An Insight Day with Merkle! Held on Thursday 23 March 2023
Claire Jutsum
Talent Coordinator at Clarion Events via Rethink | Experienced Graduate Recruiter in Law | Passion for writing/researching/process improvement and being creative
Attendees: Merkle, a Dentsu company
Ryan Skeet, Associate Director of Paid Search
Claire Jutsum, Early Careers Executive
Attendees: Media Trust
Aoife Allen, Project Manager - Creativity Works
Jose Payapilly, Project Coordinator
Who are Merkle?
Merkle are a leading data-driven customer experience management?company who are part of Dentsu International. For over 30 years, Fortune 1,000 companies and leading non-profit organisations have partnered with Merkle, building and maximising the value of their customer portfolios.
Who are Merkle’s clients?
Some of the most recognised clients, which cover a variety of industries are: Google, Microsoft, Sony, Intel, Dell, Samsung, Morgan Stanley, Nationwide, Nestle, L’Oreal and Greenpeace – there are many more to discover here.
Who are Media Trust?
Media Trust are a charity that work in partnership with the media and creative industry to give marginalised groups and young people a stronger voice. Media Trust encourage the media and creative industry to share their time, knowledge and creativity to benefit charities, underrepresented communities and young people.
What is Creativity Works?
Creativity Works: Multimedia Training - this is a free, intensive four-week boot camp for creative young Londoners, followed by four weeks of mentoring circles. Combining high-impact media masterclasses with employability skills training, this is part of the Mayor’s Fund for London’s long-running Creativity Works programme in partnership with Media Trust and supported by Citi Foundation.
What does Creativity Works provide?
Welcome and overview of the Insight Day
Merkle welcomed nineteen trainees, who are the participants of the ‘Creativity Works’ programme with Media Trust, to join us for a day of discovery into the world of digital marketing, providing them with enough knowledge to complete a group presentation later in the day. Split into groups of four, everyone spent time collaborating on a campaign from a set Brief and individually presented their proposals!
The event host – Ryan Skeet, Paid Search specialist
With seven years’ experience in Paid Search, Ryan was perfectly placed to start the day, providing an introduction on Merkle and covering the main business areas of digital marketing: Paid Search, Programmatic Display and Paid Social.
Discussions were held on the following topics:
The group activity
The trainees were next set a Brief which allowed them to utilise the learnings from Ryan, working in groups before then presenting back their campaigns to everyone.
The Brief
The Task
The Presentations
All the Groups presented their recommendations for their group campaigns – a summary of suggestions and ideas put forward are summarised:
Feedback!
A few students wanted to share the key takeaways of the day, providing a message on what has inspired them through the Media Trust programme.
Trainee: Cicely Norman
Studied History BA and Masters in American History, graduated 2022 and open to different opportunities within media and advertising. Enjoys being creative.
What did you learn most about today?
‘The data side of advertising – we have completed work with ad agencies on how we come up with a design and the music landscape, but today drilled into the data analytics and how you target people.’
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Did you enjoy working on the Brief and presenting your ideas to everyone?
‘It was a good way to find out that you had understood the information and put it into practice – I have presented before but it is always good to keep working on that.’
What was the highlight of your visit to Merkle?
‘Learning the industry and the personal insights Ryan provided as he covered a lot of detail.’
Has today helped you decide if you want a career in Marketing/Advertising?
‘Yes, it has definitely broadened my horizons on careers in marketing – and learning about what happens behind the scenes has been useful.’
How have Media Trust helped you?
‘The course has been really helpful as it has provided industry workshops and widening connections. I would definitely recommend joining if you are looking for new opportunities and new pathway as you get exposed to different industries.’
Trainee: Daniel Burke
Studied Politics & International Relations in 2021 and is open to different opportunities within media and advertising.
What did you learn most about today?
‘The power of marketing and influencing, behaviours and it made me feel psychologically and physiologically how marketing is working.’
Did you enjoy working on the Brief and presenting your ideas to everyone?
‘It was nice to have a creative element and something I would think about in my everyday life – working on campaigns and considering what appeals to people and what doesn’t.’
What was the highlight of your visit at Merkle?
‘Talking with my team and having a brain storming session on the project.’
Has today helped you decide if you want a career in Marketing/Advertising?
‘It has definitely helped me think about this but I am also open to lots of other career opportunities.’
How have Media Trust helped you?
‘They have helped me see roles I never knew existed and helped me experience what an office environment is like – also I feel like my confidence has improved through standing up front of people and presenting.’
Trainee: Joshua Olumodi
Studied BTech in Business, graduated 2022 and is open to different opportunities within media, marketing and advertising.
What did you learn most about today?
‘I learnt that everything we do is calculated and we know more than we think we know.’
Did you enjoy working on the Brief and presenting your ideas to everyone?
‘It was tasking, and it was a beautiful realisation.’
What was the highlight of your visit at Merkle?
‘Numbers matter.’
Has today helped you decide if you want a career in Marketing/Advertising?
‘I have always wanted a career in marketing – today made me think about the creative side of marketing and from there how you can expand.’
How have Media Trust helped you?
‘They have helped me a lot – mentally I couldn’t find what I wanted to look for and they have helped me get back to that space and look for jobs again.’
Feedback quotes!
Post the event some anonymous feedback was collected to capture the thoughts of the Insight Day held at Merkle:
‘My experience at Merkle was extremely valuable in knowing the ins and outs of digital marketing and steps in how strategies and data are used, being explained very well from Ryan - there were plenty of breaks to increase our productivity and our group task at the end was great to help consolidate our learning.’
‘The session was very insightful and interesting. Loved the detail and the group session after really made the group think hard and work as a team.’
‘Great session with Merkle. A whole world of digital analytics that I’d never encountered, and I definitely learnt a lot.’
‘My feedback on yesterday’s session with Merkle was that, it was extremely informative. It really demonstrated the extents and the limits of sharing and using customer data in order to advertise. It was also interesting to see the evolution of how companies use customer data and how they specify demographics.’
How to apply to Creativity Works
If you would like to signpost any young Londoners aged 18-24 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), or are in that age bracket and want to apply, the next season of the programme starts 9 May 2023. Applications are open now and close at 11.59pm on Monday 1 May 2023.
For details and to apply visit:?