Ben’s First Year at The Digital Stride

With my first year at TDS drawing to a close, I’ve taken the opportunity to reflect on my development and the progress I’ve made along the way. Joining TDS marked my first step into agency life within the digital marketing industry. Initially, I anticipated working mostly within SEO. However, over the past year, my role has evolved into a broader mix, combining SEO with Paid Social Media advertising. 

A Journey of Learning and Growth

Although I initially thought my work would revolve around search engine optimisation, I quickly found myself immersed in a much broader spectrum, balancing SEO with Paid Social Media campaigns. This exposure to different types of marketing has not only accelerated my learning but has also allowed me to develop a deeper understanding of the digital landscape as a whole.

One of the most valuable skills I’ve acquired this year is the ability to run successful advertising campaigns on Meta. Thanks to the hands-on training and guidance from Simon, I’ve built confidence in managing ad campaigns across a variety of industries and audience types. 

Overcoming Challenges

Every role comes with its hurdles, and for me, Google Analytics proved quite challenging to begin with. Navigating the platform’s interface, understanding different event types and making sense of the available reports felt overwhelming at first. However, with access to learning resources like Digital Marketer and Google Skillshop, courtesy of TDS, I was able to understand the platform and its benefits.

Highlights That Made It Worthwhile

One of the many standout projects from my year at TDS was a Meta Ads campaign for Healthcare Delivery Reviews. I was given the responsibility to create the campaign from scratch with the goal of increasing customer reviews for healthcare providers. 

In this campaign, I was able to reduce the cost per acquisition by 84%. This project not only showcased the skills I had developed but also taught me a great deal about campaign optimisation, strategic thinking and ad creation. 

Of course, work isn’t just about campaigns and KPIs. 

One of my favourite memories from the past year was taking part in the competitive TDS Cup, where the team take part in activities and fun competitions, like shuffleboarding at Roxy Lanes which turned out to be far more competitive than expected.

Looking Ahead

As I look to the year ahead, I’m excited about diving deeper into both the SEO and Meta spaces. The ever-evolving world of digital marketing constantly offers new tools, tactics and trends, and I’m committed to staying at the forefront, especially as AI continues to transform the landscape.

My goals for the next phase are to keep learning, stay connected to the latest developments in the field and push the boundaries of what I can do for our clients. And, of course, finally clinch the elusive TDS Cup.

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