Black Belting my Game

As a marketer for the publishing company I owned, I effectively used basic tools like eNewsletters and eMail to increase company sales and therefore profits. But for my new ventures, I knew I needed to up my game.

Black belts love to be coached, and I discovered a displaced homemakers program that allowed me to attend Bellevue College in the midst of my divorce. So I registered for the digital marketing program to update my skills for the coming years.

This summer I was able to start the Introduction to Digital Marketing class to get up to speed. Not only did I learn during the course, but through it I found several sites to subscribe to their regular content. Now I’m getting information through my inbox almost daily that helps me stay on track to up my knowledge. Consistent learning is one way to black belt your game.

Currently I’m in three classes that all touch on aspects of marketing in the digital realm: Search Engine Optimization which helps websites get higher ranked when you search for them; Social Media which focuses on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram; and Advertising which focuses on paid media. Buying paid advertising is new to me, and I want to be able to use advertising dollars wisely for my clients and myself going forward.

For myself, I’m hoping to market my art such as pieces like this one, Gift of Water, which uses real gold leaf and papyrus. I believe you can work at the black belt level at most anything. What are you choosing to black belt in your life?