"Marketing positions don't need any experience."
How many of you marketers have heard this famous remark or have had someone say it to you directly in the face?
I'm sure I've done it before.
Or, even worse, the statement that sticks out the most: "All marketers know how to do is talk."
These stereotypes conjure up pictures of dazzling TV ads and posh-sounding but useless marketing lingo, but they aren't representative of what marketers actually do.
It's a shame, since if you've dabbled in marketing previously or are now working in marketing, you'll know that it's one of the most complex and tough occupations to master.
Indeed, marketing professions have been scientifically demonstrated to be one of the most stressful and technically demanding positions to perform in recent years.
There are solid reasons for this:
· They need a lot of imagination and forethought.
· Marketing is a hugely broad field (according to HubSpot, there are 41 different categories of marketing).
· You can't afford to ignore it because it's one of the few opportunities to communicate with your consumers.
And, as we enter a new year, marketing will only become more complicated, therefore it's only fair that you walk in prepared with the most important abilities.
I've compiled a list of four of the most important marketing talents that everybody, amateur or professional, should possess. Furthermore, leading marketing companies and gurus alike have endorsed these abilities.
Continue reading to learn more about them.
#1 Interpersonal Relationship Skills are No. 1 on the list.
True, the majority of marketing is digital these days, and most activities are conducted online, but it doesn't negate the importance of communication skills; they've just changed.
What exactly do I mean?
For starters, because most communication is now done online, you'll need to come up with new strategies to remain in touch with possible leads for your firm.
Is it through a visually appealing tailored email that includes fresh product updates and special offers? Perhaps an extended membership trial to demonstrate your appreciation?
You see where I'm going with this: in 2022, your customers will demand more connection with their brands than they have in the past. As a result, you must take the initiative to supply it.
And it's not only your customers that need to improve their connection skills; your coworkers are just as important.
Most marketing firms today have many departments that handle various areas of marketing, ranging from SEO to video creation.
To put it another way, all of these branches are interrelated and mutually reliant.
Strong interpersonal interactions with everyone you work with can help you generate higher-quality work, as well as establish a happy and conducive work atmosphere.
#2 Skills in Content Creation (Especially For Short-Form Ones)
We can't talk about marketing experts without mentioning Gary Vee, arguably the most famous marketing personality of all time.
And it just so happens that Vee offers one of the most critical marketing suggestions for 2022: be a master of content development. Especially for stuff that is short and to the point.
Consider this: a person's average attention span is eight seconds. In other words, you only have that much time (or much less) to catch your clients' attention online.
When you consider that every business out there is vying for the same attention span, it's clear that being a master of short-form content development isn't just necessary; it's critical.
Start learning how to make short-form branded content pieces like video snippets, Instagram reels and stories, TikToks, animated cartoons, and other formats in 2022.
Believe me when I say that your audience will appreciate it.
#3 Data Analysis Skills
Data analysis is more than just looking at a lot of reports and figures and attempting to make sense of them; in 2022, data will get more complete, thorough, and difficult to comprehend, necessitating an upgrade in your analytical abilities on your part as a marketer.
Prioritize the following types/forms of analysis:
· Analytical forecasting
· Analysis of Return on Investment
· Recognizing patterns
· Visualization of data
Indeed, if you have strong data analysis abilities, you may glean significant insights from your data and make gradual modifications to your marketing strategies.
Remember, understanding data is only one half of the equation; compressing it into something edible and clear for the rest of your team will be extremely beneficial.
I'll be honest with you: this is arguably one of the most time-consuming talents to learn because it necessitates a great deal of critical thinking. It will, however, pay off in the long term.
#4 Skills in Project Management
Project management is one of the most commonly disregarded talents that a marketer should have, yet it is vital to understand and perfect.
Why is this the case?
Because if a project isn't handled properly, it won't matter how inventive and creative the marketing was, or how promising the new product is; it will still fail.
I've seen a lot of campaigns where the idea was great but the management was terrible, and you can guess which one had the most long-term influence on the project.
Planning is crucial — from goal formulation to job allocation, every aspect of a project should be scrutinized and held accountable — and it's a skill that every marketer should strive to master as soon as feasible.
Furthermore, as I previously stated, marketing now has many different arms, making project management even more crucial to get right in order to assure campaign success.
#5 Technical Expertise
It's the era of marketing automation, so get used to it.
A short Google search will yield results with the most up-to-date marketing automation solutions that can assist with everything from data analysis to content generation.
Imagine that — AI (Artificial Intelligence) technologies are now available!
However, tremendous power (and the most of them are free) comes with enormous responsibility: you must learn how to utilize them. Fast.
Because marketing is evolving at a quicker pace than ever before, firms who fail to maintain their efficiency or velocity of content development will inevitably lag behind their competition.
Fortunately, most of these tools are user-friendly and won't take up much of your time to use — but you'll still need to brush up on your technical skills and include these tools into your marketing arsenal.
Conclusion
To be honest, decent marketing is possible, but great marketing is not.
As a marketer, though, you may better prepare yourself with the abilities needed to execute a successful marketing campaign or effort.
Here are the five most important skills you can begin acquiring right now:
· Relationship-building abilities
· Skills in content production
· Skills in data analysis
· Skills in project management
· Proficiency in technology
What more abilities do you believe a marketer should possess? Please let me know in the comments section below!
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Salty Red Dog Marketing, LLC is a marketing agency in Red Bank, NJ, Westport, CT, and everywhere in between. We service businesses with marketing strategies, digital marketing, social media, and consultations.
Contact: info@saltyreddogmarketing.com
Phone: NJ: (732) 802-6205 // CT: (203) 429-9671