My experience as a Digital Marketing Intern for APT Solar Solutions!
1. Introductions and First Steps

My first two weeks at the Digital Summer Clinic have been full of learning curves and new faces. My internship partner is Marlena Branham. Marlena and I immediately became friends and scheduled our weekly one-on-one meetings for Mondays. After our initial meeting with Steve, we created a GANT chart and spreadsheets for of our weekly tasks.
Our start-up is APT Solar Solutions (APTSS) founded by Steve Annear and Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti. This company is focused on creating innovative solar lights for landscape design. They enlisted our help to conduct market research and discover who the most favorable distributors are in the industry. Our big focus this week was initial research. We broke the U.S. into four parts. I research the Northeast and South and Marlena researched the West and Midwest but we discovered that there are solar grids that are split between the Western, Eastern and Texas’s grid which is named Electrical Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).
We have met over zoom a couple of times with Steve and just met Mojtaba in this most recent meeting. I appreciate their clear directions for the internship and expectations of us. Marlena and I are still developing a rhythm but I have enjoyed meeting with her on Mondays and then conducting presentations on Tuesday for both APTSS and the Digital Clinic team.
2. Distributor Research and New Website Updates!
My third week at the Clinic was spent researching possible distributors for APTSS and updating my website. SEO search engine websites like MOZ and WordStream helped generate new buzzwords to find solar panel lights designed for landscaping, farms, and residential areas. The issue was that all of the companies I found only distributed their products. Overall, there wasn’t a clear distributor the companies would use. I’d considered common sellers like Amazon or Home Depot but these were not what Mojtaba is looking for. This weekend, Marlena and I will be researching for premium sellers and will report our findings on Tuesday to APTSS.
This week I also revamped my website. I combined two pages of work from my undergraduate degree into one page and added a page about my contract work and past jobs. It was satisfying to see all my undergraduate work in one place. I hadn’t had the chance to add my Figma app prototyping or my Image and Word Capstone piece. Where this site was once a portfolio, it is now an embodiment of my career thus far.
3. Earning my Google Analytics Certification
This past week, I shifted my focus to obtaining the Google Analytics certification required for my internship. On May 30th, I began learning Universal Analytics, only to discover halfway through my training that on July 1st, 2024, all systems would switch over to Google Analytics 4 (GA4). This realization changed my course entirely.
Once I created an account on Skillshop, I searched for the Google Analytics certification but ended up on the “Use Google Analytics for Business” certification module instead. Without realizing it was the wrong certification, I completed the entire module. I located the correct certification and began to study for the exam. While it was frustrating to start over on a new site, I’m grateful for the experience because it gave me a solid understanding of the old system, which helped me feel more integrated with the new GA4 setup.
Skillshop administers the testing for this certification through a 50-question test, requiring a score of 80% (40/50) to pass. On July 2nd, I dedicated several hours to learning about the various parts of the Google Analytics system. I took the exam for the first time that day and scored a 60/100. After taking some time to review the material, I retook the exam the next day and scored an 85%. I also conducted research about distributors for APTSS. Next week we will be moving into creating surveys and reaching out to these companies. This experience required persistence and adaptability. I’m glad to have gained knowledge about this program.

4. Business Insights
Marlena and I have been diligently compiling a list of distributors and initiating contact with them. Originally, our intention was to identify potential partners for APT Solar Solutions. However, our approach has evolved to gathering comprehensive insights into each company’s operations. We’re asking probing questions about their products and market positioning. This research is crucial for understanding our competitors’ strategies and refining our own market approach.
This past week, I attended a Growth Marketing panel at the Digital Clinic where Dawn Verbrigghe, the Founder/CEO of Jottful, stood out as particularly engaging. Jottful specializes in building and maintaining websites for clients, and learning about her business was truly insightful. The key takeaway for me was her expert advice on business growth strategies:
- Harnessing word of mouth
- Driving sales initiatives
- Establishing strategic partnerships
- Leveraging paid advertising
- Implementing content marketing strategies (SEO)
Inspired by these insights, I’m currently planning to establish an LLC for my freelance work and will focus on employing these proven methods to scale and strengthen my business.
5. Cold Calls
This past week was dedicated to reaching out to potential partners in the outdoor solar lighting market. Initially, contacting 24 companies felt like a daunting task, but Marlena and I efficiently divided the list and started with a detailed email containing targeted questions. While we did receive some responses, follow-up phone calls were necessary for most companies. Unfortunately, out of our initial list, 9 companies were not willing to engage in conversation with us, reducing our pool of potential contacts to 15 companies.
It was fascinating to observe the diverse operational approaches of each company. Sometimes, I spoke with individuals directly from store operations, while other times, I engaged with customer service representatives or even senior executives. This diversity provided valuable insights into how different roles contribute to overall business strategies.
Cold calling requires confidence and persistence. Despite initial reluctance from some companies, we successfully engaged with 7 out of our targeted 15 firms, achieving a 46.67% success rate in direct conversations. We left voicemails for the remaining companies and are committed to diligent follow-up.
Looking ahead to Week 7, our focus will shift to analyzing the data gathered and embarking on smart city research. We aim to leverage the insights gained to refine our approach and further expand our network of contacts in the outdoor lighting market.
6. Continued Distributor Outreach
After presenting our data to the APTSS executives this week, we’ve decided to continue expanding our search for distributors. We are following up with companies that have previously shown interest and reaching out to new potential partners. We’ve updated our communication to emphasize our involvement in the solar lighting startup, rather than presenting ourselves as interns conducting research. One company has already expressed interest in a partnership, and we are optimistic about finding additional companies interested in collaborating with us.
7. Interested Distributors and First Steps of our Final Report
This week marked a significant milestone for our team as we completed our distributor research! We were able to add 20 new companies to our list, bringing our total to an impressive 45 potential partners. This achievement not only broadens our network but also opens up exciting opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Marlena and I were thrilled to present our findings to Steve and Mojtaba. Their feedback and insights are invaluable, and we are grateful for their guidance as we navigate this critical phase. One of the most exciting outcomes was an invitation from Greentech Renewable, to visit their facilities. This invitation signifies a genuine interest in exploring how we can work together!
As we look ahead, our final task is to compile our findings into a comprehensive report. This document will serve as a cornerstone for our strategic planning and decision-making. We are aiming to send a rough draft to APT Solar Solutions next Wednesday. This will give us ample time to review and refine the report, incorporating feedback and making necessary adjustments. We have scheduled a meeting on Thursday for final edits and aim to have the polished version ready for submission by Friday.
8. Final Recap of my Internship
Ann Arbor Spark’s Digital Summer Clinic has been an amazing experience this summer! This internship has served as a critical stepping stone into the digital marketing world, enhancing my knowledge, networking skills, and confidence.
One of my favorite things about the internship was reaching out to various companies, which offered a glimpse into the different ways that businesses operate. From speaking with customer service reps at Sol by Sunna to directly connecting with the owner at American Solar Electric, the challenge of adapting our communication strategies was a good challenge!
Another highlight were the in-person meetings at SPARK East, where I had the opportunity to network with other interns and learn about different full-time positions. At Week 7’s meeting, I had the chance to connect with Jamie Ferguson, a panelist from Dominos who works in Retention Media. She agreed to look over my resume and helped me make some key changes in my verbiage and overall look of the resume.
By the end of this internship, Marlena and I have successfully advanced APTSS to the next stage of production with our detailed list of 45 potential distributors. In our final report, we recommended that the start-up develops these partnerships further, expand their outreach within the solar lighting community, and enhance their product offerings.