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Matt, Digital Marketing Specialist at Freelance Marketing: Advize Career Interview
This interview illuminates the dynamic career of a Digital Marketing Specialist at Freelance Marketing, beginning with student involvement in the American Marketing Association and blossoming into a multifaceted freelance role.
This specialist functions as a one-person marketing department for various clients, adeptly handling SEO, social media, content creation, and ad campaigns while leveraging AI tools.
A typical day blends client meetings with focused creative work, demanding self-accountability and continuous learning in a rapidly evolving field.
Communication skills and networking are paramount, and thriving involves optimizing workflow and managing time effectively to avoid burnout. A love for the industry stems from its constant change and engaging challenges.
Aspiring marketers can gain experience through internships and mastering key technologies, while the lesson learned emphasizes the value of hard work and avoiding procrastination – turning today's frustration into tomorrow's gold.
The AMA involvement was pivotal in developing crucial skills and landing the first job, and a Sac State education provided a strong foundation, equipped with cutting-edge technologies.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Matt Lucas
Digital Marketing Specialist
Freelance Marketing
California State University Sacramento
N/A
Business Management & Admin
Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Communication and Marketing
None Applicable
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Career Path Of A Freelance Digital Marketing Specialist
Matt's career path began with a student assistant role with the state of California and active involvement in the American Marketing Association at Sacramento State, which provided valuable networking opportunities. Interestingly, a marketing career didn't start until after graduation with a role at a marketing research agency, which eventually led to a more creative role at a tech startup, followed by financial services, and finally a move into a freelance position as a Digital Marketing Specialist at Freelance Marketing.
Main Responsibilities of a Freelance Digital Marketing Specialist
As a Digital Marketing Specialist at Freelance Marketing, Matt's main responsibilities encompass a wide range of tasks, essentially functioning as a one-person marketing department for clients, providing creative online solutions and doing "a lot of different things". Duties include SEO optimization, creating social and promotional content, writing and optimizing blogs, and even running ads, allowing businesses to increase organic reach online.
A Day In The Life Of A Freelance Digital Marketing Specialist
A freelance marketing specialist's day involves flexibility in work location and schedule, balancing tasks like client acquisition and meetings with focused "grind" time in the afternoon for creative production. The career leverages AI tools to enhance output, emphasizing that "the role of the marketer is to leverage that tool in order to have a better product overall," while also prioritizing personal time and self-accountability due to the flexible nature of freelancing.
Most Important Skills For a Freelance Digital Marketing Specialist
Matt, a Digital Marketing Specialist at Freelance Marketing, emphasizes the importance of "always be learning" as a key skill in the ever-evolving freelance marketing landscape, where each client presents unique challenges and nuanced needs, but that also "keeping yourself accountable," especially when working independently, and consistently networking are critical for long-term success and client acquisition. Networking has led to prior opportunities for Matt, as Matt mentions "my clients are people that I've interacted with at one point or another along my journey."
Favorite Parts Of Being A Freelance Digital Marketing Specialist
Matt, a Digital Marketing Specialist at Freelance Marketing, enjoys the flexibility afforded by the role, noting that one can "work from home, work from a coffee shop, [or] work from Hawaii on the beach." Having the freedom to work on one's "own time" is a huge benefit, particularly since some days entail working long hours to meet deadlines.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Freelance Digital Marketing Specialist
Matt from Freelance Marketing finds the biggest challenge in the Digital Marketing Specialist role is optimizing time through innovation and new tools, paired with "understanding own limits" to avoid burnout, especially as a freelancer. Starting out, Matt shares that recognizing capacity and knowing when to bring in assistance, while still maintaining oversight as "the last stop," is crucial.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Marketing Industry As A Freelance Digital Marketing Specialist
Matt, a Digital Marketing Specialist at Freelance Marketing, enjoys the marketing industry because of its "ever-changing nature," finding the consistent surprises and new challenges engaging and far from boring. The rapid expansion of the field, particularly since college, keeps the work consistently "interesting."
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Digital Marketing Industry, According To A Freelance Digital Marketing Specialist
Matt believes that thriving in digital marketing requires "lots of hard work" and constantly optimizing one's workflow; crucially, being a "good communicator" with creative communication skills is essential, especially for explaining technical aspects to clients with varying levels of marketing knowledge. For example, Matt says that a pizza shop owner, although not interested in the technicalities, would need to be presented with information tailored to their specific needs.
What A Freelance Digital Marketing Specialist Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Digital Marketing Industry
Matt wishes someone had emphasized the importance of being quick on one's feet, as there will be many times as a digital marketing specialist where one does not know the answer but is still expected to provide insights in client meetings; therefore, Matt recommends gaining experience through public speaking, even suggesting "open mics and do standup" to prepare for potentially unreceptive audiences. Although told to be prepared, Matt wishes "the level of learning" required to interact with diverse clients and questions was further emphasized before entering the industry.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Freelance Digital Marketing Specialists
Matt from Freelance Marketing advises undergraduates to prioritize internships, utilizing platforms like Handshake, and to "always get the ability to get experience in specific technology," while graduate students can often aim for more senior roles, especially with experience in tools like Tableau or Salesforce Marketing Cloud. Entry level roles include marketing associate, digital marketing specialist and advertising analyst roles.
Significant Career Lesson From a Freelance Digital Marketing Specialist
Matt from Freelance Marketing learned the hard way that procrastination doesn't pay, coining the phrase "today's frustration in sweat is tomorrow's gold" to illustrate how putting in the work early, though challenging, leads to greater satisfaction and success than delaying tasks and scrambling later. This lesson was especially significant in the transition from college to the fast-paced marketing world, where consistent effort yields rewarding results.
College Experiences That Helped a Freelance Digital Marketing Specialist Succeed
Matt credits involvement in the American Marketing Association (AMA) as a pivotal factor in career success, transforming from an introverted individual into someone comfortable with public speaking and networking. Joining the AMA "made everything way easier" by providing opportunities to develop essential skills and ultimately leading to the first job in marketing.
How to Become a Freelance Digital Marketing Specialist
Sac State significantly shaped the career of this Digital Marketing Specialist at Freelance Marketing by providing a strong foundation in both digital and traditional marketing. The university offered access to cutting-edge technologies and valuable databases, giving someone "a few years of experience" employers sought, expanding job options after graduation.
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