Grade Achieved : A

For our honours year at UWS, we had to choose between Advanced Digital Marketing and Brands and Branding for our optional module.  This was no easy decision for me and over the summer I enquired about taking both.

I chose Advanced Digital because it is a practical subject and I wanted that skill on my CV.  I am passionate about digital marketing and thought it would stand me in better to stead to build on these skills.

This class has been highly motivating and I feel I have produced some of my best work in this class.  I tried to treat the coursework as an actual piece of work, while enjoying the creative control we had over it.  We haven’t had much opportunity throughout the degree course to use our own creativity in delivering work and so when we were given free rein I was determined to make the most of it.

For the individual piece of work we were to analyse SAMH’s digital marketing, based on the situational analysis section of a SOSTAC model.  I tried to capture the brand in my report, reflecting the brands colour theme throughout and presenting my work as creatively and yet as clearly as possible.  I really enjoyed this piece of coursework.

In fact, it then went on to provide me with the confidence to undertake my first paid marketing project from an outside company, recommended by one of my other lecturers.  I presented it in a similar style and was really proud of the positive feedback I received.

I definitely would not have had the confidence to have done so prior to this module and coursework.

We have had some fantastic guest lecturers, including my personal favourites Made Brave.  It was inspiring to have people in the industry to come and share their knowledge with us and definitely inspired me to really do my best this year and open as many doors as possible as a result.

I also attended the BDX Digital Marketing Meetups in Glasgow, a monthly event where a panel of people in the digital marketing industry discuss current trends and practices.  It also allows for networking within the industry.  There is a mix of students, professionals and those who are interested.  At one of these events a guy asked a question to the panel regarding a new comedy night he was launching.  I, with new found confidence in my skills, approached him at the end during the networking time and, in short, now work for the comedy club.  I have been Front of House since it launched in October and am now also assisting with their social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  I have also pushed my other live performance job who have given me the green light to create and manage the Instagram account.

The teaching style suited me and I really enjoyed the discussion style of the class.  I think it helped increase the confidence in the room and certainly made me keen to participate.

I have enjoyed the challenge of the task but relished in the opportunity to push the boundaries and be creative.  I have gained a lot of confidence in my own ability in this class and it has certainly increased my passion for the subject.

I am particularly proud of the video I created for the video pitch element of the coursework and the opportunities I have created as a result of the module and the confidence it has given me.  I have always had the title ‘content creator’ in the back of my mind.  While sitting at my desk, not realising how long I had been sitting there, perfecting each second of video, or editing a picture and coming up with the perfect caption, it dawned on me that I am truly grateful to have had a chance to discover and explore, not only a passion, but potentially a career.