What I Have Learnt in My First Two Weeks as an Account Manager
Growing up I always knew I wanted to be in a career that helps people, I just wasn’t sure in which capacity. I knew I hated the sight of blood, so being a doctor was out of the question, and I was not a good test taker, which ruled out being a lawyer. What I did have going for me was my passion for helping people achieve their goals.
I wanted to give myself as many opportunities to work with people as possible, and thought a Business Degree that specialised in marketing seemed like a good place to start. After dabbling a bit in sales after university, an opportunity presented itself to work within marketing in a different country, so I took it and never looked back. Cue the start of my marketing career.
My previous role allowed me to work across all areas of marketing, gaining valuable knowledge from social media marketing, to copywriting, advertising, SEO and more. That’s when I discovered that I am at my best when working directly with clients.
Upon my return from Tanzania it was important that I not only found a role I would enjoy, but also a company that shared the same values as me, where I could learn a lot from. When I was offered an interview for Goho, I was already in the final stages for a few other roles; however I was immediately drawn to Goho’s mission to provide organisations with a fresh, authentic, and invigorating 360 approach to media.
It was clear that they had a passion for their clients and were strong in their beliefs and values, which can be seen in the work they produce. I also saw that I would learn a lot from the team's diverse expertise (not to mention that working with a group of strong females in a female founded company is a bonus)! So why an account management position? Well, as a people person and a business graduate, I wanted to find a role where I could use both skills in my day to day life.
During these first two weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of working across multiple clients, understanding their needs as well as the ethos of Goho. In general, I’ve learnt a lot about how to communicate with clients and how to produce work that is both professional and creative.
More specifically, my top 6 lessons so far are...
1) Everyone has their own style. There is no 'right way' to do marketing. The team is the perfect blend of different approaches, ideas and experiences, which is crucial when you're communicating with various audiences on a daily basis.
2) It's not about the size of your budget, it's about how you use it. The team is able to get results out of any budget. The key is not to spend money on gimmicks, but rather to invest in strategies that will achieve results and build a strong brand.
3) Relationships are key. I've learnt that building strong relationships is vital in any business. It's all about trust and if you're open and honest with clients, they will be loyal.
4) Communication is key. You don't have to be a wordsmith or copywriter to get results, but you do need to talk to people in a way that resonates with them. Also, clients are busy enough running their daily business activities, so the last thing they need is to be chasing their marketing agency wondering what the next post is going to be.
5) There is no such thing as a 'perfect' client relationship. The nature of marketing is forever changing and so are business’s needs. The key to success is to be adaptable, flexible and ready to change direction when required.
6) Working hard doesn't mean working alone; ask for help when you need it! Don't be afraid to ask for advice and mentorship; there are plenty of people out there who will happily help if you just ask.
It has been an amazing experience working with the team at Goho so far, as everyone is so friendly, helpful and welcoming, which makes it easy to fit into their dynamic. I look forward to contributing my skills and expertise as we continue to grow and develop, and am grateful to work with such a cool group of badass women.
