In a time where everything is changing, many marketers have reevaluated their careers and are taking on new roles in 2021. And whether it’s for more family time, better benefits, or a more flexible work schedule, making an impact in your new marketing role is a thought that’s crossed most minds across the industry.
According to a recent Fast Company/Harris poll, 52% of US workers are looking to make a career change this year. And when you focus on marketers specifically, 59% have thought about quitting their current job at least once in 2021.
Fortunately for today’s job seekers, hiring growth is happening across marketing departments everywhere. After proving its mettle time and time again to the C-suite throughout a turbulent 2020, businesses are increasingly moving operations online and leaving it to marketers to find innovative ways to do so.
So, if you’re new to your role or your company and are looking to prove your value right away, here are four ways to make an instant impact.
Learn the tools
Any new job absolutely comes with an introductory period filled with onboarding meetings, training, and team-building exercises. But that doesn’t mean your work — or your worth — has to go unnoticed.
Instead of waiting for instructions or watching others perform their duties to see exactly how things are done, get proactive. From your first day, take some time to learn exactly which tools marketers at your job are using. Ask about the tools your company uses to best meet the needs of its customers, then learn exactly how those tools work.
Then, read as much of your company’s marketing content as possible — from the emails it sends to the promotions it offers to every newsletter and social media post that’s published. Simply put, if your team put it on paper or online, make sure you’ve seen it.
If you’re really looking to impress and win brownie points with your new boss, it never hurts to look at your competitors’ content too. That way, you become an expert that’s capable of weighing your approach against the marketing norms used across the industry. And — more importantly — of identifying your true competitive advantages.
Understand the clients
Getting to know co-workers, bosses, and support staff in a new role is absolutely critical. But you can’t forget about the most important person of all: your customer. After all, without them we’re all out of work.
All humor aside, taking time to understand your clients and customers is important. In marketing parlance, it pays to harness the power of the first-party data collected from your most loyal customers. The faster you understand what motivates them to buy from your brand, the faster you can make an impact.
Fortunately, you’ve got most (if not all) of the insights you need as soon as you step into your new role. It’s simply a matter of asking the right questions first. What information do you already have about the people whom you’ll be marketing to? What information do you lack? And how do you use the marketing tools at your disposal to bridge this knowledge gap?
It pays to analyze every piece of personal data possible to find these answers. Whether that means through a targeted email campaign or personalizing engagements on a 1:1 level, understanding how to satisfy the needs of your clients is an instant way to make your voice heard.
Don’t be afraid to take initiative
It can be tempting in a new job, especially if that job is also part of a career shift, to bite your tongue in meetings and brainstorming sessions. But remember: you were hired for a reason!
If a new co-worker has interesting ideas about the company’s direction, ask them to tell you more. If there’s a part of your company’s day-to-day operations with which you’re not familiar, be it software, strategy, or even something that may seem out of your wheelhouse, just ask! The more you know, the quicker you can dive in and start delivering results.
Speak up about new ways forward
Marketing is all about innovation. If you show up on day one with good ideas, don’t wait around hoping for the right time to present them.
That said, some degree of discretion is advised. While it’s probably not the best idea to propose a complete overhaul on your first day in a new role, for example, speaking up as soon as you learn the ropes is always recommended. As fast as everything is changing, it’s never too soon to get started on projects that are going to help your company’s bottom line and — in turn — your professional standing.
If you’re looking for even more ways to make an instant impact in your new marketing role, download A Marketer’s Guide to Working Smarter Not Harder to see how the industry’s top performers are using automation and data-driven strategies to further their careers!