Are you aspiring to become a digital marketer? Many newcomers to the field believe that excelling in digital marketing requires a strong grasp of numbers and an ability to interpret numerous charts and graphs. While this is partly true, the reality is somewhat different. Nowadays, platforms like Google and Facebook, two of the largest in the digital advertising space, have become incredibly user-friendly. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist or a data expert to succeed in digital marketing.
In today's landscape, the most accomplished digital marketers excel in understanding the human element—the art of digital marketing, rather than just the science.
Here are three unique methods you can use to learn digital marketing:
1. Take an Acting Class
One unconventional way to gain an edge in digital marketing is to enroll in an acting class. Russ Ruffino, one of the leading digital marketers in the United States, has a background in acting rather than marketing or business. He credits his success in digital marketing to his acting training. When you think about it, this connection makes perfect sense. It's not so much about the specific acting skills but more about the ability to deeply understand and express emotions.
Benefits of Taking an Acting Class
Enhanced Communication Skills: Acting classes teach you how to convey emotions, intentions, and stories effectively. This can improve your verbal and non-verbal communication skills, making you more persuasive and engaging in both personal and professional interactions.
Increased Confidence: Performing in front of others can boost your self-esteem and help you overcome stage fright. This newfound confidence can translate into other areas of your life, such as public speaking, networking, and presentations.
Emotional Intelligence: Acting requires understanding and portraying a wide range of emotions. This can enhance your empathy and emotional awareness, helping you to better understand and connect with others.
Creativity and Imagination: Acting stimulates your creative thinking and imagination. This can lead to innovative problem-solving and a more dynamic approach to challenges.
Stress Relief: Acting can be a great way to express and release emotions, providing a healthy outlet for stress and anxiety.
In digital marketing, the first crucial step is to thoroughly research and comprehend your target audience. This is quite similar to acting, where you must get into the mindset of your character. Essentially, empathy is the cornerstone of effective marketing. Truly placing yourself in the position of your audience is vital because many marketers often make incorrect assumptions about their audience's needs and desires.
2. Start Keeping a Journal
Another unique approach to mastering digital marketing is to start keeping a journal. David Ogilvy, often referred to as the godfather of modern advertising, famously stated: “Advertising is a business of words, but advertising agencies are infested with men and women who cannot write. They are as helpless as deaf mutes on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera.”
Whether you're dealing with digital marketing or traditional methods, your audience is human, and effective communication is key. While you may have written extensively in school, writing for social media requires a different touch. It's more conversational and less formal than academic or corporate writing.
Benefits of Keeping a Journal
Self-Reflection and Personal Growth: Journaling allows you to reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This can lead to greater self-awareness and personal growth as you understand your patterns, behaviors, and emotions more deeply.
Mental Clarity and Focus: Writing down your thoughts can help you clear your mind, prioritize tasks, and set goals. This can enhance your focus and productivity, both personally and professionally.
Stress Relief and Emotional Well-being: Expressing your feelings through writing can be therapeutic, helping to relieve stress, anxiety, and negative emotions. It provides a safe space to process and release what’s on your mind.
Creativity and Problem-Solving: Journaling can stimulate your creativity and help you brainstorm new ideas. It can also serve as a tool for problem-solving by allowing you to explore different perspectives and solutions.
Track Progress and Achievements: Keeping a journal enables you to document your progress, achievements, and milestones. This can be motivating and provide a sense of accomplishment as you look back on your journey.
Tips for Effective Journaling
Set a Regular Schedule: Choose a consistent time each day or week to write in your journal. This helps establish a routine and makes journaling a habit.
Find Your Preferred Medium: Whether it’s a physical notebook, a digital app, or an online platform, choose a medium that you’re comfortable with and enjoy using.
Be Honest and Authentic: Write honestly about your thoughts and feelings without self-censorship. Your journal is a private space for your true self.
Use Prompts and Questions: If you’re unsure what to write about, use prompts or questions to guide your entries. This can help you explore different topics and keep your journaling sessions productive.
Review and Reflect: Periodically review your past entries to reflect on your growth and progress. This can provide valuable insights and reinforce your learning.
To develop this skill, begin by journaling. Write an entry every day to practice articulating your thoughts and capturing your daily learnings. Aim for about 500 words each time. As Stephen King said, “You learn best by reading a lot and writing a lot, and the most valuable lessons of all are the ones you teach yourself.”
This naturally leads us to the next important point: the value of reading.
3. Read Marketing Classics
Lastly, immerse yourself in the timeless wisdom of marketing classics. Some essential reads include "Cashvertising" by Drew Whitman, "This Is Marketing" by Seth Godin, and "The Adweek Copywriting Handbook" by Joe Sugarman. Additionally, explore the treasures at swipe.co, where you can study the work of advertising legends. These examples, known as "swipes," have generated millions in revenue.
Tips for Reading Marketing Classics
Take Notes and Highlight Key Points: As you read, take notes and highlight key concepts, strategies, and examples. This will help you retain important information and easily reference it later.
Apply the Concepts: Try to apply the concepts and strategies from the books to your own marketing efforts. This practical application will reinforce your learning and help you see how these timeless principles can be adapted to modern contexts.
Discuss with Peers: Engage in discussions with peers or join a book club focused on marketing literature. Sharing insights and debating ideas can deepen your understanding and provide new perspectives.
Reflect on Current Practices: Compare the strategies and principles in the books to current marketing practices. Reflect on how the fundamentals have remained the same or evolved over time, and consider how you can integrate these classic ideas into your own strategies.
Keep an Open Mind: While some concepts in marketing classics may seem outdated, keep an open mind and look for the underlying principles that are still relevant. Innovation often builds on the foundation of established knowledge.
To excel in digital marketing, you don't need to follow the conventional path. Instead, consider these unconventional methods: cultivating empathy, maintaining a journal, and diving into extensive reading. By doing so, you'll become a highly valuable digital marketer. In fact, we would be thrilled to welcome you to apply to our agency.
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Ted is the co-founder of Ice Cube Marketing, a digital marketing agency in Singapore that has been operating since 2015 and has helped more than 500 SMEs grow their business through Facebook and Google ads.
