With the increasing rate of technology adaptation among people around the world. This has indefinitely led to the increase of reliance on technology in recent years. The technology adaptation rate in the world has skyrocketed such that even the less fortunate and developed countries have seen exponential growth.
One particular technology that stood out was the internet and we all know that the internet is the enabler and driver for modern platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and many more! Also with the internet, Digital Marketing has evolved to an option for businesses to now it being mandatory for all businesses to succeed and survive!
With the abundance of platforms, this calls forth massive amounts of data! So, if you are able to successfully interpret and use these data and information accurately, chances are you are going to be a good Digital Marketer!
Enough said, let’s start by revealing the secrets to being a successful Digital Marketer!
1. Knowing your market and competitors!
The first thing you want to do is to dive deep into knowing the types of digital marketing. Digital Marketing includes content marketing, Social Media Marketing, SEO, PPC’s, email marketing, and many more. So first things first! Get to know and learn your domain first!
After understanding the different areas of digital marketing specialization. An additional bonus is to understand the types of platforms that are used by the respective domains as well as how people are using these platforms.
Take Facebook, for example, Facebook is an avenue that PPC’s specialists are extremely focused and rely on.
One interesting fact for you is that the estimated number of Facebook users is at a whopping figure of 2.85 billion and that’s almost a quarter of the world’s population! Amazing right?
So start your journey by understanding the market and your competitors first before beginning your digital marketing journey.
As Sun Tzu said, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”
2. Choosing your niche!
Let’s face it! It’s better to have a specific skill-set or domain that we are masters of than a jack of all trades, master of none. So, after studying the number of digital marketing domains and platforms that are available for you. Choose a domain that you wish to compete and excel in. (Choose wisely)
Your focus can be in a niche space such as LinkedIn marketing or the mass market such as Facebook, Instagram. Otherwise, it can even be in other forms such as email marketing.
The choice is totally yours!
3. Understanding the Algorithm
Now that you have selected your domain. Start learning the mechanism of things as well as understand how the platform works. A really simple analogy is that: to be the best snooker player, you must first learn the rules of the game as well as creating your own style for the game.
Well, I don’t mean that you have to learn to code or understand the CSS of the app as well as the language that the platform uses. What I am referring to here is simply to understand how to be the “best” in the domain. One tip is to start following and learning from the experts in the field because they are the best leaders and teachers you can find.
Once you understand how things work, interpreting and using it will definitely be a piece of cake for you!
4. Forming a community
Digital Marketing is an inexact science! What this means is that there is no right or wrong in Digital Marketing. Unlike mathematics where 1 + 1 is definitely equal to 2. Digital Marketing is all about creativity and freestyling. You will be surprised that even the wackiest and weirdest way of doing Digital Marketing may actually work. (not that I am implying that you can be successful by doing it randomly and unprofessionally).
There is a certain framework or guideline that we have to follow eventually. What’s important here is to realize your own style of digital marketing techniques and framework. When fusion-chefs are creating fusion food, they use original cuisines as a base or foundation, and then they seek feedback on their creation from customers, families, and even peers.
Similar to fusion-chefs, the best way to find out what’s best for you is to network and exchange ideas. They always say two brains are better than one.
Therefore, it will be perfect if you are able to form your own community of digital marketing to exchange ideas and seek advice because the best way to learn is through communicating and executing!
5. Staying relevant
Even our smartphone Apps have updates on a weekly or monthly basis. That just proves how fast the world of technology is advancing and evolving!
Therefore, it is important that we as users of technology are also on track and at pace with the advancement of technologies. For almost a century, humans have been burning oil to fuel their vehicles for commercial or residential purposes. However, in 2008, that’s where Elon Musk decided to have a paradigm shift for vehicle users all over the world. Elon Musk decided to invent TESLA, a series of cars that runs on electric batteries (EV Cars). This led to huge changes in the automotive industry, especially in recent years. Resulting in many automotive powerhouses such as Toyota, Ford being threatened.
Similar to the infamous story of NOKIA, where they fail to stay relevant which led them to their downfall. It is important that we as Digital Marketers are updated with marketing trends such as AR/VR as well as the rise of new platforms such as TikTok. One pro tip is to read the news regularly and network with like-minded individuals so that new ideas and information can be passed on!
6. Continuous learning! Continuous Practice!
Another secret to being a successful Digital Marketer is to practice the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen. Kaizen is a Japanese belief in continuous learning or “change for the better” where the Japanese see improvement as a gradual and methodical process. Similar to staying relevant (mentioned in point 5 above), it is important for Digital Marketers to stay curious and stay hungry and always improve and be better. So it’s important to upscale and upgrade Keep learning because, in the world of technology, learning never stops!
What now? Realizing your Potential!
After putting together the different tips and secrets of being a professional and successful Digital Marketer. It is safe to say that you are good to spread your wings and start flying your way to the greatest potential in Digital Marketing.
The most important thing of all is to listen and practice! Keep your mind open and your heart open. Take in the information that will help you in your digital marketing journey and keep improving. One day, I am sure that you will be able to stand on the same podium as Neil Patel or Gary Vee.
Whether you are doing Digital Marketing for fun, for business, or as a career, it’s always good to know and learn the foundation of it. You can simply ask a friend who is an expert in the field or watch youtube videos on Digital Marketing tutorials.
But if you really wish to scale up and level yourself up to be prepared for the digital future. You can simply sign up and register for professional Digital Marketing courses! Take for example International Institute Of Digital Marketing™ (IIDM)
IIDM provides individuals with the knowledge they need to be successful in the ever-changing digital world through a change in mindset, a fresh perspective, and approaches that enable imagination and creativity as well as leveraging experience and the openness to learn.
Learn the tools & methodology to be a master of Digital Marketing. Be certified as a Digital Marketing Master with proper training and system. Sign Up here today!
About the author:
I’m Bernard, a Digital Marketing Specialist and Digital Marketing Analyst in International Institute Of Digital Marketing™ (IIDM). PPC’s, Content Creation and Social Media Marketing is my forte! If there’s opportunity for collaboration! Bump me up! Let’s work together.
Email: bernardtwj@gmail.com