3 Reasons Marketing Will Change Your Life: Humor Resources Podcast featuring Victoria Cirilli.

Take a deep dive with me as we expand on what marketing means from the lens of my everyday peers.

Welcome to the Humor Resources Podcast Blog. Today we take a deep dive into what is marketing, how we use it effectively, and much more. Today, I had the pleasure to talk with the amazing Victoria Cirilli about her marketing career.

Quote of the Day

“Nothing influences people more than a recommendation from a trusted friend.” - Mark Zuckerberg

Thank you for taking the time to chat today. Marketing plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the consumer world. In today's fast-paced, ever-evolving business landscape, the need for skilled marketers has never been higher. Businesses are constantly looking for creative thinkers and strategic minds who can help them reach their target audiences and achieve their goals. How do best determine the best marketing for your target audience?

Likewise, the pleasure is all mine. I got very enthusiastic when you messaged me and wanted to share my knowledge. Typically, I will determine the game plan based on digital engagement. It's a lot easier when you are dealing with the same audience. College students are a very unique and specific demographic that can easily be identified because their digital footprint is larger than older generations. I'm seeing a lot of trends that can be useful in the business world to make marketing more appealing to our niche. Aside from the digital focus we have for our audience, it is still very important to expand to other avenues. Print signage still works super well on the college campuses I've been part of; because it's something they see in their areas for socializing and where their classes take place. Even in a digital world, there are still unique ways you can reach an audience. 

Thanks V, Describe your most successful campaign. Why was it effective, and what role did you play?

One of the best campaigns I managed was for the grand opening of our newest restaurant concept Blenz at Troy University. I worked closely with the co-owners of the company, our client, and internal marketing support to put together a thorough communication plan that led to Blenz having one of the most successful sales reports in their company. This included social media marketing, print signage, and directional signage across campus sharing the new location, and planning a grand opening celebration including a ribbon cutting.  

Sidenote who does not love a good ribbon cutting? As marketers, we love to complete a project from its inception all-the-way-down to the finished product. However, the workload does sometimes play a factor in the execution of projects. They get put on hold or never get completed on how we want them too. What was your biggest professional failure? What did you learn?

I definitely been there Al, in certain instances. I wouldn't say there's been one large failure I could look back on, but something I always strive to improve in myself is time management. There have been many shortcomings that have affected my events due to poor time management. I have carried these setbacks with me and learned how to better optimize my calendar and ensure that my goals are not affected negatively.

Tell me about a time when a project’s demands and scope changed significantly—how did you react, and what was the project’s outcome?

Haha! Well, I've come to find that marketing in the service industry is drastically changing due to all the smaller parts of the machine not functioning as planned. There may be a day where something affects projects often at the last minute. The advice I would give to any marketing professional is to expect that and try to learn how to problem-solve effectively. It takes time and understanding of how operations work, to get good at doing this - especially when you're not expecting it. 

Hehe! I see. Been in a few situations where there were power outages, Grub Hub tech issues, students playing around with our delivery robot, or venue changes. No matter the issues we face things can go array. There are always creative people ready to solve a problem, however, sometimes you’re working on a project with highly creative people of differing opinions. How do you keep things moving along to hit deadlines?

"Oh no, not kiwi :( !" Sometimes it depends, but overall when it comes to any conflicting opinions in the workplace, I tend to navigate them by offering compromise but standing firm when I have an expert opinion on something. I think in marketing we tend to find a lot of people who think they can do our jobs and are not offering insight for sincere reasons but to get you to do something their way. When it's clear they are not taking your thoughts seriously you have to be confident in your responses and insist on what you know to be a better way to proceed with the project at hand.

Marketing Start

A long time ago I started off as an intern with a bar while also juggling being an honor student, songwriter intern, and Sodexo alongside theater. However, I loved every minute of it especially Sodexo intern campaigns we would get. Julio Herrera, Katie, and David Trombetta made it an amazing experience for me. (Flammin Campaign). What made you do marketing? How did it change your approach on life?

Oh same, I started as a journalism major in undergrad because I loved to write! However, I found by the end of my program that I was not interested in investigative journalism or writing about topics that did not interest me. I began a marketing internship with Sodexo in my junior year of college, and immediately fell in love with the dynamic nature of the job. There is always something new and fresh to do and never a dull moment. It also encompasses a lot of the different interests I had like graphic design, and event planning. I have also loved my time in the food industry from hosting, to serving and bartending, and the atmosphere surrounding a kitchen is one of my favorite places to be and food has always been a great love of mine from a young age. I could never get tired of any of the things that make my job so fun!! 

Nice, Its always good to hear that interns becoming marketing specialists and beyond as well. Who do you attribute your success to when advancing further along your career?

I really have to thank two amazing women in our profession. One helped me begin my career with Sodexo and the other gave me an amazing opportunity to advance my career recently. Carla Mordica was my boss as a marketing intern, and because of her guidance, I felt confident that I could make a career out of marketing even though that is not what I studied in college. When she was promoted, she thought highly enough of my work that she recommended me as her replacement. Julie Pfeiffer was also a great insight into my current position as I was going through the hiring process, and I value her amazing advice. I'm now looking forward to seeing what all I can accomplish at my new account.

“Be original, show off your style, and tell your story.”

Shoutout to Julie. Fun fact, I accidentally called her because I got her and Lauren numbers mixed up, I had never felt so embarrassed. Thank goodness their both pretty chill.

Lol, Oh no! How did she respond?

Hehe! She was laughing and told be not to worry it happens occasionally. Proceeding to help me on a swipe plus article submission. Not gonna lie, in the moment, I was defiantly embarrassed.

That's hilarious!

Its up there on my proudest career moment, for sure top three. Speaking of careers, what do you want from your career, and what do you want to give?

I'd like to leave a legacy of improvement and innovation at all of the accounts I've worked for, and I hope that in return I will receive a fulfilling career that gives me great memories to look back on. 

That is an amazing goal

Get Inspired

In conclusion, marketing has the potential to change your life in numerous ways. From increasing your visibility and reaching a wider audience to building relationships and achieving your goals, marketing is a powerful force that can transform your personal and professional life. By investing time and resources into marketing your brand, you can unlock new opportunities, connect with your target audience, and achieve success. Embrace the power of marketing and watch as it changes your life for the better. It was an honor to talk to Victoria today for the Humor Resources Pod. Thanks for stopping by.