarketingMinds series share real-world stories from marketers showing how digital marketing has helped them develop their careers or businesses.
Marketing Mind:
Stacey Bird
I’m Stacey. I created my own brand called Little Switch. I am a content marketer working freelance with small businesses.
What is your background in Marketing, and how did you come to be in the position you are in now?
My background spans video production and digital marketing. I studied Film Production technology at university, whilst also running a side venture creating videos for small businesses.
On the other hand, I was always super invested in social media and writing, and often would work and talk with friends and family members who ran businesses on how to get the most out of their social media presences.
This lead to me combining the two, creating good content like videos, and content plans for social media to boost the content I create with clients.
Which technical skills do you believe are most important in your role?
I really take pride in the fact I can go out, and film and shoot a video for a client if they need it, so for me, being able to use a camera is a must-have technical skill.
I also believe that having a strong analytical ability is important for social media, as you are surrounded by data and need to be able to understand analytics from different systems in order to provide your client with the best results.
Which soft skills prove most useful in your role?
I’d really say the most important soft skills are: communication, adaptability, creative thinking, and time management.
All of these soft skills play into the daily lives of anyone in marketing.
Communication is key, and I believe honesty is the key to a great relationship with your client.
Adaptability comes in handy when social media changes, and it can change at any point. Updates happen all the time, and you have to be ready to change what you know and research.
Creative thinking because each client is different, each company has a different voice, and you need to consider this when talking to them.
Time management, well, what can I say? You need to be able to complete tasks and work to deadlines all the time.
Which markets does your organization operate in?
Small businesses and freelancers.
Which Marketing or Business related book would you recommend to a colleague, and why?
I love ‘Your Press Release Is Breaking My Heart’ by Janet Murray. She’s honest and gives great insight into how businesses can talk to journalists or members of the press to boost their businesses.
What can be one of the biggest challenges Marketers face in the industry you operate in?
Things can, and will change in a heartbeat. Whether that’s a change to the algorithm or a new feature, you need to be ready for things to change, and be prepared to learn new things all the time.
How do you and your team overcome the aforementioned industry challenges?
Keep reading, keep learning, stay determined, and remain positive. It’s a challenge but an exciting challenge, and an opportunity to provide clients with a fresh new perspective.
I personally try to absorb as much as I can: newsletters, books, podcasts, videos…I also think you should not be afraid to share new information or learn from experts in your industry
Describe what a typical day at work looks like for you?
Wake up. Have breakfast.
Check emails. Check social media accounts.
Check the news and social blogs.
I use a task management system, so I read through what tasks I’ve set for myself and start going through them with a cup of tea by my side.
Please share digital marketing tools that help you and your team accomplish your goals every day.
Buffer: Social media scheduling software. I love this software, it’s easy to use, and once I’ve written my content plan I schedule away!
Canva: Canva allows me to quickly create content when I want to get a graphic up for a daily trend on Twitter asap. I can choose a layout, my brand colours, and immediately get an image optimised for social ready.
In your opinion, what are the most valuable skills a marketer in your role can have?
Honesty. I think coming across as a happy, honest person, is really valuable. I want to show potential clients that I care about their business, and want their business to succeed.
Adaptability. As mentioned before, things change in a heartbeat, and you have to be calm (not pulling your hair out), when something changes. You have to be ready to adapt.
What is your biggest career goal?
I would love to be able to talk about what I do, or speak on content marketing at an event. I got a taste for it recently, and thought ‘Wow, this is amazing, I get to help so many people!’
On the other hand, I’m just taking each day as it comes, I just want to succeed in making my clients happy, as that’s the most important thing really.
What are your most important KPIs (Key Performance Indicator)?
My most important KPIs currently is knowing whether people hear about/see my brand and how often people engage with my company. I want to create a connection with my customer base, and so I’m mainly focused on really pushing that for myself.
As for customers, it can range, but brand awareness is always the best place to start.
What is unique about the organization you work for?
I’m not afraid to give away tips or tricks. I’m honest and friendly, and I think that’s a big factor in working with clients.
Across the marketing mix, what medium has brought your organisation the best results?
Describe one of the most successful projects or campaigns you’ve worked on. Why was it successful?
What is the best piece of work-related advice you have ever received?
What do you see as the most exciting future opportunities in digital marketing that you are working on?
It’s an ever-evolving industry that’s always changing day to day. We know social media is huge right now, and that wasn’t around years ago. You never know what is coming next.