The number of marketing specialists and research analysts will increase more than 23% by 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s an exciting time to be a marketer, but how do you stand out? As tech booms at a bewildering pace, you’ll need to propel your creativity with an analytical eye. To excel in the marketing space and advance your career, remember that data is dynamic. Search engine algorithms are like chameleons, and upgrades to social platforms pop up like daisies. Which skills will you need to be a rock-star marketer and keep up with today’s rapidly changing landscape? Survive and thrive with these five marketing skills:
Digital Savvy:
Digital savvy is first of the top five marketing skills. Simply put, without good data, you won’t have good marketing. Data driven content capitalizes on tangible facts to tackle challenges. And the digital train isn’t slowing down anytime soon, so you might as well hop on board. Analyze weekly traffic to social media platforms. Pay attention to trends on your website. Learn SEO. These pieces will help you grasp consumer behavior and maintain your brand online. Harness the data and let the digital train drive your strategy. Then, track specific results to beef up your resume or wow your boss.
- Resource to do it: Lynda SEO Training
Write well:
Be a master storyteller. As a marketer, you’re the voice of your business, and responsible for building consumer trust to generate ROI. Creating valuable, original and thought provoking content is like welcoming a guest into your home on a cold day. It attracts your audience and invites them to stay. If you struggle with finding the right words to fill a blank page, polish this skill though practice. Writing is like a sport, and you’ll only get better if you train.
- Resource to do it: Everybody Writes by Anne Handley
Embrace Imagery:
90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual, and 93% of all communication is nonverbal. Humans are clearly visual beings, so use it to your advantage. Stunning imagery and compelling aesthetics elevate your brand when used correctly. Optimize visuals to make yourself more marketable. Take a photography class or online course in Photoshop to sharpen your creative toolbox. Good visuals turn curious admirers into customers. When your images hook and hold your audience’s attention, your brand will stand out, and so will you.
- Resource to do it: Lynda Photoshop Tutorials
Understand your audience:
Get to know them not just as personas, but as living, breathing human beings. Listen to their problems and find ways to enrich their lives. Once you figure out what makes your audience tick, you can create content that appeals to them. Use Google analytics to gain insight into their habits, interests and online behaviors. Dig deep into their demographics. How do they digest information, and where do they get it? What topics are they interested in that can drive your campaigns?
- Resource to do it: Google Analytics Academy
Build Relationships:
Connect with your coworkers. The best marketers are top-notch communicators that can work with other departments in the company. Learn from colleagues to fully understand how the company works, and brainstorm ideas through collaboration. As a marketer, you need to know your workplace inside-out to represent the face of the company. Strong relationships will help you grow into a bad-ass brand advocate and excel your marketing skills.
- Resource to do it: “8 Ways to Kick-start a Career in Marketing” by Jessica Schaeffer
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