FIVE ESSENTIAL SOFT SKILLS FOR DIGITAL MARKETERS

A lot has been said about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it will affect working processes in many sectors, including marketing and advertising. While AI tools come in handy in optimizing some tasks such as content creation and automation, some skills remain innately human.

Yes, you've got it right - we're talking about Soft Skills.

While much attention has been put on technical knowledge and digital competencies, we think that in personal and career development, these two share the first place with soft skills or how we behave in a social context, and how we are perceived by other people.

In marketing, soft skills are the secret sauce to successful human interaction and building professional relationships, and therefore - career growth. Yet, these qualities aren't acquired overnight. They take time to develop and nurture, especially in the challenging and competitive environment of digital marketing. It takes time, effort, and experience to cultivate and integrate them with our characters.

This is why we decided to dedicate special attention to five of the soft skills that you should develop if you want to grow as a digital marketer.

Staying Curious

It is no secret that the world of digital marketing is incredibly dynamic and fast-paced. What is considered new today could easily become outdated tomorrow. Maintaining curiosity and staying atop all trends and innovations will guarantee you an advantage over other digital marketers. Those who neglect their personal development may find themselves falling behind.

For instance, even if you were considered a Meta (Facebook) marketing expert in 2020 if you have not run an online campaign since then, you cannot compete with digital marketers who have been playing with the latest tools and features that Meta has released since then.

The same goes for SEO marketing, Google Ads and Newsletters.

"Curiosity is the engine of achievement." - Ken Robinson

Trusting You Intuition

You may argue that intuition is something you are born with - you either have it or not. We are here to state the opposite. Intuition improves with experience, coming up with solutions in challenging situations, and interpersonal interactions (with fellow colleagues, partners, clients and customers).

After experiencing various work situations, you'll learn to trust your instincts and make decisions even with limited information. In many cases, you will see that “gut decisions” are often the right ones. Even when comparing these situations to scenarios when you had everything necessary at hand. What will help you is your professional experience as a digital marketer, knowing the industry and your customers.

"Intuition is a very powerful thing, more powerful than intellect." - Steve Jobs

Being Able to Adapt

To a considerable extent, adaptability is linked to curiosity and trusting your intuition. In the realm of digital marketing, you've likely experienced moments when your tried-and-true methods and old tactics no longer yield the same results. If your instincts tell you that it is time for a change, then they are probably right. Dedicate some time to explore recent developments in the digital marketing landscape and adapt to the latest trends and demands. Ultimately, your role involves aligning with consumer needs while maintaining a strong brand image and achieving business objectives.

Just consider how quickly the algorithms change (Social Media and Search Engines). Just one tweak and your content may rank from page 1 on Google to page 2. Or the image you have worked so hard on for the sole purpose of driving traffic is now dethroned by video content.

"To improve is to change, to be perfect is to change often." - Winston Churchill

Accept Multitasking as Destiny

Digital marketers are often tasked with many projects. Multitasking is at the core of this profession. You can start the day by planning the social media content for the week and finish up the evening with an analysis of a marketing campaign you launched last month. If this is not enough, most probably, you are managing a small team and you have to keep track of their progress, too.

While wearing a lot of hats can be interesting, eventually, it can become tiresome and could lead to burnout. This is why you have to prioritize. Here are a few tactics you can try.

1. Establish deadlines.
2. Don’t tackle minor tasks before important ones.
3. Compile a list of tasks and make use of sub-tasks.
4. Group similar tasks together for more efficient work.
5. Employ colour coding to highlight task priorities.
6. Add timeframes to your tasks.
7. Delegate.
8. Avoid procrastination.

Striving for creativity

Creativity is what sets good digital content apart from the great one. If you have been in digital marketing for a while, chances are that you have already realized it. Mastering the art of creating verbal messages and visual designs that speak to your audience’s core values, beliefs and needs are key skills. A dash of humour can add a captivating edge to your marketing campaigns. Similar to intuition, creativity thrives with time and flourishes when fueled by curiosity. So, keep that curiosity alive and enjoy the process of creation!

"Creativity is intelligence having fun." - Albert Einstein

Well, that’s a wrap!

We hope you appreciate the soft skills and personal qualities we have highlighted in the life of a digital marketer. While there is certainly more to explore, both professional and personal development are a step-by-step process.

Do not forget to get in touch with us if you need a hand with your digital marketing strategy.