A wise man once said "the quickest way to become an old dog is to stop learning new tricks."
Being four months away from obtaining my college degree I can't tell you how many times people have told me that learning never stops. That education and obtaining knowledge are lifelong processes. Those statements could not be more true.
This applies greatly in the field of marketing. It seems like every new year brings some type of new technology or new proven method that changes the game. By being in such a rapidly evolving industry, we as marketers have no choice but to continue learning and sharpening our skill sets. Especially if we want to continuously add value to our employer.
To be successful, today's modern marketers must have critical marketing skills ranging from content creation and curation to analytics and social media.
But what skills are most desired in such a digital era? Check out the 5 critical marketing skills to have, below.
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1. Data Science and Analytics
With technology comes data. The amount of data that companies have access to is truly mind-boggling. Clients also love to see the data behind their performance, so being able to generate reports on a level they can understand is a big plus. But what can companies really do with this ginormous blob of data?
That's where you come in. To be a true "data scientist" you'll need to be oddly obsessed with mathematics and numbers. If you can add this tool to your marketing tool box, you can be sure that companies will be knocking on your door.
2. Content Marketing
With more and more marketing departments allocating a greater amount of their budget towards content marketing you can be sure that this skill will be a hot commodity in 2016. Gone are the days where you can simply throw a load of money into an advertisement and expect to gain a generous return. It's all about the content. How does the saying go... "Content is King"? Brands have discovered that if they want to remain competitive they must continuously develop a steady stream of lucrative content. Content that will resonate with their audience.
If you can showcase your content marketing skills, you're already steps ahead of the game.
3. HTML, CSS and Other Basic Coding Knowledge
Think about this: Obviously coding knowledge has always been something of need for most companies. But in today's digital era where more than half of Google searches happen on mobile devices, coding professionals are in high demand. Building a mobile responsive website isn't all that easy. Luckily for you there are entire websites like Codeacademy devoted to teaching basic coding skills for FREE.
If you can prove that you have basic HTML and CSS knowledge as a marketer you'll have HR professionals drooling at the thought of hiring you!
4. Social Media Management
92 percent of marketers believe that social media is important to their business. It seems like every other year a new social network pops up. Conduct some research. There are multiple social media management platforms such as Hootsuite and Sprout Social that are fairly simple and fun to use! Check out 8 Incredible Features of Sprout Social (And How to Try Them).
Sharpening your social media skills will not only make you valuable to your organization but also allow you to stay ahead of the curve since this field is constantly changing.
5. Soft Skills
I think this one goes without saying. Soft skills are incredibly important today. Especially on the agency side of the world, be sure to be constantly assessing and improving your soft skills. Good communication, friendliness, and coachability makes you a great co-worker.
If there is one thing that I have learned in recent years its that learning in and of itself is a lifelong process. In today's competitive marketplace, if you want to continuously add value to your team and employer, you must always continue to critique and improve your skill set.
