A Marketer can be seen as the driving force of a company. The bridge between a business and a customer or even the other way round. We all think we’re a Marketing Genius but it’s important to know whether we do in fact have the 7 key skills of an effective Marketer.
- Adaptable
Marketing is an ever evolving environment. You need to be able to adapt and change, and be the person who doesn’t mind being kept on their toes. There are always new techniques and strategies emerging and you need to be confident you can keep up with them. If you can’t, how can you expect the business to grow and develop? You may even need to broaden the horizon, apply your skills in other departments. You’re the Marketing Guru – show the IT department how to be improve!
- Communication Skills
Marketers are always talking to someone. Whether it’s expressing an idea or strategy within the business or discussing options with a customer. Clear communication is key. And that doesn’t mean just talking, you need to listen as well. An effective Marketer will understand the difference between the desk next door, the client and the managing director which means it’s important to show that respect through everything you do. Maybe even crack a joke every now and again – humour can be the key to good communication skills.
- People Skills
Your job requires a large volume of interaction with others and you want to make sure that you’re charismatic as well as effective. Essentially, good people skills will only benefit you as a Marketer. Try and build stronger relationships with clients, create a friendlier working environment and drive your company to the forefront of marketing. A Marketer that can’t interact with people will fundamentally fail.
- Problem Solver
A Marketer is going to come face to face with a number of problems on a daily basis. These can range from anything as small as a change in a campaign or something as drastic as remapping the current strategy. Everything needs to be tackled effectively with a can-do attitude. You don’t want to become flustered at the first hurdle or overwhelmed with everyday problems. Tackle that sales issue with a clear head, provide solutions with sophistication, work efficiently and quickly. Whatever you do, don’t run around flapping your arms in the air like some headless chicken, it won’t work. Someone that isn’t afraid of challenge and relishes the opportunity will be an asset to the team.
- Creative
Businesses are beginning to realise the importance of creativity and creative engagement. Audiences are much more likely to remain engaged with creative content than with boring and mundane information shared in plain text. As a result, effective Marketers have started approaching their job roles as entertainers and viewing the challenge of promoting content in the most interesting way possible. Their ability to build brand awareness is seen as a challenge. If you’re able to think outside the box or provide a new strategy no-one had thought of, then people will start listening to you and value your ideas. Embrace your creativity, your flare and allow your personality to show – after all, that’s what customers want.
- Coordinated
Organisational skills are paramount. If you can’t be organised how can you be expected to coordinate campaigns and social media? Coordination, sometimes an underrated skill, is the centre of all marketing. Make sure you’re using that company-given diary to keep track of your appointments. Know your marketing schedule like the back of your hand. Ultimately this will only help one person, and that’s you.
- Capable
This is perhaps the most important personality trait you will need as a Marketer. You must be capable of the responsibilities thrust upon you. It’s one thing to be organised and it’s another to be creative but today’s marketing world can mean a variety of responsibilities within one job title. In some places you can be expected to blog, manage social media publishing and monitoring, maintain the website, deal with emails, be involved with product marketing and help with sales. That doesn’t include building a good relationship with IT and Sales or even becoming Tech Savvy in order to analyse the quality of your own work.
This can seem like a lot to expect from one person, and it is, but there’s nothing to stop you from becoming the Ultimate Marketing Guru with a little effort.
