A Day In The Life Of Marketing: Managing Director
Marketing is a growing profession, and there are many avenues and opportunities for individuals wanting to work in the industry. In our next blog series, we will take a closer look at the types of roles within a marketing organisation, and what exactly they do in a day. Here at Social Star, we are passionate about digital marketing, and everything that comes with it, and we hope to inspire you to feel the same.
In this blog post, we interviewed Andrew Ford, founder and managing director of Social Star, about his career in marketing and running a business.
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS?
I was working in corporate as a Marketing Manager for many years, back when the first iPhone was released, and platforms such as Instagram did not exist yet. However, I recognised the growing influence of social media, the power of the internet, and the digital profile we leave behind, and realised there was a growing market for personal branding online. Together with a business partner, we decided to take a leap and run with this idea, escape the corporate world and start Social Star.
WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR JOB?
I love to work with people and build relationships with my clients. I think that seeing other corporate escapees with great potential, launch their dream careers with my help, is by far the best part of my job. Some of my clients have been with me for a decade, and I feel that my ongoing support, beyond the transactional, is what made these relationships so strong. I am passionate about what I do, and I love to help others feel the same through coaching advice and support.
The other rewarding aspect to my job has been mentoring young people. I have taken in many interns over the years, and there is nothing like seeing someone new to the industry grow and develop under your guidance. In my experience, interns have been some of my most hardworking and dedicated employees. This passion also inspired me to start another company, CampusLife, so I can help more students be mentored and thrive.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN YOUR JOB?
Whilst my biggest passion in my job is the people, they are also my biggest challenge. Whilst I have had the opportunity to work with many excellent people in the past, I have been equally burnt by both clients and staff. I like to think of myself as a trusting person, who is willing to give everyone a chance, but I have found that some people take advantage of my trusting nature. So much so that after being cheated by my business partner, I almost lost Social Star. However, I have decided not to let my bad experiences change me; I continue to trust people, give them a go, and I have been rewarded for this with my current dedicated and motivated team of staff.
WHAT DOES A DAY IN YOUR LIFE AT SOCIAL STAR LOOK LIKE?
Most of my days start at 6am; I like to get a workout in before work to set me up for the day. I spend the first part of my morning planning my day or week, replying to emails, and confirming meetings. Because we are in the process of growing the business, I now spend almost all of my time in meetings with existing and potential clients, as well as with my internal team. Many of these meetings focus on business development, including initiating sales and making sure all of our clients are happy with the progress we’re making. I also run strategy workshops, and mentor clients to help them identify their business goals and how we are going to achieve them. As the director of a business, it can sometimes be hard to ‘switch off’ and know when to stop working, but this is something that I am continuing to work on, as I believe that a work-life balance is very important, and I preach this to my staff.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR STUDENTS WHO WANT TO ONE DAY RUN THEIR OWN AGENCY?
Understanding people, and having a good grasp on your personal brand are the keys to success. Of course, having good business management skills such as financial and legal structures is very helpful too. Managing staff and clients can be tricky, not everyone responds effectively, so you need to learn to be a strong and adaptable communicator: listen and be attentive to feedback, you can learn a lot from body language. Your personal brand is more than just your LinkedIn profile, it is the impression you leave on others in every interaction in your life, online or in-person. How do you want people to perceive you?
And finally, never be afraid to ask for help. Reaching out to advisors, coaches, managers or even your own staff for feedback, assistance or support can be a very powerful tool, not just for expanding your knowledge, but for connecting with people around you.