In July of 2018 I started my 3 month contract with CDK Global in the digital marketing world. I have been working at CDK for just over a year, and I thought it would be a good time to share my experience as an Account Advocate in Seattle, WA. If you would have told me a year ago that I would still be under contract; or, that I would be encountering my first corporate divestiture, I would have thought no, not me! However, throughout my time at CDK I have learned and grown as a digital marketer in many ways. I have added valuable skills to my tool belt such as website optimization, aligning digital marketing strategies with customer’s business objectives, and presenting website analytics to customers.
Bread and Butter: Customer First
When asked what I do for work, my answer is "Help my customers reach their goals, which is what I do best." I have been in the customer service world since my first job at 16 years old. I have worked at grocery stores, and retail shops in malls; as well as, interning at Nordstroms as a Retail Management intern where I mastered putting the customer first. As an Account Advocate, I put my clients first while presenting CDK Global marketing products and services to align with the customers business strategy. The automotive industry is currently moving towards an online retailing experience. As an Account Advocate it is imperative to educate my customers on our online retailing product “Connected Store”, as well as giving them data to back up why they should invest in these products. My objective is to proactively find ways to help my customers reach their goals. For example, one way I achieve this is by recommending successful website strategies such as, Hero slides that promote a clearance on all 2018 inventory at the dealership. Another example is creating a used vehicles specials page that focuses on used inventory that has been on the dealer's lot for longer than 50 days. I feel it is valuable to proactively find ways to help my customers reach goals.
What do the numbers mean?
One of the most exciting parts of being an Account Advocate is being able to work with real time numbers. In CDK's Dealer Command Center I am able to see the analytical metrics on my customer dealership websites. Being able to see how my websites performance measures on a day to day, a month to month, and a yearly basis allows me to make optimization recommendations and offer CDK products. I get to tell a story of the numbers based on website leads, device platform traffic, and model specific vehicle detail views. What this means is that I will take two months and analyze why the website received more leads in one month over another. Was it because I fully optimized the vehicle search results page on the dealerships site, or because the dealership launched an advertising campaign to get customers to submit an email? Asking these sorts of questions then helps me make changes that align with the dealerships business strategy.
"No matter what company you work for or what title you hold, always value yourself and know your worth."
Value - Dumas Digital
In the past year I have grown to learn I am much more valuable than what has been recognized. In June, I started a social media marketing brand, Dumas Digital, where I am promoting local artists, clothing lines, events, restaurants and other small businesses that are under represented in Seattle. This month I published my personal website and portfolio ZacariasDumas.com where I showcase my corporate experiences, social media marketing brand, and photography content creation. I would like to advise other young business professionals that, "no matter what company you work for or what title you hold, always value yourself and know your worth." Feeling appreciated from your companies leadership is mandatory for your growth and future. Overall, during this marathon of being a digital marketer I have come to know my worth I have been able to take action to prosper. Be sure to visit my website and my Dumas Digital brand on instagram @dumas_digital_ and keep an eye out for my next blog post focused on Dumas Digital.