SEM Manager @ Saatchi & Saatchi with Alex Carter

06/29/23 • 45 min

In his Year 1ne(ish), Alex works as a Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Manager at Saatchi & Saatchi, a global advertising agency that’s part of the Publicis Group. I just under two years, he’s progressed through four roles in paid search advertising from SEM Intern to SEM Coordinator to SEM Specialist to SEM Manager. 📈
Some of the highlights from Alex and Blair’s chat include the progression of his four roles and what changed with each one, which brand stands out as the “king of content” by being memorable; and, why you need to spend the entire advertising budget you’re given.
In This Episode 🗣️
Alex’s Year 1ne @ Saatchi & Saatchi
1:30 | Introduction from Alex
2:15 | Overview of Saatchi & Saatchi
4:50 | Progressing from SEM Intern to SEM Manager
13:45 | The specifics of search marketing
17:00 | Essential software and tools
18:35 | Writing ads in Microsoft Excel?!?!
22:20 | What’s on your mind in marketing right now?
Getting to Day 1ne: The Job Search
27:20 | Switching from sports management to digital marketing
29:30 | Why digital marketing?
31:00 | Getting hired at Saatchi & Saatchi
32:40 | Optimizing your LinkedIn profile
35:10 | Hardest part of the job search
37:30 | The “What’s your favourite brand?” question
Thing’s I’ve Learned in Year 1ne
39:40 | Rookie mistake that it’s easy to make small mistakes in paid search
40:45 | Pro tip as an Intern it’s all about learning
41:25 | Lesson learned to spend the media budget you’re given
The Hottest of Links and Resources 🔥
Connect with Alex Carter: LinkedIn
Brands/organizations: Saatchi & Saatchi | Publicis Group | Brock University | George Brown College | Red Bull
Marketing and media tools: Google Ads Editor | Google Ads | Google Search Ads 360 | Microsoft Advertising | Microsoft Excel
Connect with The Year 1ne’s host Blair Smith: LinkedIn
Check out The Year 1ne’s show website for past episodes, show notes and more goodness

Previous Episode

Social Media Manager @ Paradigm PR with Sophie Cugliari

In her Year 1ne, Sophie has worked in a few different contract roles and is currently a Social Media Manager at Paradigm Public Relations, where she manages the social media accounts for seven different clients! Prior to this, Sophie worked at JLM Strategic Marketing, a marketing agency specializing in brand experience or experiential marketing.🤳
Some of the highlights from Sophie and Blair’s chat include the importance of tracking your on-the-job “wins” as they happen, working with a recruiter as part of your job search; and, why it’s important to believe that you own your seat at the table.
In This Episode 🗣️
Sophie’s Year 1ne @ Paradigm Public Relations (PR)
1:30 | Introduction from Sophie
3:00 | Overview of Paradigm PR
5:05 | Working as a Social Media Manager
8:00 | Other Year 1ne jobs before Paradigm PR
9:15 | Why work in social media marketing?
10:20 | Essential software and tools
11:10 | Exciting things in this new job at Paradigm PR
13:50 | What is a “boost” on social media?
16:40 | What’s on your mind in marketing right now?
18:45 | Juggling relationships with multiple brand managers
Getting to Day 1ne: The Job Search
20:25 | Getting recruited on LinkedIn
24:15 | Working with a recruitment company
25:00 | Say you’re looking for a job
27:00 | Hardest part of the job search
28:00 | Pro tip on tracking your wins/accomplishments
30:05 | Transferrable skills from dancing
33:05 | The “What’s your favourite brand?” question
Thing’s I’ve Learned in Year 1ne
35:10 | Rookie mistake on being afraid to share
36:55 | Lesson learned to not “pigeon hole” yourself
38:00 | Pro tip that working in marketing is fun!
The Hottest of Links and Resources 🔥
Connect with Sophie Cugliari: LinkedIn
Brands/organizations: Paradigm Public Relations | JLM Strategic Marketing | The Inkey List | George Brown College | Edgewell Personal Care | Bulldog Skincare | Hawaiian Tropic | Under Armour
Marketing and media tools: Brandwatch | Hootsuite
Connect with The Year 1ne’s host Blair Smith: LinkedIn
Check out The Year 1ne’s show website for past episodes, show notes and more goodness

Next Episode

Search Marketing Specialist @ CAA with Rihanna Hosseini

In her Year 1ne, Rihanna works as a Search Marketing Specialist, primarily focusing on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) at Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), a not-for-profit made up of eight regional automobile clubs serving over 6 million members in Canada. She’s an in-house SEO expert for two automobile clubs—CAA South Central Ontario and CAA Manitoba–doing in page optimization for multiple websites to ensure search results (in Google and other search engines such as Bing) are relevant and create a positive user experience. 🚘
Some of the highlights from Rihanna and Blair’s chat include how being an SEO is the most mysterious job in marketing, the practice of turning an unsuccessful job interview into a moment of reflection; and, the importance of using simple words in marketing.
In This Episode 🗣️
Rihanna’s Year 1ne @ CAA
1:47 | Introduction from Rihanna
2:35 | Overview of CAA
4:50 | Working as a Search Marketing Specialist
9:35 | SEO is detective work
13:20 | Essential human skills
15:10 | Essential software and tools
16:50 | Changing careers from polymer engineering into SEO
22:15 | What’s on your mind in marketing right now?
Getting to Day 1ne: The Job Search
24:50 | Getting hired at CAA
28:00 | Preparing for the interview process
28:40 | Hardest part of the job search
30:40 | The “What’s your favourite brand?” question
33:15 | How to balance user attention span vs. right amount of information for the user
Thing’s I’ve Learned in Year 1ne
36:10 | Rookie mistake of using acronyms and jargon
38:50 | Lesson learned to practice patience
41:55 | Pro tip to share your ideas
The Hottest of Links and Resources 🔥
Connect with Reyhaneh (“Rihanna”) Hosseini: LinkedIn
Brands/organizations: Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) | CAA South Central Ontario | CAA Manitoba | TD Insurance
Marketing and media tools: Microsoft Excel | Google Analytics 4 (GA4) | Google Search Console | BrightEdge
Connect with The Year 1ne’s host Blair Smith: LinkedIn
Check out The Year 1ne’s show website for past episodes, show notes and more goodness