Toni Scott is a multimedia sales executive for trusted community titles the Cornish & Devon Post, Cornish Times and the Voice.
Based in Liskeard having relocated from the East Midlands, she joined the company in 2022. Here she discusses her role and the enjoyment she gets from building links in the local community.
What are the main responsibilities in your role?
I am responsible for maintaining and generating advertising client relationships. I provide options for multimedia advertising, across our print and digital formats. This could include native advertising, whereby the customers pays for an advertorial article which is posted on our website and shared on social media, which can engage readers who get their news online.
If a client wants a larger digital presence they may pay for a homepage takeover, whereby they buy all the advertising slots on the main page of the website to have the maximum impact. We are very community focused so we offer customers the chance to appear in print and online in line with big local events like carnivals or agricultural shows, all of which bring people together. I am also in contact with customers about payment.
Which jobs did you have before you joined the company?
In my career I have worked in retail and was an early years nursery practitioner. Prior to joining the business I worked in an admin accounts role for a leading bank, based in Northampton. My partner lived in Cornwall so I wanted to move down here.
What was the appeal of joining Tindle?
My manager Sabrina Giddy influenced me in joining the company as when I spoke with her she explained how sociable the group was, so I wanted to try a new career move. I like talking to people and I like being able to build links in the community.
What is a typical working day in your role?
I canvass advertising customers each day, mainly in my primary area of Launceston, reaching out to lapsed and new clients. If there are incoming leads I contact them to see which kinds of advertising options could work for them. We forward plan, so for Christmas for example we are working from September onwards, speaking to people to see where they would like to advertise. We generally plan a couple of months in advance. If there is an editorial story to follow up the approaches to clients may be more spur of the moment to see if they want to put some adverts in to run alongside news.
Which colleagues do you interact with the most in your working day?
As well as the sales team, I speak with editorial colleagues a lot to discuss what is going on locally. I also interact with the accounts team and the digital team on a daily basis. The digital colleagues help with analytics to allow me to see how each campaign is doing, which informs decision making, allowing us to help the clients with feedback on performance.
What do you enjoy about working for Tindle?
I like the team I work with. I like being able to get to know people and getting involved in the community. It feels nice to be part of the local community as there is a lot of spirit here. Everybody has been welcoming, which was different to where I worked before.
How do you use digital in your role?
Prior to joining I did not have much digital knowledge. It has been interesting to build up an understanding of digital marketing and what works for different types of businesses. What works for one type of business may not work for other so we look at how to include different aspects like social media. I have built up my analytical skills through using digital marketing.
What are your interests outside of work?
I enjoy playing video games and I play the bass guitar. I have music qualifications but nowadays it is more of a hobby so I play pop and metal.