A Candid Q&A with Hannah Taylor, SEO & Content Marketing Assistant

In this exclusive Q&A, we sit down with Hannah Taylor, an SEO and Content Marketing Assistant at Next Chapter, to explore her journey into the world of marketing. Starting as an intern, Hannah quickly proved her skills and passion, transitioning into a full-time role within the agency. From an unexpected start in Australia to developing her expertise across various marketing disciplines, Hannah shares insights from her experiences, tips for those looking to break into the industry, and her thoughts on the future of marketing.

Q1: What made you want to go into the world of marketing?

My journey into marketing started with a bit of a quarter life crisis. I was out of uni having studied philosophy, living in Australia, still not really sure what I was going to do with my life when my boyfriend decided to open his own company. I ended up designing his logo, collaborating with a marketing broker on his website, designing flyers, business cards, you name it. I really enjoyed it when he’d get a new lead based on what I had done – it was exciting. So it made me think, ‘maybe I could do something like this?’. So, I decided to start teaching myself about the world of digital marketing through online courses, and here we are.

Q2: Did you always want to work in an agency, and if not, why?

It was definitely my aim to work in an agency, especially at this early stage of my career. I think it’s really valuable to be surrounded by multiple professionals that are there for any question, and you can really get an insight of the bigger picture of the industry with varied clients.

Q3: What tips would you give someone who is interested in working for an agency or in marketing?

Find a way to get your foot in the door. You don’t have to have done a marketing degree to work in the industry. If it’s really something you want to do, find a way to get started. For me, this first step was teaching myself through online courses, but there’s other ways too. It’s not going to happen overnight, but showing employers that you have a genuine interest in marketing is a great place to start.

Q4: Tell us an anonymous funny story from your working past?

In my waitressing days, I once spilled an entire glass of cranberry juice onto a man in a white shirt. He was so lovely about it but it still keeps me up at night. Waitressing was definitely not my forte. 

Q5: How has your outlook on marketing grown and developed?

I have come to realise that there really is no strict marketing handbook that we have to follow. I love how new ideas are always encouraged and creative thinking is a powerful asset in this field. Some marketing strategies arise from experimentation and a willingness to push conventional boundaries. I think recognising that marketing solutions are never ‘one-size-fits-all’, makes it even more exciting to work in the industry. 

Q6: What are you most excited about in the world of marketing?

This is hard to answer because I’m still in the honeymoon stage of my marketing career. Pretty much everything about it excites me, I’m relatively new to everything, and really keen to keep getting to know it. I’ll have to keep you updated once we know each other better and the novelty has worn off (if it ever does). 

Q7: Do you have a type of marketing you personally resonate with? 

I find content marketing and user generated content really interesting. When customers like something enough to engage with the brand in a public way, I think that it’s a massive win marketing-wise. My favourite example of this is Spotify’s ‘Spotify Wrapped’ campaign. They have done so well at creating a bite-sized, interactive visual of people’s personal listening trends that people want to share. This is even more valuable because it is a yearly occurrence, so their brand is regularly on people’s social media feeds and it has become a highly anticipated event. 

Q8: Where do you see yourself progressing over the next 5 years?

I’m hoping to maintain a well-rounded view of marketing while continuing to deepen my expertise in SEO and content marketing. I think it’s important to stay versatile, so I’d love to refine my skills and develop a distinct style that can be applied across different areas. Hopefully, a couple of promotions will come along the way too!

Q9: What are some of your proudest achievements/memories since working at Next Chapter? 

I haven’t worked here long, but I’m really proud that I already feel comfortable and part of the team here. It can be hard to be the ‘new girl’, but even after my first week I already felt quite settled. 

Also, I am proud of my first project, I did a client audit. Some of my points were taken to the client, and changes were made based on my suggestions. That was exciting to have an immediate effect. 

Q10: Tell us honestly – what are Charlie Hartley and Daniel Swepson like as managers?

This answer heavily depends on if they offer me a job at the end of my internship. Just kidding (mostly)! 

Update, I got the job! 

I really admire them both. They haven’t had ‘traditional’ paths into marketing and I love that they are open enough to give people like me a chance too. They also never make me feel stupid for peppering them with questions which has helped me learn a lot. 

Q11: What would be your dream client to work with at Next Chapter?

I love the idea of working with a brand like Crocs. They are always a hot topic of conversation – mainly people discussing how ugly they are. However, they are a brand that have embraced the unconventional and leaned into their ‘ugly’ reputation. They became a shoe brand for individuals making a statement, and used celebrities like Justin Beiber to endorse them. They had a massive rise in sales as they resurfaced as a huge trend around 2019, which I find fascinating (I’d like to note I had them way before they were cool – all of my haters now have a pair of their own). 

 Any brand that has a bit of quirkiness to them I really gravitate towards. 

Q12: What industries are you personally interested in?

I love all the stereotypical things that any 20-something is interested in like homeware and fashion. However, I am also very interested in the football industry and their various streams of income from merch to hospitality packages. 

Q13: Just for fun – which 3 people would you invite to your fantasy dinner and why? (Dead or alive, celeb or not, anything goes really)

My childhood hero has to be there – Wayne Rooney. I would love to hear stories about the Manchester United changing room, but also give him a telling off for cheating on his wife while he’s there. 

Princess Diana – I have always admired how outspoken and courageous she was, and I think she’d help me tell Wayne off too. 

Stormzy – I think we’d all get on with him. He’s a Manchester United fan and he also is known for his philanthropy and activism (which Diana would appreciate). A performance from him would be a bonus too. 

Q14: AI is the talk of the town – do you think we are all about to lose our jobs?

I think AI is exciting if it’s used in a way that encourages humans to have more time for creative tasks. Like Joanna Maciejewska says, “I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing, not for AI to do my art and writing so that I can do my laundry and dishes.”

In digital marketing, I think AIcould be really useful for routine and mundane tasks and processes like data entry, giving us more time to focus on creative strategies and other human-centric aspects like talking to clients. Rather than replacing us, I think AI could instead develop into a handy coworker. 

Q15: What would be your specialist subject on Mastermind?

I should probably say philosophy since I studied it for 3 years at university, but I think I’d honestly do better with One Direction trivia.

Q16: If you met someone on their first day working at Next Chapter, what would be your 5 top tips to help them settle in?

1. Talk to people – They’re not as scary as they look and the only way you can learn is by asking questions.

2. Seek out feedback – Even if it’s not always positive, you need to know if you’re doing things right, and you will have more confidence in the future, knowing how to do things.

3. Be honest – If something is taking you way longer than you expected, communicate that to your team. If you don’t understand something – ask . Your team would rather that than be left in the dark about your struggles, and they’re not judging you.

4. Take initiative – Ask to sit in on meetings, show enthusiasm for any task, throw yourself in the deep end, it’s how you learn.

5. Be sociable – Say yes to any social event – they help you build relationships with your team members and they can also be a laugh!

Hannah’s path from intern to SEO and Content Marketing Assistant showcases how Next Chapter nurtures growth and creativity. Her experience reflects the agency’s supportive and collaborative culture, where new ideas are valued and skills are sharpened.

If you’re looking for a strategic marketing agency that’s passionate and proactive, get in touch with Next Chapterto see how we can help elevate your brand.