Perfect Search Media Internviews: Summer 2018

It's that time again! Get to know our summer interns in our latest round of Perfect Search internviews. 

Sarah Walther, Junior Copywriter

1) What's your favorite thing about your college campus? What's something on your senior year bucket list?

My favorite thing about Northwestern's campus is honestly the plants. Northwestern goes really crazy with its flowers, and I love walking through all the gardens in Evanston. Also, we put holiday lights on all the trees from like November till March, which makes the cold weather a lil nicer.

Something on my senior bucket list is biking from Northwestern's campus to downtown Chicago. Also, attending more basketball games and taco nights. Senior year is the time to live more, right?

2) What's your favorite digital marketing task so far? What's something you're excited to learn more about in digital marketing?

I love writing blog posts--which is good because it's what I spend 80% of my time doing. I basically get to funnel all my creative energy into researching something new and then writing a post about it. It's also refined ability to write about pretty much anything (a dangerous skill I'll definitely be bringing into senior year).

3) How would you explain digital marketing to an alien?

Digital marketing is like tricking your friends into doing something you want them to do by making them think that they want to do it. If aliens don't have friends, this metaphor is a lost cause and so is the future of the human race.

4) What's one thing you want to do this summer that you haven't gotten around to yet?

Going to the beach! I've been too busy working on student/PSM stuff and visiting family to make it to the lake. I live 10 minutes west of the water, so I really have no excuse. Here's to a good few sandy days before the summer ends! 

Emma Komrska, Junior Analyst

1) What's your favorite thing about your college campus? What's something on your senior year bucket list?

I love the tight-knit community feel at University of Cincinnati! Despite being a large undergrad college, I can still walk across campus and instantly recognize dozens of other friends and classmates. People on campus remember your name, face, and story, and genuinely care to look out for one another. While UC has a large and diverse student body population, tens of thousands of students are still able to call it home.

I cannot believe my senior year is already here! I am very excited for classes to start back up this fall and even more excited about getting to meet all my new marketing professors. One item on my senior year bucket list is to get to know each of my professors personally and learn more about them outside of lectures! 

2) What's your favorite digital marketing task so far? What's something you're excited to learn more about in digital marketing?

I personally enjoy updating monthly client dashboards and reports. Whether it’s SEO or PPC, I love the opportunity to be creative yet analytical while gathering insights and finding callouts. I also like these deliverables because I’m able to learn more about the client this way and have more insight while sitting in on reporting calls.

What’s fascinating about digital marketing is that it’s constantly evolving. New algorithm updates and forms of technology are consistently being released, meaning agencies are constantly on their toes staying informed. I’m interested to see how major social media platforms adapt to the advertising industry and how they will continue to embed ads without losing users. I am also eager to see the extent to how ads become more effective and more accurate as these major companies continue to learn more about their users. 

3) How would you explain digital marketing to an alien?

Well, here on Earth, it’s impossible to miss! Whether you’re searching for a quick local bite or planning your next vacation getaway, companies and brands are working their hardest to get to you. They are willing to pay to get their name and logo on even the tiniest amount of space on your phone or computer screen. These companies are hoping that you will see their ad, click on it, and buy something from their website.

Digital marketing comes in various forms of search engine ads, social media influencers, and other methods to inform and attract potential customers. Thanks to technology and major data-collecting companies, brands are now able to target potential customers based on their demographics, online search behavior, and more.

4) What's one thing you want to do this summer that you haven't gotten around to yet?

Summertime is my favorite time of the year, and that is primarily because I head up to Northport, Michigan to spend time with relatives and enjoy the lake. So far, I haven’t been able to drive up there, but am planning to do so before classes start back up!

Kyle Peterson, Junior Analyst

1) What's your favorite thing about your college campus? What's something on your senior year bucket list?

Purdue University’s campus has very little roads between the academic buildings. This leads to an effortless walk from class to class without having to worry about stoplights or cars. It also makes the campus have a better community of primarily students and faculty with little outside traffic on campus. During my final semester at Purdue, I want to embrace the Purdue culture and participate in as many traditions as possible. This includes going to breakfast club, going on a fountain run, and sledding on Slayter Hill.

2) What's your favorite digital marketing task so far? What's something you're excited to learn more about in digital marketing?

My favorite digital marketing task this summer has been analyzing PPC data to come to a conclusion on bid adjustments. There are many factors that go into each bid for a keyword and having the constraints of a budget and goals creates a fun problem-solving game. Making adjustments to a campaign or ad group and seeing those adjustments contribute to a goal is a very satisfying feeling. I hope to become more technically sound in the digital marketing industry.

3) How would you explain digital marketing to an alien?

Here on Earth, we have this thing called the internet where you can find information about anything just by searching. When someone searches something on the internet, there are many sources where that information can come from. As someone who works in digital marketing, it is my job to make sure that that the product or service I am promoting is a relevant search result that answers the users search as well as entices them to click on my page and eventually make a conversion.

4) What's one thing you want to do this summer that you haven't gotten around to yet?

I have yet to do any water activities this summer. One of my favorite things to do in the summer is going paddle boarding, water skiing, canoeing, or swimming. Hopefully, I’ll get the chance to get out on the water sometime this summer before it gets too cold.

Casey Morris, Junior Analyst

1) What's your favorite thing about your college campus? What's something on your senior year bucket list?

My favorite thing about Loyola University Chicago’s campus is that it's right on the lake. I love sitting by the lake when it's nice outside and doing homework or just relaxing. We also have a glass library building that is right on the water, so you can feel like you're sitting by the lake even if it's 30 degrees outside. 

2) What's your favorite digital marketing task so far? What's something you're excited to learn more about in digital marketing?

My favorite digital marketing tasks so far have been writing a Wikipedia page and creating a graphic for a Pinterest ad. I really love the autonomy that I am able to have with the projects I've been assigned. I am really interested to learn how updates to platforms like the Facebook Info and Ads section will influence competition and transparency in the advertising world.

3) How would you explain digital marketing to an alien?

Digital marketing is basically trying to get the most people to see and interact with you over the world through a channel. That channel happens to be somewhere that people can search for things they want. Digital marketing helps a certain company stand out among others. 

4) What's one thing you want to do this summer that you haven't gotten around to yet?

One thing that I really want to do this summer is to go kayaking on the river. That sounds like so much fun and a great photo opportunity if I don't drop my phone in the water. It's definitely something I want to do before the weather cools down, which I anticipate will be soon knowing Chicago.