If you’re looking for a fresh start in your career, you’ve probably considered working for an agency. However, while most agencies offer a good learning experience, the opportunities don’t always suit you. What if you want to develop your own expertise and work independently?
Consider a career in online marketing. Owing to the expanding digital world, numerous opportunities exist in this industry. If you have a knack for marketing and business, you can develop your own niche and work independently.
In order to live up to our reputation for excellence, we need to identify and eliminate any potential roadblocks to our success. One of these roadblocks is incompetent staff.
How can we ensure that our employees are equipped with the skills necessary to carry out their responsibilities? One answer lies in providing focused and dedicated training. In this article, we’ll explore the various roles within the online marketing department and how you can get the training necessary to fulfil them.
Marketing Coordinator
Marketing coordinators are vital to any marketing department. They are responsible for assigning campaigns and working with the agency’s account managers to ensure that all the necessary steps are taken to ensure projects move smoothly and that the demands of each campaign are met.
As the name suggests, a marketing coordinator’s primary duty is to coordinate the various marketing activities. They are generally in charge of preparing reports and analysis of data, and working with the sales team to identify key performance indicators. When a new campaign is being planned, the marketing coordinator will need to familiarise themselves with the agency’s existing customers and gain a clear picture of the competition. This entails engaging with other departments such as sales and research to gain clarity on the best marketing plan.
Data Analyst
A data analyst’s primary responsibility is to create and maintain sophisticated databases containing accurate and significant data. The databases are vital in the agency’s operations as they provide a valuable source of information for marketers and ensure that all the necessary calculations and benchmarks are taken into account. The emergence of big data has led to a new era of marketing where analysis of customer behaviour and interest can be performed on a massive scale.
Data analysts are involved in planning and executing any marketing campaign. They need to have a good knowledge of all aspects of marketing including analysing market trends and customer behaviour, and creating marketing plans. Additionally, data analysts should have a sound understanding of different platforms (such as websites and social media) and how to use them effectively in marketing programs. They also need to be detail-oriented and have the ability to think through problems and come up with practical solutions.
Content Strategist
A content strategist’s primary responsibility is to develop a comprehensive content strategy for the agency. As a content strategist, you’ll be involved in creating content for different platforms including websites, email marketing, and social media. The content strategy will form the backbone of the agency’s content creation process. It will define the overall messaging and tone of the content (including the use of humor) as well as the design and structure of the content.
The content strategist’s role is evolving as technology enables brands to create content in more engaging ways. It is now common for agencies to have content strategists who can develop sophisticated social media campaigns, lead generation funnels, and eCommerce stores. A content strategist’s responsibility is to ensure that all the content they create is aligned with the agency’s overall strategy. To do this, they need to consider the target audience, platforms, and distribution channels, and create content that will reach the desired audience. Additionally, content strategists should be in charge of the content’s design, structure, and implementation as well as have a clear understanding of different media platforms.
Communications Director
The communications director is the link between the marketing department and the rest of the agency. They are responsible for creating and implementing key agency communications policies including email, social media, and website content. The communications director needs to have a good understanding of all the different platforms and be able to engage with customers on them to establish and maintain strong connections. Additionally, the role of the communications director is changing as more and more marketers are assuming direct customer communication via social media channels. As a result, the role of the classical press release and media list pitching have become less important.
Digital Marketing Manager
A digital marketing manager’s primary responsibility is to plan and execute digital marketing strategies for the agency. They are responsible for setting up the agency’s digital marketing infrastructure including websites, social media, and email marketing. In addition, a digital marketing manager is responsible for regularly monitoring and optimizing the digital properties for performance.
As the name suggests, a digital marketing manager is involved in all aspects of digital marketing including designing websites and landing pages, setting up social media accounts, and building email marketing lists. One of the most in-demand skills a digital marketing manager can have is SEO (search engine optimization). Optimizing websites for organic search results is a time-consuming task and a great chance to showcase your expertise and gain trust from your colleagues and management. Additionally, a digital marketing manager should be in charge of the content’s distribution across all platforms including email, social media, and websites, and have a good understanding of different media platforms including Google Analytics.
Senior Online Marketing Manager
A senior online marketing manager’s primary responsibility is to lead, direct, and coordinate the work of a marketing team. Similar to a digital marketing manager, a senior online marketing manager is responsible for planning and executing online marketing strategies. However, a senior online marketing manager should have greater management experience and be able to take on a more senior role. They should have a good understanding of the various platforms and be able to utilize them for marketing purposes. In addition, a senior online marketing manager should be able to analyze marketing performance and set targets for the following year. This entails working with the marketing team to set goals and objectives and evaluating the effectiveness of each program and campaign.
Account Manager
An account manager’s primary responsibility is to grow and maintain strong working relationships with the various businesses, brands, and individuals that the agency represents. An account manager is generally responsible for the management of one or more businesses or individuals (depending on the size of the account), and working with the marketing and sales departments to develop and maintain mutually beneficial business relationships. Account managers are valuable assets to any agency as they can build relationships with key decision-makers at large companies, establish credibility with local business owners, and represent the agency at conferences and industry events.
What Will You Need To Prove Yourself?
In order to apply for any of the roles discussed above, you’ll need to have a degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field. In addition, you’ll need to have worked in an agency or similar environment with exposure to marketing and business. If you’re looking for a leg up in the industry, consider gaining experience by doing internships or part-time jobs. A portfolio of work is also important as it shows that you can take on different responsibilities and skills. Finally, gaining valuable experience by volunteering is another great way to build a profile that will get you noticed.
Once you’ve got the job, never be afraid to ask questions. Being a new employee means that you’ll have a lot to learn and that you’re not expected to know everything. Also, be careful not to burn bridges. Building relationships with your colleagues is important as it can lead to future opportunities. Last but not least, take notes and be prepared to learn. Even if you think that you’ve mastered all there is to learn in relation to marketing and business, there will always be a new subject or skill to learn. Never be afraid to ask for help or seek out training and learning opportunities.