The vibrant culture here at Just Media is fueled by the amazing people that we work with. In our Team Spotlight series, we feature a different member of the team, highlighting the individuals that contribute to our culture.
Meet Alastair Winston, Associate Director, Search Marketing.
Podcast Evangelist. Traveler. True Crime Addict.
What is your role at Just Media?
I am responsible for overall client success as it relates to search marketing efforts managed out of the Austin office.
What is your favorite thing about search marketing?
I love the fast-paced, ever-changing environment of search marketing. The way people search and the engines themselves are constantly changing/evolving, which forces you to always be on your toes. I also love the responsiveness of search data. We can make an optimization and see the fruits of our labor come to life instantly at times.
What have you learned & how have you grown at Just Media?
I’ve grown so much in the past four years at Just Media. Growing the office from two people to what it is now has taught me that trusted collaboration takes time to manifest, and once it does the work gets better due to the trust in your team. I’ve also learned the power of office culture can keep you working with great people for a long time in an industry with a lot of turnovers.
How has the agency grown since the early days in Austin?
Looking back to when I started at Just Media, I can’t believe how much we’ve grown. It’s fun to think back to working from home at first, then working in a tiny office in a shared workspace where your office chair would rub up to the person behind you, to where we are now. When we move into our next office later this year, it will be the 4th time we’ve grown out of an office in less than five years.
What does it take to be successful at Just Media?
Bring your passion and curiosity every day and apply it in a team environment. If you do that on a consistent basis, you will be just fine.
What’s your favorite way to spend the weekend?
Now that it’s summer, I love to get outside and explore. I love to travel, but if I’m in town, I’ll usually head to the Greenbelt, or my neighborhood park with my dog Jessie. On weekend nights I love to either catch a show with my friends or nerd out and invite them over to my place for a solid game night. Right now my favorites include, Mafia, Secret Hitler, Settlers of Catan, and King of Tokyo.
What inspires you at Just Media?
My teammates. I feel lucky I get to work with such smart, talented, and passionate individuals. I learn something from my team every day.
What’s your go-to lunch spot around the Austin office?
Definitely Chick-fil-A. Although the search team and I just tried this place nearby called Sushi Junai, which is amazing.
What has been your favorite agency event?
The all-office retreats that I’ve been able to attend have been hands down produced some of the best memories I have. I used to be a DJ, and I’ll never forget late night conversations with the late Dick Reed around what it was like DJ’ing in the ’80s and how things have changed since then. Our long conversations about music, life, and family at agency events made a profound and lasting impact on my career, and as a person. His curious and passionate nature still echo around the agency today and I know his legacy will live on.
Finally, what advice would you give to someone who is just getting their career starting in search marketing?
I would suggest being proactive. There are a ton of great free training resources/certifications you can find online. Before you apply for a job, go study, and get certified in all of the Google specializations. Search marketing can be a hard industry to break into, but if you come to an interview already certified in multiple areas, you will be ahead of the pack.
