Socium Spotlight: Madeline Johnson

You’ve probably heard us say that people aren’t Socium’s most important asset; the right people are Socium’s most important asset. That’s why we started our Socium Spotlight series, where we shine a light on the diverse and unique personalities that make up the Socium team.

For this month’s Socium Spotlight, we’re excited to feature our Senior Strategist of Paid Media, Madeline Johnson!

What has your time at Socium taught you about the marketing/advertising industry?
The industry is a lot more creative than one may think! In the marketing courses I took in college, I thought so much of it was crunching numbers (which it still is), but I love how there is a psychological aspect to understanding how people work and also an increasingly creative aspect. It’s the perfect balance of rationality and creativity for my brain.

Finish this sentence: “You can learn a lot about Socium by looking at its _____.”
“People” is the obvious answer here! Our team is a great balance of smart people who have their s*** together but are also really funny and laid-back.

What’s the best lifestyle benefit of working at Socium?
I really value the flexibility and autonomy. Since my early days here, I’ve felt trusted to do good work without being micromanaged, and I think that’s one of the things I value most in life. It’s so important to put faith and belief in people. I also love the unlimited PTO and somewhat flexible schedule if you need to have an appointment during the day, etc. I honestly hardly even use that benefit, but I think just knowing I’m in a place where work/life balance is valued and I can take the time and space if I need it is really good for my mental health/happiness.

What did you do before coming to Socium?
I was a Meta Marketing Pro! It’s so funny being on the other side now as someone who works with Meta Marketing Pros. I learned (and taught myself) a lot at that job for my foundation in paid social, but my learning has expanded exponentially since working here.

What did you use to daydream about being when you grew up?
When I was super young, I wanted to be a scientist, and then my goal became to go to Stanford and get a business degree so I could start my own company (I was like 10, lol). Later, I got into writing and journalism, which is what I majored in. I didn’t become a scientist or start my own company (yet), but I learned a lot about myself along the way!

What’s a memorable campaign you’ve worked on with/for a client, and why?
It’s not a specific campaign, but working with the Catbird team has been one of my favorite experiences in my career! We’ve been working hard to develop a creative strategy and beautiful, effective creatives. It’s been such a joy, especially since I’ve actually been able to to experience the fruits of that labor first-hand. The Catbird team puts so much thought and care into everything they do; they have a great pulse on paid media and value our expert opinion and advice. I think that combo makes for an ideal client/agency relationship.

What’s your most memorable client win?
Working with Bonsai Bar! When they first partnered with Socium, they had hardly worked with an agency, so they were still figuring things out. Since then, we’ve been able to scale their revenue by +300% in 6 months by creating a custom strategy that incorporates best practices for paid social and their unique local event-ticketing business model. It’s been so fun working with them because there’s a lot of thoughtfulness and personal anecdotes in our conversations, which have helped me truly understand the mission/voice of the brand (which isn’t how it always goes in this industry). Also, seeing how my work can directly impact their small business makes it even more special for me.

What kind of approach do you take when working with clients?
Collaboration and insight from the client about their brand + goals is crucial! Constant collaboration and thought-sharing from both sides truly make the most successful strategy.

What piece of advice would you offer fellow digital marketers?
Digital marketing is more intuitive than you may think! Trust the numbers, but also listen to your hunches, as they can sometimes help unlock real success, too.

What do you do outside of work?
I love yoga and have been practicing for 6+ years. I also write poetry and love to cook creatively. I generally just love being outside in the sunshine and nature whenever I can, although that can be hard when living in NYC!

What’s something on your bucket list?
Shark dive with Great Whites!

Cats or dogs (or other!)?
I am an animal person, so all are great, but a cat girl at heart <3 I identify on a personal level with cats lol.

If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?
Pay attention to the little callings that you love/and are interested in! Those are the biggest guides to what will fulfill you in life. Oh, and also- interpret your own meaning of what life is about. Don’t take at face value what people tell you it’s about (career, money, success, extremely hard work) We’re all just interpreting the meaning as we go.

Thank you, Madeline, for working with us on this month’s Socium Spotlight!

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