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Making It in Marketing: How to Get into Marketing as a Career

Making It in Marketing: How to Get into Marketing as


Making It in Marketing: How to Get into Marketing as a Career

In 2018, there were over 1.5 billion customers worldwide who bought products and services online. With so much commerce at stake, companies need world-class marketers to attract this potential customer base.

If you’re ready to join this crowd of world-class professionals then you can begin to build your marketing career today. Check out this helpful guide to learn more on how to get into marketing. Your next best career could be waiting for you.

Careers in the Marketing Field: A Snapshot

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that marketing professionals earn a median salary of over $129,000. Marketing careers are predicted to grow ten percent by the year 2026.

Marketers create and implement promotions for products, services or brands. They know how to grow sales by targeting areas of need. Once they know these areas, they recommend services or goods that have the best impact on their customers.

There are plenty of different careers in marketing you can choose from. Some of the career tracks include the following:

  • Advertising;
  • Brand Management;
  • Market Research;
  • Promotions; and
  • Public Relations.

How to Get into Marketing

The following is a step by step process to jump-start your marketing career. You’ll see what training and networking you’ll need to help you excel in this field.

Get Your Marketing Bachelors Degree

In today’s academic industry, there are plenty of marketing bachelors degree programs offered by top name universities. The good news is that many of these degree programs are now offered online, too.

Oregon State University, Purdue University, Walden University, and Regents University offer online bachelor’s degree programs. 

Once you enroll in one of these programs, you’ll soon be studying the following courses:

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a method where a company sells its own products by signing up other companies (“affiliates”) who market those products for a commission fee. Students learn how to be an affiliate marketer and use performance-based marketing techniques to generate sales.

Automation

Automation helps marketers collect data and spot frequent patterns in customer behavior. Students learn how to use this data to anticipate the customer’s thought patterns and actions. This data helps marketers predict consumer buying habits.

Coding

Marketing students learn coding basics that web designers use to create websites. Two of the most common languages are Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) and Hypertext Markup Language (HTML.)

Marketers learn these languages to help them work better with web designers. That way they can ensure that their client’s web properties rank high in search engine results.

Copywriting

Marketing students also learn skills and strategies for copywriting. Copywriting involves creating advertising text to increase brand awareness or persuade a customer to take a specific action. Copywriting can be found in ads as well as brochures or newsletters.

Digital Marketing

Digital marketing covers advertising products and services on the internet. Some of the most effective digital marketing platforms include search engines, social media, and email. Digital marketing courses show students how to reach buyers through either mobile phones or computers.

E-mail Marketing

E-mail marketing uses automated communications to advertise products. It’s also an effective way to build relationships with current or potential buyers. Students learn how to use automated e-mail messaging through blogs, websites or social media.

Inbound Marketing

Inbound marketing is a different marketing tool besides e-mail. With inbound marketing, students learn how to create high-quality content on websites to attract potential customers, while e-mail marketing is a more direct outreach to deliver sales messaging to potential customers.

SEO Optimization

Marketing students must learn Search Engine Optimization (SEO) skills to increase the number of online visitors to a client’s website. These skills help design content that’s more attractive than what their competitors create. When more visitors come to the site, the site will rank higher on search engine results.

Website Analytics

A website analytics class teaches students how to collect a site’s performance metrics. Students also learn how to evaluate performance reports and follow marketing campaigns. With this data, they can recommend areas for improvement.

Video Marketing

Video marketing entails moving images on display advertisements rather than still photos. Students earn how to use video marketing to create live video streams of events over the internet. Students also learn how to incorporate these rolling advertising units onto websites instead of spot advertising.

Professional Networking

If you’re just starting a career in marketing, consider joining a professional organization. These groups can help you build your skills. They can also help you cultivate valuable connections in the field.

Here are some of the top professional marketing networks you should consider joining:

American Marketing Association (AMA)

AMA includes professionals who teach or work in the marketing industry. They also offer their members networking and training opportunities to advance their skills. Members can also access templates to help create project budgets or marketing proposals.

Public Relations Society of America

The Public Relations Society of America currently has a membership of has over 20,000 members. They support public relations’ promising practices and develop standards for ethical advertising. Members can also leverage continuing education on corporate communications and social media techniques.

American Advertising Federation

The American Advertising Federation (AAF) was first created in 1905. AAF includes college chapters, marketers and media companies in its membership. Members can also take part in continuing education events to follow the latest trends in marketing and technology.

Next Steps

If you want to learn more about how to get started in marketing, do some research on the web. Review what other projects marketing agencies are already working on and subscribe to their blogs. It’s a great way to find out what the latest trends are in the field today.

Research some of the colleges listed above. Exam their course descriptions to be sure they have the right classes to prepare you for a career in the marketing field.

Don’t forget to check our website for more helpful tips on how to get into marketing. We’re here to help you take charge of your life and make that marketing career dream come true for you!

Business

Building Loyalty: Tips for Making and Maintaining Happy Customers

Building Loyalty: Tips for Making and Maintaining Happy Customers


Building Loyalty: Tips for Making and Maintaining Happy Customers

Keeping customers is one of the most challenging things about running a business. However, if you can improve your customer retention, you’ll save time and money. 

On average, it costs about five times more to acquire new customers than it does to retain current customers. Focusing your marketing dollars and time to build loyalty is going to pay off much better in the long run. 

How do you make happy customers that keep coming back? It starts with you and how you treat your customers in a few critical areas. 

Do What You Say

First things first: keep your promises. 

Customers can quickly sniff out a company that doesn’t honor its policies. Whatever you promise for a sale, a service, or a return, make sure you follow through exactly as promised. 

  • On the one hand, you want to demonstrate that you care about your customers. Righting a wrong or working with a customer to make sure they have what they need goes a long way. 
  • On the other hand, unhappy customers love to tell everyone. Your reputation is always at stake. Customer satisfaction goes a long way toward earning positive reviews and customer referrals. 

Offering a steadfast return policy is an excellent way to ensure your customers are happy. No one wants to live with a product that doesn’t work or isn’t what they expected. 

Don’t make customers work too hard to return a product. If it’s an easy process for them to communicate with you and receive a satisfactory solution, they’ll keep you in mind for future purchases. 

Consistent Communication

Customers love good communication. Whether it’s an update about tracking for an order or a heads up about special offers, providing consistent communication is part of making customers happy. 

Be Proactive

Sometimes waiting too long to reach out is enough to lose a customer. Proactive communication keeps you top of mind with customers. 

Be careful not to spam email inboxes with too many messages. Communicating too frequently is an easy way to make customers unsubscribe and shop somewhere else. 

However, don’t wait until a customer reaches out to you. Follow-up after a sale or service. Send exclusive offers to current customers. Ask for feedback instead of waiting for a customer to come back to you.

Be Responsive

When a customer reaches out to you or leaves a comment on your website or social media pages, respond promptly. Don’t wait more than 24 hours to respond to a customer message. 

Putting off a response to a complaint or failing to resolve a situation quickly turns customers off. A complaint doesn’t go away if you ignore it. Great companies respond to every legitimate issue with prompt apologies and a resolution. 

This goes for good comments, too! Acknowledge a customer who posts a positive review or sends a grateful email. 

Listen to Feedback

If you’re communicating regularly with customers, you’ll get plenty of feedback. It’s critical to listen to feedback and react in positive ways. 

You don’t have to do everything that every customer suggests. You’ll know when you’re getting useful feedback that can help the customer experience rather than people wanting changes to try and get more out of you.

With the feedback that requires action, make sure your customers feel heard. Tell them you’re considering what they have to say and you’ll get back to them. 

When customers feel heard, they feel valued!

Reward Loyalty

Customers love receiving something for nothing! They also love gifts for engaging in social media or other contests. 

Be selective and strategic when offering discounts or gifts. The right incentives or thank-you gifts at the right time can help you keep loyal customers longer. 

It’s essential to avoid creating a customer base that only purchases when there’s a discount or free offer. You don’t want customers who are solely motivated by what you give them.

However, with genuinely loyal customers and fans, a gift or reward goes a long way if it has perceived value. Rewards don’t have to be expensive. Prioritize thoughtful rewards over expensive gimmicks to keep customers. 

Consider things like an exclusive discount, free shipping for VIP customers, or special occasion gifts. Give according to the season. Branded corporate Christmas gifts for your best customers not only makes them feel special, it’s good advertising for your brand. 

Say, “Thank You”

If you can’t offer gifts, that’s okay! Start with what you can do. 

Thanking your customers might seem obvious, but it’s easy to overlook. You can get caught up in chasing sales, shipping orders, and working on other aspects of your business. You might think you thanked your customers without really doing it.

The words “thank you” go a long way toward happy customers. If you’re wondering how to keep customers in one of the simplest, more cost-effective ways, being thankful for their purchase is simple and meaningful.

They won’t know it if you don’t tell them, but it’s important to do it right. Thanking customers—personally and individually—without asking for another purchase in your thank-you message is a powerful way to engage with customers. 

Feeling appreciated helps customers come back for more. 

Be the Expert

If you sell something or provide a service, be the expert. Customers are more likely to buy from companies that know what they’re doing. 

People don’t always know what they need. When you can provide options or the solution they need, they’ll remember that you’re an expert.

Being the go-to expert can lead to more customer referrals, too.

Happy Customer Keep Coming Back!

If you’re losing customers or your business survives on one-off purchases, try focusing on what you can do to make happy customers. 

It might not be about anything you’re doing wrong. It could be a matter of what more you can do right.

The more happy customers you have, the better success you’ll have for your business. Be sure to check out some of our articles about marketing and promoting your business to build your customer base. 

Business

Making a Lasting Impression: How to Write a Radio Ad

Making a Lasting Impression: How to Write a Radio Ad


Making a Lasting Impression: How to Write a Radio Ad

Did you know the radio reaches 93% of adults every week?

It’s no wonder companies are looking for ways to expand their marketing including the radio.

If you’re new to the radio advertising business, don’t let writer’s block get in your way.

Read on to learn how to write a radio ad that shines.

How to Write a Radio Ad

When radio first came out in the 1920s there was a single advertiser that would sponsor the entire radio program they those. In today’s world, a radio ad is more like a television commercial. It’s usually a 30-60 second advertisement.

Many people that commute listen to the radio during their commute putting you in front of people that will more than likely not change the radio station during a commercial break.

With such a short amount of time to capture someone, it’s important to learn how to write a radio ad that engages the listener. You have to find the right message to present it in a creative and captivating way for the listener to take action and not tune your ad out.

Why Radio Ads?

Like mentioned above the radio reaches a large percentage of adults on a weekly basis. If a radio ad is done properly that business will experience a large amount of growth. Many radio stations have loyal listeners that will listen to the ads instead of tune them out.

Radio ads will help a company grow when they engage the listener. Growth is one of the main goals of any business which is why radio ads are a smart investment and you can read more here about how radio advertising is still relevant today.

What Do You Want to Say?

First, you want to be clear on what exactly you want to say and what your brand is. You also want to be clear on your goals for the ad and clear on who your listener is. This will help you stay on track while creating what you want to say. It’s easy to lose track of the intended message when you have a ton you want to share. 

Write down all of your ideas and condense everything to one sentence. Read your sentence back to yourself out loud and if it doesn’t sound clear to you re-write it until you feel the effect that you want the listener to feel.

The key when sharing your message to be as simple as possible while still being clear and not confusing. 

Who is Your Audience?

You want to be clear on who is listening to make sure you appeal to them. If you’re advertising in a music radio station keep in mind this listener is there to listen to music so you will want to catch their attention for them to not tune you out. If you’re advertising in a talk radio station, that audience is there to listen to people talk.

Although they are already there to listen you have to catch their interest. This works best if your ad goes with what is being talked about. The question here is how can your product or service help the listener? 

The best radio ads will create an authentic connection with the listener and your service or product. When the connection is authentic your company automatically becomes more human and credible.

Tell a Story

Every good ad no matter the platform will share a story to engage their target audience. Every story needs a problem and a solution. If you keep it simple and to the point, you can create a powerful story in 60 seconds or less.

People will spend money with a business that they can relate to and care about. Telling a story in your ad will make you more relatable in turn creating 

Benefits

A radio ad is short there’s no need to waste time with long explanations or long introductions. You have to get straight to the point and point out the benefits. If you’re cheap say that, if you’re the fastest share that. 

Make a list of your benefits to get yourself clear on what benefits you want to drive to the listener in the 30-60 seconds you have available. 

Call to Action

The point of having an ad anywhere is for the audience to take action. You want to make sure you create a call to action that is simple and clear. 

You can tell them to go to a certain site and register or call a certain number to enter something. Basically, something that will take the listener to you so that you can stay connected. 

Adding the call to action at the end of the ad will keep the action fresh in the listener’s mind vs having the call to action in the beginning. By the end of the 30 or 60 seconds, they might’ve forgotten what you wanted them to do.

Go Write Your Next Radio Ad like a Pro

With the points above you will be able to create a radio ad that will keep listeners engaged instead of tune you out. You will also have results as long as you create a clear and simple call to action. Learning how to write a radio ad doesn’t have to be overwhelming or drive you insane once you have an idea of what will keep listeners engaged.

Now that you know what it takes to write a great radio ad it’s time to start writing.

Are you looking for more writing tips and tricks? Check out our writing guides to take your writing to the next level.

 

 

Business

Making Ends Meet: 5 Great Side Jobs for Writers

Making Ends Meet: 5 Great Side Jobs for Writers


Making Ends Meet: 5 Great Side Jobs for Writers

The side hustle is on the increase.

In a recent survey of 1,000 Americans who worked a side job, CreditLoan discovered that people were willing to give up recreation, time with friends and family, and even sleep to earn a supplemental income.

While some of these great side jobs mean leaving the house, for example driving an Uber or babysitting, others can be done from the comfort of your couch with a laptop. And for writers, there’s plenty of opportunities to use your skill with words in part-time jobs to supplement income.

Here, we spotlight a few:

1. Copywriter

Writing great copy needs creativity and skill, something that fiction authors have in spades. If you’re able to craft a compelling narrative, then you can tell a story for a company which encourages people to use their services. That’s what copywriting is, in a nutshell.

While some companies have a full-time copywriter on the payroll, for small businesses who can’t justify that, freelancers are the solution. Look out for freelance copywriting opportunities on job sites, or freelancing sites like Upwork.

2. Blogging

You could set up your own blog, invest the necessary time and effort into making it popular and then monetize it, but that’s a long-term project. In the shorter term, with the rise of content marketing, many companies are looking for original and compelling content. 

Job boards are another place to look for freelance roles, but there are several websites dedicated to connecting writers with opportunities. Although rates vary, writing a few blogs a week is one of the great side jobs for extra income.

Protip: You’ll earn a little more if you can find your niche.

3. Resume Writer

The best weekend jobs for extra income give you the flexibility to take work, or not to take it, so you can fit it around your personal life. Revamping resumes for paying clients is one of those jobs — busy executives use an executive resume service to get them ready for their next move.

There are a number of services available that you can sign up to, and it can be interesting work to see what other people have done with their lives and help them to get to the next stage.

4. Transcription

Most people who spend any decent amount of time at a keyboard develop a keen touch-typing speed. If this is you, then transcription might be an interesting opportunity.

Assignments vary from business meetings to legal proceedings, but be aware that the hourly rate quoted is ofter per hour of audio, not per hour it takes you to transcribe and proof.

5. Writing Tutor

Teaching can also offer opportunities for part-time jobs for extra money. Whether you tutor children going through school, or help an adult to master some of the finer points of creative technique, this job can be rewarding.

If you feel that you have plenty to offer, you could also consider organizing workshops and charging attendees to come along and spend some time refining their skills with you to act as a mentor.

More Great Side Jobs for Writers

These aren’t the only opportunities available for good writers. You could consider ghostwriting, proof-reading and editing, or offering developmental edits for other writers.

The opportunities are out there! Pack your home office with the essentials, and start looking for your lucrative side gig. For more writing advice, check out our writing blog. 

Entertainment

How to Submit Music to Blogs (and Start Making Money)

How to Submit Music to Blogs (and Start Making Money)


How to Submit Music to Blogs (and Start Making Money)

It’s a great time to be alive for music lovers everywhere. We have access to an infinite library of different artists and genres to choose from thanks to the internet.

However, for those independent artists who are trying to get their name and music out into the world, the competition can be fierce. So, how do developing artists stand out and keep themselves from being drowned in a sea of emails and mixtapes?

Well, it takes hard work and strategic planning, but it’s possible to get the attention you’re seeking through a simple and organized approach. If you are choosing to submit music to blogs with a high traffic rate, below are a few things to keep in mind when you decide to reach out.

Solidify Your Brand

Before you decide to put yourself out there, it’s important to have a full understanding of who you are as an artist. Branding is a crucial piece in making yourself memorable.

Branding yourself is a lot like putting together a puzzle that represents your artistic identity. Putting together certain pieces such as a certain font, color scheme, symbol, sound, style, or personality can cohesively create a theme in your music and artistry.

A solidified brand will show music blogs that you’re serious about making music your career. The confidence you have in knowing who you are and how to professionally represent yourself will help you stay clear of the dreaded email trash bin. And hopefully, you’ll get a positive response.

Research Before You Submit

After you’re confident in how you represent yourself to your audience, it is important to put in some extensive research before you submit music to blogs.

Reaching out to a website that promotes only rappers when you are a wedding band, such as David Rothstein Music, is completely irrational, right? Well, it happens all the time. That’s why it is important to make sure you’re not wasting your time and energy on a website or blog that doesn’t reach out to the same demographic as you.

Before committing to sending your art to someone, you should look for certain things they promote, the most important being genre. Once you’ve decided that the music blog you’re interested in is right for you, then you can move forward with trying to get their undivided attention.

Create a Sales Pitch

After you have decided to submit music to blogs that feel like a right fit for you, it is then time to work on a simple, yet professional email that will help you sell yourself to the reader/listener.

The first thing you will want to focus on is the music, of course. You will want to give a brief introduction to the song(s) with the title, an educated comparison on who/what it sounds like based on your musical inspirations, and the story behind the song(s).

Once the music has been presented, it is a good idea to give a story of yourself as an artist. For instance, you may want to include a little bit about where you came from, your musical background, any amazing opportunities you have had, who inspires you the most, and why you were drawn to music as a career path.

Giving insight into your creative background allows the blog to personify the artist behind the email address and put a personality to the music they’re listening to. The artistry of music is all about the heart, soul, and story. If you have a captivating sales pitch that includes all of those, then you’re sure to stand out from the crowd.

However, when you are writing your sales pitch, be careful to not write a novel. Yes, the reader/listener is interested in who you are as an artist, but they also have a lot of submissions to sift through. Telling them about how you wrote your first song when you were five because your dog died will be completely irrelevant to who you are as an artist today.

Keep it short. Keep it simple. Keep it unique. Keep it relevant to who you are today.

Sending the Right Format

When you submit music to blogs that may have an interest in promoting you, it’s extremely important to know what kind of format they will accept your music in. You will look pretty foolish and get a first class ticket to the trash bin if you send music in a format that they can’t play or don’t accept.

Depending on the type of website or blog you are reaching out to, there are many different formats that could be accepted. They may have it listed on their website, but if you’re unsure, it would probably be a smart decision to shoot them a quick email asking to clarify the types of formats they accept just to be on the safe side.

Here are some different formats different outlets will accept:

Radio

  • Hardcopy CDs
  • MP3s
  • EPKs with download links

Blogs

  • Embedded music player
  • Videos
  • CDs
  • Digital Press Kits

Festivals

  • Digital press kits
  • CDs
  • Hardcopy press kits

Record Labels/Producers

  • CDs
  • Press kits
  • Videos
  • Streaming links

Taking the Risk

Making the decision to submit music to blogs is a huge step for any aspiring artist. Once you have a solid confidence in your artistry and branding, then the only thing left to do is take the plunge in getting your name out there.

Even if you don’t receive any feedback from the first few times you make a submission, don’t give up! Take each refusal as a chance to improve your approach. Any famous musician you know of today had been turned down many times before the right person found them.

The music industry is all about hard work, making connections, and taking risks. The story you submit in your sales pitch could be the beginning of a much longer fairytale if you play your cards right.

Consider this article as an outline for your success. Take suggestions, take risks, and always stay true to your music. And if you have a music blog yourself, be sure to check out our tips on how to promote it to your fans.