Marketing is an evolving practice, with new channels, trends and platforms emerging seemingly every day. In such an ever-changing industry, marketers themselves must also evolve to keep up with the latest in consumer interests and behaviors and better position their products or services as necessary solutions to customers’ problems.
As such, it can be helpful for both new and established marketers to develop a few habits that will help keep their skills and knowledge fresh and their methods effective. If you’re a marketer looking to upskill or improve your daily habits, consider implementing one or more of the following habits recommended by the business leaders of Young Entrepreneur Council and give yourself an edge over others in your career.
1. Quantifying Results
All marketers worth their salt should adopt a nonnegotiable habit: quantifying results. It’s time to shift focus from mere “exposure” to hard, measurable outcomes—leads, conversions and, ultimately, business growth. Accountability isn’t an option; it’s a necessity. It helps identify what’s working and what’s fizzling out. Emotion-led decisions? No, thanks. Rely on data, the objective judge of your efforts. I’ve seen big budgets wasted on star-studded campaigns with no concrete returns. Embrace data-driven decision-making. Regularly track, measure and hack. That’s the playbook for success. Consistency powered by data outshines sporadic bursts of “inspiration” every single time. Now, get out there and start quantifying your marketing efforts—today. – Michael Hsu, DeepSky
2. Testing And Optimizing
Testing, testing, testing! All marketers should make a habit of testing and optimization. Marketing is ever-changing, and experimenting with marketing initiatives is crucial. From conducting user research to A/B split testing to implementing customer feedback mechanisms, optimizing methods over time can improve performance. It can also increase cost efficiency and enhance the user experience. Plus, it gives a marketer an edge over competitors—something we all want. – Bryce Welker, Crush The EA Exam
3. Embracing Storytelling
When it comes to succeeding in the field of marketing, there’s one habit that all marketers should develop: embracing the art of storytelling. Storytelling is a powerful tool that can captivate audiences and leave a lasting impact. Humans are naturally drawn to stories. They engage our emotions and grab our attention in a way that straightforward facts and figures simply can’t. By incorporating storytelling into your marketing efforts, you can create a connection with your audience and make your brand more relatable. Storytelling goes beyond simply promoting your product or service; it allows you to communicate your brand’s values, purpose and mission. By crafting a narrative around your brand, you can differentiate yourself from competitors and build trust and loyalty with your customers. – Abhijeet Kaldate, Astra WordPress Theme
4. Continuously Learning
In the ever-changing world of marketing, there is one habit that is essential to success: continuous learning. Marketers must constantly educate themselves on new technologies, trends and consumer behaviors to stay ahead of the curve. This habit keeps marketers relevant in their industry and helps them develop innovative strategies that can set them apart from their competitors. – Kristin Kimberly Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC
5. Keeping An Eye On The Competition
One habit to practice consistently as a marketer is keeping one eye on the competition. No matter what industry you’re in, there’s always going to be competition, both new and old. You never want to fall behind. Keep track of what your competitors are selling, their prices, features, marketing strategies and results. You should be familiar with newcomers to the market as well as established players. It’s always good to read customer reviews of your competitors to see what customers like and don’t like. All of this is valuable for guiding you in making the best decisions for your own business. – Kalin Kassabov, ProTexting
6. Delegating Effectively
Effective task delegation is the one habit all marketers should develop to succeed in their careers. You must learn how to relinquish control over certain tasks and initiatives to scale your marketing efforts, especially in managerial and executive-level roles. Surround yourself with people who have different skills, and look for ways to set them up for success. Trying to master every marketing skill in existence is not the path of least resistance. Instead, stick with what you do best and delegate the rest. – Ian Blair, BuildFire
7. Reading Relevant News Stories
Marketers looking to succeed in their careers should spend at least 30 minutes a day reading relevant news stories. The industry is constantly evolving, and it’s easier than you think to fall behind. I recommend setting up Google Alerts for keywords that matter to you and your business and skimming through the daily digest. You should also bookmark a list of your favorite publications for easy access. – Daman Jeet Singh, FunnelKit
8. Cultivating A ‘Lead Commit’ Mindset
For marketers aiming for true success, developing a “Lead Commit” mindset is a game-changer. This habit ensures that you focus not just on creating captivating campaigns, but also—more importantly—on delivering qualified leads, the lifeblood of any business. This philosophy is about being accountable for generating tangible results—leads that convert into opportunities and, ultimately, into revenue. In high-value deals, an evolved version could be an “Opportunity Commit” mindset, ensuring the leads delivered are not just numerous but high potential too. Cultivating this habit positions you as a marketer who’s strategic and results-oriented. This habit is the key to transforming your role from just an executor to a crucial contributor to business growth. – Devesh Dwivedi, Higher Valuation
9. Understanding Your Customers And Your Brand
How well do you know your customers? Becoming a successful marketer demands two habits. First, understand your customers really well. This doesn’t just end with creating buyer personas! It means you really need to pick up the phone and talk to at least 20 customers. Understand them. Become them. This will help you understand what solutions they seek and how to leverage their aspirations to position yourself. Second, positioning. Don’t just aim to be one of the solutions; position your brand to be the ultimate solution. Customers always prefer the best—not the second or third best. Great positioning will help you convert visitors into customers. It will build a memorable brand and convert customers into lifelong fans. Brand loyalty comes after positioning. – Candice Georgiadis, Digital Day
10. Networking And Collaborating With Others
Successful marketers know that collaboration and networking are the key ingredients in their success. Imagine that you are on a team when you collaborate. Your marketing efforts will be more successful if you work together with other people on projects since you will have access to a wider variety of viewpoints and skill sets. Participate in events hosted by your industry, sign up for relevant online networks and have meaningful interactions. When it comes to consumers, it is important to take the time to listen to their input, resolve any problems they may have and go above and beyond to give excellent experiences. Customers who are satisfied with the goods or services they get are more likely to become devoted brand advocates and to tell others about those products and services. – Adam Preiser, WPCrafter
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