Brafton’s internal marketing team – us writers and editors on Brafton.com – focus our efforts showcasing the great work that’s happening around us. This includes our customers’ successes, the latest products our developers are testing and the creative talents of our client-facing teams.
There’s something absolutely rewarding about sharing our company’s successes, but for this edition of our Employee Spotlight, we’re getting a little meta and featuring a content producer who we’re happy to have working on our strategy: Marketing Writer Ben Silverman.
You’ve seen his face on Brafton.com. You’ve read this marketing insights. Ben’s no stranger to writing, but it’s surprising to some that his background isn’t particularly in content – but instead, music. He was a self-designed music and writing hybrid major at the University of Massachusetts and went on to develop a marketing background writing reviews and blog content for musicians.
“It’s surprisingly refreshing to write about marketing,” Ben said. “I get to come up with theories about marketing trends and technology, and then research or interview experts to prove myself right or wrong.”
And while you’ll likely hear him drum soloing with pencils at his desk, his love for music remains top priority after work hours (or, as we’ve dubbed it, #Brafterhours.)
“I’m still obsessed with playing, recording and listening to music. I’ve played in a few bands over the years, and now I’m playing in one in Boston. I record songs in my studio and usually force myself to write and record a couple tunes a week.” Check out Ben’s band, Bulldog, on Facebook.
Learn more about Ben in our Brafton Q&A:
Q: As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Driving a dump truck seemed pretty rad when I was 3.
Q: What are some of your favorite aspects of working on an internal marketing team for a content marketing agency?
It’s exciting, but nerve-racking (but awesome and invigorating) to do marketing for a company that helps other companies with marketing. It means everything has to be up-to-date, and exemplary. So far I’ve felt unbelievably comfortable with the support and help I get from my team.
Q: Biggest thing you’ve learned so far? Anything you were surprised by?
Professional, concise, researched-based writing is an art. It’s been amazing to realize how many hours of research, writing and editing goes into one minute’s worth of reading in the finished product (not to mention the time afterwards analyzing the performance and making improvements for next time).
Q: What is your most treasured possession?
If I lost my harddrive, I would be crushed. It’s got hundreds of hours of my musical works-in-progress, unreleased recordings, bootlegs of live shows and some soon-to-be music video footage. I should really do a backup. Maybe this weekend…
Also I love my dogs. Are dogs possessions?
I have some pretty cool guitars too.
Q: Which day of the work week are you the most productive?
Monday (between around 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.). Caffeine has kicked in by then, but I haven’t overcaffeinated yet.
Q: What do you value most in a job? What’s your favorite aspect of Brafton?
I love that I can 100 percent trust my coworkers to offer amazing creative input. Everybody here is an expert in their line of work and always seems to want to offer help and insight. People seem to enjoy their jobs.
The standards are exceptionally high, the edits to my writing are intense, and my team is filled with absolute pros. Being surrounded by such dedicated writers and editors is the best thing that could have happened to my writing.
Q: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
When I was a funny looking 9-year-old, I acted in a toy commercial on TV. Still trying to top that.
Q: Have any “hidden talents”?
I’m a pretty decent ping pong player.
Q: If Brafton were a TV show, which character – from any sitcom, drama or reality show (of any time period) – would represent you?
It turns out I have more in common with Spongebob than I thought. My clothing style is extremely limited, I generally avoid anchovies, I have an annoying laugh, and my job satisfaction is high.
Interested in working at Brafton? We’re hiring! Check out our job opportunities.
