Sakelya Cannon

September 28, 2025

Final Mastery

https://sakelya.com/blog/

“From Student to Master: Completing the Digital Marketing Master Program & Unlocking New Opportunities”

By Sakelya Cannon

Sept 28, 2025, 6:00pm EDT

Career and Continuing Growth Plan

Now that I have made it to the end of the Digital Marketing Masters Program, I feel more confident than ever to tackle what’s coming next in my career! My original goal from the PDL timeline was to become a marketing director and eventually work my way up to become a Chief Marketing Officer, but I have learned to push myself to reach new heights and new levels. My new goal is to create a SaaS in my field of expertise as the CEO and use what I’ve learned from the course to market my product. My relationship with emerging technology has grown tremendously. I am now using AI to get work done more efficiently and considering new technology such as AR/VR, marketing innovation, and strategic methods when crafting pitch presentations. I plan to reach 7 figures by the end of 2028. As mentioned before, I still plan on helping new start up companies and Full Sail Alumni with marketing and branding, but I will build up my career first then donate my time with a nonprofit as time permits. My deconstructed steps from the PDL remain the same at this time. I plan to clean up my social media accounts to present myself more professionally. Immediately after graduation, I will have a meeting with the career team to go over my resume and future marketing goals and complete a few marketing certifications, and possibly start an internship to get my foot in the door of this new career change from nursing to marketing!

Mock Interview Experience

My Mock Interview Experience was very rewarding! I was able to get many of my questions answered from interning to just starting head on with a company to the resume questions and answers to deciding to hold off applying for any position until getting fully certified with Google Ads, Analytics, etc. I feel a sense of relief and honored to be a part of such an amazing team! I will take heed of what was taught to me and apply it in my life to become the best digital marketer I can be. 

Overall Experience in the Program

Before taking this course, I was a bit anxious but very eager to start the program! I knew from the start that this was the missing piece I needed to become successful in life. Marketing is needed among every career and I hold the key to a company’s success! Thank you all for being such amazing professors and sharing your knowledge and wisdom to help all students achieve success in their careers. Overall, I have no regrets. I am honored to be in this position and I look forward to accomplishing new goals and reaching new heights. When I was in high school, I got pregnant at the age of 15. My guidance told me to drop out of school and to avoid getting a higher education. Fast forward to today, I am the first in my family to get a Masters degree, start a business, make 6 figures, and move my children to a great neighborhood. Unlike that guidance counselor, Full Sails counselors were much different. They called me past traditional hours to make sure I received the help needed to pass my courses. I will make this school proud and encourage others to attend! 

Thank You!

Sakelya

Cannon, S. (2025). Sakelya in Red Professional Suit: Personal Collection. [Photograph]. Sakelya Cannon.

“Behind the Metrics: What Digital Optimization Taught Me”

Sakelya Cannon

July 27, 2025 11:00pm EDT

Course Reflection

Enrolling in the Digital Analytics and Optimization course at Full Sail University has significantly expanded my knowledge and understanding of its role in digital marketing! Before taking this course, I had very limited knowledge on the subject matter. In fact, I realize I had a basic understanding of the topic as a whole! I feel confident now more than ever due to the real world application assignments and many other assignments I was to study and turn in. I feel as though I can succeed as a successful digital marketer in this field in the workplace. Full Sail University has given me the tools I needed to excel in the areas of digital analytics, SMART Goals, digital optimization planning, social media analytics, AI, and more! 

The Connection

All of the areas I mentioned above align greatly with the previous digital marketing courses I’ve taken. Each course within the program has built upon the last, reinforcing key strategic principles that have shaped me into a stronger and more knowledgeable marketer. These foundational lessons were important in preparing me for this current course, making it easier to grasp the concepts of digital analytics and optimization. This progression has been especially valuable as I developed the digital marketing strategy for my case study company, Pink Shark Music, LLC.

What Else To Learn

Before finalizing the sections of my Digital Marketing Plan, there is so much more I need to focus on and learn! With just a few courses left, I want to make sure I have mastered the legalities when it comes to digital marketing. I understand this is imperative to working in the online world of technology. So many companies are being sued over things that could have been avoided legally. I would also like to dive deeper and learn growth marketing, performance marketing, get better with SEO, email marketing, automation with AI tools, and creating funnels and campaigns! I am very eager to learn these principles and will continue to study outside of the coursework!

“Mastering the Art of Public Relations”

Sakelya Cannon

June 28, 2025

Strategic Internet Public Relations – Mastery

Week 4 Assignment: Mastery Reflection

Part One: Mastery Reflection

Before taking this course, I had very little knowledge on public relations. I never understood the title, purpose, or what exactly a PR professional does for a living. I now know how to master PR and how to effectively apply it professionally. 

PR Foundations

During week one of the course, I learned the foundations of public relations. During this time, I studied the importance of ethics in PR with the The Barcelona Principles. Having ethics in this field is crucial to being a successful PR professional. Understanding common psychological principles as well as handling a crisis are all important topics in PR. 

Newsworthy Events and Press Releases

During week two, I learned how to master newsworthy events and press releases. My Professor, Dr. John Reneski taught me the importance of having goals, tactics, and proper measurement systems. We compared and contrasted new and old systems used by PR and implemented AI in our work to stay competitive in a competitive market. During this week, I also had the pleasure of creating a full press release with my case study company. 

Distribution Strategies

During week 3, Dr. John taught me how to create and implement a PR distribution strategy. This assignment was a bit challenging at first because I’ve never seen a distribution strategy, but with instruction, I was able to successfully learn the ins and outs and apply it with my company. 

PR and Crisis Management 

In week 4, I learned AI techniques using Adobe Firefly. I was able to create a promo instagram story ad using an AI text to image program. I will utilize this same strategy for my own company’s PR strategies. During this week, I also learned the importance of having an amazing Crisis Management team. 

Part Two: Program Final Project Preparation

“From Strategy to Results: Turning New Media Marketing Into Measurable Success”

By Sakelya Cannon Mar 26, 2025, 09:35pm EDT

To develop a successful digital marketing strategy for the final project, it’s essential for me to not only master the concepts from the New Media Marketing course, but also understand how this course connects with the other courses in the digital marketing master’s program and contributes to digital marketing as a whole.

In Full Sail University’s New Media Marketing Course, I studied the roles of the customer, influencer, and fan and even created a full Brand Ambassador Program for my case study company. I also researched and perfected ways to reach customers via social media for these types of partnerships and brand packages. I learned the importance of developing a full plan with defined SMART goals and utilized these goals to choose the perfect individual for the company. This project ties in to all of the previous courses I took within the program! In fact, there is a synergy between them all. 

Measurement Plan: Pink Shark Brand Ambassador Program 

To evaluate the ROI on the brand ambassador chosen for the program, we have decided to use social media insights, Zoho for CRM, Sprouts Social, Google Analytics, Affiliate Links, Finance Reports, UTM link tracking and even using a good ol excel sheet to compare numbers and progress on all social media platforms. 

Tools & Platforms

Google Analytics – track website behavior and conversion goals

UTM Parameters – track brand ambassador performance

Social Media Analytics – (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube)

Zoho CRM/Email Platform – for lead tracking + Constant Contact

Affiliate/Referral Software – track influencer-specific sales links or codes (Refersion, ShareASale)

In Conclusion

In this competitive industry, we must stay on top of new trends and continue to learn and grow in our fields. Marketing is an ever evolving career path and requires ongoing training. Mastering each of the New Media Marketing sections within the coursework and understanding how all of the courses work together will help guide us to be masters in our field and help us to succeed in creating the best digital marketing plan for our final projects!

Feedback from Professor

“From Pixels to Profits: The Art of Digital Design & Usability in Marketing”

By Sakelya Cannon

Mar 2, 2025, 11:00pm EDT

Enrolling in the Digital Design and Usability course has significantly expanded my understanding of its role in digital marketing! Before taking this course, I had limited knowledge of how digital design and usability impact marketing strategies. I initially believed that digital design was primarily about creating visually appealing content, but I’ve come to realize it’s so much more than that! Through structured learning and hands-on practice, I now understand that design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about crafting a seamless user experience that enhances engagement, drives conversions, and ultimately increases revenue for a business.

Learning

This semester we discussed home page analysis, usability testing, mobile design and usability, creating and identifying user tasks, navigation and findability, SEO best practices, and how to craft the perfect AI prompt! 

Home Page Analysis

When you hear someone speaking of digital marketing, the first thing they mention is creating content and A/B testing. Never do you hear someone discussing the importance of the home page of a website. In this course, I learned how crucial it is to analyze the home page. The home page can make or break a business! We must consider the menu, making sure the page isn’t too cluttered, making sure the page has relevant content and that all brand colors, font sizes and typography serves its purpose! Most importantly, we must have a clear Call to Action!

Usability Testing

Usability testing is important to make sure the website is functioning properly! I had no idea the amount of work that goes into testing! Having multiple users familiar with the device would be a perfect candidate for testing. This is very important and allows businesses to see how smoothly a user can navigate through their platform. 

Mobile Design and Usability

Nowadays, more and more people are accessing the world wide web on their smartphones. It’s imperative to have a fully functional website set up with mobile friendly features. This would also include making sure the content shows and load times are fast. Users must stay engaged! If there is an issue on the website, we could easily lose a customer and a sale. 

Creating and Identifying User Tasks

Understanding how users think and interact with our content is important to building a successful business. We must continue to create and then identify user tasks that can accommodate the majority. By doing this, we can ensure other users can have a smooth go round of signing up for a newsletter, opening and reading a blog, making a purchase and more! 

Navigation and Findability

In a busy online world, it is important to have findability and great navigation. This can ensure the users can find what they need quickly. If a user struggle in this area, they are more liel;y to give up and leave the site. I learned we must have simple menus, a nice and structured website, and great searching options to enhance findability. 

SEO Best Practices

After we master everything above, we must not forget the good ol SEO! A well-designed website must be optimized for search engines. I learned so much on SEO best practices and how it can affect client retention. We must use clear headings and improve our metadata. I also learned we must consider those who are disabled. With great SEO, we can reach a greater audience and improve our visibility on Google. 

Best AI Prompt for Digital Design and Usability

At the end of the course, we discussed AI and the importance of creating an effective AI prompt. I learned we must have some expertise in the area to begin with. This information has now helped me to make better prompts and actually get the marketing information I needed! 

Conclusion

In conclusion, learning digital design and usability has made me more confident in my field of marketing. I am now ready to tackle the world and make a huge impact with this knowledge!

“Cracking the Code: Why Understanding Consumer Behavior is the Key to Digital Marketing Success”

By Sakelya Cannon

Feb 2, 2025, 09:26pm EDT

“Sync Your Way to Success: What Every Musician Needs to Know About Licensing”

With the rise in digital platforms, sync licensing has become a hot topic for many musicians looking to land their first sync deal! It's not as easy as you may think. It seems like very few musicians are getting the placement deals while the majority of musicians are going years without seeing a dime! This can be very frustrating. 

Here are seven steps you can take to sync your way to success!

1. Create High-Quality Songs

When it comes to Sync, music must be of its highest quality. Imagine watching a movie at the movie theater and you hear a poorly recorded low quality song. This will cause bad reviews from consumers and bring the box office sales down. To fix this issue, all songs must be fully edited, mixed, and mastered. Both the lyrics and production must be top tier!

2. Make Sure You Have More Branding Than A Can of Paint

Artists of today feel as though they don’t have to worry about branding due to the fact that they have a great voice. News flash! Branding is just as important as having a high quality song. Proper branding sells products and right now, your music is your product. No brand equals no money!

3. Post Consistently Throughout Your Social Medias

Now that you have your branding on point, it’s important to post consistently! Take 15 minutes a day to post on each social media platform or use tools like hootsuite to schedule posts.

4. Create A One-Sheet and Bio

Now its time to set yourself apart from other musicians! Create a One-Sheet and bio that includes your credits. So what is this one-sheet? Its exactly what it says it is…one sheet. A one-sheet is one-sheet that is visually appealing and displays an artist’s key and up to date information. This is usually used as a marketing tool to pitch to industry professionals. This one-sheet will help you to make a strong impression and set you apart from other artists.

5. Build an Email List to pitch to executives

At this time, many musicians would have cold pitched to a music executive and gotten blocked or blacklisted. These artists tend to rush the process. You on the other hand read this blog and are ready to take action! It is now time for you to build your email lists to pitch to executives. This can be very daunting for the busy musician. Use Disco.ac, Mailchimp, Constant Contact, or any other professional site to collect and send emails.

Pink Shark Music, LLC

This is where Pink Shark Music comes in. We specialize in a library of one-stop sample free high quality music ready for brands to make a purchase. We will take the load off your hands while you create in peace. We help musicians of all levels seal licensing deals and make a living with their music. For more information, contact Pinksharkmusic.com and submit your songs.

6. Draft Your Pitch Letters

If you choose to pitch your songs yourself, you must draft a very engaging and compelling pitch letter. This letter will contain your professional photo, bio, credits, one sheet, and some compliments and thank yous!

7. Don’t Give Up!

Lastly, to have success in the sync space, do not give it. You will get 100 No’s before you get 1 Yes. If your song mastered everything mentioned above, you will find a home for your song!

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“Mastery Reflection: Unveiling the Power of Branding and Storytelling for Lasting Impact”

Part One – Reflection

Course Outcome 1 

Students will be able to express the attributes of a brand using concise and engaging language that connects with the target audience in one short paragraph that can be used in a variety of mediums.

Name of the assignment: Three Little Questions

Key Learnings: In this assignment I learned the importance of differentiation between brands by answering three little questions; Who Are You? What Do You Do? Why Does it Matter? While these questions may seem simple to answer, it can become quite challenging when your brand doesn’t have a clear and concise way of expressing itself to its target audience. Answering these questions also works for the quick elevator speech. When you only have seconds to spare when meeting a potential client or introducing yourself to other businesses, mastering this section of the assignment can help tremendously! 

Course Outcome 2

Students will be able to define their brand’s unique voice using human personality traits in a twenty slide digital presentation less than seven minutes in length.

Name of the assignment: Your Company’s Brand Voice 

Key Learnings: With so many businesses out in the world, it is imperative to define our company’s unique brand voice. This unique brand voice will help us to stay competitive in a competitive market. With this assignment, I learned the best way to check a brand’s current voice is to go on over to their website and analyze key words and phrases used. I learned to then take these words and phrases and compare them to a well-known character in a book, movie, or television show whether they are alive or dead. I also learned to master Keynote by creating a Pecha Kucha presentation comparing the brand’s voice to the character chosen. 

Course Outcome 3

Students will be able to produce a brand story in written or digital form no longer than one written page or two minutes in length that can be used on the company’s website.

Name of the assignment: Archetypes & Your Company’s Brand Story

Key Learnings: I learned that brands have what’s called a brand archetype, which helps with defining the tone, behavior, and personality of that specific brand. This archetype will identify the human characteristics of the brand and set them apart from other brands. In class, we learned to use an online analysis tool to identify these traits. I was able to learn each brand archetype and learn how to explain the emotional connection that a brand has so they can be able make an emotional connection with their customers. I created a two minute in length brand story learning tools such as Keynote.

Course Outcome 4

Students will be able to prepare a comprehensive brand strategy no more than fifteen written pages in length that incorporates brand concepts and outside research to support recommendations.

Name of the assignment: Brand Strategy

Key Learnings: I learned to create a compelling fifteen-page written brand strategy using research and other online tools. Creating this paper really taught me so much about branding! I used to think branding was just logos, color schemes, font sizes, and typography but I quickly learned there is so much more to it! This assignment and this course overall have met my expectations!

Part Two – Program Final Project Preparation

“From Hindsight to Insight: How to Reflect on the Past Lessons to Have a  Successful Future in Digital Marketing”