INTRODUCTION:

This is a digital era, and in this digital age, the demand for marketing and sales is growing leaps and bounds. Marketing can be best described as applying various techniques and tools to build your brand image and increase sales. Amongst the top 5 skills that future demands, digital marketing is one of them. Everyone wants to learn digital marketing today, either to pursue a career in that field or build one’s business. Coming to sales which is a part of marketing, is one skill everyone should possess, be it a marketer or an entrepreneur because the ultimate goal of a company is to increase revenue which comes with an increase in sales.

In today’s world, the concept of sales has evolved. “Sales is not about selling anymore, but about building trust and educating”, are the wise words of Siva Devaki, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of MassMailer. 

This is a long article that captures everything you need to know to pursue a career in marketing, right from career opportunities in marketing and sales, what a marketing executive does, job roles in marketing,

STATISTICS:

The Global marketing services group Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN) released its Digital Report 2020 which states that the Indian advertising industry has grown at a rate of 9.4% over 2018 to reach Rs. 68,475 Crore by the end of 2019. The industry will grow also by 10.9% to reach Rs. 75,952 crore by the end of 2020 and is expected to grow at 11.83% CAGR to reach a market size of Rs. 1,33,921 Crore by 2025 which shows sales and marketing is the way forward.

As per CISCO, the number of internet users by June 2021 will total up to 829 million. The Business Standard has reported the statement made by the Economic Affairs Secretary of India on the digital economy which said India’s Digital Economy would reach $1 trillion by 2022. It also expects that the Indian digital economy would be half of the total economy by the end of 2030. Hence the future of Digital Marketing in India is very bright.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN SALES AND MARKETING:

In today’s competitive world where companies are striving to sustain and grow, the market is a red ocean where such companies are innovating every day to outsmart their competitors and establish their share. Technology is the driving force here.There is a simple rule, either innovate, adapt and grow or quit, because in this ever-changing world, there is no more place for companies who cannot prove their importance and add value to customers more than their competitors. Hence, it most important to bring progressive improvements or bombard the market with a Radical innovation. So how do you sustain yourself here? How do you prove yourself better than your competitors?

One solution is through marketing. The way you portray your company to the people and engage with them is in your hands. Hence the demand for marketing is growing day by day. A good marketing strategy can bring you miles apart from your competitors. Hence for people who want to pursue marketing, there is an ample amount of scope. If you want to figure out how to go about marketing and what sort of personality and skills are required, Read further

WHAT DOES A MARKETING EXECUTIVE DO?

Marketing executives oversee many aspects of a campaign throughout the entire lifespan of a product, service or idea. As such executives are likely to have a great deal of responsibility early on and will be required to manage their time and duties themselves. These responsibilities can include:

• Developing marketing campaigns
• conducting research and analysing data to identify and define audiences
• presenting ideas and strategies
• promotional activities
• compiling and distributing financial and statistical information
• writing and proofreading creative copy
• maintaining websites and looking at data analytics
• organising events and product exhibitions
• updating databases and using a customer relationship management (CRM) system
• coordinating internal marketing and an organisation’s culture
• monitoring performance
• managing campaigns on social media.

DIFFERENT JOB ROLES IN MARKETING:

Marketing is an ocean. It has a variety of specializations and jobs under it. Few are:

• Digital Marketing
• Sales
• Brand Management
• Business Development
• Web producer
• Product management
• Marketing analyst
• Advertising
• Chief Marketing Officer
• Research  
• Communications executive

HOW TO BEGIN WITH MARKETING:

Marketing can be pursued by anyone, you just need to learn how to go about learning the essentials. People can pursue marketing right from the beginning or jump into marketing from any other career. Let us dive into the details:

1. Pursue some form of education for marketing:

So, depending upon the stage of career, you can decide what form of education will be beneficial for you. The different forms are:

• Pursue a bachelor’s degree specializing in marketing:

For the people who have just completed 12^th and want to pursue graduation specializing in marketing now, choose a bachelor’s degree which gives you that option (example: Bachelor of Business Administration, etc.). There will be multiple universities and colleges which provide such specializations, spa choose wisely.

Time required: To complete a bachelor’s degree specializing in marketing, one would require a minimum of 3 years. But you can start interning and freelancing simultaneously once you dive into studying marketing.

• Practical oriented certification course:

For those people who have already started their graduation (not specialization in marketing) or have already started a career in some other field and want to shift into marketing, do not worry. There are hundreds of courses that will enlighten you on this field and provide the required knowledge for you to start your career. Here, you need to understand what form of marketing course you want to do. There is a variety of options under marketing as well.

Check out this renowned practical oriented & interview guarantee digital marketing course at an affordable price!

So, when you work in a corporate or a very established company, most of the time your role will be very specific. But when you work with startups, you will need a combination of all. So here, we would suggest choosing various topics and try to understand how each works, and then do courses which will help you specialize in it. Or if you are working already, do a course which your company demands out of you. Remember, practical experience also teaches a lot, so do not worry, you will learn it all in time.

Time required: Typically, to undergo training which gives an overall knowledge in the subject matter, it takes 3-4 months to complete the training. However, there are short courses of 100 hours and even less which give an in-depth knowledge of a segment of the subject.

• Post-Graduation:

If you have completed a bachelor’s degree specializing in marketing, you can undergo do a PG program to get exposed to a wider avenue of skillsets as well as climb the corporate ladder. 

Time required: A post-graduation degree comes with typically higher investment and takes 1-2 years for the completion of the program, depending upon your chosen course as well as the college where you have enrolled. PG programs are now available on online platforms like UpGrad where you can do your post-graduation sitting at home for a much lesser investment which you can complete at your own pace.

• Doctorate:

Once you have completed a post-graduation in Marketing and want to dive much deeper into marketing for high level research or personal reasons, you can do a doctorate program. 

Time required: A doctorate program requires 3 years for completion. Hence only if you have the time on you and you want to pursue it, only then opt for it.

DIGITAL MARKETING AS A CAREER:

So out of all the branches mentioned above, digital marketing is one filed which is growing at the speed of light maybe. Not going digital today is like still sending letters to connect with people. But once you digitalize, boom, you find so many easier and better ways to network and connect. Social media is no more a tool for just influence, but also used to generate Sales.

Hence, most of the people want to pursue digital marketing as their specialization and it makes sense due to the wide scope and a budding career choice. The best way to begin your journey as a digital marketer is completing a professional course. It is a onetime investment course, and it is one of the courses with less investment and greater returns. 

Having an overall idea of digital marketing is best, but if you wish and your job demands, you can specialize in one of the digital marketing fields. They include:

• Digital Marketing Strategist
• SEO Specialist
• Email marketing Specialist
• Google AdWords specialist
• Content Development
• Social media specialist
• Leads Manager

(Click here for courses- Trof)

To become a successful digital marketer and gain fame, keep these pointers in mind:

• Training

Get a practical oriented training in digital marketing overall, or atleast the role you would want to specialize. It will give you an upperhand over others who do not have the knowledge.

• Practical Application of what you learnt

Doing internships can help you gauge a lot of practical knowledge which would actually be helpful for your job ahead. Also, companies prefer candidates who have a past experience over others as the requirement to train them in detail is less.

• Work on your skillset

To become a successful digital marketer, you got to possess some skills. If you do not know them, then you must learn them. Few important skills for a digital marketer are:

• Editing skills (photos and videos)
• Communication skills
• Analytics
• Writing (for blogs, content, etc.)
• Working with a team
• Soft skills
• Time Management
• Creativity
• Search engine optimization
• AdWords
• Making and running ads
• Create engaging content
• Email etiquettes
• Creating a social media ecosystem for the company

What does a digital marketer do?

• Assist in the formulation of strategies to build a lasting digital connection with consumers
• Plan and monitor the ongoing company presence on social media (Twitter, Facebook etc.)
• Launch optimized online adverts through Google Adwords, Facebook etc. to increase company and brand awareness
• Be actively involved in SEO efforts (keyword, image optimization etc.)
• Prepare online newsletters and promotional emails and organize their distribution through various channels
• Provide creative ideas for content marketing and update website
• Collaborate with designers to improve user experience
• Measure performance of digital marketing efforts using a variety of Web analytics tools (Google Analytics, WebTrends etc.)
• Acquire insight in online marketing trends and keep strategies up-to-date
• Maintain partnerships with media agencies and vendors

Types of Digital marketing jobs:

• Digital Marketing Manager
• Content Strategist
• SEO Specialist
• SEM Specialist
• User Experience Designer
• Data Analysts
• Email Marketing Specialist
• Internet of Things Marketing Specialist
• Bot Developer
• Social Media Marketer

SALES AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AS A CAREER:

Sales and business development are considered and the same by few. But its not true. They go hand in hand, but there is some distinction between. Business development can be considered as early sales. BD executives are accountable to nurture the relationship the company has with clients and customers. They are responsible to help the company grow, generate leads and develop new opportunities for the company. Sales is actually selling the product/service to customers. 

The definition of sales has evolved with time. Earlier, sales just meant going and selling a product/service to someone. Now, sales are not just mere selling, but developing a loyal customer and building the bond of trust with then. Sales is the driving force of a company. Every company requires charismatic individuals to close valuable deals for them. So, until companies stop selling, the future of sales as a career is very bright. If you wish to pursue sales as your career, then read this article as it will clear all your doubts regarding this career choice.

Here are the steps and tips you should follow to become a charismatic sales executive:

Pursue some form of training 

Training will help you upskill yourself and identify your strengths and weaknesses. It will also help you to overcome your weaknesses and identify your opportunities. Depending on which level you are in, you can pursue a practical oriented training. 

(Click here to see some training – trof Careers)

Practical application of what you have learnt:

Practice makes a man perfect, and what you learn practically stays with you longer. If your training is a practical oriented one, then you are good to go. Otherwise doing an internship, even if it is not paid. Trust us on this, it is one of the best ways and a step ahead to become successful.

Learn the skills required for Business Development & Sales:

A successful charismatic sales executive demands a lot of skills to be learnt. You must build yourself from as early as possible. Few of the skills include:

• Salesmanship
• Negotiation skills
• Patience
• Communication skills
• Basics of digital marketing as digital media is an effective tool to generate sales now
• Effective Listener
• Observant
• Street smart
• Perseverance
• Soft skills
• Empathetic
• Dedication
• Strategizing
• As BD executives, basic technical skills are required.

There are few skills you need to learn if you do not possess it. With time and practice you can figure out what you lack and start working on them. Hence, start working on these skills as early as possible. Only with practice, you will figure out what works for you and what does not. 

What does a BD Executive do?

• Research on prospective customers in the company’s target market
• Develop and use different strategies to generate leads for the company
• Reach out to existing customers for feedback and new leads
• Maintain relationship with existing customers
• Work with sales team to ensure the leads are being converted to customers 

What does a Sales Executive do?

• Builds business by identifying and selling prospects; maintaining relationships with clients.
• Identifies business opportunities by identifying prospects and evaluating their position in the industry; researching and analyzing sales options.
• Sells products by establishing contact and developing relationships with prospects; recommending solutions.
• Maintains relationships with clients by providing support, information, and guidance; researching and recommending new opportunities; recommending profit and service improvements.
• Identifies product improvements or new products by remaining current on industry trends, market activities, and competitors.
• Prepares reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information.
• Maintains quality service by establishing and enforcing organization standards.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; benchmarking state-of-the-art practices; participating in professional societies.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
• Coach, mentor, and provide feedback to team members
• Foster a competitive yet collaborative team environment
• Assess individual performance through observation and measurement, and suggest corrective actions as needed

SOME HABITS/TIPS TO INCULCATE WHILE PURSUING MARKETING:

Stay updated with the current trends

Staying up with current trends is most important for a marketer (one post at the right time can make you go viral). Hence always stay updated of what is trending around you and use it for your benefit.

Read blogs/articles in the respective field

Reading is one habit you should inculcate. Reading will increase your knowledge, pop in some amazing insights into your mind and overall, help you know what is happening around you and keep updated. 

Do an internship alongside training:

The best way to learn something is to learn it practically. Hence it is advisable to intern with startups or other companies ready to hire, even if you are not getting paid for it because what you learn practically lasts longer in your mind. You can also work for beta clients. Internships also give you a chance to figure out what is important and provide a platform to apply what you have learnt in your training. There are various platforms which provide internships, like Internshala, Letsintern, etc.  

Learn the skills required to become a marketer generally

There are a hundred skills required to become a successful marketer. So, from the beginning or since you have decided to become a marketer, or even after you have read this article, please work on building the necessary skills. The aim is to build a charismatic personality who possess the mentioned skills:

• Communication skills
• Analytics
• Working with a team
• Presentation skills
• Soft skills
• Time Management
• Street smart
• Creativity and innovation
• Build your Personal Brand

BUILDING YOUR PERSONAL BRAND:

Building and optimizing your brand image is one of the most important skills of a marketer. Having a good personal brand can take you places and help you accelerate your career path. LinkedIn, Instagram, etc. are effective tools for it.

(To know more about personal branding, read this)

CAREERS YOU CAN PURSUE AS A MARKETER AND ALONGSIDE MARKETING TRAININGS:

It is always beneficial to have the knowledge of digital marketing while pursuing marketing specialization of any form because it helps you diversify your skills and the services you provide:

• Freelancing
• Blogging
• Become a Youtuber and earn 
• Startup your own firm/agency
• Affiliate Marketing

3-5 years down the lane:

3-5 years down a career in marketing, if you are working in a startup, depending upon your previous performance, you can be promoted to the level of Chief Marketing officer or regional head. 

If you are working in a corporate, you will be promoted to the level of associate manager or manager depending upon your capabilities, past performance, and size of the firm.

Working for a marketing agency, the success of your agency depends upon your strategies, hard work and commitment. 

If you want to change your career, you can become a blogger, content writer, freelancer, youtuber or an entrepreneur without any professional training. Thinking of getting into any other creative field, you will have to go through some professional training. 

Conclusion:

The future of marketing is very bright. Anyone can pursue marketing with some professional training, but to level up on the corporate ladder, you will require to outsmart your colleagues in term of skills and knowledge. Hence marketing a safe and wise career choice if you have the skills mentioned above. Digital marketing is going grow even more in the coming years, and is also the future of marketing, so do not miss out on learning the basics of it at least.

The secret to grow and excel at any profession or career path is practice and continuous learning. It is very important to not stop learning, work on gauging new skills and learn from past mistakes. Practice is the best principle to better yourself at anything. Hence keep learning, keep growing.

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