Social Commerce on the Rise

The trend of selling directly through social media is growing globally. A frictionless and focused customer experience, in which users can discover, research, and buy without leaving social media, is a powerful strategy for increasing sales. 

As key platforms improve their shopping and checkout features, the social media industry is preparing for an acceleration of social commerce growth. The data from Statista shows that 11% of social media users bought a product immediately after discovering it, while 44% made a purchase later.

Covid-19 has accelerated social commerce as well, with many users researching and making purchases with platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Social commerce buyers increased to 80 million in 2020, according to Emarketer's 'Social Commerce 2021' report. By 2022, the number will increase to 96 million.

Platforms such as Instagram are also making plans to increase in-app purchases by offering features such as saving payment details and simplifying check-out pages.

Take a look at how social commerce can help your business drive sales and revenue.

Social commerce: how does it work?

When it comes to selling physical goods, integrating social commerce into your strategy is essential. There is no barrier to purchase, such as slow website loading times and lengthy user journeys.

Many social media purchases are driven by impulse buying, especially if the price is right. The average value of online orders referred through social media was $81.05 in Q2 of 2021, according to Statista. 

When a user sees an item they want to purchase, such as a pair of sunglasses, they click 'shop now' or 'buy now' to complete the purchase. Prices, descriptions and delivery information will all be available within the social platform, so there is no need to go to the retailer's website.

The combination of user-generated content, generated by customers and influencers, and social commerce tools such as shoppable tags and links leads to an increase in impulse purchases. This increase is driven by lifestyle and emotions. Users seek social proof that the products are well-made, credible and recommended by people they respect or admire.

What platforms support social commerce?

Statista predicts that 8 of 10 US businesses will sell via social media in the next three years, highlighting the value of these outlets as a sales channel.

Social commerce is currently available on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. In 2022, YouTube is also testing capabilities of adding shoppable tags and links to video content.

Social media users can create shops if they use a professional account. You can change this setting from the settings menu of your personal account.

Facebook and Instagram have similar social commerce features; you can tag items from your shop in photos and videos. Instagram's Reels and Stories both have this feature.

Instagram example of hovering

When people see your products in your posts, they can select those tags to get details about the products, including their names and prices. By clicking on these tags, they will be taken through to your shop where they can find out more, and purchase. See below for an example of hovering providing product information on Instagram.

Users will currently be able to purchase the product on your website - but Meta is currently testing in-app purchases in the US. A product can be tagged when you create a new post or when you edit an existing post. There is no limit to how many products can be tagged in a post, but this would appear cluttered and complex, so no more than 10 tags are recommended.

Social commerce brands

'Not on the High Street' tags products within its Facebook posts using Facebook shopping.

As a result, brands can easily show seasonal items around key retail dates like Easter, Christmas, Mother's Day, and Ramadan, while also allowing customers to see pricing and find their exact landing pages.

Not on the High Street, Ramadan gifts

Scandiborn Instagram

Scandiborn shares customer UGC in posts and stories by using shopable tags on Instagram. They can show potential customers how their products look in a lifestyle setting.

Social commerce is suitable for whom?

Social commerce is limited to selling physical products, so events, digital products, and services aren't eligible. Meta is testing in-app purchases on Horizon Worlds, its social virtual reality app.

Businesses that wish to sell on social media sites must also follow their own merchant guidelines. Social media cannot be used to sell the following items:

• alcohol

• some healthcare products

• digital products

• event tickets

• subscriptions

Google will let you know what the merchant guidelines are for each social media network.

The largest category for social commerce is apparel/accessories, but consumer electronics, cosmetics, home decor, and consumer goods are also important.

According to eMarketer, brands with "new products and/or aspirational imagery are well suited to social commerce environments".

Sometimes, an item may be rejected by a social media platform because of changed rules or errors in algorithms picking up certain words in product descriptions. The platform will notify you if a product is rejected and will not be listed in your shop. They will also offer an opportunity to appeal the decision.

How can I optimize my social shop to attract more customers?

As soon as you've installed social commerce, you should consider how to optimize your shop to encourage more visitors, and how to convert followers into customers. Below are some tips for optimizing your social shop:

• Make your social shop look good - A good first impression is essential to building trust and credibility. Focus on keywords and descriptions. All of your products should have short, searchable descriptions. In addition to your product description, upload at least four high-resolution images, and lifestyle images work best.Think about creating collections or groups of items - Make sure your shop is easy to navigate and explore, particularly ahead of key seasonal events such as Christmas, Mother's Day, Black Friday, etc. By using categories within its shop called Collections, Nike has done this very well on Instagram. These are titled 'Gifts for Him' and 'Gifts for Her', making their products easy to find ahead of key holiday gifting seasons.

• Shoppable tags should be integrated into organic content, not just a separate tab.  Create social proof in your brand with UGC along with shoppable tags. Provide valuable and interesting content to make your shop more appealing to customers.

Nike collections on Instagram

Starting a social commerce business

As a first step, review which platforms you'd like to use for social commerce and determine if your products meet the platform's requirements.

Create your social shops if your products are eligible, taking care to create attractive, easily navigable social shops with plenty of product detail. Consider leveraging your organic content as well as influencers and advertising to gain new followers, and all-important conversions into sales.

Consumer behavior online suggests that since the global Covid-19 pandemic began, online shoppers are more willing to try new ways to shop. Several social media platforms are investing heavily in ways to integrate social commerce into their experiences. Consider your social commerce offering sooner rather than later if you are looking to increase product sales.

Learn more about how to have a holistic social media marketing strategies by joining our globally recognised certificate course today - taught by the industry experts!

Source: Digital Marketing Institute

What are the steps in building a successful social media strategy?

Here are seven steps to creating a successful social media strategy which includes:

1) Set goals for your business

It is important to spend time on this stage, as understanding and defining your social media goals will determine the rest of your strategy.

Consider what your business wants to accomplish through social media, and keep in mind that marketing goals are different from business goals. Do you want to increase brand awareness in the marketplace, learn more about your audience, expand your following or generate more leads? All of these goals may be important to you, but it's important to note they will involve different tactics on social media.

Set your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) when setting your goals to understand what social media metrics to focus on.

Metrics should be set for each channel you use to be successful. On Facebook, for example, reach, engagement, and impressions are important, whereas on Instagram, interaction and discovery are essential.

Apart from the basic metrics, you can also track the growth rate of your audience, the amplification rate of your content, or the virality of it. There are many metrics you can use to track success, so choose the ones that are important to your business.

2) Know who your audience is

It is crucial to understand your audience and what they want before you create personalized messages and content. A good way to do that is to conduct market research via online surveys, customer interviews, or by setting up a focus group.

Social listening is another way to learn more about your customers and community.

The two methods will help you formulate buyer personas that combine your buyer profile and buyer insights to paint a picture of your ideal customer. Personas can be created to capture different insights, demographics, and pain points.

3) Research your competitors

A strategic approach to social marketing must include competitor research. Knowing what platforms your competitors use and what campaigns they run will help you understand what they are doing in the social space.

It is also possible to see their message, the content they produce, and the frequency of their posts. Understanding their approach to customer engagement and the success of their engagement can either help you emulate it or suggest a different direction to capture customers' attention.

Selecting the right social media platform is essential to the campaign's success.

4) Select your social media platforms

The question is not whether you should be active on social media, but how to choose the best channels for your business.

There are a lot of options, so it can be confusing at first. Nevertheless, don't be tempted to be present on them all for the sake of it. Some may not suit your business or content. Which social networks should you target and how do you optimize your content for each?

Facebook:

Facebook, one of the largest and oldest social media platforms, provides a targeted way to reach prospects and customers. This platform works for many types of content, and Facebook Live allows you to connect with customers through video.

Instagram:

Instagram has grown rapidly over the past few years and continues to be a hit among younger audiences. It's a great platform for showcasing products and connecting with influencers to gain new customers. In addition, Instagram will offer in-app shopping via shoppable posts soon, enabling customers to make purchases on the platform. 

LinkedIn:

LinkedIn is the place to be for B2B businesses and also provides opportunities for B2C businesses. Both organically and through paid advertising, it allows businesses to connect with each other. The best types of content for this platform are blogs, whitepapers, eBooks, and industry-related content. 

YouTube:

YouTube video is being viewed somewhere right now. It's that popular! The internet provides marketers with a way to connect with customers in a way that offers information, but can also be entertaining. This platform could be ideal for brands that produce a lot of videos, especially how-tos or tutorials.

5) Plan your content

After you've done your research and determined the right social media platforms, it's time to plan your content and approach.

Let’s go into planning your content in simple steps:

• Set a tone for your pages. The tone of your brand is how you want the world to perceive it. Are you formal or casual? Is your business more serious or humorous? Do you want to showcase your brand's personality differently on each platform and speak differently on each?

• Create themes for your content. Take a look at what your USP is and determine which content themes or buckets you can create. Imagine that you're a travel resort or hotel and you want to share your spa and healthy recipes. You can create a content bucket around wellness. A content bucket could be about your location, what makes that location unique and interesting? Is it the wildlife, the scenery, etc.? There are some great tools available if you need help with content creation.

• Set up a content calendar. A social media posting calendar can help keep your posting on track especially if you're posting on multiple channels. Posting regularly on social networks is crucial. There are optimum days and times for networks as well, so keep that in mind.

• Create a content plan. Maintaining a schedule is important for consistency if you post regularly on social media.

There is no magic formula for creating good content. It's all about putting out content, analyzing it, optimizing it, and trying new things.

6) Manage and engage your community

As a result of social media, you can build connections and create communities. Communities help to build brand awareness and build engagement.

It is incredible how an active community can create brand advocates and attract new customers. A community needs to be nurtured, so you need to take time to build and then grow it.

The key to managing and engaging a social media community is to be responsive. Customer queries or comments should be answered quickly and helpfully. As social media becomes more popular as a way for customers to communicate, there will inevitably be complaints. If you want to avoid a social media crisis, respond positively and ask how you can improve their experience. 

Conduct polls or surveys to engage your community. It makes them feel like part of the community, but may also help you learn more about your customer base.

7) Get more followers

It is pointless to have a social media channel if you do not gain new followers. Growing your audience is an important part of any social media strategy, and you need to employ tactics to do so.

Growing your audience can be achieved organically or through paid advertising. First, content is crucial since it will help to drive engagement and attract users. Consider offering a competition or a glimpse behind-the-scenes of working for your brand.

Don't forget to cross-promote from one platform to another. If you have an Instagram account, your Facebook fans may be interested. Share a post to see the impact across channels.

Paid advertising allows you to set a budget and target a group of users.

You can keep track of all your campaigns by using a paid media campaign tracker. If you have a product that you want to promote, you can work with influencers. Micro-influencers can be helpful, especially if you're a local bar or restaurant looking to get customers in the door. Press releases and articles in relevant publications are also effective methods of driving people to your social media channels.

Learn more about how to have a holistic social media marketing strategies by joining our globally recognised certificate course today - taught by the industry experts!

Source: Digital Marketing Institute

7 Ways to Become the Best Digital Marketer

In the modern world, our lives are much more intertwined with the digital world than they were even ten years ago. In fact, over half – 53% – of the world’s population can currently access the internet from various mobile devices, with 42% of people having access to the internet.

With so many people playing, working, and shopping online, it's no wonder that digital has moved to the forefront of the marketing department's priorities. From maintaining relevance in their customer's mind to building a profitable brand, companies, organisations, and businesses are starting to invest a lot in digital marketing. 

Whether you've set your sights for a future career as a digital marketer or want to level-up your skills, certain tactics and steps can be taken to find success in any position. Between working for yourself as a freelancer and landing a high-level digital marketing position in an organisation, there are a variety of jobs available to those with relevant and up-to-date skills. 

So what can you do to become the adaptable, in-demand digital marketer that companies are seeking? Here are 7 key tips that will help you specialise, strategise, and streamline your career as a digital marketer.

1. Attend Networking Events

Although knowledge and information on digital marketing are widely available from sources such as podcasts and online articles, investing in a trip to a professional conference offers you benefits that other informational sources just can't. 

At these conferences or networking events, you have the opportunity to listen to industry experts in Hong Kong, take advice from best-in-class digital marketing professionals and get a glimpse of the direction that the digital marketing industry is heading in. They are often full of interesting events, workshops, and lessons, all geared to help you enhance your skillset and expand your understanding of why you do what you do.

Not only can these local or international conferences revamp your professional skills, but they give you the opportunity to build better professional interpersonal relationships. 

2. Learn from Digital Marketing Brands and Entrepreneurs

If you're considering or just starting out in a career in digital marketing, making the investment in a professional digital marketing conference may sound like too big of a leap. Luckily, there is a variety of progressive and informative content online geared towards making your career in digital marketing a success.

These digital marketing 'thought leaders' have the experience, expertise, and knowledge needed to create digital content that is extremely accessible for beginners. And since most of these thought leaders are digital marketers themselves, they know exactly how to make their informative content easy to find on search engines and across social media platforms. 

Chances are you've already seen articles from digital marketing experts like Neil Patel and Service as a Software (SaaS) providers such as HubSpot. These professionals have created content directed towards industry newcomers and high-level marketers alike, helping you reach your goals as a digital marketer in a field that can sometimes feel like it is continually changing.

3. Connect with Like-Minded Individuals

As a digital marketer, a large part of what you do is developing communities online. Whether it's around your personal brand or for a global organisation, an active community can make or break your business. So why wouldn't you want to be actively involved in a like-minded community of digital marketers?

Active digital marketing communities either online or offline can help you recognise the importance of what you do and how it fits within the 'big picture' of your business and your life. 

When you're able to communicate your frustrations openly or simply ask a question about an area of digital marketing you're unfamiliar with, you can gain confidence in your abilities and push yourself to both learn and try new strategies and processes.

4. Find a Digital Marketing Internship

Like with any internship position, many individuals take them for the opportunity to be exposed to a professional environment that pushes their capabilities forward. An internship is often challenging, but when you're surrounded by the right team of professional marketers, you can learn from both the mistakes and successes they've experienced over the years.

Not only an internship can help you expand your digital marketing portfolio and experience, but it can help you determine what you appreciate in a work environment. 

As there are so many facets of digital marketing, you may find that you appreciate solitude when trying to write creative content, or instead that you thrive completing a collaborative content strategy to push a new product or service.

Although you can take the time to learn and experience facets of digital marketing for yourself, an internship will put you face to face with the real-world roadblocks that marketers must overcome and the processes that help them become the renowned marketing team that they are.

5. Become a Member of a Professional Body

Did you know that becoming a certified member of a professional body isn’t just for service-based careers like architects, solicitors, or doctors? 

Digital marketing is a necessary and growing industry around the world, meaning that being a member of a professional digital marketing representative body can help you stand out from the competition when trying to land your dream job.

Often, becoming a part of a professional body can only be achieved after completing a certificate program. For digital marketers, a Digital Marketing Professional Certification training course can qualify you to be a certified digital marketing professional. These courses often cover essential facets of digital marketing, including:

• SEO

• PPC marketing

• Email marketing

• Social media management

6. Stay Up to Date on the State of Digital Marketing

In the same way that programs, apps, and social media platforms are ever-evolving, so is the way in which digital marketers must interact with audiences. From keeping up with popular online acronyms to knowing how artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting the way people use technology, the world of digital marketing is ever-changing, and it takes adaptable digital marketers to keep up.

To become a best-in-class digital marketer, make sure that you are staying up to date with industry issues, valuable content, and various updates. 

The good news? Keeping up with the digital marketing industry isn't hard. Incredibly informative podcasts on the subject are widely available, and websites such as Buffer and the Content Marketing Institute write clear and well-researched pieces on basically anything you’d want to know about digital marketing.

Whether you subscribe to these publications to receive regular notifications of new content in your mailbox or prefer to tune into a podcast on your morning commute, this newfound understanding of your industry and its inner workings can help you become a digital marketing expert.

7. Practice Continuous Learning

Although education can be a valuable asset to any career in digital marketing, learning shouldn’t stop when school is done. Investing in training throughout your digital marketing career can help you become a stand-out digital marketer with a varied, in-demand skill set.

As we mentioned above, the digital marketing industry is continually evolving, meaning that your knowledge of the industry should be, too. A career in digital marketing allows you to follow your curiosities by taking advantage of available training sessions. 

As you know, you’re much more likely to follow through with a course or certification if it’s an area you are interested in. Curious to know how PPC advertisements work? Want to know what factors create a persuasive sales page that gets results? 

There are plenty of digital skills training courses available both online and offline, so don’t be afraid to invest in your career.

Becoming a Best-In-Class Digital Marketer

Are you eager to propel your digital marketing career to the next level? The tactics above are designed to help you learn, grow, and excel as a digital marketer, both online and offline. A career in digital marketing can be rewarding, allowing you to understand both your own goals and the world around you a bit better.

Whether you are aiming to start a successful self-run digital marketing business and brand or want to skyrocket to a management position on your digital marketing team, the industry is full of opportunities for those who are willing to put in the time to hone their craft and adapt to changing demands.

If you’re interested in reputable digital marketing training, a professional diploma or postgraduate diploma in digital marketing from the Digital Marketing Institute may propel you to bridge the gap between your current professional situation and your dreams.

Source: Digital Marketing Institute

How Are Jobs Evolving in the Digital Marketplace (& What Does it Mean for Education)?

We're living in a world where career considerations have to include a future-proofing plan. 

Many people live in fear that their jobs will be lost due to artificial intelligence and other forms of technology. However, learning to look at the changing digital marketplace as evolutionary can provide a clear picture of how continuing education can help improve chances for job security today and into the future.

As jobs evolve and skills gaps widen, employees and employers need to look for ways to upgrade skills to ensure their skills and knowledge are relevant. For the education sector, these changes can provide great opportunities provided colleges, universities and training providers know how to tap into the marketplace. 

Technology Skills

Between 2012 and 2016, the Association for Talent Development analysed over 30 million job descriptions asking for technology skills and experience. 

They reported that 60% of the jobs listed included technology skills and experience for non-IT jobs and discovered some other interesting facts about the role technology plays in the workplace.

Beyond the IT Department

Today, an understanding of technology is required across all departments and functions. Although the IT department still fulfils an important role in providing technology to business, almost 80% of business leaders have recruited employees with technical skills or experience instead of being reliant on IT alone.

As well, over 75% of workers require analytics tools and technologies to perform their jobs. This trend is tied to an increase in digital marketing, products delivered online, and the growing use of the cloud.

Security Skills

Security skills are not related to loss prevention or building management. Instead, the rise of breaches circling around personal and corporate information pose a new threat that has transformed the need for heightened cybersecurity.

Chief information security (CIS) officer positions have risen in profile with 20% finding themselves in front of corporate boards of directors who want to know what they are doing to protect corporate information. 

This means the role of the CIS has become a highly visible position. Security-related skills have also become a benefit for many marketing and finance job roles. 

More than Computer Literacy

Computer literacy is a given for just about any job today. However, there is a growing demand for technology skills once reserved for IT positions such as “solutions design” and “user interface.”

These additions to job descriptions span many different roles including HR and finance. Other job requirements once designated to IT departments include analytics skills, digital management skills, and experience managing technology vendors.

Closing the Skills Gap

The increasing demand for technology skills shows the strong shift towards the digitised workplace and the new skills more jobs will require.

Technology should not be seen as something that will replace humans, but instead is the reason humans have to be forward thinking on skills development. The desire to re-educate even the most educated professional is more real than ever before.

Leaders and workers alike will have to consider how they can contribute to the changing digital landscape to close the skills gap created by changing technology. This rapid innovation requires a new mindset and skill set that is adaptive in nature.

The world has changed the way products and services are delivered. These changes have altered the way technology is used from the manufacturing floor to the way marketers advertise their products. Efforts at adaptation must be made to improve technical knowledge and experience in order to further careers that can be sustained well into the future.

The education sector has the perfect opportunity to tap into the demand for digital skills across roles and industries by providing up-to-date and industry aligned qualifications that are recognized in the workplace. 

The Role of Education

The promise of increased productivity through automation raises questions for policymakers and business leaders who are struggling with the impact that automation will have across many facets of business. 

That includes jobs, in general, the skill level required in existing and new roles, as well as areas such as expected wages in a changing job market.

Many areas are still unknown and challenge conventional ideas of employment. One of the greatest challenges is keeping pace with the changing skill set required by the digital marketplace. Most companies do not have an educational program in place to help workers maintain the relevant skills required to perform their jobs effectively.

At the same time, educational systems are not changing to keep pace with workplace demands. In fact, according to a McKinsey survey, 60% percent of employers and young people in nine countries agreed that new graduates did not have the proper skills to enter the workplace. 

The Skills Gap

The same McKinsey survey found 40% of those surveyed cited lack of skills as the main reason for entry-level job vacancies. These gaps included technical skills as well as “soft skills” such as punctuality, teamwork, and communication. 

The survey also refers to research conducted by LinkedIn found that workers feel they are not able to realisze their full potential in their current roles. Of participants, 37% said they were not using their full skills and were in jobs that lacked challenge.

Digital Disruption

Digital disruption is the new industrial revolution in Hong Kong. It calls for organisations to embrace technology and incorporate effective training and educational programs into the workplace. More and more employees are looking for organisations that focus on skills training to encourage career growth.

Two years ago, Cushman Wakeman published a study exploring the opportunities presented by digital disruption in the workplace. They surveyed graduates entering the workplace who listed three attributes that were the most important when job hunting:

1. Professional training and development

2. Creative and dynamic working environment

3. Leaders who support my development

Perhaps even more telling was an increase in organisations introducing more digital tools such as:

• Customised mobile applications developed for internal use for both teamwork and customer interaction.

• Using AI such as Siri and Cortana to find corporate information, as well as robots being used for security and other interactive roles. Some organisations are even introducing their own AI assistants.

• Internal social media such as Yammer, Chatter, and WeWork, as well as customised apps, are providing new ways to reduce emails and offer instant conversations throughout an organisation.

• Re-purposing existing applications such as WhatsApp offers an affordable way to communicate in group chats for special projects as well as corporate and customer communication.

All of this information points to internal training as the key to attracting talent and to ensuring staff can use digital tools in the workplace. 

Digital Enablement

In a world where independent work is made easier thanks to technology, digital “enablement” makes independent work easier.

McKinsey’s independent work study reported 20 to 30% of those employed in the U.S. and Europe are engaged in independent work. Although 70% of this group chose independent work, the rest of the group were forced into independent work when they were unable to find a traditional job. 

Those in the group who were forced to choose independent work cite income variability and the lack of benefits as reasons they do not prefer this mode of employment.

Companies who are going the independent worker route using digital platforms to enable working from home will have to find better solutions to meet the needs of independent workers. On the flip side, digital platforms empower those who prefer self-employment or contract work. It is not something unique to the U.S and European countries.

Conclusion

Digitisation is opening opportunities globally and across all sectors. Education systems will have to evolve as will organisational training programs to help improve preparedness for a digitally driven workplace. 

Creativity, critical thinking, and analysis will become the less traditional skills required to meet the challenges of the changing workplace. Systems and organisations that embrace adaptive, lifelong learning will prove to be the biggest talent draw now and into the future. 

Source: Digital Marketing Institute

How to Become a Digital Marketer

Are you a recent graduate, traditional marketer, or a tech-savvy entrepreneur who’s ready for an exciting career change? Do you want to excel in a field that bolsters unlimited learning opportunities and potential for rapid personal growth?

If you are ready to become a highly in-demand digital marketing professional, you are in the right place.

With the increased use of the internet and more people than ever in Hong Kong focusing on digital marketing — there's never been a better time to start a new career as a digital marketer! 

What is Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing is the combination of all the marketing efforts a company uses via digital media to connect with potential customers, such as websites, email, search engines, and social media. Marketers connect with consumers on devices like phones, tablets, and laptops. It involves understanding where your potential customers will be online, what device they will use to connect, and meeting them there.

Digital marketing differs from its traditional counterpart in that traditional marketing campaigns focus on selling the customer a product. Digital marketing focuses on providing value to potential customers where and when they need it. The goal of digital marketing efforts is to put what a person wants or needs in front of them when and where they are looking for it.

Digital marketing is an umbrella term, and there are many specialised jobs involved in the industry, including SEO, social media management, content marketing, data and analytics, and PPC to name a few.

Skills Needed to Work in Digital Marketing by Specialty

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

People are looking for information on Google and other search engines. Optimising websites to come up organically in search engines is a fundamental aspect of digital marketing. An understanding of how to integrate keywords into content, change alt text, collect backlinks, and so on are essential parts of this strategy.

Social Media Management

Running Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn is another aspect of digital marketing. You have to be able to attract followers and engage with them on a level that’s meaningful to them. An in-depth understanding of who is using what platform and when will help drive your social media campaigns. 

You want to use creative storytelling to post on relevant trends. To do so involves researching not just your audience, but also what they are interested in right now. It’s a fast-paced aspect of digital marketing that requires steady management and an ability to think on your feet.

Content Marketing

Content marketing is a big job. As a content marketer, you are both a creative thinker and data analyst. You use both of those skills to create content across multi-media platforms to spark the interest of your audience so that they come to you for more—which ultimately creates more leads and more conversations.

Data and Analytics

An understanding of Google Analytics is a must. One of the benefits of digital marketing over conventional methods of marketing is its measurability. You must be able to use your skills to interpret which of your marketing campaigns are the most successful. The metrics can be complicated but being able to use them to paint a picture of your target audience and what motivates them will give you the tools to scale your campaigns and increase overall profits.

Pay Per Click (PPC)

Where SEO focuses on organic traffic, PPC is the sponsored ad equivalent. The digital marketer bids on keywords that when searched will have your ad come up in the paid ad listings. A person in this role is responsible for driving traffic to a website, and the digital marketer determines what action the customer takes once there. It requires analysing data to reduce ad spend and increase ROI.

How to Become a Digital Marketer

Aside from the professional skills and the education you possess, digital marketers bring a certain attitude to the table. They are go-getters and thought leaders. If you want to be one, you will need to think like one. The best way to do that is to learn from them.

Take an Internship

If you are just starting out, an internship can help you gain experience and expand your portfolio. Being around other industry professionals will give you exposure to the different aspects of digital marketing and help you determine which is your preference.

Follow Thought Leaders

Digital marketers today understand that the field is growing at such a rate that sharing industry secrets isn’t creating competition or taking business away. Many digital marketers will not only tell you what they did, but they will share with you case studies showing you how they did it. Watch them, listen to them, sign up for their emails.

Network, Network, Network

You want to be a digital marketer, so go where digital marketers are and talk to them. Attend networking conferences or sign up for online groups. Often, it’s from these places that unexpected opportunities are born, and they can be great learning experiences.

Always Be Upgrading

Whatever you are good at, you should strive to be better. And if there is something you need to work on, there’s nothing stopping you from mastering it. As a digital marketer, you will always be upgrading your skills, and there is no shortage of courses, eBooks, and webinars both free and paid to help you keep your skills fresh.

Transition to a Role in Digital Marketing

If you have a degree or experience in any number of fields, as long as you have a keen interest, you can make the transition to a role in digital marketing. 

A few careers with skills that will translate well and propel you to a career in the field include but are not limited to:

• Journalist

• Teacher

• Writer

• Data Analyst

• Newspaper Editor

• Print Marketer

• Sales

• Retail Management

• Blogger

Final Thoughts

If you want to be a digital marketer, you’ll need to have drive, ambition, and a real passion for the business, in addition to the tech, education, and professional skills required. 

You have to understand that digital marketing efforts are all about what you can do for the customer, not what you are trying to sell to the customer. If this sounds like your dream job, start learning today. 

Source: Digital Marketing Institute

What’s the Market Demand for Digital Marketing Education?

Marketing is a traditional industry as the need to spread awareness, make people aware of products or services has been around for as long as capitalism itself.

In today's economy, marketing has become a very sophisticated, complex, and ever-evolving industry. It’s something that every business in Hong Kong relies on and there's no question in anyone's mind that if you want a successful business, you need a strong marketing presence.

For those in the education sector, this presents great opportunities. As marketing becomes more complex and specialised, it's a skill that needs to be continuously nurtured and cultivated making a comprehensive digital marketing education crucial for professionals across industries. 

In this article, we explore the evolution of marketing and the growing demand in the marketplace. 

Does Market Demand Exist?

The first question any organisation needs to ask is if there is any kind of sizable demand for digital marketing education in digital marketing? Is there a need in the workforce for people who are trained in this field? While sectors such as medicine, engineering, and law have decades of proven demand, digital marketing is a relatively new field.

Regardless of digital marketing’s age, the answer to that question is “yes.” Even taking the digital aspect out of the equation, the general field of marketing has a sizable spectrum of demand. Public relations, brand management, and of course, traditional advertising like television and radio commercials and print ads are still important parts of the industry in Hong Kong.

When you add the digital component to this equation, the actual demand for marketing jumps up by orders of magnitude. In fact, current estimates say that the demand for digital marketing specialists outstrips the currently available supply, with 56% of the companies in one survey saying they needed people with digital marketing expertise.

With that type of demand, it is simply impossible for the existing job pool to meet current needs. New blood is needed. But where do businesses get it? They can get it from a qualified group of graduates or even their own employees, as long as the person has undergone substantial digital marketing training and education.

Digital Marketing is a Global Phenomenon

One of the most interesting things about the market demand for digital marketing is that this demand is universal.

The list of potential countries with a high annual salary for people with digital marketing training and expertise are:

• Australia: $44,000 for entry-level positions, up to $87,000 for senior.

• Netherlands: $38,000 for entry-level, and $65,000 for senior.

• USA: $35,000 for entry-level, with $64,000 for senior.

But of course, while that’s the top three, there are plenty of other regions like Canada, the United Kingdom, ,Singapore, and of course, Hong Kong, that are placing increased importance on securing staff with education in digital marketing.

But why is this demand growing? What is it about digital marketing training that makes it such an “exportable” skill to so many different parts of the world?

Digital Marketing is Growing in Relevance

The relevance of digital marketing continues to grow, with over $111 billion spent on advertising. By 2019 that figure is estimated to account for 55% of total media ad spend. 

The biggest reason for this growth is the migration of the market. More and more people are spending their time using internet-connected devices like smartphones or desktop and laptop computers, rather than watching broadcast television or free-to-air radio. At the same time, traditional print ad venues such as magazines and newspapers are experiencing contractions in their audience. It’s not that people have stopped consuming media, they’ve simply decreased their consumption of traditional media and moved onto digital, online platforms.

So, the traditional career route for a marketer of joining a large established advertising agency is changing. More and more businesses are taking advantage of the smaller, more approachable and customisable nature of digital marketing. They might choose smaller or more nimble agencies that give them the attention they need. Or managers might bypass ad agencies entirely and hire their own in-house marketers.

More often than not, people now talk about something they saw on Twitter or Facebook, not on a commercial in last night’s latest episode of a popular television series. Digital marketing is rapidly passing traditional marketing in importance and audience reach, and more and more businesses need specialists in this industry so that they can be where the customers are. 

Digital Marketing is Diverse & Education Must Be Too

There’s more to digital marketing than just having an instinct for smart promotion or coming up with an enticing slogan or striking ad concept. Good digital marketing training doesn’t just focus on marketing; it embraces all things digital.

Advertising in the digital era provides massive, global reach, but it is not simple to achieve. The algorithms social media uses to find popular topics, the optimisation of content so that search engines can more easily find it, and the multi-media nature of the digital landscape means that there’s a surprising amount of technical proficiency employees need.

The most compelling sales content in the world does no one any good if it’s hard to find on the internet or created in such a way that search engines actually ignore it. Digital marketing is far from a straight transference of advertising skills to a digital platform. 

It demands an understanding of the parameters of search algorithms, paid ad techniques, what content inspires consumers, and more. As such, digital marketing education, whether from a school or business-developed program, needs to cover these topics and skills. 

Change Is a Constant, So Frequent Updates Are a Must

Perhaps one of the most important points to keep in mind about digital marketing training is that this is not a static discipline. New technologies are always developing, so there’s always a cutting edge to the technical side. One example is the algorithms that Google uses to rank content. These algorithms are being tweaked regularly, so what works well in 2019 may no longer be as important or as crucial in 2022. Marketers need to realise that education isn’t over once they get their degree. Digital marketing is in a constant “arms race” as better techniques and tools are invented.

But even more crucially, fashions change. If digital marketing had been as important 15 years ago, marketing experts would have been focused on MySpace. Today, marketing focuses on Twitter and Instagram, as the dominance of Facebook gradually erodes in favour of the platforms preferred by millennials and Generation Z.

In other words, new social media platforms and algorithms will come and go. That means there will always be something new to learn or a program to adjust to. As the demographics change, and new technologies emerge, so too will new digital marketing possibilities for people willing to experiment, innovate, and gain the first-mover advantage by pioneering these spaces. 

Digital Marketing Is a Growth Industry

Developed nations have moved past the point of being industrial-based, manufacturing economies. The forces that move modern nations are services and technology. The growth of the internet has made digital marketing not just a local concern but a global one as well. Digital marketing will continue to grow as the audience, the market, and businesses increasingly put their attention on the digital space.

Unlike some professions that are threatened by automation, digital marketing is something that machines simply cannot do. There’s a certain amount of “future-proofing” built into this career that ensures that students looking to graduate and enter the workforce will have viable career tracks open to them.

For professionals already established in their careers, digital marketing education is needed to keep up with competitors. Companies can add value to existing employees by expanding their skill set and providing them with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in the company and to help the business maintain an important marketing presence in a changing digital landscape - a good start will be enrolling them in a practical digital marketing course.

Conclusion

“The skills are in demand and businesses are wanting to power their marketing efforts by strengthening their digital marketing offering” – Mark Ashbridge, General Manager of The Left Bank

Digital marketing is not going to go away. In fact, digital marketing is only going to grow in importance for all businesses. The demand for people with digital marketing training is already at the point where there’s a deficit of qualified personnel. 

Organisations and educational institutions that have the foresight to develop strong programs and train people in this area are a critical need.

Source: Digital Marketing Institute

The State of Content Marketing in 2019

There's a saying that content is king. That applies to all industries in Hong Kong, to any business trying to reach and inform their customers. For advertising to work on a targeted audience, there must be something there that initially draws them in. In the old days of pre-digital marketing, that content was entertainment. People didn't normally enjoy commercials on TV for their own sake but viewed them because they were interspersed with the content that really engaged them, such as dramatic TV series, documentaries, or even news broadcasts.

In the digital world of the internet, content has a similar value. Not only is content marketing one of the top skills that every digital marketers should hone, it also is the next logical step of taking material that has appeal to a market and making it a marketing tool itself, rather than a "lure" to get the audience to view marketing. After all, why spend time creating content only tangentially related to your business, when you can make ads that are already a topic of interest? By making the content a part of the marketing, rather than an "assist" to the marketing, you have improved your chances of success. Content marketing has become an effective tool, and it's not going away anytime soon. In fact, content marketing is actually increasing in value and usefulness thanks to the tweaks and developments made in search algorithms.

So if you're looking into getting the most out of your content marketing, what should you be considering? These are things you need to think about going into 2019.

Value Is Your Primary Target

Content marketing is about providing meaningful content, but the interpretation of meaningful can vary. In the past, with simpler search engine algorithms, "fluff" or filler content was perfectly acceptable because simpler algorithms only looked at basic parameters, like how many times a particular keyword was used. So it wasn't unusual for early websites to have nonsensical gibberish, with a keyword placed at the bottom of the page 100 times to get the attention of a search engine.

Today, of course, that doesn't work. Search engines are smarter and will even hand out penalties for this unethical practice. Consumers are also looking for reliable content to inform purchasing decisions. Your content must have value, which can be broken up into three types based on its benefit to your target market.

• Useful:

This kind of content assists readers. Useful content helps consumers or potential clients achieve a goal. When your content provides help, that creates a lot of value and generates positive feelings for your business and its image. People may also come back looking for more help in the future, establishing trust, loyalty, and authority.

• Informative:

In some ways a parallel of useful, informative content creates value through education. The goal here is not necessarily to help a consumer achieve a specific goal in the way that a guide or tutorial might. Here, the aim is to teach a consumer something interesting or new that may potentially have uses in the future, even if it doesn't right now.

• Entertainment:

The value of engaging content should never be underestimated. Just think about the fun people have interacting with and sharing memes or videos, the kind of things that go viral and are consumed by millions of people across the globe. Entertainment, when done well, has high value, perhaps the highest of all. Trying to create viral content with global entertainment value deliberately is a daunting task. Don't aspire to go viral but instead set out to truly engage your audience with a compelling piece of content.

Looking to improve your content strategies already? We have not one, but six helpful tips for you.

Distribution Is Always a Concern

Once you create good content marketing, where are you putting it? Do your customers know where to find it? Do they even know that it's out there? Marketing basics tell you to put your business out there on social media and through a website to build awareness, but make sure that your content itself is getting the same spotlight and consideration as your products and your marketing efforts.

The creation of a "content hub," for example, may deserve some marketing and creative attention of its own. If you're finding that your customers are increasingly coming to you for the usefulness of your content, make sure you continue to impress them. Useful content is "evergreen," and new customers will go to that old content again and again if it continues to remain relevant. Create a place where your articles, videos, podcasts, and other content can all be easily found. Then, do a little bit of marketing to make sure your ideal customers know about your useful library of resources.

Content Is Advertising

One of the most significant advantages of content marketing is that can operate as an ad in disguise. When you make your content the advertising itself, it is no longer an interruption to what people are searching for, but it is the goal. As an example, 615 million devices used AdBlock software in 2017, and that number has only been growing. So if you're creating an ad, banner, or another traditional type of internet advertising, millions of people aren't seeing it. They've taken the trouble to download and install software that blocks any attempt to interrupt their browsing.

However, with content marketing, the content is the advertising. That means you need to create content apart from cut-and-dry ads. Blogs, articles, podcasts, and videos are all better ways to advertise to your customers subtly. When you work toward creating valuable content that will entertain and educate your audience, you remain unaffected by things like AdBlock. People are deliberately seeking you out instead of shutting you out. Focus on positively driving people to seek out your marketing tools, your content, rather than interrupting what they're trying to achieve online.

Content Is Changing the Customer Relationship

In the past, the classic marketing funnel concentrated on building up awareness and creating a "short-term relationship" with a customer that lasted only until a purchase was made. Once that goal had been achieved, customers tended to be regarded as "spent assets" and were subsequently ignored unless they had an issue that required customer support to deal with it, so as not to impact a business's reputation.

Today, content marketing is now viewed as a way to create an ongoing relationship with a customer beyond making the initial purchase. Content marketing expands the way a customer interacts with a business, going beyond just giving that business money or requiring technical or customer support.

For instance, people who buy a musical instrument from an instrument manufacturer establish an ongoing connection with that business through content marketing. The might return to that business's website for FAQs or video tutorials or any other content. They might even scan the business's social media for answers to their questions or to connect with fellow customers. That customer is now in a "long-term relationship" with the company. The addition of good content on a regular basis extends the length and quality of that relationship.

Divert Resources to Video

If content is king, and content marketing is one of the biggest movers in marketing, then the undisputed king of kings is video. New studies indicate that in 2019, 80% of general consumer internet traffic will be the viewing of videos. That figure does not even account for video chat but refers merely to the consumption of pre-recorded videos or live video streaming.

Video is one of the best ways to get attention for content marketing because it is easy for the viewer to consume. Video also combines all three benefits of valuable content; it is useful and informative while also being entertaining. For companies that are willing to invest in a good production team and set of equipment, video can be a great way to quickly create content on a regular basis. When your content strategy is combined with other uses for video, such as live video broadcasts—especially with social influencers—you can quickly establish a relationship with customers and maintain it. Two types of video content are especially useful to customers, and they include:

• Testimonials:

In the same way that the user review is one of the most critical pieces of research that potential customers undertake, video testimonials can be even more sought after. By showing other customers highlighting uses and positive aspects of your product or service, you are inspiring consumer confidence.

• Tutorials or Demos:

People are always interested in learning new things and guaranteeing that a purchase is worthy. While detailed articles can be very enlightening, but sometimes, especially when involving an action, it is better to use a video. Create or share customer videos with actions, animations, and explanations to reinforce learning.

The important thing to note with these popular types of video content is that they are centred on enriching the customer's understanding of your products and furthering the customer's goals. Make sure that any actual marketing or advertising is secondary, and not pursued in an aggressive manner. You want these forms of video to build trust and authority. Consumers are very wary of being sold to. Like content marketing itself, the value of the content takes precedence over product or service promotion.

SEO Integration Is Still Important

Some may make the mistake of thinking that with the importance of quality content and the dominance of video as a marketing tool, SEO or search engine optimisation may not be as crucial in 2019. Nothing could be further from the truth. While the content is ultimately what your customer engages with, good SEO practices are still what enabled those consumers to find your content, if they were only inputting a general query into a search engine.

While SEO is important for "conventional" computer users on desktops and laptops, the push to prioritise mobile search and content consumption will continue into 2019, and there will be an even greater emphasis placed on optimising for voice search.

The rules and practices for voice search optimisation are not yet set in stone, and it will involve a bit of tweaking and experimentation. After all, search engines themselves will have to see what works best for people conducting searches via smartphone, and how it differs from other computer use. In the same way, the interface and outputs for verbal searches are very different. You don't have a visible SERP with meta descriptions to inform your next time. There are a lot of unknowns, so this is pioneer territory for SEO that you'll want to keep tabs on. Do not be daunted if you feel like SEO is an uncharted territory for you, there are courses for you to improve your knowledge of the subject quickly.

Social Media is Your Best Option for Sharing

Social media has become one of the most important means of communication and entertainment for the general public. And that means it has now become one of the most critical virtual spaces for marketing, including content marketing. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and many, many more are where people are digitally these days. As a result, it's no surprise that social media is where a lot of digital marketing takes place. Even customer support systems are moving over to social media, with some companies establishing reputations for themselves, such as the humour now associated with the Netflix Twitter account.

But general digital marketing isn’t limited to social media. Content marketing can be just as at home here as well. Videos can be published anywhere, whether it's on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or directly on a company website. However, other types of content marketing, like blog articles and photos are still being successfully promoted on social media or linking back to fuller sites. A combination of proper social media usage, the careful selection of accompanying captions, tags, and cover images, and consistent engagement with consumers will all provide great results for your content marketing campaigns.

Produce High-Quality Content

The one thing that should never be forgotten is the cornerstone of content: quality. When you create a reputation for producing high-quality content, it will draw in new and repeat viewers. Quality is the more attractive part of content, and the market will reward you for it with more new customers and greater success! Don’t forget to keep learning and improving to keep yourself abreast of the latest trends, especially if you want to excel in the digital marketing career.

Source: Digital Marketing Institute

7 Essential Skills Every Digital Marketer Should Know

Even in a small city like Hong Kong, the digital industry is always vast, so it can be difficult to navigate for newcomers or those looking to find their niche; how do you set yourself apart from the competition and fast-track your way up the corporate ladder?

Check out these 7 essential skills to keep you relevant in the ever-changing digital industry.

1. Video

Video is taking the internet by storm and this isn’t about to stop. According to MarTech, videos have the potential to hold customer’s attention on retail sites for two minutes longer than average (which is really like a lifetime in the digital world) and a well-optimised video can boost your chances of being in a top Google ranking position by at least 50. In addition, more than 80% of customers are more likely to purchase a product after seeing it detailed in a video.

Bear in mind that these are just loose statistics are going to vary depending on who you ask, but the point is that most statistics point to much higher conversion, engagement and higher SEO rankings when it comes to video.

What makes it so engaging? Because it’s personal. When people can see your face (or the face of the person promoting the brand), they are more likely to trust the entire enterprise. It’s also a wonderfully versatile content to use through different platforms.

Digital marketing professionals don’t have to know everything about video production, of course, but knowing how to create a quick intro video from your laptop is a good place to start. And if you have some training in this area and you love it, your skills and talents will not be wasted as video will continue to be in demand.

If you want to learn more on your own, you can try out video editing tools like Apple Final Cut Pro X or Adobe Premiere Pro.

2. SEO & SEM

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is key to all levels of digital marketing and as such, anyone going into the field must have at least a basic handle on it. You can certainly leave the highly technical, back-end stuff to the more technically-oriented people on the team, having a solid understanding of best practices and how to optimise all forms of content is crucial for running a successful digital marketing campaign.

Both SEO and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) inform your entire digital strategy on both a data and content level, and you need to be able to communicate to other teammates about this, so you just won’t get far if you don’t make a point of learning the basics.

3. Content Marketing

Content is the core of digital marketing and content marketing will continue to be a crucial part of the game no matter what happens. But content marketing is a huge job in itself. You have to be able to understand how to not only create high quality, SEO-friendly content of various sorts, you also have to understand how to effectively get audiences to engage.

And to make things a little more challenging, it’s important to note that content can take many forms, from video to social, emails, web content, blogs, e-books, videos, whitepapers…the list goes on. You also have to have a firm grasp on social media marketing as this will tie in to most content marketing type of work. You’ll need to be able to strategise based on a given client’s overarching business goals, develop a campaign that involves an effective strategy, and monitor analytics as well

3. Data / Analytics

No matter what facet of digital marketing you are going into, Google Analytics will probably be central to your strategy. Monitoring and reporting via such tools is pretty straightforward, but the tricky part is how to gather and use that information to help you learn more about consumer behaviour and apply it to new solutions that boost traffic and conversions.

Most businesses (even small ones) have huge amounts of data to track, and great digital marketers need to understand how to gather and use this to their advantage. Most companies will always be looking for people who to only know how to “read” this data, but to know exactly which data to use towards improving business strategy in the future. If you can show that you can do this in innovative ways and that the way you do it ends with important results, you’re going to be a valuable asset in the industry.

4. Understand Design-Based Thinking & Planning

Design Thinking is a term that basically refers to a way of approaching problems from a user-centred perspective. The approach essentially encourages us to think in a human-centred way when solving large-scale complex problems.

According to The Interaction Design Foundation, there are 5 key phases to this process: empathise, define, ideate, prototype, and test. The reason why this works so well in the digital marketing sphere is that so much of it is (or should be) centred on the user experience. Another interesting thing about this approach is that it can be used in a non-linear way – so that in some instances you may get to the testing phase and then come back to the middle phase, for instance, to re-consider ideas.

Designers and developers are likely to use an approach like this, so even if you’re not one, it’s a good idea to at least have a solid understanding of it and apply it when feasible.  

5. Be Tech Savvy

Because the industry is really technology driven, you have to have a decent grip on technology as well as be able to learn it quickly. If you’re millennial-age or younger, this is probably going to be second-nature, but older generations may want to put a bit of elbow grease into teaching themselves not only specific technologies but also just getting familiar with the most commonly used software and tools in their focus area.

Generally, if you understand the basics of web coding, as well as having a clear idea of how to use the basic Content Management (CMS) systems like WordPress, you’re likely well on your way to landing that dream job, especially if you have a resume that highlights such points.

6. Be Persuasive

A great digital marketing leader will not only show up with great people skills; but they’ll also be able to combine analytical thinking with creative-problem solving to help teams come up with innovative campaign ideas to drive businesses forward.

And a big part of this is being persuasive. Can you convince someone else to purchase? What about convincing other team leaders that your idea is the best? This isn’t about arguing as much as having the confidence that you know what you’re doing and showing this in detail.  

7. Highlight Unusual Skill Sets

As far as soft skills go, great digital marketers should be curious, enjoy versatility, forward-thinking, business-focused and strategy-centred. But there is plenty of room in this field for all kinds of personalities and skills sets. To this end, it’s important that you leverage your own unique blend in order to stay competitive in the industry.

It may, for instance, be unusual to find someone well-versed in both back-end SEO strategy as well as be able to take on a managerial role, or it may be unusual to find someone with a computing science degree that also loves social media.  

Conclusion

A great digital marketing professional will have the ability to adapt quickly and learn on their own, even being ready to pivot into different digital careers as they choose or as needed should old skills become less in-demand. They will be working with diverse teams and clients, so they will have to know how to communicate well and build strong teams.

While there are a number of things that you will have to do in order to be competitive in the digital marketing career field, it’s important not to forget about leveraging and improving your hard and soft skills as you move forward into exciting new positions. Having a solid breadth of basic knowledge alongside depth in a few areas (what Rand Fishkin calls a T-Shaped Marketer) will help you get further than if you try to be a jack-of-all-trades.  

Source: Digital Marketing Institute

10 Reasons Your Business Should Invest in Digital Transformation

Regardless of sector or industry, to thrive on today's commercial battlefield, embracing the emerging technologies and trends is crucial.

If your business is looking to secure a sustainable commercial future, investing ample time, money and energy into your digital transformation strategy is a wise move.

By 2020, experts project that spending on digital transformation strategies will break $2 trillion globally. That's a colossal level of investment by companies across sectors. Hong Kong is no exception to this projection.

To inspire your efforts, here are 10 stats that will convince your business of the need to invest in digital transformation. 

Consumer Culture

1. 80% of today’s video consumption is video-based. Print media, while still relevant, is a less potent force than it once was. Today’s hunger for visual content is inherently digital and to connect with your target audience you have to provide engaging marketing materials that are video-based. Digital channels and touchpoints are the best way to deliver such communications.

2. Today’s average college student has never so much licked a postage stamp.In the age of the digital native, analog approaches to promotional as well as internal communication will seldom provide the results you need for success.

3. 61% of smartphone users admit to regularly sleeping with their smartphone under their pillow or next to their bed. A staggering insight that is a testament to today’s mobile-centric mindset. By investing in your mobile offerings, from applications to mobile-optimised landing pages and social media content, you stand to accelerate your business success in an increasingly digital age.

The State of Digital Transformation

Here we explore the current professional climate and as such, the necessity for digital transformation.

4. 76% of companies feel their relationship with technology and digital transformation is on the whole, average or above average. The vast majority of companies across sectors are on the path to digital transformation. If you fail to embrace the digital age and all it has to offer, you could fall behind the pack and risk becoming obsolete in the long run.

5. Around 70% of companies feel their CEOs’ practical understanding of emerging digital technologies to be solid or above average. If you feel that your understanding of digital methodologies and technologies in the digital age is lacking, now is the time to upskill.

6. 61% of enterprises state that the Internet of Things (IoT) plays a pivotal role in their digital business strategies, with manufacturing and high-tech leading all other sectors. By investing in the power of the IoT and its business-enhancing benefits, in addition to a host of other emerging digital technologies, you stand to accelerate your commercial success, exponentially.

The Power of Digital Transformation

Insights on the undeniable power of digital transformation in the modern age.

7. 56% of CEOs feel that digital advancements have already led to boosts in revenue. With this being the primary goal of business growth and acceleration, this is a clearcut case for investing in digital transformation.

8. By 2020, 47% of all revenue will be influenced by digital. Without a doubt, digital technologies will become all the more sophisticated in the not so distant future. To remain relevant and continue to foster growth, embracing the power of digital is a now a necessity rather than a far-flung luxury.

9. 39% of today's marketers plan to boost their digital budgets without increasing overall marketing spend, essentially reallocating their current budgets into digital channels. The wealth of digital channels, platforms and touchpoints available to today’s businesses is on the rise and by investing in such outlets, you stand to enjoy a healthy level of ongoing business success.

10. More than 50% of the world’s population are under the age of 30 - With over half of the population being under 30-years-old, there are more digital natives (or indeed, budding digital natives) than ever before. To continue appealing to this new generation of digitally-minded consumers, investing in digital transformation on a continual basis is nothing short of essential.

Conclusion

It’s clear that digital transformation is a sustainable means of commercial success today, tomorrow and long into the future in Hong Kong. 

If you haven’t done so already, you must embrace the unrivaled power and potential of digital transformation now, before it’s too late

Source: Digital Marketing Institute

What Should the Perfect Digital Marketing CV Include?

You have done the work, gotten the skills, and chosen the career that speaks to you. Now comes the hard part: the job application.

You know what you say about books: don’t judge one by its cover. However, when it comes to finding a job in Hong Kong, it is all about having a good cover; in this case, a great CV. Nothing is more intimidating than putting yourself and your skill set out there, but a great one can help you get your foot in the door.

A CV is essential in showing employers who you are and what you have to offer. You want to show potential employers that you’re exactly who they’ve been looking for.

While every CV will be different for every position and company, they all adhere to the same fundamental principles. Knowing what language an employer is looking for will help your application stand out from the crowd.

Just remember these five essentials to write the perfect CV; it’s never been easier.

1) Make It About You

Keep the focus on you with your name as the title of the CV and your contact and professional details at the top.

Don’t waste valuable space in which you could be highlighting your skills, rather than filling it up with a gaudy “Curriculum Vitae” as the title. Remember, you are the product, and you are what your CV is marketing. So, make yourself stand out with your name as the title.

While the format of CV is flexible, your phone number and email should quickly follow the title in a smaller font. Since you certainly want the employer to contact you, ensure your reader can easily understand where and how to locate you.

Add a LinkedIn profile or any other professional site to the top of your CV. These links let the employer get to know you a little better and show them you’re a real person who’s interested in the position. A certification in a digital marketing course will help in this case, as it proves your interest in the industry and gives the recruiters confidence you know what you should be doing.

You should also include a professional profile at the top of your CV before listing your experience, education, and certification. This is a summary of the specific skills, experience, and goals you have when applying for the position, and it helps give recruiters a quick snapshot of what your CV will include.

You shouldn’t include information like your date of birth, and you certainly don't need to include a headshot. Not only is this type of content unnecessary and inappropriate, as it may actually be illegal for employers to ask your age. Strict rules govern what employers may ask employees to protect their privacy and to safeguard human rights.

Quick Tip: Treat yourself like a brand, and market yourself.

2) Keep It Clean and Consistent

Nothing is worse than reading an unfocused and visually disorganised CV.

To avoid giving the recruiter a headache, make sure you check that your content is spelled correctly, doesn’t have too many fonts or visual designs, and clearly lays out your skills and experience.

An easy way to clean up your CV is to use bullet points. Alison Doyle, job search expert for The Balance Career, says that “the average recruiter or hiring manager spends only seconds looking over an applicant’s resume. To get the interview, you need to make your experience stand out – and quickly. A bulleted list can help you build your case. It shows the employer quickly and easily that you are a good fit for the job.”

The best fonts are simple and easy to read. Stick to Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri in 10 to 12 points. A larger size font in 14 to 18 point is good for titles, headings, and subheadings, but keep it all one style. Your margins should also be standardized.

Infographics can often look messy on a CV and are best left out.

Michelle Kruse from Career Cast says that while creative designs can be appealing, “they're also a great way to annoy recruiters who are attempting to sift through hundreds of other applications. When it comes down to it, it really just depends on the situation.”

Don’t take any chances with your CV, and leave the cute text bubbles and cartoon computer graphics at home; your readability will skyrocket.

Quick Tip: Keep it short, stylish, and simple.

3) Know Your Audience

Be sure to tailor the information you include on your CV to the position you’re applying for. Be selective about what experience, volunteering, and skills you choose to include. Those 10 years of ballet? Probably not very relevant if you’re applying for a job in advertising, so leave it off. But that part-time job while you were in high school, running the social media campaign for your local hardware store is worth noting.

Do a little research and get familiar with the company you're interested in. Familiarise yourself with the keywords they use in their documentation and job descriptions, and integrate them into your CV. This will help show recruiters you’ve done your research as well as show that you’re a good fit for the position.

For instance, if you’re applying for an SEO specialist or digital marketing role, make sure you mention your SEO and SERP experience as well as your familiarity with PPC.

Jen David, CV consultant at CV Library, believes that you should only include relevant experiences from the past decade, no later.

In addition, she goes on, after you’ve carefully selected which aspects of your skills and experience that you’re going to include on your resume, you should be as brief as possible. Your CV should be a summary of your job roles, employers’ names, and dates for the positions held. It should enable a recruiter to quickly and easily see the highlights, successes, and progression of your career.

It doesn’t hurt to add a brief description of the position and the types of responsibilities you had when you worked in it to the job list. A little detail lets recruiters know the kinds of roles you’re familiar with. Just remember to keep it engaging and in an active voice.

You should list your experiences in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position at the top of the list.

If you follow all these tips, you should have no problem creating a basic CV that you can then customize when you’re targeting specific positions or companies. It’s easy to create a CV template that you can subsequently edit on the fly.

Quick Tip: List only relevant and recent experiences.

4) The Numbers and Platforms Matter

A quantified list of achievements will keep your digital marketing CV job specific and show off your skills and dedication to past projects.

Next Generation believes you should use analytics and metrics to communicate how you improved business, such as increasing traffic to a site or revenue in general. You should provide tangible elements as well, such as a 20% bump in organic traffic.

Not only will quantifiable results help make your CV more specific, but they provide you with an opportunity to showcase how your skills and work ethic made valuable contributions to your past employers’ goals. If you highlight the fact that organic traffic has increased on a project you’re involved in, your skills using SEO analytic tools like WordPress, Moz OSE, SEMrush, or Google Analytics will stand for themselves.

Don’t leave anything up to guesswork – let the recruiter know exactly how much you were involved and how much you achieved with a project. All of this will make your digital marketing CV that much more personal and specific to you and your accomplishments.

Quick Tip: Link a professional portfolio or website under your analytics.

5) Proofread

Last, but certainly not least, is the proofreading stage. It can make or break a digital marketing CV. While it’s easy to assume that you didn’t make any errors, it never hurts to go back and scan your CV for any potential mistakes.

If you’re applying for a digital marketing position that is content heavy, just about the worst thing you can do is have simple syntax errors. These blunders will make recruiters think you’re inattentive when creating content, and they will ruin an otherwise well-done CV.

Avoid simple mistakes by proofreading. For a good guide to proofreading, check out Darla Phanklong’s post on CV-Library.

Watch out for spelling and grammar errors. Another good way to check your CV is to run it through Grammarly.

Quick Tip: Grab a friend to read over your CV. Sometimes, having a fresh pair of eyes helps catch any mistakes you may have made.

Conclusion

If you follow all of these tips, your digital marketing CV will be more readable and reflective of your skills. Now all you need to do is click that submit button. 

Let’s hope it’s your first step to that coveted personal interview in which you can really persuade your audience that you’re the best candidate for the job. Good luck! 

Source: Digital Marketing Institute