What I Wish I Knew When I Began My Digital Marketing Career - Episode #100

“Fun translates into good performance.”

The four things every marketer should know before starting their career:

1. Find a skill (channel) that is the most fun to do. Then specialize. Specialization brings money. Specialization solves hard problems that matter. You take this even further by also specializing in a specific industry (e.g. I specialize in marketing for fintech and insurance orgs at the moment).
2. Understand the business you’re marketing. Do your best to think like the CEO.
3. Find an excuse to meet other experts. Personal branding is the easiest way to grow your network of mentors.
4. Create a swipe file. This is not a new or novel suggestion, just one that works. There’s a reason other marketing experts do this!

Key moments from marketing experts:

• Mark Stouse, Episode #93 - https://kennysoto.com/podcast/mark-stouse-defining-a-recession-proof-career-things-to-know-as-a-new-cmo-ep-93/ 
• Steve Toth, Episode #99 - https://kennysoto.com/podcast/steve-toth-understanding-in-seo-can-lead-to-exponential-growth-ep-99/
• Jacob Warwick #91 - https://kennysoto.com/podcast/jacob-warwick-how-your-career-narrative-can-help-you-become-a-vp-ep-91/
• Maya Grossman, Episode #84 - https://kennysoto.com/podcast/maya-grossman-the-career-advice-you-need-if-you-want-to-be-a-marketing-leader-ep-84/
• Sara Pion, Episode #86 - https://kennysoto.com/podcast/sara-pion-navigating-the-startup-world-as-a-new-marketer-ep-86/
• Lea Pica, Episode #81 - https://kennysoto.com/podcast/lea-pica-using-data-storytelling-to-spur-action-ep-81/

My “swipe file” of favorite marketing newsletters:

• Nik Sharma’s DTC newsletter - https://www.nik.co/subscribe
• Why We Buy - https://customercamp.co/newsletter/
• Dave Gerhardt’s B2B Marketing Advice - https://dgmg.davegerhardt.com/email
• The Marketing Brew - morningbrew.com/marketing//r/?kid=9f1e7657
• Stacked Marketer - https://www.stackedmarketer.com/friend-recommended/?utm_source=sparkloop&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sm_daily&rh_ref=2b82a0e9

SEO-specific newsletters I use for work include:

• WTF is SEO? - https://wtfseo.substack.com
• SEONoteBook - https://seonotebook.com
• Jeremy Moser's newsletter -https://www.jermoser.com

Other marketing podcasts to subscribe to:

• Exit Five - https://open.spotify.com/show/0OJJbQlcUlHiLSvNZoJTYf
• Marketing School - https://open.spotify.com/show/1NulSGKhstJuty8iYPBMo5
• Marketing Against The Grain - https://open.spotify.com/show/3bMqKPfI45OmTK5hENtIOk

*Quick editing note: I got the acronym for SCORE incorrect! It’s actually the Service Corps of Retired Executives. I ended up clipping that audio out of this episode.