As a media planner, Tyran is responsible for identifying the best media platforms for clients to advertise their brands or products. In this article, he shares his story.

Tyran is a media planner at a digital marketing agency based in Johannesburg. We spoke to him to find out more about the day-to-day life of a media professional and why he loves his job.

“I first learnt about digital marketing when I moved to Cape Town and decided to study an online marketing course through the University of Cape Town and GetSmarter,” Tyran tells us. Upon completing his course, Tyran interned at a few publishing agencies in Cape Town and eventually became a digital copywriter. However, Tyran wanted to move into the media industry, and so registered for a few free Google courses. “After completing the online courses I was certified in Google Adwords and Google Analytics and began working for a digital agency.”

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Since then, Tyran has worked for various digital agencies where he has had the opportunity to work for clients across a board spectrum of industries, including e-commerce and finance. “After 2.5 years of working with a finance client, I decided it was time to move on to something else. I began talks with a few digital agencies where my offer was to head up a media department. Gorilla Creative Media offered the best opportunity for growth and I could improve my skill set with clients in FMCG and social media,” Tyran says.

“So here I am, 6 months later, with a funky agency that is growing and working with awesome FMCG clients where I assist with media development.” 

Media planners are responsible for identifying the best media platforms for clients to advertise their brands or products. They have the opportunity to work in advertising agencies, media planning or buying agencies where they maximize their client’s impact of their advertising campaigns through a range of media. “With the help of other departments, I strategically place advertising by using tools and insights gathered from both primary- and secondary data sources and the knowledge I have built up over the years. This ensures that an awesome marketing idea is executed to the right consumer; making the client and campaign successful, and the consumer happy.”

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What does Tyran love most about his job? “The people and the challenges I am faced with,” he says. “The people in the industry all come from creative backgrounds and have varying skill sets which marries up to how I approach my work. It gives us all different creative perspectives to solving challenges and executing awesome marketing campaigns,” he adds.

People who want to get into digital marketing need to start off by studying to ensure they have some understanding of digital advertising, Tyran advises. “Register for Google’s free online courses,” he suggests. To gain some experience, he suggests interning “because nothing else can prepare you for the industry.

“Industry experts will share everything they can with you so you will never stop learning,” he continues. “Treat yourself like sponge and soak up as much as you can because once you’re in, the challenges will make you better at your job and give you real purpose for what you do.

“Be an extravert,” Tyran concludes.

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