In the fast-paced world of marketing, you need to be on top of your game to see traction and drive results. The best marketers in the world know how it important it is to maintain the following four qualities.
Data Driven
The best marketers are highly data-driven. They know why and how to use data to make decisions, and how to maximize the information they have to drive strategy and better results. The best marketers have an understanding of major reporting platforms, such as Google Analytics and Google Adwords, as well as other niche platforms for different channels, like SEO, paid ads, social media and affiliate traffic. They know to look to numbers to measure campaigns, and can use what they see to inform strategy.
A big mistake that many new marketers make is choosing to make decisions based on a “gut feeling” – doing something, or launching a campaign just because they want to. IF you follow this route, it’s easy for self-bias to get in the way and cloud judgment. The only sound way to make decisions as a marketer is to always be looking at and consulting with data.
Agile
Another quality that top marketers possess is that they are very agile. They can launch campaigns, monitor results, and make decisions quickly if something is not working on how to pivot and adapt. There are many external factors that may dictate the need to be agile, such as change in Google’s algorithm that impacts your search results, or a change in the Facebook News Feed that affects your organic post visibility, so it’s crucial to stay on top of these factors and be ready to change tactics as needed.
Top marketers are also to re-prioritize ruthlessly. They will shift their focus from what was planned to what’s important. Good marketers are able to rapidly change tactics and practice agile marketing.
Always Learning
The landscape of what’s working, what’s available, and what’s new in marketing is always changing. This is why the best marketers know that they need to constantly be learning and staying on top of major trends in the marketing space. Marketing is easily one of the most fast-paced industries out there, and if you fall behind, it’s easy to have your strategies fall ineffective quickly.
Creative
At the end of the day, the best marketers are highly creative people. You can follow other blueprints and use other strategies, but you need to be able to come up with creative ideas on your own to differentiate yourself from the crowd and build a unique presence.
If you truly want to know how to be a good marketer, it’s essential that you develop these qualities. Follow the success tracks of those around you, but try new things as well. Commit to learning and rely on data always. Be creative and don’t be afraid to take risks – the biggest risks may result in the best successes. And either way, you will always learn and grow as a result.
