Five Skills that Successful Marketers Portray
- September 07, 2020
Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
The marketing sector is complex and constantly evolving. This means that staying on top of trends and updates is essential if you want to remain current and ensure your career doesn’t suffer. Websites like Marketing Week, Campaign and The Drum provide useful content on the latest industry updates and you can also sign up to their mailing list to receive bulletins straight to your mailbox.
There are lots of online courses available through the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the IPA as well as free ones through Google
Thinking outside the box
Marketing should be a very creative role that encourages you to try to think of ways to stand out from the crowd and differentiate your products/services. Don’t forget that some of the most successful advertising and marketing campaigns all started with an idea. The Cadbury’s gorilla, the GO Compare tenor and countless other seemingly crazy ideas have all provided to be phenomenally successful so don’t be afraid to push the boundaries and try different approaches to your competitors.
Often ideas come to you when you’re not working, so always try to get them noted down somewhere, the most useful thinking time you have is when your brain is relaxed – hence the way so many people dream up ideas in bed, the shower or commuting to work.
Testing and analysing
A good marketer will always be exploring effectiveness and trying to improve the ROI on their spend. They will analyse campaign performance to enhance their strategy ensuring it’s improved the next time around. They will look to A/B test audiences to see what works best for their brand.
Understand your strengths and weaknesses
There will likely be areas that you excel in, but equally it’s important to recognise your limitations and when to ask colleagues for help. Working with other marketing professionals can not only improve your knowledge but can form a well-rounded marketing campaign. It is healthy to acknowledge that you won’t be fantastic at everything and it’s okay to ask for advice or help with projects. Collaboration is vital and this could be with networking groups, on and offline not just your immediate team. Join relevant groups on LinkedIn and share your experiences and learn from other’s failings!
Keep an eye on your competitors
“Good artists copy, great artists steal.” – Steve Jobs.
Always having an idea of what your competitors are doing. If something has worked well for them you should definitely look at applying a similar method to your campaign with your own twist. Likewise it’s also good to analyse what has gone badly for others to ensure you don’t make the same mistakes! Follow your competitors social media channels and try to ensure you don’t miss opportunities to capitalise when they inevitably get things wrong.
If you’re looking for your next marketing job or would like advice on anything related please get in touch!