This week, we welcome Carson Allen, our newest intern rocker, to the team!

1. What is the biggest misconception about marketing today?

That its full of people who want to take advantage of others for a quick cash grab.

2. What advice would you give to someone struggling with creating a brand identity?

To be patient and to play the long game. It takes time to build a brand and you need to be incredibly persistent with growth.

3. One of the biggest lessons you’ve learned throughout your academic career?

That when it comes to marketing you want to apply the “KISS” method. Which is “Keep It Simple & Stupid.” Keeping things simple and easy to understand helps draw in clients.

4. What does good marketing look like?

An agency that respects their clients and knows how to properly execute a plan to get them the results they need. The focus should be on helping the client.

5. If you could describe yourself in three words what would they be?

Persistent, outgoing, and motivated.

6. Tell me about a major milestone in your life?

One major milestone of mine is achieving the rank of Eagle Scout my senior year in High School. It took me 8 years of moving up through the scouting program and completing a service project to achieve it.

7. Your goals for FPM?

My goals at FPM are to be the biggest sponge I can be. I want to absorb as much knowledge as possible from this company in regards to marketing and how it works as a business. I specifically want to dip my toes into Search Engine Optimization.

8. How would you describe the culture at FPM?

So far, the culture seems very warm and welcoming. I love that we get to create our own “rocker” name.

9. How does FPM differentiate itself from other marketing companies?

They put a lot of emphasis on the client and they have an easy to work with atmosphere – which makes them more approachable.

10. If you could be anywhere in the world right now where would it be?

I would love to live in a state up North with mountains. Preferably Colorado. Nature is something I always want to be a part of due to my time spent camping in Boy Scouts.

11. If you could go to dinner with one person living or dead who would it be?

I would love to go to dinner with Bruce Lee. He was such an icon in his time. Not just for his fighting techniques but also his philosophy about the way he looked at life.

12. What is a fun fact about yourself?

I really love to cook!

Conclusion

We are incredibly excited to have Carson Allen on the Front Porch Marketing team. He is going to do fantastic things. We cannot wait to see his creativity shine, through his future endeavors.

From day one of my FPM internship, I quickly realized the importance of active learning and most importantly active application. The world of marketing thrums on the excitement of people bringing new ideas to life and sharing them with others. It’s only natural that this excitement creates a lively and dynamic environment where you learn lessons as quickly as you apply them.

Along this journey of active learning and active application, I was able to stretch myself in new ways. From trying to figure out how to prioritize your tasks to navigating uncharted waters, I give you – the ultimate list of lessons.

Top 5 Ultimate Lessons Learned

Ultimate Lesson #1

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Whether you get a job in the business world or take your neighbor’s dog on a walk, everything is a learning journey. When you don’t know what a certain word or task means, ask for example pieces. Once you see examples, you’ll be able to tweak your work as you go. By being open about your confusion, you’ll be able to get more clarity and open the channel of communication with your team.

Ultimate Lesson #2

Embrace your mistakes! No one is perfect – we are all human. Although we strive for perfection, the only way to get better is to learn from your mistakes. Aim for a more efficient and effective thought process the next time you get a task you have trouble with. Undoubtedly, practice makes perfect!

Ultimate Lesson #3

Communication is key! A million and one things happen throughout the day and you can’t expect everyone to know what you are doing, nor can you assume that once you are done with your task that there isn’t more to be done. When you effectively communicate throughout the day with your team members, everyone is able to be on the same page. As a result, better teamwork is able to unfold.

Ultimate Lesson #4

Time management is KEY! When you are delegated multiple tasks with multiple deadlines, it’s imperative to write down a to-do list. Write the list from most important to least important and work your way down to increase efficiency. By creating this list, you’ll be able to track your progress throughout the day and create a drafted timesheet. At the end of the day, a completed list can give you the best feeling of accomplishment.

Ultimate Lesson #5

If you’re on time you’re 10 minutes late! When there is a time set for a meeting, client call, or even deadline, always aim to be present, poised, and punctual. Show initiative by being early. You’ll need those extra minutes for a bathroom break that would have overwise left your client awkwardly waiting for you at the front or needed when you attempt to submit a project right on the deadline but then your computer dies. Without a doubt, you never know what may happen so it is always best to be prepared with a pocket of time.

Conclusion

From being a senior at Baylor University to being an intern at Front Porch Marketing, I’ve used these pockets of wisdom in many facets of my life. These lessons have served me in more ways than one and now my hope is that they will serve you. May you flourish in all of your future endeavors!

Bidding farewell to my days as an intern Front Porch Marketing has led me to take a stroll down memory lane.

I remember the day my sister-in-law called me about an incredible internship opportunity with the company that she just began working for, Front Porch Marketing. She knew that with my marketing and entrepreneurial management background, that this company would be a great fit for me. Not everyone is given the chance to work for such a wonderful company that truly supports you and wants to watch you grow and learn, and I am grateful.

I began my adventure with Front Porch back in October of 2016, and as I reminisce about my time here, there is nothing but a smile upon my face. Throughout my experience, I have three major takeaways that I would like to share:

• Culture. Front Porch has such a unique culture that highlights the entrepreneurial spirit in every rocker. It is completely open and collaborative, and everyone is encouraged to share their ideas. Whether it was the meetings, get-togethers to celebrate important life events, or just the occasional phone call to check in and see how you are doing, Front Porch’s culture truly exemplifies a family.
• Opportunities. The Porch gave me the opportunity to form and maintain relationships with clients, learn about different marketing measurements and tactics, and to perform my daily duties with autonomy. I was invited to listen to speakers, go to networking events, and even create videos for the company. The rockers were always flexible with my school schedule and wanted me to embrace any opportunity that I could.
• People. Some say, wherever you work, it is all about the people; this is completely, positively, absolutely TRUE! It is not just about the people you work with on a daily basis, it’s also the clients you are given the chance to work with, and your family and friends that cheer for you. I have had a lot of special people walk into my life throughout my time at Front Porch which has, in turn, made me the hard worker that I am today.

After my experience at Front Porch, it made me open my eyes to what I wanted in a company that I would potentially work for. Front Porch has taught me so much and I cannot thank all of the wonderful rockers that helped me along the way. For now, it is a farewell, but I will always come back to rock on the porch with ya’ll.