9 Marketing careers and resources needed for success
One of the most popular questions we get asked is ‘How can I become a specific type of marketer and what are some of the courses I can take to get skilled?’. In this blog, we’ll be sharing 9 types of marketing careers and courses to get you started and set for success.
Smarketers Hub is a growing community of smart marketers learning from each other and improving our craft, one day at a time. We focus on uplifting marketers of all kinds across Africa and providing value-packed content, resources, and diverse opportunities to accelerate careers and foster engagement across the marketing industry.
If you’re breaking into marketing and not quite sure which type of marketer to call yourself or you are already in one aspect of marketing and trying to transition into something else, read on as we break down 9 types of marketing roles and resources to get skilled or leveled up in them.
Here are the types of marketers we’ll be talking about in this article:
Now let’s break down each of these:
Social Media Marketers
Social media marketers are professionals who specialize in promoting products, services, or brands through social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Tiktok, and others.
They create and execute social media marketing strategies to engage with target audiences, build brand awareness, drive website traffic, and generate leads or sales. To become more skilled in social media marketing, there are several steps you can take:
1.Learn the basics
Start by reading articles, watching tutorials, and attending online courses to get a better understanding of social media marketing.
2. Build a personal brand
Practice what you learn by building your personal brand on social media. This will help you gain hands-on experience and develop your skills.
3. Stay up to date
Stay current with the latest social media trends and updates by following industry experts, attending webinars, and participating in online communities.
4. Experiment
Test different social media tactics and strategies to see what works best for your brand or business. This will help you refine your skills and develop a deeper understanding of social media marketing.
5. Network
Connect with other social media marketers and professionals in the industry to learn from their experiences, exchange ideas, and build your professional network.
To become skilled in social media marketing, here are some free and paid courses you can take:
Paid
Social Media Management by Meta on Coursera - (Financial aid available)
Social Media Marketing Professional (Meta) - (Financial aid available)
Free
Remember, social media marketing is a constantly evolving field, so it's important to stay curious, adaptable, and open to learning new things.
Content Marketers
Content marketers are professionals who create and distribute valuable and relevant content to attract and engage target audiences, with the goal of driving profitable customer action. A content marketer is someone who understands how to position and promote content so that it reaches the widest audience and converts those people from prospects to subscribers to customers — and keeps them coming back. To become skilled in content marketing, here are some free and paid courses you can take:
Paid
Content Marketing Foundations (LinkedIn Learning) - (Free one-month subscription)
The Content Creation Process: Digital Content for Beginners (Udemy)
Free
Content Marketing Fundamentals Course with Ashley Segura (Semrush Academy)
Fundamentals of digital marketing (Google Digital Garage)
SEO Specialist
SEO specialists, or search engine optimization specialists, are professionals who specialize in optimizing websites and online content to improve their ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs). They use various tactics to optimize content and improve the website structure, including keyword research, on-page optimization, technical SEO, and link building.
To become more skilled in SEO, you can take the following steps:
Practice with your own website: Set up your own website and practice implementing SEO techniques on it. Experiment with different tactics and track your results.
Stay updated: SEO is a constantly evolving field, so it's important to stay updated with the latest updates and best practices. You can stay updated by following relevant blogs, attending webinars, and participating in online communities.
Analyze and Optimize: SEO requires constant monitoring, analyzing, and optimizing for better results. Use analytics tools to monitor website performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and optimize your website to achieve better rankings.
Here are some free and paid courses you can take:
Paid
Google SEO Fundamentals (UC Davis) - (Financial aid available)
Free
Email Marketers
Email marketers are professionals who specialize in creating and executing email campaigns that help organizations reach and engage their target audience. They use a variety of tactics to create effective email campaigns, including audience segmentation, A/B testing, personalized messaging, and automated workflows. To learn the top 10 tips for an effective email marketing campaign, check out this blog by Smarketers Hub here.
To become skilled in email marketing, here are some free and paid courses you can take:
Paid
Think Outside the Inbox: Email Marketing (Google) - (Financial Aid available)
Writing Emails People Want to Read (LinkedIn Learning) (Free one-month subscription)
Free
Examples of elements of an email marketing campaign
Product Marketers
Product marketing is the process of bringing a product to market. This includes deciding the product's positioning and messaging, launching the product, and ensuring salespeople and customers understand it. Product marketing aims to drive the demand and usage of the product. Although product marketing is a prominent department across both B2B and B2C companies, it's pretty hard to find a good definition of it anywhere — even on Google. What makes it especially difficult is that it's one of the few job functions that touches product, marketing, and sales. It all comes down to knowing the target customer and testing to find ways to learn more about them and how best to interact with them.
To become skilled in product marketing, here are some paid courses you can take:
Product Management Marketing: Dekker's Product Marketing MBA(Udemy)
Product Marketing: Meeting the Needs of Your Customers (Stanford University)
Growth Marketers
Growth marketing is about optimizing for whatever a business deems the key metrics in its funnel. The goal of growth marketing is relatively simple: improved engagement and conversion metrics throughout the marketing funnel. A growth marketer's core function is to identify marketing channels, solutions, [and] ideas that will efficiently drive new customers to the brand and increase revenue.
To become skilled in product marketing, here are some paid courses you can take:
Community Managers
Community managers are professionals who are responsible for building and managing relationships with a brand's online community, including customers, fans, followers, and advocates. They play a critical role in maintaining a positive brand image and fostering engagement and loyalty among community members. To become more skilled in community management, you can take the following steps:
Develop strong communication skills: Community managers need to be excellent communicators, both in written and verbal communication. They must be able to clearly articulate the brand's message, engage with customers in a positive and empathetic manner, and handle potentially difficult situations with tact and diplomacy.
Be customer-focused: Community managers need to have a deep understanding of their customers' needs, preferences, and pain points. They should be able to anticipate customer needs and proactively address them through engagement and customer service.
Community managers serve as the face of the company by ensuring that the brand is aligned across all channels. Often, they are the first responders in virtual crisis situations, so they need to be well-prepared for handling conflicts in branded community rooms or responding to negative public customer feedback.
To become skilled in Community Management, here are some free and paid courses you can take:
Paid
Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate (Coursera) - (Financial aid available)
Certified Community Manager Course(Meta) - (Financial aid available)
The Community MBA at CMX Academy - (Financial aid available)
Social Listening and Community Management at Cornell - (Financial aid available)
Free
Community managers serve as the face of the company by ensuring that the brand is aligned across all channels.
Content Creators
Content creators are responsible for producing content for various media channels, including social media, websites, blogs, podcasts, videos, and more. They are skilled in creating engaging, informative, and valuable content that resonates with their target audience. It is the creation of online material, such as videos, blogs, and social media posts that does not explicitly promote a brand but is intended to stimulate interest. To become more skilled in content creation, you can take the following steps:
Identify your niche: Start by identifying your area of interest and expertise. This could be anything from health and wellness to technology or travel. Choose a niche that you are passionate about and have knowledge in.
Develop your skills: Practice your skills by creating content on a regular basis. This could include writing blog posts, creating social media posts, recording videos or podcasts, or designing graphics. The more you practice, the better you will become.
Stay updated: Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in content creation. This could include learning about new social media platforms, digital marketing tools, or content creation software.
Collaborate with others: Collaborate with other content creators in your niche. This could include guest blogging, cross-promoting content, or co-creating content.
To become skilled in Content Creation, here are some free and paid courses you can take:
Paid
Free
Public Relations Specialist
Public relations (PR) specialists are professionals who are responsible for managing the reputation and public image of a company or individual. They work to build and maintain positive relationships between their client and the public, media, stakeholders, and other relevant parties. To become more skilled in PR, you can take the following steps:
Develop your communication skills: PR specialists need to have excellent communication skills, both in written and verbal communication. You can improve your communication skills by practicing writing press releases, pitching stories to journalists, and speaking in public.
Build relationships: PR specialists need to build strong relationships with journalists, influencers, and other relevant parties. Attend industry events, connect with people on social media, and participate in online communities to build relationships.
Stay updated: Stay up-to-date with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in PR. Follow relevant blogs, attend webinars, and participate in industry events.
Get experience: Gain practical experience by interning at a PR agency or working with a non-profit organization. This will help you develop your skills and build your portfolio.
To become skilled in Public Relations, here are some free and paid courses you can take:
Paid
The Nuts and Bolts of Public Relations (University of Colorado) -(Financial aid available)
Improving Communication Skills (Wharton, University of Pennsylvania) - Financial aid available)
Introduction to Personal Branding (University of Virginia) (Financial aid available)
Free
In Conclusion
That’s it! There are several other marketing roles, including event marketing, PPC (pay-per-click) marketing, influencer marketing, affiliate marketing, analytics experts, marketing strategists, brand managers, and so much more!
If you’d like a one-stop location for the resources, guidance, and support needed to excel in any marketing career of your choice, join Smarketers Hub and following us on Instagram, Linkedin, and Twitter.
Good luck!
