My experience studying Digital Marketing at University of Wolverhampton

Over the last 5 years, I have learned that digital marketing is not just about following the latest trends and algorithms; it’s much more than that. Digital Marketing is an art form that requires creativity, a keen eye for detail, and strategic thinking. As someone who’s been working in digital marketing for a while, I’ve come to realize that the industry is always changing. To stay ahead of the curve, I decided to enroll in the Digital Marketing Management program at the University of Wolverhampton

In this post, I will be sharing some of the most memorable moments of my time at the University of Wolverhampton and let you in on my journey settling in UK as an international student. I’ll share my experience with the support services and academic programs offered at the university that have played a significant role in shaping my career. Whether you’re someone who’s been thinking about returning to education or just curious about student life in the UK, I hope my story can give you some inspiration and encouragement. So keep reading!

Back to school

As an experienced Digital Marketing Manager working 9 – 5 daily to effectively plan, and launch marketing campaigns that drive business objectives and convince my boss/clients that these campaigns are the next best thing since sliced bread, I must admit, taking a break to return to academia after a lot of years was not beans (read “not easy”).

Navigating coursework, keeping up with assignment deadlines, and at the same time managing the culture shock that comes with studying overseas for the first time was a bit of a challenge. Here are a few ways I navigated these challenges to make my transition a lot smoother

• Relying on my network of family and friends who offered recommendations and advice from time to time. I was able to make new friends and build new connections with my wonderful classmates and other industry professionals and learn from their journeys.
  
• Getting familiar with new technologies and giving yourself time to learn about them. Don’t panic, you will familiarize yourself in no time. I missed the bus a few times before getting used to this
• Not being afraid to ask questions and always putting on a smile.
  
• Following news updates and information from verified news websites (BBC, UKCISA) and as well as top social media influencers such as YettySplash and Themabudu who share invauable content to guide international students on how to settle in the UK.
  
• Setting realistic goals and planning adequately.
  

Deep Dive

I have been fortunate enough to receive guidance from some of the most brilliant minds in the field of marketing, namely Dr. Robert Harris and Dr. Imran Maqbool Khan. I must say, these gentlemen really know their onions and have delivered each lecture with passion, engaging students through quizzes, mock game shows and citing real-life experiences at every opportunity. This made every session highly interactive and easy to comprehend. I can’t say I found one module more interesting than the other as each of them touched on several aspects of Digital Marketing Communications relevant to any Digital Marketer today. As someone that thrives on learning, I was able to gain a better understanding of the following:

• Contemporary Digital Marketing tools and tactics for organizations: I learned new ways to optimize my personal brand by effectively deploying strong SEO tactics by way of conducting SEO audits, Keyword Research, On-Page, Off page and Technical SEO for brands.
  
• Updated my knowledge base on tactical Search Engine and Social Media Marketing strategies in a competitive industry and understanding the power of analytics using Google Analytics 4 to measure the results that matter.
  
• Planning creative and innovative marketing communications campaigns. It was fascinating to explore a completely new industry while leveraging a fast-growing SME as a case study. This exposed me to ways cultural nuances can impact consumer behavior and brand perception.