As digital marketing continues to evolve, businesses will increasingly rely on marketers with specific expertise in social media. In the early days of social media marketing, many businesses had a rather relaxed outlook on the skills required for the job, often relying on interns fresh out of college with little to no marketing experience to manage company social media accounts.
Businesses originally thought that younger employees would have the social media skills they need because social media was such a big part of their lives. However, as social media has become a more legitimate marketing channel, the need for employees with advanced marketing skills has grown.
The change in social media means that businesses can no longer post content and expect all followers to see it. The objective of social media has changed, and businesses need to adapt to the new landscape.
13 Signs You Were Born to be a Digital Marketer
So, you still think you have what it takes to land a job as a social media marketer? Below are 13 signs that you might have been born for a career in social media marketing:
1. You’re a good writer.
Content is crucial for social media marketing. Without content, marketers have nothing to engage their followers with. In her book “Everybody Writes”, marketing expert Ann Handley discusses how everyone, but especially marketers, need to begin thinking of themselves as writers. This shift in thinking allows you to approach writing more professionally. After all, writing is one of the main ways that you will get your message across to potential customers.
As a student, were you excited when papers were assigned while the rest of the class groaned in horror? If so, social media marketing might be the job for you. Your writing skills will be put to the test on a daily basis as you write blogs, promotional content and interact with people on social media.
2. You have thick skin.
Despite any failures or negative encounters, the best social media marketers don’t give up. They learn from these experiences and continue to approach their work with the same level of excitement and dedication.
If you are a determined individual who is always looking for a new challenge, a career in social media marketing may be perfect for you.
3. You are a GREAT listener.
Nowadays, marketers have access to the thoughts of over 1 billion people through social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. This allows them to better understand their target customers and what they are interested in.
Many marketers don’t listen to customers and other stakeholders enough, instead preferring to just publish their own content. However, the real power in social media lies in the data that’s available for free, such as conversations between consumers and your competitors, feedback about your products or services, and the types of content being shared. Marketers who actively listen on social media therefore have a significant advantage over those who don’t.
4. You have sense of humor.
You are likely to follow companies on social media that you are not a customer of because the content they share is educational, entertaining or funny.
If you want to be successful as a social media marketer, try to include some humor in your strategy. This will make you seem more personable and approachable, which will lead to trust and loyalty.
5. You are empathetic.
The key to marketing is understanding what potential customers are struggling with and then creating a message that shows how your product or service can help. The goal is to make it clear how your product or service will make their life better.
To be successful in social media marketing, you need to be able to understand and share the feelings of your target audience. This will help you create relevant content and connect with potential customers.
6. You have an insatiable hunger for knowledge.
To be a successful digital marketer, you need to keep up with the latest news and developments in the industry, as well as your clients’ industries. There is always something new to learn, whether it’s a new feature, an update to an algorithm, or a new hack. You need to be willing to read and learn from news articles, studies, reports, and case studies.
Influencers and digital marketing experts can provide valuable insights into developments, best practices, and digital marketing resources. Marketers who dedicate 6+ hours per week to social media are more likely to be successful than those who spend less time on social media. In order to be successful in digital marketing, it is important to supplement creativity and communication skills with continuous learning in fields such as SEO, web design, graphic design, PR, sales, and more.
No matter how much effort you put into learning about digital marketing, there is always more you can learn. Free resources like Lynda courses and Google AdWords certification can help you stay up-to-date on the latest trends. You can also learn from the best in the field by watching YouTube videos and attending seminars. The only thing holding you back is your willingness to invest in your future.
7. You thrive in an ever-evolving environment.
One week you will only do keyword research for a new e-commerce client. The next week you will be busy with a Facebook advertising campaign to drive downloads of a stock trading platform. You will also be outputting content by the page to cover for a co-worker who is on vacation. Then you will meet with a client to discuss the quarterly analytics report.
If you’re working in marketing, there’s a good chance that things have been changing rapidly and that you’ve had to adapt to new challenges.
You should not be scared of ever-evolving environments if you were born to be in digital marketing. Instead, you should be excited by them. You will have the opportunity to wear many hats and impress people no matter your role.
8. You can hack it on your own…and play well with others.
required If you are good at working independently and succeed at it, digital marketing is the field for you. You need to be very self-motivated, organized, and productive even when no one is there to guide you. You also need to be able to troubleshoot your way out of every dead-end. This is especially true if you become a digital marketing consultant.
There are a number of productivity and organization tools you can use to stay on track, including Google Calendar, Evernote, and Swipes.
You need to be able to work well with others and take direction, while also being able to delegate and give orders when needed. You should be able to excel whether you are working independently or as part of a team. It is also important to form productive and healthy relationships with clients in order to work toward shared goals.
9. You can cede the spotlight, or step into it with poise.
As a digital marketing manager, you will be working on behalf of your clients. Most of your best work will be published and promoted under the names of other people and entities. If you are comfortable working behind the scenes and can take pride in your accomplishments even if you don’t receive public recognition, digital marketing may be the right career path for you. However, there may be times when you are asked to take on a more public role, such as presenting at a conference or leading a webinar. You should approach these opportunities with confidence.
You can increase your confidence for public speaking and looking more prepared on camera by taking courses and watching tutorials. If you have a strong belief in what you are saying and good understanding of the subject, it will be much easier for people to accept what you are saying.
10. You have a creative spark waiting to be unleashed.
Creativity is key in digital marketing, and finding the perfect tagline or experiencing a sudden inspiration are both signs that this field is meant for you. If you’re passionate about creativity and providing recognition for your clients, a career in digital marketing may be the right path for you.
The most desired skill among CEOs is creativity. Though it may not seem like it, creativity is like a muscle that needs to be trained. By engaging in creative activities in your free time, you can improve your creativity in your professional life. Try playing an instrument, sketching artwork, attending plays, or listening to comedy routines. By surround yourself with creative expression, you can nurture your inner creativity.
11. You can change your voice.
If you want to be successful in digital marketing, you need to be able to change your tone and style depending on the project. You need to be able to be professional one minute and playful the next. You need to be able to turn the switch on and off in an instant.
You can achieve success by pretending to be successful, or you can be proactive in embracing different voices and roles. Sign up for industry newsletters, read niche websites, and create Twitter lists with influential voices in each sector. You want to be informed when DropBox is hacked or a postal strike affects gift delivery, rather than finding out weeks after the fact. Immerse yourself in each world and never assume you’ve learned enough.
12. You have an analytical brain.
Earlier, we spoke about how social media marketing is beginning to require more expertise to see results. A driving force behind this change is the introduction of algorithms. Algorithms are how Facebook decides which posts to show you, which posts not to show you, and what order they are shown in.
Marketers who want to be successful now need to understand data and how social networks operate. If you like analyzing data and figuring out how to use it to your advantage, social media will be a great place for you. There’s a huge amount of data available for digital marketers, and the ones who know how to interpret it are starting to stand out from the crowd.
13. You are an early riser.
How often do you check your phone when you wake up? For many people, the answer is “always.” Checking social media has become such a common morning ritual that most social media marketers start their days early to take advantage of this time period.
Despite having tools like eClincher that allow you to schedule your social media posts ahead of time, many social media marketers still wake up early to begin engaging in conversations, curating fresh content and handling missed notifications and messages. Though waking up early is not a requirement, there are several benefits to it.
What traits do you think make someone suited to be a social media marketing? Let us know in the comments section below.
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