One of the most important aspects which a marketer needs to analyze about himself is his marketing abilities. What kind of abilities does he has and how to apply those abilities in his field of choice. Which marketing abilities should he cultivate and which abilities should he ask his subordinates to groom within themselves.
1) Marketing abilities needed by advertisers
Creativity is one ability which an advertiser needs. Although many advertisers are naturally born with this ability, there are some proven scientific methods to improve productivity and to enhance your right brain thinking.
2) Marketing abilities of Market researchers
Market researches need to be very good mathematically as well as analytically. They need to be very good at extracting information from tons of data and using the same to generate the best marketing strategies.
3) Marketing abilities needed by a strategist
A marketing strategist uses the reports generated by market research to further determine the future strategies of a company. Abilities which a strategist needs include indepth thinking and decision making along with awareness and sound knowledge. A strategist works at the core of the organization and hence strategies are a work of top management only who have experience and can make sound decisions keeping different aspects of a company in mind.
4) Marketing abilities of an Online Marketer
An online marketer needs to be highly dynamic and adaptable in nature. The online arena is changing rapidly with new technologies and methods being on a very rapid phase. The online marketer thus needs to adapt to such a changing environment.
5) Marketing abilities of Sales personnel
Sales personnel need to be excellent in their communication skills which ultimately helps them in making the customer understand their products as well as convince him to buy the product. At the same time sales personnel need empathy to understand the customer requirements and accordingly suggest the correct product to him.
6) Marketing abilities of Channel Executive
A channel executive needs to be very perceptive and empathetic as he needs to maintain relations with his channel, motivate them as well as diffuse any exploding situation. Channel conflict is a common phenomenon and in such cases the initiative taken by channel executives plays a crucial role in diffusing conflict situations.
These are some of the roles in which marketing professionals need to improve on their abilities.
Which role are you in?
And what roles do marketing abilities play in your profile?
Marketing Skills List
A - C
- Aesthetic sensibility
- Analyzing consumer survey data
- Analyzing consumer demographics and preference
- Applying principle of differentiation to marketing plans
- Applying principle of segmentation to marketing cases
- Applying strategies for targeting to marketing projects
- Attention to Detail
- Brainstorming themes for advertisements
- Calculating appropriate retail pricing for products
- Collaborating with designers to create logos
- Completing analyses of competitors
- Composing concise promotional copy
- Composing marketing email
- Competitive analysis
- Composing direct marketing communications
- Conducting focus groups
- Conducting market research
- Conducting media research
- Conducting SWOT Analyses
- Conforming to deadlines
- Constructing consumer surveys
- Creative
- Critical thinking
- Cutting costs
D - F
- Defining target audiences
- Demonstrating products
- Developing consumer surveys
- Developing rapport with clients
- Devising marketing plans
- Determining keywords for search engine optimization strategies
- Developing social media strategy
- Developing concepts for new products
- Devising marketing plans
- Devising press releases
- Devising rewards and loyalty programs
- Educating sales staff regarding brand viability
- Evaluating advertising proposals
- Evaluating the effectiveness of advertising campaigns
- Evaluating the performance of agencies and contractors
- Evaluating product packaging options
- Event planning
- Evaluating the validity of research
- Facilitating focus groups
- Facilitating meetings and discussions
- Facility with customer relations management software
- Financial analysis
G - Q
- Influencing others
- Interviewing sales staff to gauge customer responses to brands
- Leadership
- Listening
- Managing budgets
- Manipulating statistical packages
- Microsoft Excel
- Monitoring industry trends
- Negotiating rates and terms
- Organizational
- Pitching marketing plans to group
- Planning promotional events
- Planning distribution of products
- Problem Solving
- Processing criticism about campaigns
- Presenting to groups
- Proposing new products and services
- Quantitative
R - Z
- Researching and selecting media outlets for advertising/promotion
- Resiliency
- Responding to threats to brands
- Results oriented
- Retail site selection
- Reviewing website models for promoting products/services
- Sales
- Selecting and training brand ambassadors
- Setting prices to maximize profit and sales volume
- Soliciting feedback from customers
- Solving marketing problems using qualitative analysis
- solving marketing problems using quantitative analysis
- Statistical
- Stress management
- Structuring focus groups
- SWOT analysis
- Storytelling
- Time management
- Utilizing presentation software
- Writing reports
- Writing advertising copy
- Writing executive summaries
- Writing press releases
Sources: PHMC GPE LLC - Marketing91 - Coffee Break
Newark USA 
London UK