3 skills you need to be a digital marketer

The recent past has seen a spurt in online marketing efforts by companies of all sizes eager to make full use of the efficiencies offered by the internet, with an unprecedented number of jobs being created in the digital sector. In the last two years, online marketing has created about 1.5 lakh jobs in India alone. The data points to quite a lucrative avenue for people wanting to start their career in the digital domain. Taking into account the Modi government’s Digital India initiative, the scope of digital marketing seems fairly impressive.

While companies all over the world are hiring digital marketers in full swing, reports reveal that recruiters are placing more value on dynamic personalities, self-motivation and excellent communication skills to find the perfect fit for their organisation.

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With all the madness in the digital space, the qualities needed to embark upon a lucrative digital marketing career, as described by Jane Creaner Glen, Head of Recruitment and HR at the Digital Marketing Institute, are always evolving. “I would say it is evolving all the time. A lot of companies are still looking for broad digital marketing skills at the manager and executive levels. Although, as the industry matures, it is separating out more into specific skills areas, such as Content, SEO/SEM, Analytics and Social Media,” she said.

Whether you are thinking of starting your career as a digital marketer, or simply want to excel in your current profile, inculcating these three qualities will help you make the best of the opportunity and future-proof your digital career:

Open to changes

Needless to say, the digital industry is always evolving. There is no set pattern that one can or should follow. That being said, having a flexible approach toward changes and adapting as required by new technologies is the key to succeed in any digital venture. Keeping track of new developments and implementing the same in your strategies to stay ahead of the curve, is one piece of advice that most expert digital marketers would dispense.

For example, Google comes up with major changes in search algorithms almost every year to reward longer form content, with Panda and Penguin being some of the most impactful updates so far. A good digital marketer should embrace such changes and incorporate them in his/her content strategy.

Fast-paced corporates and even startups need employees who can keep pace with the dramatic changes in the industry and are willing to adapt.

Hunger to learn and grow

This is the only quality that will ensure that you keep yourself updated with the latest trends and news of the industry. Employers hiring for a digital marketing profile are not looking for skilled people, but those who share innate passion to learn and grow with the industry. Since digital marketing is still in its developing stage, the need for people who are self-starters and can spend their own time fostering a specialised area is absolutely important for both yourself and your company.

The only way to keep up is to keep reading, and digital marketing blogs such as Marketing Land, Kiss Metrics, Moz Blog and Occam’s razor provide some of the valuable, reliable, compelling and original reads on the subject. The experiences, strategies and case studies shared in such blogs can help you plan and create your own social media strategies and content marketing calendars.

Welcoming suggestions and help

Lastly, it is very important to understand that you can’t do everything alone. There’ll always be some or the other element that you would miss while working on your content and marketing strategy.

For example, a digital marketer of a pop culture brand might not be able to keep track of all popular TV shows, songs, movies and so on, all by himself. Thus, being open to suggestions, help and feedback is the best way to ensure that you are working towards the betterment of the company, instead of focusing on individual goals. Getting along with the team is the key to achieving productivity and overall success.

Think you have these qualities to thrive in a digital career? Kick start your career with a positive mindset and embrace the aforementioned tips.