The Year 1ne's

SEM Manager @ Saatchi & Saatchi with Alex Carter

Blair Smith

In his Year 1ne(ish), Alex works as a Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Manager at Saatchi & Saatchi, a global advertising agency that’s part of the Publicis Group. I just under two years, he’s progressed through four roles in paid search advertising from SEM Intern to SEM Coordinator to SEM Specialist to SEM Manager. 📈

Some of the highlights from Alex and Blair’s chat include the progression of his four roles and what changed with each one, which brand stands out as the “king of content” by being memorable; and, why you need to spend the entire advertising budget you’re given.

In This Episode 🗣
Alex’s Year 1ne @ Saatchi & Saatchi
1:30 | Introduction from Alex
2:15 | Overview of Saatchi & Saatchi
4:50 | Progressing from SEM Intern to SEM Manager
13:45 | The specifics of search marketing
17:00 | Essential software and tools
18:35 | Writing ads in Microsoft Excel?!?!
22:20 | What’s on your mind in marketing right now?

Getting to Day 1ne: The Job Search
27:20 | Switching from sports management to digital marketing
29:30 | Why digital marketing?
31:00 | Getting hired at Saatchi & Saatchi
32:40 | Optimizing your LinkedIn profile
35:10 | Hardest part of the job search
37:30 | The “What’s your favourite brand?” question

Thing’s I’ve Learned in Year 1ne
39:40 | Rookie mistake that it’s easy to make small mistakes in paid search
40:45 | Pro tip as an Intern it’s all about learning
41:25 | Lesson learned to spend the media budget you’re given

The Hottest of Links and Resources 🔥
Connect with Alex Carter: LinkedIn
Brands/organizations: Saatchi & Saatchi | Publicis Group | Brock University | George Brown College | Red Bull
Marketing and media tools: Google Ads Editor | Google Ads | Google Search Ads 360 | Microsoft Advertising | Microsoft Excel
Connect with The Year 1ne’s host Blair Smith: LinkedIn
Check out The Year 1ne’s show website for past episodes, show notes and more goodness