Disclaimer: That’s not my desk. It’s just my #WorkDeskGoals. Sana all 😛

As I write this, I am on a well-deserved holiday break. This comes after 50 weeks of sacrifice, tenacity, and tears shed on two roles in two different industries and countries.

However, that is not the crux of this post. Presently I’m feeling the inspiration kicking in because it’s been a while since I updated this site. I couldn’t have asked for a better time to write; 2021 was a rollercoaster career-wise and the break is an opportunity for rejuvenation slash reflection.

What really is it like to be working in digital media? Trust me, it was not easy to get back to where I felt I truly belonged.

So Google’s quick search results summarize that digital media is a medium for content meant for electronic consumption. Okay, cool.

Today we have endless opportunities for social media managers, digital marketing specialists, content writers, SEO, and paid ads gurus. Startups, brands, corporates – they are always looking for people who can strengthen their digital media presence. Tech-savvy creatives are highly coveted nowadays for their capability to amplify voices and build communities online. They are also some of the most disciplined and versatile hustlers out there.

Personally, the last couple of months taught me what it takes to thrive in a digital media career. An article over at the Search Engine Journal sums up the social media manager position – any its reincarnations – perfectly. This digital media professional should be ready to be a part write and editor, part marketer, part designer, and part PR. Not to mention a self-driven, independent head of the table.

Let me break down three things I’ve learned down the road.

1. Working in digital media is more than just posting on social media.

Quite frankly, I was over the moon when I was first appointed as my previous company’s first-ever community manager five years ago. Truly it felt rewarding to be recognized for the groundwork I did for our client’s social media content. Around that time, I was still doing my account management work; however, at the same time, I was preparing content calendars and scouting for potential engagement material. The appointment came during my mandatory review of about eight months in that company.

My first brush with the community aka social media manager position (as they called it) was a thrilling adventure. In addition to plotting out themed content on monthly calendars, I had to assist clients in optimizing website articles (with the help of our editorial team) and craft clickable captions every time. There was also the daily monitoring of brand mentions – both positive and negative – that can highlight brand engagement and visibility.

The responsibilities have since evolved from merely scheduling and monitoring social media posts. In both my past and present roles, I came to realize that digital media is indeed more than just what you see on Facebook and Twitter. It takes a lot of work. When I say that, I mean it wholeheartedly.

The enthralling visuals and intriguing words on your feeds are just a portion of my work. On the daily, I always keep up with industry news to ensure that our strategies are up to par with the latest trends. Another responsibility is to ensure that all outputs submitted by our different departments are of quality and free of any blemishes that can destroy a brand in just only a few clicks. Then another fraction goes to setting up digital ads – Facebook and Google Ads in particular – and monitoring their performance to see if adjustments are necessary to get optimal results.

Throw in the usual copywriting, strategy, and reporting skills, and there you have a day in the life of a senior digital media associate like me. See, I told you it takes a lot of work!

TLDR: A digital media role requires you to be the Jack or Jill of All Trades. Simply put, a diverse skill set.

2. Working in digital media takes discipline.

Enough said. To thrive in this line of work, you have to exercise caution and accountability with everything you do. Each approved post can be reflective of what you want the brand to convey in their public messages. So when the message is good, the public buys into it and the brand is getting kudos for resonating with their values. But when the message is so appalling that it spawns controversial hot takes on Twitter, maybe you have to step back and re-evaluate what went wrong.

In other words, you have to be careful before you share something for the world to see.

Let’s move on to the working side of things. Every person working in digital media should know that it runs like clockwork. All you have to do is exercise the proper discipline to ensure things are running smoothly and the crowd is taking notice.

Dial-in with what’s happening in real-time. Be well-informed to avoid the risk of being called out for insensitivity and misinformation. Act quickly if it feels right or you will fall far behind with the times. Even a single hour of your day for skills development (looking at you, Coursera) counts as a win towards your career growth. Even a three-minute article on the science of K-Pop photocards is enough to boost your pitching skills for the next monthly digital campaign.

If your peers aren’t being responsive or are not providing constructive feedback, find time to discuss how you can improve your workflow. Time is gold – and digital media is no different in this regard.

Because in digital media, talent does not do the deed alone. It also takes the right amount of grit to succeed.

3. Working in digital media is all about having fun, too.

Of course, lest not forget to enjoy living the dream of breathing life into ideas through the Internet. Either for yourself or for your clients or for your patronage who are with you along the way.

Don’t let the haters stop you from shaking your thing. Just because called you the B-word (Tagalog slang for dumb) for posting a “tale of the tape” between motorcycles and scooters does not always mean you were in the wrong. Take that piece of feedback, feed that as your motivation to continue serving quality content.

So there you have it. Enjoy what you’re doing and the rest will flow naturally.