Question

Topic: Career/Training

Career Change Into Marketing

Posted by Anonymous on 10/29/2013 at 10:13 AM ET 250 Points
Hello,

I am looking to accomplish a pretty drastic career change from a freelance audio-visual artist into a marketing career. I'm still young (25) and am open to graduate school (I have a B.S. from Northeastern University), but am very wary of adding additional debt to my current student loans. So if there is any advice you may have on how to get started in a marketing field with the diverse background I have. Anything would help, so let me say I appreciate any responses in advance. Thanks,

Ed
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Moriarty on 10/29/2013 at 10:38 AM Accepted
    Firstly, the change from "freelance audio-visual artist" to marketer isn't that dramatic. They're both about communication after all. It's not as if you're changing from a career as the captain of a supertanker to being a neurosurgeon, is it? Bear in mind that I was an industrial designer, and many of the things I learned doing that have been very helpful in my successive incarnations as furniture maker and now marketer - and I'm in my 50s, so you've got a lot of space and time.

    If you don't want to incur too much debt, yet are willing to learn you could do a lot worse than take a look at Perry Marshall's site* - there's a huge amount about real marketing there. Drayton Bird* is another excellent place to learn. They are both seasoned marketers with their own take on the business - and they both cut through a lot of the cr*p that's spoken about in the universities. I speak as someone who should have been the academic type (some still see me as being such, especially if they get me onto certain subjects ... ).

    *https://perrymarshall.com https://askdrayton.com (Drayton also has a group on Linkedin which is a lot of fun). https://www.linkedin.com/groups/Ask-Drayton-5140947
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 10/29/2013 at 11:34 AM Accepted
    Marketing is a pretty wide field. What aspect of marketing interests you? Working for what sort of company? How could you leverage what you already know into adding value in that capacity? Have you tried contacting local marketers in your area for informational interviews (not to ask for a job, but to better understand what "a day in their life" looks like, and if that's a good fit for you)?
  • Posted by Peter (henna gaijin) on 10/29/2013 at 12:12 PM Accepted
    I agree with Jay - one way to go would be to find a way to work what you are currently doing into marketing. For example, offer your audio-visual services to marketing or advertising companies. You start getting exposed to marketing while still doing what you are an expert at. As you learn more and get more contacts, slowly find more ways into marketing (in areas that you like). No student debt needed for this route.

    To make the transition easier and/or faster, you could work toward getting a certificate in marketing from an executive education institution near you. Many universities have these programs.
  • Posted on 10/29/2013 at 1:22 PM Member
    Before you change your field it's best to find out as much as you can about the field of marketing and see if that's the kind of change you want. Good luck with everything!
  • Posted on 10/29/2013 at 5:51 PM Moderator
    I'm with Jay and Peter. Marketing is pretty broad, so you will need to decide what aspect of marketing you want to be in.

    While Moriarty is right when she says that marketing is about communication, that's just one aspect of marketing. There's also market research, pricing, sales, etc., where communication may be less important.

    Figure out what kind of marketing will deliver the career satisfaction you want. Then do those informational interviews.
  • Posted by Gary Bloomer on 10/29/2013 at 6:44 PM Accepted
    Dear Edward,

    What ASPECTS of marketing?

    Direct response? Consumer goods? Non-profit marketing? Medical marketing? Here's a blog post that lists 131 kinds of marketing: https://chiefmartec.com/2010/12/131-different-kinds-of-marketing/

    Once you're clear on what you want to focus on, then, you'll be ready for the next step, which is to
    devour ... don't just read ... DEVOUR the top 10 books on your chosen area of marketing on Amazon, or on Barnes and Noble.

    Then, re-read them.

    This time, make notes.

    Then, read these books AGAIN.

    Make more notes.

    Then, start THINKING and begin figuring out how what you now know can add value to either an employer, or, if you've got the balls to go out on your own, to potential clients.

    Figure out who you will serve, how you will serve them, and just what it is that you AND ONLY YOU can offer these people.

    You'd also do well to build up your personal authority on the area you're most passionate about.

    You become an authority in one of two ways: you either claim authority status or you are appointed as an authority by someone else. You can hang around for another 100 years waiting to be appointed as an authority, but unless (or until), you're prepared to put yourself out there, do you know what's going to happen? i do. Nothing. Zip. Nada. Now't. Diddley squat. Jack. Sweet FA.

    So you must declare victory as you step out onto the field of battle. This has nothing to do with arrogance and it's NOT about faking it until you make it. It's about you knowing your stuff and being confident enough to state your case and to do so with courage.

    It's about having the ability and the fortitude to state your opinion and to stick with your conviction EVEN WHEN PEOPLE TELL YOU YOU ARE WRONG. If you know you're right and are CONVINCED of your position: STICK TO YOUR GUNS. Why? Because the majority is OFTEN wrong and gets away with being wrong because of the fear of not wanting to stand out as a boat rocker.

    I say ROCK THAT BOAT!

    I also suggest you begin contributing HERE, that you start some kind of blog, and that you wrap social media into your overall plan of visibility.

    Does this help?

  • Posted by Moriarty on 10/29/2013 at 6:52 PM Member
    Thankyou Gary!

    As you say, being wrong in most people's eyes isn't always a bad thing. But be warned if you post here, do not to rock the boat or you'll have the moderator sending you surly emails. However rocking this boat has meant that I am the top poster by a clear margin - in percentage terms at least since I'm the newbie; I overtook Gary's leading position back in July - though Gary's input has improved considerably over the last six months and he's re-gaining ground now!

    I say, join in the fun, contributions that are sensible, witty or just plain crazy are all welcome!

  • Posted by Gary Bloomer on 10/29/2013 at 9:22 PM Member
    Dear Edward,

    Forget about racking up scores, comparing them, up or keeping them and focus on helping people by being cool, by being authentic, and by being open to rising above whatever "crap" comes along.

    Here's why:

    Today, on another forum, I became the victim of the vitriol of a petty-minded CEO who really, is someone who ought to know better. In one fell swoop and with a few rather carelessly typed lines he sought to put me in my place and to ridicule me in front of thousands of other people. What he did instead was to instantly vaporize ALL brand equity I may have had towards his company.

    What he also does not realize is that karma ... is a bitch.

    Out of this firestorm arose a phoenix: a personal connection for me with one of the top social media trainers in the United States. So, just be yourself and you'll be fine.

    Good luck to you.

  • Posted on 11/3/2013 at 9:15 AM Author
    Thanks everyone, this was very helpful and I appreciate all the responses.

    Ed
  • Posted by Moriarty on 11/3/2013 at 6:05 PM Member
    Gary, when you say "I became the victim of the vitriol of a petty-minded CEO" - please remember that when they start insulting you, they've run out of answers. The damage from trolling can be serious; however for your better kind of client - who by and large are more tolerant - they'll see through the negativity.

    As you witnessed.
  • Posted by Moriarty on 11/3/2013 at 6:06 PM Member
    Oh, and good luck, Edward. Remember that marketing is about communicating. Visually or otherwise.
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