Introduction

There’s a lot of hype these days when it comes to digital marketing. People are starting blogs left and right, creating Facebook groups, posting on Instagram and more. Here, I want to discuss what makes a good digital marketer, someone who can truly stand out from the pack and be worthy of the title “Digital Marketer”. 

1. Curiosity

It’s probably no surprise that many of the skills you need to be a great digital marketer are similar to the ones required for writing, which is why so many writers go on to become great digital marketers. Writing and digital marketing both require curiosity because you’re constantly trying to connect with your audience.

In order to make those connections, you need to understand what matters most to them. You can’t do that unless you ask questions and have a genuine interest in hearing their answers. If they sense that you’re just trying to sell them something, they’ll tune out. But if they know you genuinely want to help them solve their problems, they’ll listen and will be more inclined to give you the opportunity to provide solutions for them.

2. Professionalism

One of the most important factors that sets exceptional digital marketers apart from their peers is professionalism. Digital marketing is a relatively new field, and some companies may still be wary of hiring digital marketers, particularly those who don’t have traditional marketing backgrounds. To adopt a professional demeanor and give off the impression of being credible, here are some things you need to know:

• The basics about your industry. It sounds obvious, but there are many people who claim to be professionals in their fields without having the most basic knowledge about it. When it comes to digital marketing, this means you should know how to use Google Analytics so that you can track your results; understand how social media works (especially Facebook); know the different kinds of content available and when each type works best; and be able to explain what you do as simply as possible without resorting to jargon or vague terms like “synergy” or “paradigm shift.”
• The basics about data and analytics. All marketers should be able to read charts, graphs, and spreadsheets and explain them in writing as well as report on the performance of various campaigns using the right metrics for each type of campaign.

3. Expertise

Expertise is a term that covers many different capabilities and roles. In today’s lightning-fast digital landscape, it’s easy to focus on the flavor of the week in marketing and lose sight of the fact that building deep expertise in a single area or a few related areas is one of the best things you can do for your career.

Deep expertise takes time to build, but developing it will help you round out your skills in an increasingly diverse field.

4. Creativity

There are lots of ways to develop your creativity. Take a look at these clever tips from our team:

• Know what you’re working with. A lot of people think they aren’t creative, but everyone has some potential for creativity. Keep in mind that it’s not just about coming up with new things it’s also about combining those things in new ways.
• Explore your interests and the world around you. To be creative, you need to be open-minded and curious, so be sure to expose yourself to ideas and concepts outside your comfort zone.
• Identify where you get stuck. Are there parts of the problem that are especially challenging? Talk them through with a partner or take some time away from the problem so you can return with fresh eyes.

5. Tenacity

Every digital marketer, no matter how seasoned or successful, encounters challenges. It’s part of the job. Peers who are tenacious and persistent are able to work through these challenges and achieve success where others may not.

Digital marketing is a fast-paced world, with constant changes and new updates to keep up with. Tenacious marketers are constantly learning about the latest trends, updates and industry news  they know that only by staying informed can they be the best at their jobs.

On a similar note, exceptional digital marketers have a willingness to adapt in their work environment. They move fluidly between their own projects as well as helping peers on theirs if it helps them meet milestones more efficiently. They continuously seek out opportunities for growth within their company, whether that means taking on new responsibilities or asking for additional training to advance their skillset.

6. Social And Emotional Intelligence

Building relationships, particularly with colleagues, is a key part of digital marketing. Digital marketers who are able to put themselves in their colleague’s shoes, who can see things from another person’s perspective and understand how to respond accordingly, will be more successful when it comes to forming professional bonds.

Your ability to navigate moods and emotions in the workplace goes hand-in-hand with your social and emotional intelligence as well. Understanding your own feelings (and communicating them effectively) as well as being able to read others’ emotional states goes a long way toward helping you win friends and influence people.

Emotional intelligence is also important for digital marketers because they must be able to communicate effectively with consumers which requires understanding how emotions shape opinions about products and services.

7. A Big-Picture Orientation

Ability to see the big picture: Exceptional digital marketers understand that marketing is more than just a collection of tactics and campaigns. Rather, they have a solid grasp of how each tactic and campaign fits into the broader strategy. They focus on an integrated approach to marketing, considering how channels work together to help achieve a company’s goals.

This big-picture orientation is needed for planning purposes: what should be done, when and why? It’s also needed when delving into data analysis to determine which channels are working well or poorly, what content resonates most with specific audiences and where improvements are needed.

Big-picture thinking is also an essential trait for leaders and this means more than simply understanding one’s own role in the organization. Leaders need to understand the people they’re managing (their strengths and weaknesses), their business partner needs and their customers’ expectations. This understanding allows them to craft compelling stories about what can be achieved by focusing on customers instead of competitors.

Conclusion 

Exceptional digital marketers need a broad, deep toolkit. Digital marketing encompasses a lot of things web design, content creation, paid search and social advertising, SEO/SEM, etc. and all of them are essential for success in today’s competitive market. To build an effective program and drive real results for your business or organization, you need to be knowledgeable about everything from keyword research to copywriting to HTML code (and everything in between). It’s not enough to just have the talent or capacity to do one thing well you have to do them all well.

Of course, it’s not enough to just be an expert in every area of digital marketing either. You also need the soft skills that can make you stand out among your peers: curiosity, creativity and smartness.