If you are involved in Marketing then you will know it’s currently changing at a rapid pace. Not only do you have to satisfy the demands of clients in this ever-changing landscape but you also have to be able to test theories in different industries. For what concept works in one industry might do harm in another.
It’s therefore of paramount importance that we as Digital Marketers stay ahead of trends and look to the future. If we adopt the “Listen, Test and Learn” cyclical approach of continual improvement and exercise this regularly then you will be one step ahead of your industry peers. It is this mindset that has allowed me to make changes for my clients (sometimes against their will) that have improved their business online.
Staying ahead of trends, best practices and applying what I learn has given me the confidence to make the right decisions at the right time for each clients website.
So, what is the ONE top tip I would urge anyone who wants to excel in this industry and not get left behind when AI takes over?
My top 5 quotes
“He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger. ”
Confucius
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. ”
Benjamin Franklin
“A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience. ”
Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894)
“You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over. ”
Richard Branson
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
Alvin Toffler
4 Methods I Use to Continually Learn
1. Feedly
Feedly is an awesome APP that allows you to follow your favourite blog posts all in one feed. Every day when I have a spare 5+ minutes I’ll open this up (in favour of any other APP) and swipe through all the latest blog posts from the market leaders. I can save for later or read there and then.
2. Read Books
Up until 2012 I never enjoyed reading as my lifestyle didn’t allow it and I didn’t much enjoy committing to a book. I’d always start, read a chapter or 2 but then never come back.
These days it’s different. Rather than watching Breaking Bad all over again on Netflix, I’d prefer to pick up a book and stick to it. I don’t really enjoy fiction, I am more of a business, inspiration and marketing bookworm. I aim to read 1 book every 3 months but go with the flow.
3. Podcasts
I only really got into Podcasts when I heard Neil Patel was starting one with another marketing guru Eric Siu. I used to walk to work which took me around an hour, and found this was the perfect time to tune in and learn about the latest and greatest digital marketing tips. Their podcasts were around 5 minutes each and condensed into bite-size chunks. Perfect for anyone who prefers listening to reading.
4. Networking
Ever since University I’ve involved myself in all kinds of networking events. I now constantly make a conscious effort to surround myself with intelligent people as often as I can.
I enjoy going to meetup sessions and networking events. This helps me challenge myself and make me more conscious of how I present myself in front of people. It also allows me to connect with like-minded individuals and create opportunities for which
[bctt tweet=”Keeping up to date with the latest trends by reading blogs, books, podcasts, and networking. What are your best #marketing methods for keeping ahead of the curve?” username=”nivodigital”]
Final Thought
It is never too late to start learning something new. If you were like me and don’t like reading then try a Podcast or check out Videos (I would recommend Rand Fishkin’s Whiteboard Friday).
Marketing is not like any other industry in many respects. The goal posts are always changing and unless you work with people who continually coach, it’s pretty much up to you how successful you are.
One of the most worrying factors about all this is that I would estimate in around 5 years marketing will be very much lead by data scientists and internally within companies. Everything will be so well automated there will be a lot less need to employing expensive digital agencies.
Don’t get left behind and be one of the few that are in high demand when it comes to it. Keep on learning and keep on trying.
