Several important qualities in digital marketing cannot be acquired in a short period of time; instead, they are either naturally present or developed through extensive effort and experience. We will now discuss nine essential soft skills that are necessary to advance your career in digital marketing. If you currently lack these skills, do not be disheartened; we will offer guidance on how to nurture and develop them gradually.
1. Intuition
It’s possible that you might believe that either you naturally have intuition or you don’t. However, there is nothing to worry about because intuition can actually be developed through experience!
As a marketer, you may not always possess the necessary data. When the information required to back up your decisions is missing, you frequently have to rely on your instincts. In such scenarios, it is unhelpful to be afraid of the uncertainty; instead, you should have faith in your intuition.
When you possess a thorough comprehension of your customers and the industry they belong to, your intuition stops being merely a guess and starts relying on actual knowledge and experience. It is normal for your ideas to fail on occasions, so do not worry. Instead, use those failures as learning opportunities and realize that your intuitive abilities will strengthen with time.
2. Curiosity
Curiosity is an essential quality for digital marketers, rather than just a desirable attribute.
The field of marketing is always evolving, and every digital marketer should have a genuine curiosity and drive to explore and gain knowledge about recent marketing techniques, tools, and strategies.
To illustrate, let’s say you were regarded as a skilled SEO professional in 2018, but if you have not gained any new knowledge or skills since then, your expertise would no longer be considered outstanding in this field. Your understanding would become outdated. This also applies to professionals in content marketing or social media management.
In order to stay informed about the latest marketing news and trends, you can utilize an aggregator AI tool like Feedly (as depicted below). This tool allows you to monitor your preferred online marketing sources, enabling you to allocate ten minutes each day to reading the articles that capture your attention the most.
3. Social & Communication Skills
Humans are inherently social creatures, which implies that we possess various means of communication beyond mere verbal exchanges. In addition to speaking, we rely on non-verbal forms of communication, such as gestures, body language, and our overall outward presentation. It involves having emotional intelligence, which allows us to effectively handle our own reactions and feelings while also being considerate of others.
Having poor social and communication skills while working in a digital marketing team can have disastrous consequences. It is crucial for every member of the team, including those responsible for content marketing, social media, lead generation, product marketing, and design, to collaborate effectively in order to achieve overall objectives.
Not collaborating effectively with others while working on your own will not bring the most favorable outcomes for either you or your organization. Furthermore, as a marketer, it is crucial for you to have strong social skills in order to comprehend how people interact with each other. This understanding will enable you to comprehend the customer experience, encourage active participation, and generate captivating content.
4. Persuasion
In the world of marketing, the main objective is to convince individuals to make a purchase, which is why it is logical for exceptional marketers to possess a strong proficiency in this skill. Being persuasive implies having the capacity to agree with company objectives without sacrificing your own beliefs regarding what is best for the brand.
If you fail in your attempts to persuade, don’t lose hope. Keep in mind that marketing involves trying new things and not all of them will be successful on the first try. When trying to convince others, make sure to rely on logic rather than solely relying on your emotions.
5. Analytical Skills
Having intuition and persuasive abilities is valuable, however, it is also imperative to support your statements with evidence. Utilizing analytics whenever possible can greatly assist in justifying your campaign or strategy.
In the English language, the paragraph can be paraphrased as follows: One’s analytical abilities may include the proficiency to establish and comprehend the results of social media campaigns, lead management systems, Google Analytics 4, and various other software. However, it is also important to possess the skill of interpreting these analytics to produce practical knowledge.
For certain individuals, this skill does not come naturally, so if you struggle in this aspect, it is important to start practicing. You can seek assistance and advice from expert tutorials (such as this one on Excel) or join our webinar with Clark Boyd on data visualization.
6. Get Comfortable with Technology
It is essential for digital marketers to have a strong proficiency in technology as it plays a vital role in their job. Without a thorough grasp of the necessary tools, it would be challenging to effectively execute any digital campaign, particularly considering the wide range of artificial intelligence tools being utilized.
Technology is an integral aspect of digital marketing, encompassing various tools like analytics, social media, Microsoft Office, project collaboration platforms, and more. However, with a multitude of options available, it is essential to determine the specific tools and platforms that will enable you to thrive in your designated role.
To illustrate, imagine you work as a social media marketer. To simplify your tasks and cater to your specific needs, you have the option to utilize various tools such as scheduling, social listening, or content creation. It is crucial to conduct thorough research to identify which tools are most convenient and aligned with your requirements. You can also take advantage of free trials available to explore a platform’s offerings, or read reviews from fellow marketers.
7. Adaptability
Digital marketers who are successful always strive to stay up-to-date in their field. This entails having the capacity to adjust and evolve, even if it entails abandoning or modifying strategies they have relied on for a long time.
The ultimate goal of making any kind of change should be to improve the satisfaction of your customers and potential customers, as their needs can evolve over time. Sticking to the same plans, methods, and beliefs does not benefit marketers or businesses.
Consider the rapid pace at which algorithms, specifically those employed by social media platforms and search engines, evolve. Even a slight adjustment to an algorithm could result in your content dropping from the top spot on Google to the second page almost instantaneously. Alternatively, an infographic that you previously utilized to drive traffic might be given less priority compared to video content.
To effectively grow and adapt, it is important to have an open mindset and be ready to let go of what you think you already know. Embrace the possibility of making mistakes, but be sure to take valuable lessons from them. Instead of fearing change or unfamiliar experiences, embrace them with enthusiasm and continue to progress.
8. Multitasking
It is highly unlikely for digital marketers to work on only one project simultaneously. This profession requires the ability to multitask effectively, so it is essential to enhance your abilities in this aspect.
A lot of marketers have multiple roles, particularly in small teams, where they need to have skills in various areas. For instance, you may start your day by working on social media content for the entire week, and later in the day, you might have to examine customer data in order to divide the audience for a new marketing campaign.
Besides being able to multitask, it is crucial to prioritize the essential tasks. Think about what actions will have the most significant effect on the business and begin with those. Additionally, consider effective time management. Reid suggests employing strategies that can help you save and generate time.
9. Creativity
A marketer needs to have creativity to succeed. While the era of “Mad Men” advertising may be in the past, it is still crucial to effectively connect with potential customers using imaginative words and visuals. Simply sending any message or using generic stock images is insufficient to set your brand apart from its rivals.
In the online world, there is intense rivalry among content creators, and the key factor that distinguishes between having your content ignored or attracting clicks is exceptional creativity. Enhance your creative skills by generating imaginative ideas and visuals and implementing them effectively.
