Just like in any job or field of expertise, you need to have a specific set of skills in order to succeed in digital marketing. No matter what you choose to do in this industry, whether you choose to focus on PPC, on SEO, on Analytics, or even on Content Creation, there are some things that you need to know how to do.
With that said, you should know that I am not talking about technical skills like coding or even UX design knowledge. When I say basic, I do mean basic. If you search the web for a list of “basic” skills you need to have to get into digital marketing, you will find that most of the basics they point out are not basic at all.
This is why I came up with this list. This is to help guide you and to prepare you for what is expected when you decide to venture forth into this realm.
- Microsoft Office knowledge – you don’t need to know how to use everything that Microsoft Office has, just the most basic, which are Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. These are used regularly in the digital marketing realm and are tools that should be part of your arsenal. If you don’t know how to use any of these, better start learning how before you even think of venturing into the digital marketing world.
- Internet savvy – since you will be doing work on the internet, it is natural that you should know your way around it. You should be able to locate information that is essential to your work, find images, know how to email, and all of the basic stuff people do online. You should be able to find information you need when you need it without having to ask someone else to do it for you.
- Basic PR – since you will be dealing with clients and other people in this field, knowing how to interact with them properly is necessary for your success. If you don’t know how to talk with and deal with different types of personalities in this industry, you might find it hard to get clients and work here.
- Resourcefulness – this is something you need to be armed with if you really want to succeed in this industry. Knowing how to find your way out of a bind, being able to get your client what they want, and finding an alternative to what you need to do is essential if you want to succeed in digital marketing. The motto “Aut Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam” or I Will Either Find a Way or Make One is what you need to remember here.
- Creativity – this goes hand in hand with resourcefulness and should also be part of your bag of tricks, so to speak. Creativity is not just for writing and for art but also for coming up with unique ideas and ways to achieve the goals that you have to reach for your work.
- Analytic abilities – you also need to know how to analyze things in order to come up with decisions that are based on facts and figures rather than on guesswork. Being analytic gives you the skill to understand what is going on and why these things are happening. It also gives you the insight needed to come up with strategies for your work in the future.
Aside from these skills, you also need to have a specific attitude towards what you do. You can’t enter this arena simply thinking that you can get by with what you already know. The most important attitude you need to have when you decide to become a digital marketer is the openness to learning.
This world is constantly changing and evolving, and if you don’t change and evolve with it by learning new things to help you succeed, you will be left behind. Always keep your knowledge of digital marketing fresh and up to date by attending conferences, seminars, and trainings, like those being offered at PTB Digital Training Hub on a regular basis.
