Clancy Clarke is the Head of Marketing & Analytics at Australian design crowdsourcing platforms DesignCrowd and BrandCrowd.
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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?
I started my career in tech support, working for an Australian web hosting company, before advancing to an SEO role. This is where I really found my passion for marketing.
I gained experience working across both agency and inhouse roles before joining Australian design crowdsourcing platforms, DesignCrowd and BrandCrowd. I joined the team seven years ago as an SEO manager before moving to Head of Analytics, then finally progressing to Head of Marketing & Analytics.
Today my key focus areas include SEM, SEO, content, podcast advertising, email marketing and social media, to name a few. I also oversee retention and engagement marketing for our subscription products on BrandCrowd.
2) What does a day in your life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?
My days always start with a simple to-do list, ordering my tasks as “must do” or general priorities for the day.
I keep stock of the recurring analysis and marketing spend daily to see how we’re tracking and organise regular check-ins with my team to make sure they’re all on track and have everything they need from me.
Beyond this, I spend most of my day actively managing marketing channels and running data with the product team. Working for a startup is very hands-on, and a lot of what I do is analysing trends, spend and products to help grow the business.
Some of my daily tasks include:
- Managing social media ads for the BrandCrowd logo maker
- Working with the product team on A/ B test implementation or sharing results and insights from current tests
- Actively working with our email marketing team on new initiatives, campaigns and creative ideas
- Planning and reviewing brand copy with the content team
- Implementing key campaigns and initiatives in partnership with our PR agency
3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?
Absolutely! The flexibility offered in my current role has been a real game changer for me. At the moment, I am working almost exclusively from home, with the occasional visit to the office for meetings.
I have three young kids, so working from home and eliminating the commute has really helped me be more active with my kids throughout the day. It also gives me the flexibility to attend school events or doctors appointments with my children without it being a hassle to travel home from work early.
4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?
I believe work-life balance is all about being conscious of your priorities and identifying when you’re tipping the balance more towards work.
Obviously there are periods where work needs to take a priority position in life but my family, along with my physical health and mental wellness, are the top three things that I will always prioritise over work.
Not just because these are important to me personally, but because without them, I wouldn’t be the best version of myself when I come to work everyday.
5) In the past 12 months, have you started or stopped any routines or habits to change your life?
Something I’ve changed dramatically over the last 12 months is my fitness routine. I used to love going to the gym, but after being at home during lockdowns, I’ve got into the habit of working out during my lunch break or first thing in the evening. This way I am able to incorporate my workout into my day without factoring in the travel time of physically going to the gym.
6) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?
I’d definitely recommend anything by David Mitchell, with The Bone Clocks and Utopia Avenue being real standouts. I love to escape while reading and to feel like the story is taking me somewhere else through the writing. I am a big fan of fiction and think it’s the perfect way to unwind after a long day at work. The Passage Trilogy by Justin Cronin is also a great read.
7) Are there any products, gadgets or apps that you can’t live without?
Without a doubt, I couldn’t live without my noise cancelling headphones and my portable bluetooth speaker. I love that I can just tune out the noise of colleagues in the office or my family when working from home and really focus on the task at hand.
8) If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be?
I’d love to hear about Mike Cannon-Brookes approach to work-life balance. Not only is he leading one of Australia’s most successful tech businesses, but he is also heavily involved in combating global warming and numerous charitable initiatives. And on top of all that, he also has a family with four children. I imagine he’d have some really interesting insights on how to manage work, family and your passions.
9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?
Work is one of the most important parts of your life, and somewhere you spend most of your waking hours. Make sure to choose a career you’re passionate about and pick a company that offers the benefits, and flexibility you need so you can focus on what’s important to you.
Your job creates opportunities for you to do things in your personal life – it is after all how you earn money, so don’t treat it as second fiddle!
In saying that, putting work above all else – no matter how much you love it – will eventually lead you to enjoy work less and no doubt have a negative impact on the other things in your life that are important, so make sure to keep a constant check of your priorities to find your perfect balance. – whether that’s family, friends, health, other hobbies, etc.
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