One of the key buzzwords for the year 2021 is digital marketing. Simply put, digital marketing can be defined as the digitisation of marketing efforts or marketing which happens online. From pay per click ads to social media pages to websites — it all comes under the digital marketing umbrella.
For anyone who is a part of the marketing world (corresponding to the business trends at present, especially post-covid), it is mandatory to know how to manage digital marketing work to produce high revenues and increase conversion rates. Sometimes traditional marketing courses miss out on critical digital skills that are needed in the business space. But don’t worry — we are here to keep you updated!
In this blog, we have highlighted a few digital marketing skills that you will find helpful to move up the ladder in the digital marketing domain.
So, shall we begin?
1. Data Analytics
Data analytics refers to the technical interaction with data and software that help collect and analyse data through transactions, search tools, keywords etc. It also includes data cleansing, which means deleting outdated or incomplete data (this is important because of the interference quotient of incorrect data). Data Analytics is elemental to digital marketing. A lot of marketing strategies stem from the research based on data collected through various tools and software. But it is important to remember that data is only valuable if you know exactly how to use it to your advantage to study consumer behaviour and design market strategies. A digital marketing course will teach you how to read and convert the data to the maximum usage.
2. SEO and SEM
Search Engine Optimization( SEO) and Search Engine Marketing ( SEM) are an essential part of the digital marketing skillset. These are essentially the structures responsible for regulating the traffic on your website. For example, unless you use the correct keyword, chances are your potential consumer will not come across the content you have prepared for them. SEO and SEM are not overly technical, but they are two of the most crucial aspects of every digital marketing campaign. Tuning into what’s the buzzword or trending keywords will increase your visibility. A command over these skills will help you manipulate the algorithm in the desired way.
3. Content Editing and Writing
One of the most important aspects of marketing is to engage with the customers. Writing is an effective way to connect with consumers. The marketing strategy must be able to establish a relationship between the consumer and the brand. This will increase the chances of you being able to direct the actions of the target audience. Producing good writing and content is a way to establish such an exchange. A good piece of writing promises more outreach and longevity where consumers find themselves returning to it again and again. It is evergreen. An efficient digital marketing strategy will be able to combine writing with SEO/SEM. It is also wise to rely on diverse forms of writing like blogs, videos, emails, social media posts etc.
4. Video Production
Videos hold attention. They are engaging, entertaining and personal. A single viral video is all you need for a product to reach an entire diaspora. And all of these qualities make video production the perfect way to market a product. Every brand is engaging with consumers via video because they know the importance of an elongated-lasting experience. This does not mean that one should be aware of the entire gamut of video editing technicalities, but learning the basics of video making is a good start. As a digital marketer, you should oversee product design and assess the video’s overall quality to analyse whether it is producing the desired results.
5. Optimizing Social Media
To be an effective digital marketer, you need to be well versed with the ins’ and outs’ of social media. No matter what your digital marketing strategy is, if it does not have an excellent social media campaign or does not integrate well with the business vision, it will be challenging to produce the desired result. Today’s social media world consists of boosted posts, hashtags, groups, reels, stories, etc. When combined, it constitutes a honey pot of information for marketers. It is the easiest way of developing immediate contact with the customer, and in turn, it often results in better revenue and conversion rates. Therefore, social media knowledge is imperative if you want to make a mark in the digital marketing space.
6. Design-based thinking
Because of the online marketing space’s technicality, it is sometimes easy to overlook the fact that ultimately the solutions have to be human-centred. Design thinking tackles this loophole exactly. Design thinking can be inferred as an approach that propagates thinking in a human-centred way when solving complex resolution. Digital marketing and design thinking are congruent because both feed on human interactions, making them a powerful combination. Also, both of them follow a non-linear approach where you can return and shape ideas based on how they are being received.
7. Paid social media advertising skills
Social media has also evolved over the years. Still accessible, the personal and the professional use of social media platforms are vastly different. It will require more than using hashtags and reshares to get the business going. This is when paid advertising comes to be of aid. It is quite a comprehensive way to reach a wider audience and generate curiosity. But you need to be well aware of where and how to put the money. In these scenarios, a good course will tell you exactly how to optimise the resources. The executive program in digital marketing and branding is a good course that enables great learning through personalised mentorship and networking. The six-month program offers subjects like Integrated Marketing Communications, Media Planning and Buying, Social Media Marketing, which will help you understand social media and advertising, both separately and combined.
8. Tech-savvy
There is no doubt about the fact that the digital marketing field works on a technical interface. Therefore to achieve proficiency, it is advisable to be aware of the most basic technology tools to work with efficacy. Knowing systems like WordPress, PowerPoint Design, Excel, and Google Adwords will make you indispensable. Besides, it helps if you can gain hands-on experience with these tools over time.
9. Mobile marketing
Mobile phones have made it easier to shop. Everything is a click away which is why a majority of buying nowadays happens through mobile. In fact, there is a high probability that consumers now discover brands more through their phones than through any other platform. Therefore it becomes vital from a digital marketing perspective to create content that is exclusive to phones. With increased dependence on phones, any digital marketer should be aware of how crucial it is to leverage consumer attention. Usually, experts emphasise the need to create marketing strategies specific to platforms, of which mobile phones are the most important.
10. Creative analytical skills
Marketing is definitely one of the most creative fields out there. A good marketing campaign is something that sets you apart from others. As much as you might want to hone your technical skills, you also need to have a knack for those smart, creative solutions that are idiosyncratic. Because a campaign does germinate from an idea and is assisted by technical support to grow into a full-fledged system, you will categorically need that idea to get a jump start. So, let those creative juices flow to be a great digital marketer.
Besides these above mentioned foundational skills, if you are an experienced industry insider and are looking further polish your. This 6-month course from upGrad is a succinct yet comprehensive course appropriate for individuals who have handled profiles like Senior Business Professionals (Senior Marketing Managers/Mid-level Marketers/Business Heads/Category Heads/Senior Brand Managers/Directors). With experts from companies like Apple engaging in one-on-one mentoring, any seeking professional can opt for this course.
