Let me start by saying that no two days are ever the same. Some are nicely paced whereas others can be crazy busy. Some days afford me hours to focus on one project while others are spent running from one task to the next. This is the nature of the job.
It is also important to keep in mind that I work for one client – my employer Agilec. There are similar marketing roles out there that work with a variety of clients at a time and their day may look different. They most likely have other departments within the agency that take care of web, graphic design, copywriting, etc. In my role I wear all of those hats so my focus has to shift around a lot during the day.
The morning is my favorite and most productive time. I am well rested and my mind is clear so I like to spend the first part of my day taking care of business – preparing for any meetings or conference calls that I have scheduled, sorting through emails and messages, and working on tasks that require writing skills. I can get this done without struggle while my brain is sharp.
My to-do list varies between large projects that take time and attention to smaller things that can be done fairly quickly such as website updates or connecting with our external vendors for a project that is coming up. I like to focus on the smaller tasks first to get them done and crossed off – tackling half of your to-do list in a morning feels really good!
Once I have finished all the small things on my list, I then have time to focus on the bigger picture projects – these can sometimes sit on my list for days because they require more steps to complete and there are often many pieces to the puzzle. This part of the day is usually afternoon when I put on my creative hat and work on things that can include research and analysis of trends in the market, planning strategies internally and externally, and supporting all of our 19 locations in their marketing efforts with tasks such as designing collateral to help promote services or any events coming up.
Throughout the day I make sure to check my emails regularly in case something pressing comes up. I need to be ready to stop, drop and roll onto the next project if the need arises. Deadlines can be really tight in this position and there is a strong need for flexibility and time-management skills along with attention to detail, organizational and communication skills.
At the end of the day I feel really good about what I do and who I work for. I am fortunate to be marketing a company that I believe in and getting the word out to people who could really use our services to improve their lives.
by Renae Zurkan, Marketing Specialist at Agilec
