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First Job...Help!!

by Matt31
20 replies
So, I've had this job for the past four months. It's my first job. I'm making entry level-type wages. I feel that my responsibilities as a search engine marketer might go above and beyond the job description. I'm going to list the things I do, and please, can someone tell me if I'm worth more than I'm getting. I make less than $20 an hour.

My responsibilties:

Backlink profile cleanup
Backlinking
Social media
SEO anayltics
All content copywriting (this is my first profession and probably my strongest)
Blog writing
Email communications
Interviewing industry professionals
Marketing discounts, contests, infographics, sponsorships (this includes some design, all the copywriting, and pushing it through on social media)

I am sure there are many who do all these jobs at once, but after looking at job descriptions, they are indeed many different jobs. I am also the only one here doing 90% of these jobs. Am I selling myself short here?

Thanks so much for your advice and help.
#jobhelp
  • Profile picture of the author bmw040
    It depends on where you live. Some areas you could be making a killing!
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    • Profile picture of the author Matt31
      Originally Posted by bmw040 View Post

      It depends on where you live. Some areas you could be making a killing!

      Haha. I live in Canada. Vancouver.
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  • Profile picture of the author bmw040
    Ouch. Not too good then.

    However if you are indeed still just learning, than obtain all the skills and start searching for other related jobs. Your responsibilities list could land you a high paying job if you are proficient in all of them.

    Good Luck!!!
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    • Profile picture of the author Matt31
      Yea. I think you're right. That's pretty much what I thought the best course of action would be. Use this as a springboard for the next job - if the economy holds out . Thanks Brian Wilson! Never discount advice from the Beach Boys.
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  • Profile picture of the author writeaway
    Unless you can produce real results and you don't merely turn around and subcontract your work, less than 20 CD is fine. You have to start somewhere. Instead of focusing on the issue of 'how much you are worth,' maybe you should focus on how much value you give to your clients? When you do this, you'll be amazed at how successful you can get. At the end of the day, it is not about what WE need but how much we can OFFER the world at large.
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    • Profile picture of the author Matt31
      Yea. Well, I wouldn't be thinking about what I was worth unless I did, in fact, feel I provided a valuable service to my employer. I am constantly thinking about how I can improve the company and where it stands in rankings. I check analytics when I am at home, in the morning before I go to work and think about marketing strategies in the shower.

      I don't subcontract my work..... I sit here for more than 8 hours a day and do it.

      I focus on how much I'm worth for a reason Writeaway...
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      • Profile picture of the author David Keith
        Originally Posted by Matt31 View Post

        Yea. Well, I wouldn't be thinking about what I was worth unless I did, in fact, feel I provided a valuable service to my employer. I am constantly thinking about how I can improve the company and where it stands in rankings. I check analytics when I am at home, in the morning before I go to work and think about marketing strategies in the shower.

        I don't subcontract my work..... I sit here for more than 8 hours a day and do it.

        I focus on how much I'm worth for a reason Writeaway...
        you said a lot of stuff regarding working, but your employer pays you with money they make from sales. How effective is all your "work" at producing sales?

        employers are unimpressed with work...work doesn't make anyone any money...sales do...especially when your job is marketing.

        Take this WF for instance....this place is crawling with people "thinking" about making money a lot. Many of them research a ton of stuff. Many of them check stats more than they check on their own children, many of them put long hours into "working". However, the unfortunate reality of marketing is that work doesn't pay...sales pay.

        let talk about how much you have increased the companies profitability, how much sales have increased due to your efforts.....
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  • Profile picture of the author David Keith
    it seems as though you have already decided you are over-worked and underpaid. As an employer myself, most people who have that attitude are usually the opposite.

    as an employer i am more interested in your results than your supposed job titles or responsibilities. that is what makes you worth more or possibly less than you are currently being paid.

    your employer wants sales...you seem to be responsible for online marketing...what kind of results are you bringing in?
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    • Profile picture of the author Matt31
      I have increased social media by over 100%.
      I have increased impressions by thousands.
      I have removed hundreds of horrible links. Still removing..
      Writing copy that gets hundreds of social media interactions....
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      • Profile picture of the author David Keith
        Originally Posted by Matt31 View Post

        I have increased social media by over 100%.
        I have increased impressions by thousands.
        I have removed hundreds of horrible links. Still removing..
        Writing copy that gets hundreds of social media interactions....
        if you want to talk to an employer about more money then that the sort of stuff you need to talk about. Not how hard you are working, but rather how much you are bringing in the way of results.

        my guess is that if you doubled sales and only worked an hour a day, your employer would be fine with that and he would be fine paying you much more per hour.. However working 12 hours a day and not increasing sales is much less impressive...especially when paying by the hour.

        also, social media is cool to increase...but again it dont pay the bills...sales do. As a marketer, its now your job to turn increases in impressions and followers into increases in profits.
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    • Profile picture of the author Matt31
      And dude... this is my first job. I really am not into being attacked this way. My first month here, the company had it's second best month all year.
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      • Profile picture of the author Adie
        Originally Posted by Matt31 View Post

        And dude... this is my first job. I really am not into being attacked this way. My first month here, the company had it's second best month all year.
        Bear with it for the meantime but start looking for some other opportunities while still doing your job properly.
        I was an employee for 10 years and did a great job for my company. I was awarded 4 times as employee of the year. on my 10th year, I started to get tired. I started to look for other jobs while maintaining my good performance. Finally, I was able to get another job that pays almost double. My boss was shocked when I submitted my resignation. No one thought that I wasn't happy with my job anymore. Leaving a good impression in your previous job for me is still important.

        I still gave-up my second job after 2 years and started making money online... so I am here...
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        • Profile picture of the author Matt31
          Thanks guys. Lots of great advice.
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  • Profile picture of the author Matt31
    Yea, you are right David Keith. Thanks for the insight.
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    • Profile picture of the author David Keith
      Originally Posted by Matt31 View Post

      Yea, you are right David Keith. Thanks for the insight.
      certainly not trying to bust your balls man...just speaking from experience.
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      • Profile picture of the author Matt31
        Originally Posted by David Keith View Post

        certainly not trying to bust your balls man...just speaking from experience.
        Yea. No that was some good advice. I just had to stop being so offended. Haha.
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  • Profile picture of the author Matt31
    And no, I haven't decided that I'm over-worked and underpaid. I was unsure if I was over-worked and underpaid. I enjoy what I do, and everybody gets frustrated at times for various reasons. Going on this site and asking for someone to tell me I'm wrong is my way of getting myself back to a rational state of mind. Everyone has their way. I'm happy to make what I make if that's the current market value.
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  • Profile picture of the author David Keith
    and i am certainly not saying your are not underpaid. But realizing that working hard or long is not the goal of a marketer is important. The goal of a person in charge of marketing is simply to increase sales or in some cases branding.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lena Williams
    You are Earning while Learning. It is a great deal. When you will become experienced, you will be easily able to double, may be triple the earning.
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  • Profile picture of the author tomm
    It's very simple to calculate whether your are being underpaid or not. It doesn't matter if you have 3 or 100 responsibilities, you have to think in terms of averages, like:

    How much would you charge an hour of your work in "Backlink profile cleanup"
    How much would you charge an hour of your work in "Social media"
    How much would you charge an hour of your work in "Backlink profile cleanup"
    .
    .
    .
    .

    and so on..

    Then, if any of each responsibility you would charge a lot more than $20 and you're doing a lot of it, % of the time wise, then yes, you are underpaid.. Otherwise, no, you are not underpaid.

    It's not like you are doing all the responsabilities at every minute at the same time. That's why it doesn't matter if you have 3 or 1,000 responsabilities.
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