How I Found My Passion for Advertising (And 5 Resources That Helped Guide Me)
If you had told my high school self that a personality test would shape my career, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. But that’s exactly what happened. I was sitting in class, answering a bunch of questions about my interests, strengths, and work style, and the results suggested I’d thrive in the advertising industry. At first, I didn’t think much of it- but looking back, it makes perfect sense.
Why Advertising Clicked for Me
I’ve always been curious about what makes people tick, why we’re drawn to certain brands, why some ads stick with us, and why others leave our minds the second after we see them.
The more I learned about the advertising industry, the more I saw it as a creative outlet with the ability to have a real-world impact. Advertising is understanding people and giving them what they want...sometimes before they even know they want it.
College only reinforced that passion. I fell in love with courses on consumer behavior, branding/packaging, and digital marketing. I also realized I was pretty good at it, whether it was creating campaign strategies, analyzing audiences, or creating brand aesthetics. Advertising felt like a perfect mix of logic and creativity, which made it even more exciting for me.
5 Resources That Helped Me Learn Advertising
If you’re interested in advertising, whether as a career or just out of curiosity, here are five online resources that helped me understand the industry, sharpen my skills, and stay inspired:
Ad Age ( For Industry News & Trends)
During one of my courses throughout college, a professor of mine had everyone subscribe to Ad Age to stay in the industry’s loop. If you want to know what’s working in advertising today (and what’s not), their articles break it down with real-world examples from brands like Nike, Apple, and Coca-Cola.
HubSpot’s Blog (For Marketing & Content Strategies)
HubSpot’s Blog is packed with practical marketing tips, including social media strategies, branding advice, and content creation techniques. It’s a great resource for learning how brands successfully connect with their audience, especially as times change in a world that’s primarily online.
Adweek’s Creative 100 List (For Campaign Inspo)
Every year, Adweek highlights the most innovative creatives, brands, and campaigns shaping the advertising industry. It’s a gold mine for inspiration, breakthrough campaigns, viral marketing strategies, and award-winning brand storytelling.
Think with Google (Consumer Insights & Ad Data)
If you’re into consumer psychology, ad performance insights, and marketing trends, Think with Google is a great resource. It provides data-driven reports, case studies, and best practices that brands use to refine their advertising strategies.
Google’s Digital Garage (Free Marketing Courses)
Google’s Digital Garage is a must for anyone looking to learn about SEO, ads, and analytics. It’s free, self-paced, and offers courses on everything from how search engines work to running successful ad campaigns. I used it here and there, throughout my college career to build a stronger understanding of data-driven marketing which is something every advertiser needs.
Final Thoughts
Advertising is about coming up with creative ways to capture attention and drive results. My journey started with a random personality test, but what really hooked me was realizing how much I love figuring out what people want and how to deliver it to them in the best way possible.
If you’re curious about advertising, I hope these resources help you as much as they helped me. And if you’re already in the industry, I’d love to hear what resources helped shape your advertising journey!
Resources
Advertising, marketing, Agency, Tech and Data News | AD AGE. (n.d.). https://adage.com/
Google Digital garage. Google. (n.d.-b). https://skillshop.exceedlms.com/student/catalog/list?category_ids=7879-google-digital-garage
Google. (n.d.-a). Think with google - discover marketing research & digital trends. Google. https://business.google.com/us/think/
Marketing, sales, agency, and Customer Success Content. HubSpot Blog. (n.d.). https://blog.hubspot.com/
Top 100 creative leaders & talent in the advertising industry. Adweek The Creative 100 Category. (n.d.). https://www.adweek.com/category/the-creative-100/
