22 May 2017

What Today’s Digital Marketers Need To Know

Halfway there…

 

It’s been a while since my last update when I began the Red & Yellow Digital Marketing Course. Since then, the way I look at things has changed. Cliche? Yes. But this is not what you think.

 

 

 

In the last 4 weeks, I have learnt how the intricacies of marketing, design and tech mix together to give a brand a unique flavour and personality, as well as give a company a competitive advantage. When looking at a website, or searching on Google, I now change my behaviour and way of thinking to take what I have learnt into consideration.

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So, what have I learnt?

The course takes you back to where it all started – to the baby of Marketing as we have known it before- the traditional 4 Ps, and then introduces you to the world of digital, and how this baby has grown into a phenomenal concept in the way we market ourselves, brands, services and products. The fundamentals of marketing stay the same, but the difference lies in the way it’s used.

To a layman, it might sound pretty easy to be a digital marketer. Before the course, I knew the concepts, but I had no further knowledge into what a digital marketer’s 9-5 would look like. After 4 weeks of delving deeper into the digital world, I now understand that without the proper knowledge and grounding, formulating a winning digital strategy could be your worst nightmare.

For instance, looking at a website, there is a lot more to consider than one might expect of a marketer. Like the code, design and UX principles; exploring how the customer thinks, how they will react, and what method of use will be most beneficial to ensure that the customer will buy or take an action to drive business and revenue – all of this falls to today’s digital marketers.

The Digital Marketing Course teaches you how to understand all the elements that are needed to be successful. The assignments always give me a deeper understanding of the finer details of the skills required to be great at what one does.

Recruiting right

Personally, I have developed a lot of skills that I will use every day as a recruiter, even if it is just to be able to “walk the walk and talk the talk”. I feel more inclined to go in-depth and challenge marketers by asking the hard questions, and not just “How big is your PPC budget?”
Within my industry, I have learnt more about what and who my colleagues work with on a daily basis, for example, the Tech desk and developers, and the Creative desk’s work with copywriters and UX designers. These principles all come together and show me how our clients need Recruit Digital’s services in a holistic manner.
I’ve also gained more insight into what to ask my clients and candidates in order to better understand their wants and needs in specific digital skillsets, and match them with the right position/candidate.

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A little personal branding

A skill that I now use frequently, is how to grab customers’ attention online. Copywriting and specific call-to-action insights have shown me how to really draw clients’ and customers’ attention, for example, when I post adverts on LinkedIn or on any of Recruit Digital’s job platforms. This has also taught me that relationship building is of utmost importance and constant online interaction is very beneficial personally and professionally, even if it is simply congratulating people on work anniversary’s or birthdays on LinkedIn. I have seen a positive change in my LinkedIn profile and activity with my clients and customers.

I will most likely use 99% (not all of us are geniuses and can recall the whole course 😉 ) of the knowledge obtained through the Digital Marketing Course, not only in my professional capacity but as a human being; actually seeing and breathing the methods of how digital marketing gets used around me every day.

Here’s to the next 4 weeks!

Overall, my Red & Yellow experience so far has been pleasant and I have never felt more comfortable to embark on a journey of enlightenment, despite having a full-time job. Having frequently engaged in online courses, this has by far felt more engaging and easier to practically implement, and there’s enough time to complete the weekly assignments and quizzes. The course material has more than enough examples and real life scenarios for me to get excited about – and to understand – digital.

If you are craving an explosion of digital knowledge, I would suggest this course, whether already in the field or wanting to enter the digital world. Holding thumbs for smooth sailing for the next half of my Digital Marketing learning journey!

Author: Tanya Behrendt

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