Still early in his marketing career, Josh Rosenberg has focused on getting as much and as varied experience as he could. He’s ventured from media planning to social media strategy to digital marketing management and used everything he’s learned to launch Rose Media Digital Marketing.

A member of DMCNY’s Marketing Communications and Young Leader committees, Rosenberg is known for bringing energy and enthusiasm to the table. He also is undaunted by anything untried. He’s taught himself everything from social media design and testing to SEO strategies and analytics.

Here, he shares his marketing journey so far, his take on the industry, and what he sees on the horizon.

Why marketing?

In my freshman year of college, I took an enterprise class. The final project was to create a business plan for a start-up company that included financials, projections, branding, and strategic marketing. After I presented my final idea, I realized that I really enjoyed the marketing and sales elements.

I graduated from Roger Williams University with a degree in marketing, knowing that marketing was a perfect match for me; it combined my entrepreneurial spirit, eye for design, and strategic mind.

What has been a key turning point in your career so far?

After countless days of living in an unsettling world during COVID-19, my mom gave me an idea: Why don’t you start your own agency? Starting my own business has always been a goal and a dream of mine. So, in the summer of 2020, I moved away from the crazy fast-paced life of a marketer in New York City to focus on compelling creative and actionable digital marketing strategies for small businesses. The result was Rose Media, a full-service digital marketing agency. My mission is to make the complex simple and deliver honest results without the fluff.

What do you think are the most important qualities for a marketer today?

There are three that stand out most for me:

Personable – Being able to show that you are different in a relatable way is something that marketers strive for and often struggle with. If you look at the most successful brands, they all have a personality behind them and each one is different, yet each brand ties us together.

Inquisitive – Being inquisitive will help motivate you to learn new marketing skills. For example, in today’s digital and now virtual world, you should investigate and learn new technology-related skills as technology continually advances.

Flexible – There will always be unexpected surprises that come your way, especially in marketing. Being able to pivot and be flexible when unexpected change arises can be the difference between success and failure.

What advice would you have given your younger self when entering marketing? 

It’s hard to pick just one so here are two:

• Never say “no” to an opportunity; even if you don’t think it is the perfect fit at this moment, it could open more doors for you than you think.
• Focus on one day at a time instead of the big picture and where you are in your career. Your current path may not be your desired direction a few years later.

What’s the biggest challenge facing data-driven marketing right now?

In my experience working with small businesses, these entrepreneurs just want to know what’s working and what’s not. Not knowing what to measure is usually the biggest challenge, since if you don’t know what you’re looking for, how can you expect to find a solution?

Give one prediction on the future of marketing.

With video calls replacing in-person meetings and social media replacing traditional media, I predict an even greater digital world. I believe that there will be even more digital disruption, especially in industries that have not yet had to fully rely on digital marketing.

What does the future hold for you?

My plan is to keep growing and developing my agency and to fulfill my dream of being a successful digital entrepreneur.

What do you enjoy most about being a member of DMCNY? 

I have been an active member of the DMCNY for about a year now, and it has been one of the best professional development experiences as a young marketer. I have been fortunate enough to meet and connect with other like-minded people. The relationships that I’ve cultivated so far have really helped me build my network.