We all know how the saying goes. Sometimes things fall into your lap when you least expect it. As cliché as it sounds, the timing for an internship opportunity at Thruline was unexpected. In October, I was serving as the Vice President of the Journalism Student Ambassador Program at KU. I received an email from our recruiter about an internship opportunity. The position’s duties included watching videos to gain insight on users’ interactions on the site. I have always had a passion for research and learning, so I found this position to be very interesting.

At the time, I was interning with KU Athletics, serving at a restaurant in Lawrence and attending classes full-time. I did not need to add something else to my plate, but I could not let this opportunity go. I had a phone interview, which eventually led to an interview in the office. The rest is pretty much history. Like most interns, I entered the office bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with the hopes to learn and gain as much experience as possible. As I near graduation in December, I thought it would be a good time to share what I have learned.

What I Have Learned As A Website Marketing Intern

I have had the opportunity to work as a Website Marketing Intern with Thruline's internal sites. This position has allowed me to learn who our users are as people. I have set up pop-up poll questions on the site to find out information about our users like where they are in the decision-making process and what interests them. Demographics are usually included as well, but I have been able to dig deeper to determine what motivates them. This position also introduced me to the basic concepts of SEO and link-building as well as the importance of backlinks and keywords. I have researched our competitors to recognize and understand what we can do better. Recently, I have been working on projects to improve site content and help with inbound marketing efforts. Most importantly though, Thruline has given me real-world experience. I have learned more about the marketing industry, but also what it is like to work in an office. Let’s not forget about the fun team-building events I have been a part of or all the free food I have eaten. The perks are great, but I am most grateful for all the knowledge I have attained from my time as an intern with the internal website marketing team.