Embarking on an Amazing Journey
As
I am about to embark on this amazing journey, I think back to all the
amazing people in my life who have helped me get to the place I am
today. First and foremost, my parents who have always made me believe in
myself and to never give up. Thinking back to my early college years
when I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, contemplating
dropping out for bit because I didn't feel I could choose a major. No
one was there for me more than my parents, I remember my mom even
driving down to Carbondale in the middle of the week, just to be there
in person to help look at all my options for majors. I am pretty sure we
just ended up getting dinner and hanging out the whole time, but it was
just what I needed. While my dad doing what he does best, making me
laugh and smile through it all. I am the luckiest girl to have two
amazing parents. As most of you know, I finally figured it out when I
was informed of the Hospitality and Tourism major. A friend that went to
Southern Illinois, who I barely knew said "You should join Hospitality,
it is a really fun major...You will meet so many people and take group
trips to different cities" In that moment, I knew it was the perfect fit
for me. I have never felt more at home than in the Hospitality
Industry, especially through my Internships at 5 Flavors Catering and
Signature Event Rental. I never really saw much interest in the Hotel
world or the Restaurant world, I saw myself more in event planning. As I
continued to look for my ideal job as an event planner, I stumbled upon
a company called Marketing Werks.
So you may ask, what am I doing with a Marketing job? ha ha. In August,
I went to Nashville,TN to help a friend promote for COUNTRY FINANCIAL
at a Concert(Marroon 5 and Train). At the time, I thought it would be
nice to visit my friend Erin(since she had just moved there), earn a
little cash, and maybe meet some potential Industry contacts for a job.
Little did I know that very experience would lead me to the job I have
today! The more I get to know about this new job, the more I see it
relating to the Hospitality Industry. I am around people all the time, I
am coordinating/planning a event from start to finish, and most
important I am traveling. I couldn't have asked for a better job for me
at this time in my life. I am so blessed that God has chosen this path
for me to take. Although, the part of not seeing my family and friends
for months upon months is going to be so hard. I so appreciate all the
encouragement and support from them through out this process.
So what the heck am I going to be doing?
As
of now I am leaving Sunday, March 4th for Chicago where I will spend a
week training at Marketing Werks' home office until Friday,March 9th.
Then from Friday-Monday, I will travel to New Berlin, WI to do some
Vehicle training, where I will have to learn to drive an SUV attached to
a small trailer(kind of nervous). Monday, March 12th I officially start
my Journey to the West Coast, not sure how far west yet.
-
Below is a summary of what it is all about, I am still finding out more
and more about it each day. I will make sure to keep you posted as much
as possible!! Thanks for going on this Journey with me!!
Love Always,
Sarah
What is mobile marketing? Lets just get this out of the way first; when relating to the experiential marketing
industry, this kind of mobile marketing has nothing to do with mobile
devices, land lines, or using any sort of technology as a marketing
tool. When you go to college you pick a major and a concentration.
Mobile marketing is a concentration of sorts in the experiential
marketing industry. Various experiential marketing agencies compete for
clients to win their business, in turn they can help clients introduce
products, key messaging, and new campaigns with experiences through
mobile tours, event marketing, creative PR stunts, and more. For
example, we're working for an experiential marketing agency based out of
Chicago, Illinois called Marketing Werks. The client/account we'll be
representing during a 40+ week tour is Verizon Wireless. Find out more
information on mobile tours and keep up to date on the latest event
marketing trends by logging on to Event Marketer.
What
is experiential marketing? Experiential marketing focuses on the entire
customer "experience" and what the consumer's response is, rather than a
certain individual marketing piece. The goal is to appeal to a consumer
on multiple levels by providing an "experience" that appeals not only
to their emotions, but to their logic and senses.
Therefore,
mobile marketing tours often create an exciting and educational
consumer experience in which a crew of trained professionals travel from
city-to-city setting up an interactive event site and educating
consumers on the client's key messaging/product. The goal is to educate
the consumer without them knowing it by providing a memorable experience
for the consumer in which they'll walk away with new knowledge of the
client, branded premiums, or just a favorable opinion of the client and
their "experience."
What
kind of tours are out there? Experiential marketing and mobile
marketing agencies can attract business and create mobile marketing
tours for any number of clients or popular Fortune 500 companies. For
example, Marketing Werks client list includes LEGO, Blackberry, Verizon
Wireless, Walgreens, Play Station and more! Another experiential
marketing agency, Ignition, Inc based out of Atlanta, Georgia, has
mobile marketing tours for big name clients Coca-Cola, BP, United
Nations Foundation, ESPN Grid Iron Blow Out Tour, and so on. Tours can
vary based on the experiential marketing firm and client, each providing
an amazing experience for consumers and employees alike.
So,
where are you going to live? The best part about mobile marketing tours
is that you live out of a suitcase! Mobile gigs are 100% travel which
make them all the more fun. You not only get to rack up hotel points,
but meet new people, see new cities, and create memories that will last
forever all while working.
Are
you paying for the hotels? No, another great thing about this gem of an
industry. Crew members are given a salary, per diem, and a daily budget
for hotels.
How
long do mobile marketing tours last? Tours can last from 2 weeks to a
year. If you're lucky once you wrap up a tour, you'll be in the hunt for
another one or get picked up by another agency. The spectrum of tours
and clients out there create an exciting and new experience, so you're
never bored.
What
cities will you be traveling to? I will be stationed in the West Region
of the United States for 9 months. I will keep everyone updated once I
receive our tentative schedule. However, many mobile marketing tours
travel all over the United States, and if you're lucky you will snag a
tour that travels internationally!
What
will you be traveling in? Mobile marketing firms create branded
vehicles to catch consumers' attention on the highway. For example, the
Oscar Mayer Weinermobile and Hershey Kissmobile are recognizable
vehicles that have been branded, driven by mobile marketing crews, and
turned into legendary icons on wheels. Many tours require a licensed CDL
A or CDL B driver. Luckily, I will be cruising around in a red Verizon
Wireless SUV with a small trailer attached.
What
exactly will you be doing? We'll be setting-up/breaking-down our event
site (event sites can vary in size), taking photos/videos of consumers
interacting with us and the display, educating consumers on Verizon
Wireless products, handing out premiums and creating a pleasant and
memorable experience for consumers in each market.
