Should only a quarter of our lives be devoted to learning? Debates on this topic by several scholars played a significant role in arriving at the conclusion that high school, college, and university degrees are not enough to drive a great career. Learning is a lifelong process and self study has proven to be a more effective method of learning.
It is important for marketing communications professional to commit themselves to lifelong learning in order to keep pace with the new tools and technologies available to modern marketers. This can be achieved through books, online journals and tutorials.
Below are some skills every marketing professional can learn online.
Coding: Websites, apps and platforms which give clients and consumers a great experience all run on the brilliance of designers and developers who make them work. Understanding the language of coding gives a marketing communications professional an advantage, which helps them to come up with innovative solutions for brands and consumer engagement.
Graphic Design: Visual storytelling and communication abilities are critical in modern marketing to improve the desirability and shareability of marketing materials. Acquiring graphic design skills is critical in building and maintaining a successful marketing communications consultancy.
Video Production/Editing: Videos rule! Right now, video marketing is the rave, and people online are watching more videos than ever – a billion on youtube. Use of video for storytelling is a top priority for modern content marketers. With tutorials on Youtube, marketing communication professionals can acquire video production skills which can come in handy for low budget production needs.
Mobile Marketing: With mobile penetration now at 81% in Nigeria, any serious modern marketer must understand how to use mobile apps, devices and platforms to reach the target audience – for engagement, advertising and sales. Loads of training tools are available online.
Data Analysis: Numbers are essential in a marketing tool box. Reliable data which help with better understanding of consumer behaviour and target audience is critical for strategic business decision-making. Websites like udemy.com provide data analysis courses online.