Picture Perfect

Working on an infographic is a really exciting idea, although I don’t have any design element to my role so that part of the task does seem rather daunting. Collecting the data on the travel sector was harder than I originally thought it would be, but luckily we have an expert in our midst and one of our team mates has been very knowledgeable about this sector. It looks like it is almost there now, with some aesthetic tweaks left to complete. I wish I had been able to help more on the design element of the project and I have asked internally if I can spend some time with our designers as they create lots of infographics for VCUK. Luckily they have said they would love to show me this process so if something like this comes up again I should feel more confident that I can help!

I’ve been asked to present back to the company on the course, so I’m looking forward to sitting down once this module is over and retrospectively thinking about what I have learned and what I think of the course. It will be nice to take this time to reflect. There is one thing I do know, I love continuing to learn, and doing so outside of work has been great. I have loved meeting so many other digital marketing professionals and having the chance to work with such diverse groups. 

Analytical Approach

I really enjoyed my last module for google squared. My new group is a really diverse mix of people and experience but everyone came into the group with lots of enthusiasm and energy. I’m used to working with lots of statistics in my current role, but I had never used Google Analytics before. However, once I got accustomed to the platform I really enjoyed thinking about the data and how this could be applied practically in order to improve a website. When I was first thinking of how to apply the data I spent some time with our BI team internally to cement my understanding and ensure I was on the right path. It was great to spend some time with them and I was again reminded how lovely my colleagues are and how much they were willing to help me in any way! I will certainly continue to use Google Analytics in my day to day role moving forward and I’m so pleased with our final project. What a great team effort!

Marketing Mix

My enthusiasm for the course was rather damped recently when one of the lectures referred to voucher code sites as the heroin of marketing. I’m so lucky to work at VCUK and be part of the RetailMeNot group; I can't express how much I have learnt in my 3 years here. I was pleased that although I have considerably less experience than this lecturer I still felt confident enough to voice my concerns and speak to him about his opinions. Although we may disagree with one another, it is important to take on board differences. This will not be the first or last time our business model is challenged, but the great thing about working here is that we are a fluid, fast paced company that embarrasses change. I have no doubt we will continue to grow with an ever-changing market and still be around for many years to come. 

On another note working on module 3 with my group has been a lot of fun and I really enjoyed working on my slide which looked at our customer segments. It will be sad to leave this group behind, but also looking forward to meeting some more of my fellow squares. 

Group Work Commences

As the modules progress I am struck with how lucky I am to work at a smaller organisation that gets so much transparency over all business areas. It struck me that some people within my group have had little knowledge of paid search, google analytics, SEO and that’s just because they don’t have any contact with that part of their business. It has been great working with people with so many different backgrounds and differing levels of experience. Remote learning has had its drawbacks I have to admit, however as a global company I know the difficulties that can arise when being in different time zones, with different agendas, but it would have been nice to sit in a room with my team and get to know them as well as work on our first project together. So far it has been a great experience and I am really excited about continuing to work with my group again in module 3.

Becoming squared

I never thought I would find myself in a job that focused so heavily on technology. I’ve always preferred books to films, letters to emails, a phone call over texting. Yet, somehow as the world has changed I have found myself increasingly embracing new technology and wondering how I would cope without it. Now that is not to say I would chose Skype over meeting you in the pub and seeing you face to face, but the fact that I can Skype my parents and feel like I am in the same room as them although they are miles away, well that is pretty special. So I have incorporated all things digital into my world, which is a good thing as I have been working in digital online marketing for almost 3 years.  As part of this I’m doing the google squared course, which I hope will help me broaden the knowledge I already have, and help me to connect with other people who are as fascinated as I am by the way technology influences behaviour, and how it impacts every area of our lives. As part of the course I have to start a blog (so here I am) and I hope it will be a great way to reflect on the things I learn along the way. No more old fashioned diary entries for me anymore…