Working at Digital Ink: An Intern’s Inside Scoop

by Yair Reich

Insights / Digital Ink / Working at Digital Ink: An Intern’s Inside Scoop

Dear reader,

My name is Yair Reich – I’m a graduating senior at Berman Hebrew Academy. I recently finished my one-month Digital Marketing internship at Digital Ink, and am excited to share with you what I learned, as well as the pros and cons of digital marketing.

What I Learned

One of my goals in life is to start my own company, but part of running a successful business is knowing how to market your product. This was one of the reasons I sought out an internship in digital marketing at Digital Ink. I wanted to learn how to maximize one’s presence on social media through graphics and interesting content. Throughout the experience, I learned how to use many new digital tools including Dropbox, Mailchimp, Google Sheets, Google Analytics, and much much more. Looking back on my original goals, I would say I gained more skills than what I had originally hoped.

These various tools and resources helped me organize my daily tasks, and better manage my responsibilities. For example, Dropbox, a digital library, helped organize and store our files in one place. Dropbox was especially helpful when it came to updating Digital Ink’s website and scheduling social media posts through Meta Business Suite. I also used Canva, a website used to create graphics, to edit the photos for our bi-weekly newsletter.

The newsletters were edited and sent from Mailchimp, a marketing platform and email marketing service that helps manage mailing lists and create email marketing campaigns to send to current and potential clients. Some examples of these campaigns include announcing a new team member, such as myself, or sharing important news and insights like Google Analytics’ upcoming transition to GA4.

The tool I used most was Google Sheets, a spreadsheet program included as part of the free, web-based Google Docs Editors suite offered by Google. I used it to help me organize my projects, track my progress, and identify next steps, which ultimately improved my overall efficiency.

What I Enjoyed

The thing I liked most about working with Digital Ink was the team’s friendliness. The in-person office staff consisted of Sarah-Leah Thompson and Jason Unger, while the other team members worked from home in various states. One of the primary ways our team communicated was through Slack, a messaging app that is designed specifically for the workplace. At Digital Ink, Slack is used not only for business-related topics, but is also a way for people at the company to talk about life, which helps to create a friendly working environment.

Another benefit to platforms like Slack are that they allow the team to work remotely while staying in touch about ongoing projects. Being that the work was all done on a computer, it makes for a more flexible profession; I was able to work from home, and could even have contributed from a different state.

The downside to digital marketing is having to sit in front of a screen for eight hours a day. If you are a taller person (like me), it really takes a toll on your back, as you are constantly hunching over the computer. Should I work an office job in the future, I will be sure to invest in a standing desk and a very nice chair.

If I had more time, I would have loved to shadow Mr. Unger and see first hand what it’s like to run a company. This would include dropping in on customer meetings, learning how to file company taxes, bills, etc…

My Future Goals

The internship experience definitely gave me a better insight into the type of profession I will seek in the future. I learned that I hate sitting in front of a screen for extended periods of time with little opportunity for exercise and movement. I much prefer to be involved in work where I am constantly moving and am preferably outdoors.

All in all, the internship was a worthwhile experience. It taught me useful skills that I will certainly use in the future. It also taught me about myself, and what I should look for in my future career. Thank you Digital Ink for the opportunity and for teaching me skills I will never forget.

Sincerely,

Yair Reich