There is a bad habit growing in the marketing sector amongst marketers, project managers, bloggers, and consultants. We keep apologising for not being 'technical'. This notion is extremely destructive to our ability to progress and grow.

1. B r o u g h t t o y o u b y

2. Rosie Watts | Stop Saying Sorry

3. I N A S S O C I A T I O N W I T H :
Rosie Watts
Stop Saying Sorry, Busting The Myth Of The Non Technical Marketer
Apex Ecommerce | Digital Marketing Manager
@wattsrosie

4. “Sorry I haven’t put any make-up on”
“Sorry I’m being annoying”
“Sorry I’m not feeling too good”
“Sorry I made a crap tea”
“Sorry I’m a weirdo”
“Sorry I didn’t hear that”
“Sorry I’ve only got a tenner”
“Sorry you feel so bad”

5. Why?

6. What’s The Problem?
Digital professionals are apologising for not being ‘a technical
marketer’ in meetings, presentations and online.

7. “I’m so sorry, this is such a stupid thing to
ask, but...”

8. Creative
Commercially Savvy
Digitally Literate

9. As a largely self-taught digi-marketer, my #1 fear and frustration
comes from feeling incomplete, inauthentic, or just plain not
good enough to match up with others in the industry.

11. • Video Producer
• Shot Footage
• Edited Footage
• Built Storyboards
• Built client base
• Managed client base
• Website Content
• Account Management
• Onsite SEO Techniques
• Technical SEO
• Digital PR
• Social Media Management
1
3
2
Soon realised I wasn’t made for the film
industry.
Found my place building and positioning
the brand.
Landed a job in Brighton in a SEO agency,
had little to no experience but
understood my transferable skills.
Took a leap of faith. Joined a start-up. No
room for hiding, only growth.
• Everything

12. Running &
Analysing
Data
Feed
Management
Server Side Re-
Directs
Tag Management
Building Audiences
Bid Management
“Just a Marketer,
not a techie”

13. CODE ALLERGY

15. Asking the right questions

16. The Dreaded ‘I Don’t Know’
T h e D a n g e r Z o n e
• Daren’t approach in case faced
with technical q’s
• If must communicate, will talk in
riddles to throw opponent off.

17. Neutralising The Danger Zone
An Understanding of What
Is Possible.

18. • Comfort zone
• No Scary Code
• Somebody else
W h a t w e t h i n k w e n e e d : W h a t w e r e a l l y n e e d :
• Facts
• Truth
• Encouragement
• Time

19. I T
Are you An I or a T?
‘The Specialist’
Depth of
knowledge Depth of
knowledge
Depth of Understanding
‘The communicator’

20. ‘A Nice To Have’ ‘A Must Have’

21. Letting Our Titles Restrict Us
Content Executive
SEO Consultant Paid Search ConsultantAccount Manager
Front End DeveloperPR Consultant Social Media Manager
Back End Developer

22. You don’t need permission or school or an
employer to make yourself an expert, just
commitment.

23. Content Executive
SEO Consultant
Paid Search
Consultant
Account
Manager
Front End Developer
PR Consultant
Social Media Manager
Back End
Developer
M ARK ETING

24. Great Content Is Good
SEO
Great PPC Is
Good Brand
Awareness
Great Social Media Is
Good Content
Great
Development Is
Good PPCGreat SEO Is Good
Development
M ARK ETING
Great Brand
Awareness Is
Good PR
Great PR
Should Be
Engrained Into
The Prior

25. STEP ONE: ACCEPT YOU’RE A BIT OF A NERD

26. STEP TWO: dig deep, find out just what part of your
current skillset is lacking. Why do you call yourself
“non-technical”?

27. STEP THREE: What’s Your track? Where are you
headed?

28. There's more to being technical than just programming skills.
It’s a mind-set. A skillset. An approach. A strategy. A vision.

29. Sorry, Not Sorry.