Vaidehi Singh (Sharma)
Marketing Head at Cloudlytics
Vaidehi Singh (Sharma) on Her Journey in Marketing: Lessons Learned and Advice for Success
In this interview, we'll be hearing from Vaidehi Singh (Sharma), the Marketing Head at Cloudlytics, about her journey in marketing and the lessons she's learned along the way. With over a decade of experience in the industry, Vaidehi has worked in a variety of segments, from B2B marketplaces to digital marketing training companies, and has even founded her digital marketing agency.
Throughout her career, she has faced numerous challenges and failures but has always persevered and learned from them. In this conversation, we'll delve into Vaidehi's experiences and insights, exploring her early beginnings as a blogger, the advantages of exploring new technologies, the importance of curiosity in marketing, and much more. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or just starting, Vaidehi's advice and perspective on the industry are sure to offer valuable takeaways for success.
1. Can you tell us about your journey in the marketing industry so far?
My journey in the marketing industry started during college when I began blogging and writing poetry. This eventually sparked my interest in digital marketing. I started taking small projects from my small town and taught myself graphic design skills. I also used LinkedIn to find clients. After earning my MBA, I began my corporate journey in indirect sales and organic marketing. Since then, I've worked in various segments, including B2B, marketplace, digital marketing training, and technology. I also founded a digital marketing company called GT Solutions.
2. How did you get interested in writing and digital marketing?
I've always had a passion for writing, and it led me to start blogging back in 2007. One of my poetry pieces went viral, which piqued my curiosity and made me want to explore the digital space. I started taking on small digital marketing projects and improved my content with graphic design skills. I also used social media platforms like LinkedIn to find clients.
3. Can you talk about your experience with viral content and how it impacted your career?
My interest in digital marketing began with the experience of one of my poetry pieces going viral. It made me wonder why it went viral and why people loved it so much. This curiosity led me to explore the digital space, and it eventually led to my career in digital marketing.
4. How has the marketing industry evolved over the years, and what are your thoughts on where it's headed in the future?
Over the years, I've seen the marketing industry change drastically. In the past, it was all about billboards and TV commercials, but now it's all about social media and digital platforms. The rise of social media picked up quickly and has become an important space for marketers. With the rise of digital marketing, businesses have had to adapt and create new strategies to reach their audience. As for the future, I believe that digital marketing will continue to rise positively and will play a significant role in the industry.
The phase of social media picked up so quickly and has become such an important space for marketers.
5. How has digital marketing changed the way businesses reach their audience, and what impact has it had on traditional marketing methods?
Digital marketing has changed the way businesses reach their audience. In the past, we relied on traditional marketing methods such as billboards and TV commercials, but now we have to create new strategies for social media and digital platforms. With digital marketing, we can reach a wider audience and target specific demographics. The impact of digital marketing on traditional methods has been significant, as businesses are shifting their focus to digital platforms.
With digital marketing, businesses can reach a wider audience and target specific demographics. The impact of digital marketing on traditional methods has been significant, as businesses are shifting their focus to digital platforms.
6. What are your thoughts on the role of technology, such as GPT-3 and AI, in marketing? How do you see it impacting the industry?
I believe that technology such as GPT-3 and AI will play a significant role in the marketing industry. These technologies are game-changers for many industries, including marketing. I acknowledge that there is a concern among writers that these technologies may replace their jobs. However, I believe that technology will continue to play an important role in the industry and that businesses will need to adapt to stay competitive.
Technology such as GPT-3 and AI will play a significant role in the marketing industry. These technologies are game-changers for many industries, including marketing.
7. With the rise of AI and automation in content creation, what is your take on its impact on writers and their careers?
I acknowledge that the rise of AI and automation in content creation may have an impact on writers and their careers. These technologies can be a threat to writers who have spent years upskilling themselves. However, I also believe that technology will continue to evolve and that writers will need to adapt and find new ways to stay relevant in the industry. Overall, I recognize that technology is a significant force in the industry and that businesses will need to embrace it to stay competitive.
8. What is the impact of AI on the marketing industry?
AI is changing the marketing industry, as more and more companies are investing in AI and similar platforms. While this may impact certain jobs, such as writers, it also creates opportunities for quality content teams to onboard and keep a check on the AI-generated content.
It is important to keep updating and upskilling oneself to stay competitive in the industry. There are various tools available, such as Jasper.ai, and the tool built on top of it is called AI, which can help with content generation. However, at the end of the day, it is important to understand the market and know what the target audience is looking for to create successful campaigns.
9. Can you share an interesting campaign or strategy that you have worked on?
One example of a successful strategy I have worked on is when my employer, a cloud transformation company, wanted to enter the mature market of North America. We used trending content, such as the Friends reunion, to optimize our budget and create successful email campaigns.
By understanding the market and knowing our target audience, we were able to create impactful campaigns that received positive feedback from customers. It is important to have an innovative approach and make well-informed decisions to succeed in the marketing industry.
This applies not only to email campaigns but also to traditional campaigns and events. Simply throwing jargon at the audience is not going to work. Instead, it is important to provide them with what they need and tailor campaigns to their specific interests and preferences.
10. How do you tailor your marketing campaigns to the specific needs of your target audience?
To tailor our marketing campaigns to the specific needs of our target audience, we conduct thorough research and gather data to understand their pain points, interests, and behavior. This enables us to create campaigns that are personalized, relevant, and impactful for our audience. As I mentioned, it's important to "know what your personas are and what they are exactly looking for" to create effective campaigns.
11. How do you approach marketing in a market that is already saturated with big brands?
In a saturated market, it's important to understand our unique value proposition and differentiate ourselves from the competition. To achieve this, we conduct thorough research on our competitors and identify gaps in the market that we can fill. We also optimize our budget and leverage trending content in our campaigns to stand out. By highlighting our unique strengths and resonating with our target audience, we can create campaigns that drive results.
12. Can you elaborate on the role of well-informed decisions in marketing?
Making well-informed decisions is critical to creating effective campaigns that resonate with our target audience and drive results. To achieve this, we use data and insights to optimize our campaigns and make informed decisions on things like campaign messaging, channels, and budget allocation. An innovative approach and a well-informed decision are something that every marketer should have and take.
13. What are some tips for building a strong organic traffic engine?
Building a strong organic traffic engine takes time and effort, but there are some basic things that writers and marketers should keep in mind. First and foremost, it's important to maintain a balance between on-page and off-page activities. While off-page activities such as getting listed on third-party sites can generate leads, relying too heavily on these tactics can lead to penalties from search engines like Google. So, it's important to focus on building a strong foundation of on-page activities like optimizing meta tags and descriptions.
In the first three months, I always advise my organic team to focus on building this foundation and ensuring that there are no mistakes on the website. Additionally, creating a Google Business page and Google profiles can help to increase visibility on Google, as the search engine gives priority to its products. It's also important to target trusted platforms with a domain authority of over 50 for off-page activities.
Overall, building a strong organic traffic engine requires a balance of on-page and off-page activities and a focus on creating valuable content. By following these tips and investing the necessary time and effort, it's possible to generate high-quality traffic and leads over time.