7 Digital Marketing Skills That Never Go Out of Style
Invest in the individual instead of investing in trends.
In the single shot episodes, Matt will respond to listener questions, comment on past guests, and bring up news beyond the headlines.
In this single shot episode, Matt compares the popularity and emphasis on trends to the skills that are in demand, and have always been in demand. Both employers and job seekers can build powerful, sustainable marketing teams when they focus on the essential skills, rather than the current or “next” tactic.
Direct links to each episode:
Part 1: 7 Digital Marketing Skills that Won’t Go Out of Style
Part 2: 7 Digital Marketing Skills That Won’t Go Out of Style: #1 Media Literacy
Part 3: 7 Digital Marketing Skills That Won’t Go out of Style: #2 Writing
Part 4: 7 Digital Marketing Skills That Won’t Go out of Style: #3 Analytics
Part 5: 7 Digital Marketing Skills That Wont Go Out of Style: #4 User Experience
Part 6: 7 Digital Marketing Skills That Won’t Go Out of Style: #5: Business Acumen
Part 7: 7 Digital Marketing Skills That Won’t Go out of Style: #6: Asking Questions
Part 8: 7 Digital Marketing Skills That Won’t Go Out of Style: #7: Presentation Skills
Show Notes
OMCP Digital Marketing Role Delineation Study
Transcript: 7_Digital_Marketing_Skills_That_ll_Never_go_out_of_Style (txt file)
7 Digital Marketing Skills That’ll Never Go Out of Style
The Never-Ending Quest for Trends:
The digital marketing landscape is inundated with prophecies about upcoming trends every year. We are constantly bombarded with articles and predictions, placing immense pressure on marketers to stay ahead of these trends. However, in this episode, I challenge the notion of trend-chasing and emphasize the importance of focusing on skills that withstand the test of time.
Tactics versus Strategy:
In digital marketing, it’s easy to get caught up in the latest tactics and channels. We often prioritize learning how to use a particular platform or creating viral content, but overlook the essential skills that underpin these activities. Building an audience, for instance, requires a deep understanding of strategic planning, audience targeting, messaging, and measurement, rather than just knowing how to make a social media post.
The Skill of Learning:
In today’s fast-paced digital world, job postings and media often emphasize proficiency in the latest tactics, creating a sense of urgency and FOMO (fear of missing out). However, what truly sets a marketer apart is the skill of learning. With experience and a solid foundation of knowledge, marketers can adapt to any situation, synthesize new information, and apply it strategically. This skill of learning enables marketers to navigate the constantly changing digital landscape with confidence and agility.
The Widening Skills Gap:
Despite the industry’s obsession with the latest trends, recent surveys and studies reveal a widening gap between the skills that employers need and the skills possessed by digital marketing professionals. This gap is not only evident in the job market but also in education systems. Our education curriculum is only beginning to embrace digital and media literacy, while still relying on outdated content and tactics.
Emphasizing Sustainable Skills:
To bridge this skills gap, we need to shift our focus from short-lived tactics to enduring skills. By learning fundamental strategies and concepts, marketers can cultivate sustainable businesses, create profitable campaigns, and develop resilient teams. Courses that explore learning models, theories, and structured instructional design can provide valuable insights into the skills that truly matter.
The OMCP Study: Unveiling Marketers’ Priorities:
A fascinating study by the Online Marketing Certified Professional (OMCP) organization sheds light on how digital marketing professionals spend their time. Surprisingly, only a tiny portion (10% or less) is dedicated to tactical discipline-related tasks. Instead, a significant chunk of their time is devoted to presenting and communicating strategies (25%) and traditional marketing activities (20%). This finding reinforces the idea that soft skills, such as communication and strategy, are as crucial as hard skills in the digital marketing realm.
Skills Gaps and Soft Skills in Demand:
According to the OMCP study and LinkedIn’s Global Talent Trends report, there are several identified skills gaps in the industry. These include customer experience, marketing and sales collaboration, understanding the campaign stack, team management, and analysis. Both reports also highlight the demand for soft skills such as persuasion, data-driven decision-making, writing, traditional marketing knowledge, and creating tactics from strategy. This reaffirms the significance of these human skills in cultivating successful marketing campaigns.
What Now?
Digital marketing skills focused on strategy, communication, and learning are the true foundations of success in this dynamic field. In a world obsessed with chasing trends, it is crucial to cultivate skills that stand the test of time. By valuing soft skills and investing in continuous learning, marketers can adapt to the ever-changing digital landscape, create sustainable businesses, and become true industry leaders.
Remember, dear marketers, trends may come and go, but the skills that empower you to think critically, communicate effectively, and strategize for success will always be in style. So grab your virtual coffee cup, join us for more engaging conversations, and keep honing those immortal digital marketing skills.
