The world of digital marketing is constantly evolving, and businesses that want to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace need to have a solid digital marketing strategy in place. But creating and executing a successful digital marketing campaign requires more than just technical know-how. It requires a skilled and experienced digital marketing specialist who can effectively navigate the complexities of the digital landscape and help businesses achieve their marketing goals.
So, what exactly should you look for before hiring a digital marketing specialist? As a digital marketing agency, we know a thing or two about what makes a great digital marketer. Let’s explore the top skills that a digital marketing specialist should possess to help your business thrive in the digital age…
Strategy and planning
The first and most important skill that a digital marketing specialist should possess is the ability to develop a comprehensive digital marketing strategy. A solid digital marketing strategy takes into account the unique needs and goals of your business and outlines a clear plan of action to achieve those goals. It includes identifying your target audience, understanding the competition, determining the most effective marketing channels for your business, setting realistic goals, and creating a roadmap for execution.
Without a well-defined digital marketing strategy, most businesses are simply throwing money at various tactics in the hope that something will stick. But a digital marketing specialist who can create and execute a solid strategy will be able to achieve a greater ROI and deliver measurable results.
Analytics and data analysis
Digital marketing is a data-driven field, and a marketing specialist who can effectively analyse and interpret data will be a valuable asset to any business. They should be able to collect and analyse data from various sources, including website analytics, social media metrics, and email marketing performance, and use that data to make informed decisions about future marketing strategies.
By using data to inform marketing decisions, a digital marketing specialist can identify what’s working and what’s not, adjust campaigns in real time, and optimise your business’s marketing efforts for maximum ROI.
SEO and SEM
Search engine optimisation (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM) are critical components of any digital marketing strategy. A digital marketing specialist should have a deep understanding of SEO and SEM best practices and be able to optimise your website’s content and structure to improve your search engine rankings.
They should also be able to create effective pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns, monitor keyword performance, and adjust bids and targeting to maximise ROI. By effectively leveraging SEO and SEM tactics, a digital marketing specialist can help your business attract more website traffic, generate leads, and increase conversions.
Content creation and marketing
Content marketing is another important aspect of digital marketing. A digital marketing specialist should be skilled in creating high-quality content that resonates with the target audience and supports the overall marketing strategy. They should be able to develop and execute a content marketing plan that includes blog posts, social media content, videos, and other forms of content that align with your business’s goals.
In addition to creating content, a digital marketing specialist should also have a strong understanding of content distribution and promotion. They should know how to effectively promote content through social media, email marketing, and other channels to increase visibility and drive traffic.
Social media marketing
Social media has become a critical component of any digital marketing strategy, and a digital marketing specialist should be proficient in creating and executing social media campaigns that drive engagement and build brand awareness. They should be able to identify the most effective social media platforms for your business, develop a social media content calendar, and create compelling content that resonates with your target audience.
In addition to creating content, a digital marketing specialist should also be able to monitor social media channels for mentions and engagement, respond to customer inquiries and complaints, and analyse social media metrics to improve campaign performance.
Email marketing
Email marketing is still one of the most effective marketing channels for businesses, and a digital marketing specialist should be able to create and execute effective email marketing campaigns. They should be skilled in developing email marketing campaigns that are engaging, personalised, and provide value to the recipient. A digital marketing specialist should also have experience with email automation and be able to segment email lists based on various criteria to deliver targeted messages to specific groups of recipients.
They should be able to monitor email performance, track open and click-through rates, and make adjustments to improve campaign performance. With the right strategy and execution, email marketing can be a highly effective way to generate leads, nurture customer relationships, and drive conversions.
Creative and design skills
In addition to technical skills, a digital marketing specialist should also possess strong creative and design skills. They should be able to create visually appealing and engaging content that resonates with the target audience and supports the overall marketing strategy. They should also be proficient in graphic design and be able to create high-quality visual assets, such as images, infographics, and videos, that support your marketing campaigns.
Strong creative and design skills are essential for creating a cohesive and impactful digital marketing campaign that captures the attention of your target audience and drives engagement.
Communication and collaboration
Finally, a digital marketing specialist should possess strong communication and collaboration skills. They should be able to effectively communicate with your team members, stakeholders, and external partners to ensure that everyone is aligned on the marketing strategy and goals. They should also be able to collaborate effectively with designers, developers, and other specialists to create a cohesive and impactful digital marketing campaign.
Good communication and collaboration skills are essential for ensuring that the marketing campaign is executed effectively and that everyone is working together towards the same goals.
Finding a unicorn
In today’s digital age, if you want to succeed, you need to have a solid digital marketing strategy in place. And to execute that strategy effectively, you need to have a skilled and experienced digital marketing specialist on your team. Scratch that, you need to have a few specialists on your team. You see, finding a digital marketing specialist who has all of the skills mentioned above is like finding a unicorn – it’s rare (some might say impossible) and seems too good to be true…
While a digital marketing specialist should possess a range of skills, each of these skills requires a different set of knowledge, experience, and expertise. For example, someone who is skilled in SEO and SEM may not have the same level of expertise in social media marketing or email marketing. Similarly, someone who is highly creative and can design visually appealing content may not be as proficient in data analysis or technical skills. As most small businesses know though, it’s next to impossible to build a team of specialists in-house.
That’s why PrimePixels is a different kind of agency – we support businesses with a team of specialists without any of the in-house overheads. A dedicated account manager oversees your digital marketing, supported by a team of specialists who can be brought in on tasks as and when you need them.
Working with a team of specialists who can work together to execute a comprehensive digital marketing strategy and complement each other’s skills is the ultimate path to success in digital marketing. At the end of the day, there are a range of skills you need to look for in a digital marketing specialist, but you’ll need more than one specialist to deliver measurable results and drive business growth.
