Today’s digital marketing landscape develops and changes at the speed of light. Consequently, fast-paced digital companies need flexible digital marketers who are not only willing to keep up with cutting-edge trends, but able to master them before the competition does. In a world where nearly all activities for work or play are connected to the Internet, developing an effective digital marketing plan to drive an organization’s bottom line is a necessity.
A smart digital marketer must not only be able to embrace change, but thrive on it and stay hungry for new knowledge and skills. The sheer breadth of digital channels available to build awareness and increase customer engagement can make deciding which channels to focus on a daunting task. However, as with any digital marketing decision, looking at data is an excellent place to start.
Embracing the mobility of change
The speed at which digital marketing trends shift is directly related to the rapid development of technology. For example, the days of the desktop computer as a primary means of accessing the Internet are dead. Over 71 percent of people now access the internet using their mobile devices, making a strong understanding of the “mobile first” approach to digital communication essential. So much so that 61 percent of users are unlikely to return to a mobile site after a negative experience and 40 percent will go to a competitor’s site.
Indeed, the stakes are high when it comes to adapting strategies to a constantly shifting digital marketing landscape, but the rewards can be sweet. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an additional 18,200 digital marketing jobs will be added to the U.S. economy by 2024. Candidates with excellent training, creativity, computer skills, and communication skills will be in the best position to seize these new positions.
Continuous training in digital marketing
Many organizations now recognize that investing in their talent to make sure they have the 21st-century skills to transform their companies is a winning strategy. Not only does the organization gain a more knowledgeable team, but the company is also in a better position to attract and retain talent.
Traditional approaches to education cannot keep up with the rapid developments in digital marketing and technology. Luckily, companies that provide on-demand education are filling in the gaps that peer-to-peer mentoring and traditional professional development can’t. Today, employees can easily take advantage of their mobile devices to learn the newest and most in-demand skills, alongside continuing to gain hands-on experience at their jobs.
Knowing where you and your team stand on knowledge
Digital marketing is one discipline where pre-assessment can provide valuable benchmarks to guide and customize training activities. For example, students who take Simplilearn’s Digital Marketing courses can begin with a convenient online OMCA exam practice assessment quiz, created and administered by the Online Marketing Certified Professionals (OMCP) Standards Committee.
The result is a training program that reduces wasted learning cost and effort, and allows managers to accurately assess how well training works. After assessment, on-demand training led by subject matter experts and applied learning projects can meet the needs of employers to update and enrich employee’s proficiencies.
With over 400 online courses in more than 150 countries, ed-tech startups like Simplilearn that offer a blended learning environment—combining self-paced eLearning with instructor-led live online classrooms—are an excellent option for organizations challenged with the task of engaging customers in a complex digital landscape.
Tenacity to actively seek quality resource
To stay competitive in the digital marketing field, one requires a blend of passion and technical skills. It’s not only wise to build up a resume outside the office with continued training, but necessary to stay relevant.
For a smart digital marketer, education has only just begun at college graduation. With technology evolving hourly, hanging a fancy degree on the wall means little when it comes to understanding and taking advantage of digital trends. Staying competitive is tough, but armed with a hunger for lifelong learning and a willingness to adapt, today’s digital marketers will continue to reap the benefits of rewarding and dynamic careers.
