Marketing and advertising is one of the most skill-based professionals in the world.
Marketing, digital marketing, digital branding, and digital sales are in high demand. However, positioning a highly skilled digital marketer requires building marketing skills including fundamentals, soft skills, creative skills, and technicals. Without having skills in marketing, it is difficult to get jobs in marketing agencies and corporations.
To help aspiring marketers, we are sharing the Top 10 marketing skills with the importance of the skill, the role of the skill in marketing, tips to build the skill and a marketer who masters the skill.
You will also read about soft skills in markeing, technical skills in marketing as well as advantages and guides for building the marketing tool.
Marketers let’s dive in:
1. Storytelling
Digital marketing skills are crucial for success. Storytelling is essential for marketers. It involves creatively presenting a brand’s story. Storytelling enhances brand perception and character-building. This skill differentiates digital marketers.
In digital marketing, storytelling helps brands connect emotionally with their audience. It allows marketers to present brands uniquely. Mastering storytelling can elevate a marketer’s professionalism. This skill is indispensable in the marketing world. It transforms ordinary stories into compelling brand narratives.
To master storytelling, as a marketer, practice capturing high-performing ideas and executing them at scale with different ideas and problems. Measure high-performing stories and make more variations from the stories to make the campaign better.
Neha Puri, a top digital marketer, excels in storytelling. She uses narratives to build brand connections. Her storytelling skills have made campaigns memorable. She often incorporates personal experiences, making brands relatable. Neha’s expertise in storytelling showcases how narratives can drive engagement and loyalty.
2. Content Writing
Content writing is one of the basic marketing skills needed by a digital marketer. It isn’t a must skill, but possessing good writing ability will open a lot of opportunities for you if you want to build a career in Digital Marketing.
Content writing is fundamental in digital marketing. It involves creating engaging and relevant text for various platforms like websites, blogs, and social media. Effective content writing captures the audience’s attention and conveys the brand’s message clearly. It’s crucial for SEO, driving organic traffic, and building a brand’s online presence. Marketers who excel in content writing can connect with their audience, making complex information accessible and engaging.
To develop content writing skills, practice writing daily and read widely. Use tools like Grammarly for grammar checks and Hemingway to improve readability. Understanding your audience and crafting content that resonates with them is essential. Incorporate storytelling to make content more relatable and memorable.
Neil Patel, a renowned digital marketer, excels in content writing. His blog posts and articles are informative and engaging, driving significant traffic to his website. Neil’s ability to break down complex digital marketing concepts into simple, actionable advice has made him a trusted voice in the industry.
3. Technical Knowledge
Technical knowledge is essential for digital marketers. It involves understanding the basics of website development, including HTML, CSS, and CMS platforms like WordPress. This knowledge allows marketers to collaborate effectively with developers, ensuring their marketing strategies are feasible and aligned with technical capabilities. Technical skills enable marketers to implement SEO tactics, manage website updates, and troubleshoot issues.
To build technical skills, take online courses in web development basics and practice using CMS platforms. Familiarize yourself with technical SEO principles and tools like Google Search Console. Continuous learning and staying updated with technological advancements are crucial.
Rand Fishkin, co-founder of Moz, emphasizes the importance of technical knowledge in digital marketing. His expertise in SEO and web development has helped many businesses improve their online presence. Rand’s technical skills enable him to implement effective SEO strategies, driving organic traffic and improving search engine rankings.
4. Analytics
Analytics is a critical skill for digital marketers. It involves collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to make informed marketing decisions. Marketers use analytics to measure campaign performance, understand user behavior, and optimize strategies for better results. Analytical skills help marketers identify trends, track ROI, and allocate resources efficiently.
To develop analytical skills, take courses in data analytics and familiarize yourself with tools like Google Analytics and Tableau. Practice interpreting data from various sources and making data-driven decisions. Understanding basic statistics and mathematics is beneficial.
Avinash Kaushik, a digital marketing evangelist, is known for his expertise in analytics. His book “Web Analytics 2.0” provides insights into making data-driven decisions. Avinash’s analytical skills have helped many organizations optimize their digital marketing strategies, resulting in improved performance and higher ROI.
5. Search Engine Optimization
The most popular marketing skill among digital marketing skills is SEO. Every business owner loves SEO as it will get the business without spending a penny. This makes SEO one of the important skills needed for marketing.
SEO is a vital digital marketing skill. It involves optimizing content to rank higher on search engines and driving organic traffic to websites. SEO encompasses on-page and off-page strategies, including keyword research, content optimization, and link building. Effective SEO helps businesses increase visibility, attract potential customers, and improve credibility.
To master SEO, stay updated with search engine algorithms and best practices. Use tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush for keyword research and site audits. Continuous learning and adapting to changes in search engine guidelines are crucial.
Brian Dean, founder of Backlinko, is an SEO expert known for his effective strategies. His comprehensive guides and case studies have helped many marketers improve their SEO skills. Brian’s ability to simplify SEO concepts and provide actionable tips has made him a go-to resource for SEO enthusiasts.
6. Pay Per Click
PPC comprises Google ads, Facebook ads, Twitter ads, LinkedIn ads, programmatic advertising, etc. Any form of paid advertising on the internet can be part of PPC (Pay Per Click).
PPC involves managing paid advertising campaigns on platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads. It requires understanding platform algorithms, creating compelling ad copy, and optimizing campaigns for maximum ROI. PPC skills help marketers drive targeted traffic, increase brand visibility, and generate leads.
To develop PPC skills, take courses on various ad platforms and practice creating and managing campaigns. Analyze campaign performance and make data-driven adjustments to improve results. Understanding bidding strategies and audience targeting is essential.
Larry Kim, founder of WordStream, is an expert in PPC advertising. His innovative strategies and insights have helped many businesses maximize their ROI from paid campaigns. Larry’s ability to leverage data and create high-performing ads has made him a leading voice in the PPC industry.
7. Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing involves creating and managing content on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. It requires understanding each platform’s audience and algorithms to build and engage communities. Effective social media marketing increases brand awareness, fosters customer loyalty, and drives traffic to websites.
To excel in social media marketing, stay updated with platform trends and best practices. Use tools like Hootsuite for scheduling and analytics. Engage with your audience regularly and create platform-specific content.
Real-world example: Mari Smith is a leading social media marketing expert. Known as the “Queen of Facebook,” Mari’s strategies have helped many businesses succeed on social media. Her ability to engage audiences and create compelling content has made her a trusted advisor in the industry.
One needs to understand the platform and the type of audience before creating a social media marketing plan. As a matter of fact, taking the emerging popularity of social media marketing is one of the skills required for Marketing.
8. Email Marketing
Email marketing involves crafting personalized email campaigns to connect with the audience. It requires creating engaging content, segmenting the audience, and analyzing campaign performance. Email marketing helps build relationships, nurture leads, and drive conversions.
To master email marketing, use tools like Mailchimp and HubSpot for campaign management. Focus on creating valuable content and maintaining a clean email list. Test different strategies to find what resonates with your audience.
Ann Handley, Chief Content Officer at MarketingProfs, excels in email marketing. Her engaging newsletters and personalized approach have built a loyal audience. Ann’s focus on providing valuable content and building relationships showcases the effectiveness of email marketing.
9. Video Marketing
Video marketing involves creating and promoting video content on platforms like YouTube and social media. It requires storytelling skills, video production knowledge, and an understanding of audience preferences. Video marketing helps increase engagement, build brand awareness, and convey messages effectively.
To develop video marketing skills, learn video editing tools like Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro. Create engaging video content and optimize it for different platforms. Analyze performance and adapt your strategies.
Gary Vaynerchuk, CEO of VaynerMedia, is a pioneer in video marketing. His engaging videos on social media have built a massive following. Gary’s ability to connect with his audience through storytelling and authenticity has made him a leading figure in the industry.
Video making and marketing is the marketing skill of the hour in the digital marketing field.
10. Designing
Designing skills are valuable for digital marketers. Basic knowledge of design principles helps create visually appealing content. It involves understanding color theory, typography, and brand guidelines. Designing skills enhance marketing materials and improve user experience.
To build designing skills, use tools like Canva and Adobe Photoshop. Study design principles and practice creating graphics. Collaborate with designers to learn from their expertise.
Real-world example: Guy Kawasaki, Chief Evangelist of Canva, emphasizes the importance of design in marketing. His use of Canva for creating engaging visuals has inspired many marketers. Guy’s ability to simplify design and make it accessible showcases its significance in digital marketing.
T-shaped marketer
The t-shaped marketer is the most sought-after marketer. As the letter “T” indicates, it is the breadth & depth of various skills required in digital marketing. Let’s have a look at the T-shaped marketing diagram used by the “Buffer” company;
Why is a T-shaped marketer in demand?
A T-shaped marketer brings his/her in-depth expertise in 2 or 3 fields to the table. However, such a marketer will have a breadth of knowledge in other areas of digital marketing which will work in his/her favor to collaborate with other experts to bring out the best marketing results.
At Buffer, there are 3 slices; Base knowledge, Marketing Foundation, and Channel Expertise.
Base knowledge consists of areas that would help every professional irrespective of whether he or she is a marketer. Marketing foundation – marketing subjects that every marketer should know.
Channel Expertise – This is where a marketer can choose to gain in-depth expertise in 1 or 2 skills.
Soft Skills In Marketing
In Marketing, human communication plays a massive role. The biggest mistake in marketing is overvaluing algorithms and undervaluing people and communication. Soft skills such as listening skills, verbal communication skills, and creativity improve understanding of the needs, goals, and pains of consumers. Practice and implement soft skills as a digital marketing professional to improve the effectiveness of marketing projects. Soft skills and communication skills make a digital marketer a better operator in marketing, sales, brand building, and PR.
Technical Skills In Marketing
Being efficient in programming is definitely a competitive advantage. Programming and data science-related skills open up opportunities for technical marketing positions. In addition, the ability to use digital marketing tools for research, analysis, and optimization enhances the ability of a marketer. A marketer becomes more useful with having skills in SEO, email marketing, social media marketing, PPC, content writing, copywriting networking, etc.
Advantages of Building and Stacking Marketing Skills
Not only in marketing but universally building multiple skills for a specific industry or job is a massive competitive advantage. Marketing skills are the unit of competence for a digital marketing professional. Brands put emphasis on the skill set of a particular individual for a position in marketing. Any marketing professional is required to handle and execute more than a dozen different tasks in any marketing campaign. The following are the key advantages of building marketing skillsets as professionals:
- Get the capability To solve complex, premium marketing problems
- Position as a unique and scarce marketing professional
- Create an impressive portfolio with marketing case studies
- Attract renewed marketing brands, agencies, and corporations
- Get high-paying marketing job offers and packages per annum
- Land High-ticket clients
- Build a successful marketing agency and own it
Marketing is a vast industry of skills, talents, and knowledge. Choose skillsets strategically to build a successful marketing career. To make decisions about starting a marketing career contact to Digital Vidya team, by emailing: at info@digitalvidya.com or Phone No: 91-8010033033, Digital Vidya has successfully educated more than 1,20,000 individuals all across the globe. Leverage their experience as Digital Vidya marketing professionals and instructors to access the advantages of marketing and digital marketing.
Guide to Building Marketing Skills Strategically
Building marketing skills is similar to building skills in general. The fundamental building skill is repetition, observation, and improvisation. To marketing skills as a beginner or intermediate, the following practices are helpful:
- Develop data analysis skills for effective marketing strategies.
- Master SEO techniques to improve search engine rankings.
- Refine content creation for diverse marketing channels.
- Expand knowledge of marketing automation tools.
- Strengthen email marketing strategies for better conversions.
- Understand customer journey mapping and personalization.
- Cultivate influencer marketing relationships and strategies.
- Enhance social media management skills for brand engagement.
- Optimize paid advertising campaigns for maximum ROI.
- Stay updated on digital marketing trends and technologies.
To practice and master marketing skills, digital marketing skills are highly recommended. Digital marketing and marketing are highly related domains of practice and implementation due to online consumer attention. Digital marketing channels and tools allow the evaluation of consumer behavior at scale.
What are the required Skills To Become A Digital Marketing Executive?
To become a qualified and highly skilled digital marketer, skills such as fundamental digital marketing skills, communication skills, skills over tools and software, investigating skills, and an enterprising nature is an advantage. To learn more about a digital marketing executive career, consider reading the guide on skills and job descriptions of digital marketing executives.
Conclusion
The article covers basic marketing skills list to be possessed by a digital marketer. If you go in-depth, there are other skill sets required to master each one mentioned in the article. Also, there are a lot of cross-skill sets that help to master other skill sets mentioned in the article.
Now it is time for you to design your T-shaped marketing diagram and develop your marketing skill sets accordingly. Once, you have figured out your T-shaped diagram, do a specific course. If you are finding it difficult to make a T-shaped marketer diagram, it is advisable to do a digital marketing course.
