Digital marketing is endlessly complex, but even the most unusual problems are no match for our Sr. Strategist and resident digital detective, Jade Scaffidi! Read on to learn more about Jade's platform and puzzle-solving prowess, her advice for troubleshooting tricky issues without losing your mind in the process, and her undying love for Taylor Swift in this edition of Meet CID!
Q: How would you describe your role at CID?I’m a digital marketing strategist, so I’m someone who researches and recommends marketing initiatives across digital spaces for our clients. But internally, I’m also our team’s SEO expert, specializing in social media marketing and Google Analytics/GTM. I also tend to be the “throw it at me” team member and enjoy being given unique problems as well as the time it takes to solve those problems with research and critical thinking!
Something I’m always hammering in for people is that EVERYTHING digital takes time. It’s something that feels contradictory to the instant gratification that social media and the digital realm give us as users, but when it comes to building an online presence, it just takes time. Campaigns take time to build, organic traffic takes time to generate. Instant gratification is only for the user.
DIVE. DEEP. When I got my first job in strategy, I was brought in on the surface. Everything I learned from there on out was the result of diving deeper. Spend time in analytics and learn. Watch YouTube videos, read blogs, click around in platforms, and get your hands in EVERYTHING. I think that is the quickest way to learn, and it also helps you feel more comfortable when it’s time to figure out something more specific.
Being an author has been the dream since I first opened a book. I’ve always loved reading and writing, so being able to create my own world and explore it is really my other passion. Maybe I’m working on something, maybe it’s early stages, or maybe it’s already in the works. Who knows?
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Ooh! We love a little suspense!]
I usually follow the same process whenever I’m approached with a challenge. I start with just taking in what the problem is, and in most cases, it’s usually a strange technical issue that has come up. So usually, I dive in on the technical side first to troubleshoot and see what I can sniff out. Then, I come up with a short list of issues I think it could be outside of technical kinks. After that, I either test out the remedies for those theories or I start researching any remaining elements that I suspect could be the culprit.
My advice for these situations is something that I struggle to follow myself at times but believe in regardless: ask more questions along the way as needed. I stand behind diving in head first once you have all the baseline information you need. But, I also think it’s important to not go too far down the rabbit hole instead of asking a verifying question along the way instead. It will spare your time and your sanity.
Aside from my writing, I’m also working on getting a UX certification. It isn’t anything fancy, but I’ve been working on it for the last several months and I’m very excited. In my last job, I developed a passion for UX and UI and I love bringing data into it and creating data-informed design decisions. Building out some portfolio projects in my personal time has been very fun for me!
Q: What is a quote, motto, catchphrase, or personal mantra that motivates you when things get hectic? I have two that kind of go hand in hand. One is a Taylor Swift lyric (shocking no one who knows me): “To live for the hope of it all.” The other is a quote that I’ve just seen everywhere: “What if it works out?”
The Taylor Swift lyric is fairly obvious. Just perseverance strictly for the hope of it all. Believing that the stressful thing will pass, or things will get better. “My busy weeks will teeter out,” “I’ll make it through reporting season.” But the “What if it works out?” question is one I use whenever I’m overthinking a problem. As someone who does that quite a bit, and as someone who is prone to catastrophizing, making the effort to change a panicked “What if?!” into a positive “What if…” is very helpful. I’m not always great at this, but it is something I’m consistently trying to incorporate into my life.
“1985” by Bowling For Soup or “You Belong with Me” by Taylor Swift
AH! I don’t know… It’s too hard to pick one so here are a few:
I used to always say invisibility, but honestly, I want to fly! I know I’m afraid of heights, but I think I’ve been won over. The easy transport is what gets me, and teleportation seems too fast to me.
Video games!
I mean, this one’s obvious: Taylor Swift! She’s one of, if not the highest-grossing tour of all time. Her weekend tour stops boost the economy in every city she visits. Whenever she posts about voting, there is a major increase in registered voters. Regardless if you like her or not, she’s a game changer. Her level of power and influence is actually just insane, as is the fact that I’ve been listening to her since I first put “Our Song” on my iPod nano in middle school.
Anyway, be sure to listen to The Tortured Poets Department, her latest album!
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Despite reasonable doubt, no, Taylor Swift did not sponsor this blog post. However, the CID Editorial Team welcomes any and all future sponsorships she may be willing to provide!]
"Bring in the Klinkhammer," they said...and we did! Amy is part of our award-winning marketing & strategy team where she writes for ads, email, the web, video and so much more. She also drinks too much coffee and spends too much time debating the Oxford comma.