There are a whole host of reasons why so many people go into marketing careers.
Because it’s a growing industry, marketing positions exude job security, opportunities, and enticing salaries. Whatever position you obtain, a career in marketing can really pay off and help you climb up the ladder.
With a huge demand for marketing professionals, the idea of going into this field yourself may be appealing. Whether your aim is to work for an existing agency or you like the idea of going solo and becoming a freelancer, there are certain skills you must possess to gain any chance of success in this field. Because the industry is so competitive, you’ll need to stand out from the crowd. Therefore, developing the skills below can help you get ahead and into the role you’ve always dreamed of.
Expert Knowledge
To have any chance of success in marketing, learning about the different marketing roles should be your first step. Hire People have a guide explaining the different roles of a marketer. They are the UK’s leading recruitment services company who go into detail on the roles in marketing, and the question on everyone’s lips – what does a marketer do?
When applying for marketing roles, having a solid idea of what type of position interests you most is key. You don’t want to start the job and find it isn’t where your talents lie. Therefore, brushing up on your knowledge of marketing and knowing the ins and outs is essential.
Effective Communication
When working on marketing strategies, effective communication is vital. You’ll need to engage with your team and clients, so everyone knows where they stand. Should communication lines blur, this can cause projects to derail, which is something you definitely want to avoid.
If you opt to go freelance, you will need to keep in communication with your clients from start to finish. You’ll be given briefs that must be strictly adhered to. If a client has a question, it’s your job to respond immediately and keep them in the know.
Problem-Solving
Marketing is all about delivering messages that resonate with your target audience. For this to happen, you need to be prepared for problems along the way, especially if you go into data. Should any problems arise, you’ll need to come up with innovative solutions to fix them.
When problems strike, you need to handle the situation in the right manner. Should your stress levels hit the rough, you’re more prone to making mistakes. Understandably, clients won’t be too happy about this! Working through obstacles and overcoming them will help you develop your skills and turn you into a successful marketer.
Time Management
If you’re working on a marketing campaign, you’ll be given a deadline from your client. You must stick to this. For those starting out in marketing, having everything signed, sealed, and delivered to your client on time means everything. Even if you are overrun by an hour, this can harm your reputation and cause clients to go elsewhere.
Once you develop good time management skills, you’ll be able to manage your workload more effectively. This means everything will get completed on time according to urgency. Learning how to prioritise your tasks is a must for any digital marketer.
Leadership
Whether you’re working as part of a team in marketing or freelancing, leadership skills are a huge advantage. In life, taking control and having confidence in your abilities helps you shine and deliver the best work possible. For instance, if you have desires to go into marketing management, you’ll need to be able to hold your own and manage a team of people below you.
Leadership skills don’t come overnight. It will take time to develop them. A good leader is able to bring out the best in their team members, as well as motivate and inspire them to achieve the shared goal. Because you will be held accountable for your team’s actions in the long run, you need to keep focused from beginning to end.
Teamwork
Following on from leadership, anyone working in marketing needs to master the art of teamwork. If you work for a marketing agency, then chances are you’ll need to come together with others to work on projects. Of course, everyone has different thoughts and opinions, so you’ll need to take them on board and be open-minded to changes and how others do things.
When working on a marketing campaign, you should all have the same goal in mind – for it to be a success and drive as much brand awareness as possible. For this to happen, communicating effectively and identifying each other’s strengths and weaknesses is a must.
Data Analytics
Marketing is nothing without measurement. To calculate the success and ROI of a marketing campaign, data analytics is crucial. If you love all things data and numbers, going into this field may be perfect for you. Being comfortable working with data from numerous resources and campaigns, as well as determining what is relevant and what is not can help when it comes to making decisions.
To thrive in data analytics, attention to detail is essential. One tiny error can lead to catastrophic consequences. When you factor in how much time, money and effort is put into a marketing campaign, you don’t want a slight mistake to make everything be worthless. Therefore, those seeking a data analytic role must be experts in studying and evaluating the performance of marketing activities.
Research
To get things right on a marketing campaign, it’s your job to perform thorough research. This helps you identify what actions need to be taken, and what content should be written. Whether you achieve this by looking at rival marketing campaigns or brushing up your knowledge of relevant topics to the services or products your business provides, the more research you undertake, the better.
Once you gather your research and break it down, this can help you establish what type of marketing campaign will be most effective. Make sure you go back to your findings throughout the campaign and track your performance.
Social Media
You’ll have a tough time finding someone who doesn’t have a social media account. We’re a nation of social media lovers after all. Whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, or the ever-popular TikTok, social media has become a core component of marketing. This is because you need to go to the platforms where the most people are. In this case, Facebook is your best bet.
If you want a career in marketing, understanding social media marketing is everything. Learning how to adapt a brand’s voice and messaging to social media will help you connect with your audience authentically.
Adaptability
The marketing field shows no signs of slowing down. With new tools, software and practices always coming onto the market, it’s your job to be in the know of the latest goings-on and trends and adapt accordingly.
A successful marketer will enjoy learning new things and perfecting their craft. If you like a fast-paced environment and are always open to expanding your knowledge, being able to adapt to new technology is favoured by clients.
In a nutshell, a marketer’s role is to explain a business and its products or services to the general public. From monitoring market trends to creating advertising campaigns, to succeeding in marketing, possessing all the key skills listed above is imperative.
