Many people feel like they need a degree from a university to be a good marketer. This is completely false. While a university degree can help provide a structured learning process to acquire the skills, it’s not a requirement. Learning how to be a successful marketer can come from experiences gained in the field. It can also be something that people are born with. In the US, there are several paths that you can take to learn what makes a good marketer, and we will provide some direction for your career path. There are a lot of roads to take that don’t include getting a college degree, and are effective in helping you become a solid career marketer.
What makes a good marketer?
A lot of ideas surrounding what makes a good marketer are subjective. There are several thoughts and ideas around this topic. There are a lot of varying opinions, but the bottom line is that there are certain qualities that a person can develop. Anybody can work hard to strengthen their marketing skills and learn how to be a better marketer. Some of these skills include:
1 – Analytical Capacity – it’s a strong skill to be able to look through information to find the important data points and report them in a concise manner
2 – Communication – as in all positions, communication with the client is key to make sure everyone is on the same page
3 – Writing – developing writing skills and knowing how to appeal to the audience helps you be more effective in marketing
4 – Visual Editing – videos and images convey messages, so knowing how to create and edit those will help you be a better marketer.
5 – Creativity – you can stand out when you are unique. This is a huge skill to develop.
6 – Teamwork – Working solo is great, but most of the great marketing plans come from group discussion. Being able to work with a team is a great skill to have.
7 – Curiosity – learning how to wonder if what is created can be improved in any way is helpful. Learning new technologies and being willing to be flexible are important.
These skills came from several CMOs that responded when they are looking for a good marketer, the top qualities they identify. In an article written by cyberclick, it outlined these skills. (https://www.cyberclick.net/numericalblogen/7-qualities-of-a-good-marketer-according-to-cmos)
Start with the Foundation of the Theory
Just like with anything, when you are starting something new you need to focus on the basics. Focusing on the foundation will help you establish the building blocks to grow and figure out what specific content you want to focus on. Learning the basics is similar to when you learn the alphabet, you begin with ABC before being able to move on to finish the rest. As soon as you master the basics and the foundation of the theory, you are then able to branch out and find what you are passionate about. Marketing can provide a wide variety of different career paths. Depending on what type of marketing you want, to the niche you resonate with, your required skillsets will be much different. For example, creating and executing a marketing plan for hotel chains can be very different from doing the same for lawyer marketing services. You need to take the time to figure out where your passion lies, and while doing so get to understand the basics that are consistent regardless of the niche that you choose.
Practice What You Learn, on Your Website
One of the best things you can learn on how to be a better marketer is to immediately implement those things which you are beginning to study. As you gain the knowledge, it’s important to keep those concepts up to date and fresh, you need to do more than just study. Creating and developing your own website will give you a platform to be able to practice. As you develop your website, you can be confident that when you have clients that need similar results, you can be well prepared to provide the services that they need. Once you are able to practice the skill sets you are learning a few times, you will find that it will become easier to do. You will then be able to have a stronger website that you can market, and you’ll be able to replicate that for your future clients!
Choose a Specialization
Something that can be done to learn how to be a successful marketer is to avoid becoming a jack of all trades. Figure out the things that you are drawn to and have a little more passion about and begin to focus on specializing in those things. As you become passionate about your positioning and the skillsets you chose. Instead of being able to do a lot of things pretty well, you can do a couple or a few things at an expert level. This can help you stand out from all of the other marketers due to your specific skillset. From social media to content marketing to email marketing and using mediums from text to graphics to video, there are plenty of options. You may even jump to the leadership route and manage a team of marketers if you take a graduate diploma in project management. Again, focusing on just a couple of areas where you are specialized in not only helps you stand out, it also helps you understand who to approach, and how you can market yourself.
Find a Mentor
Everyone who is great has started from somewhere. Finding a mentor who has been in the positions you are currently in is key to help you learn and grow quicker. If you can develop a relationship with someone who is in a position where you want to go, you will increase the rate of speed to get there. A mentor is someone who has more experience and can help you in your career path. Sometimes it is difficult to find a person to develop that relationship with. If you find it difficult to find a mentor, or feel like hiring someone as an expert is too out of budget. You have other options. Forbes has an amazing article to guide anyone to find, listen to, and read leading experts’ books. (https://www.forbes.com/sites/henrydevries/2018/03/07/how-to-find-a-marketing-mentor/?sh=6bfbba2b361b). You can take advantage of their expertise and experience through books.
Try to get into a Marketing Agency or Freelance
One way for you to get great experience is to freelance or get a full-time job. If you want to get in-depth with a specific company in a niche or industry you are interested in. Learning while on the job can be helpful while you work on your own website and other marketing things on the side. If you would rather not get a full-time job, there are several opportunities and places where you can do freelance work. Presenting yourself and your abilities to small businesses can be another way for you to get the experience that you need. As you get a variety of clients, you will learn a broader range of niches and the different nuances for marketing.
Stay Updated
There are so many constants that happen in marketing. There are even more trends that come and go. It’s important for you to stay relevant and keep your clients happy to learn these new trends. If you don’t have clients yet, it’s important to stay relevant so you can build up your client base. Some of the trends that may happen that you need to be aware of:
Technology – There is always a new trend and new updates
Influencers – Influencer marketing continues to grow, and needs to be considered
Strategy – Higher strategy continues to climb higher and needs to be aware of
Digital Jobs – Digital jobs continue to grow, and will continue to grow
Less is more – simplification is key to capture the target audience’s attention
There are other things to keep in mind, but these five areas are major trends that will assist you to continue forward with marketing.
Conclusion
A handful of key things are available to you that can establish you as a successful marketer. If you learn the foundation and begin to implement those things right away, that can be one of the best approaches to starting this new career. Get experiences whether a full-time job or by freelancing. As you are doing this, pick one or two areas to focus on and become an expert in. You don’t need to know a little bit about everything, figure out those few areas you are passionate about and focus on those. Get a mentor or an expert to listen to and get ideas on how to move forward as you are growing and progressing in your marketing career. As you begin to do this, and if you can stay constant in doing it, you can also begin to develop successful strategies to succeed in your marketing career!
Description: There is a wide range of marketing pathways. Becoming a successful marketer takes humility and a willingness to learn and grow. Focusing on a few key things can ensure your marketing career success.
