Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is home to a number of industries, and workers in the marketing and creative technology industries, in particular, will discover a varied yet competitive job market. According to Select Greater Philadelphia, around 33 percent of all employees in the Philadelphia area work in creative positions. In terms of digital technology, around 5.4 percent of Philadelphia’s working population fill science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) jobs.
Given that there are ample opportunities to secure a job in the marketing and/or creative technology industries in the Philadelphia PA area, both employers and tech job agencies are looking for candidates that stand out from the crowd in such a competitive market. Candidates who are searching for digital marketing jobs, in particular, are encouraged to have proficiency in following top digital marketing job skills in Philadelphia, PA to land a position in the field.
1. Big Data Analytics
A number of digital marketing companies are creating specific data analyst jobs, but if you’re looking to head into a managerial digital marketing role, it’s important that you have at least a basic understanding of big data analytics. According to JeffBullas.com, a marketing professional comfortable with analytics will be able to use a wide array of programs to interpret data, such as customer engagement, conversion rates and so on. The data is then used to develop strategies for improvement and change. Indeed, the American Marketing Association reported that up to 13 percent of employers now expect candidates to have analytics experience when filling any digital marketing role.
2. HTML
According to the Search Engine Journal, having knowledge of HTML can really set you apart from other job seekers in your field. HTML is essentially internet code and is used to literally build web pages. The source explained that while coding web pages is unlikely to be featured in the day-to-day duties of digital marketing professionals, a basic understanding of HTML can be invaluable in situations where formatting problems arise and mistakes on the page are evident. With basic knowledge of HTML, you’ll be able to remedy the issue quickly, without causing disruption by enlisting the help of an expert. It’s for that reason that HTML knowledge will more than likely impress a digital marketing employer.
3. Social Media
Inc. reported that a vast majority of employers – some 92 percent – argue that social media is integral to the success of their organization. This is perhaps even more true in marketing organizations, as social media is one of the most effective platforms to reach customers and promote a brand. Therefore, social media prowess is a top digital job skill that all candidates should possess. Social media jobs are more than simply updating the company Facebook or Twitter – candidates should show experience in social media management of multiple platforms (usually Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram to start). Also, proven demonstration of finding optimal post times to enhance engagement, as well as interpreting social media analytics to continuously improve processes comes with the job. Each social platform provides tools for employers to increase traffic to their site and more effectively promote their brand, including social media advertising.
“92% of employers believe social media is vital for success.”
4. Search Engine Optimization
Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing (SEO/SEM) have made an impact on digital marketing. As one of digital marketing’s most in-demand skills in 2016, SEO/SEM continue to make it on the list of requirements in job descriptions. SEO is the process whereby strategies are implemented to improve the ranking of a website on a search engine, such as Google or Bing. The American Marketing Association explained that SEO expertise is underlined by several core skills – an ability to work with server response codes, server-side settings and sitemaps. The source noted that around 14 percent of digital marketing employers require SEO experience for top jobs.
5. Content Writing and Editing
With content marketing at an all-time high, an ability to write engaging content is an absolute must for most digital marketing roles, Search Engine Journal explained. Content writing jobs focus on concise, grammatically sound writing, with attention to content organization. Stay in tune with journalistic best practices, such as the protocols for finding and using sources and the rules for using stylebooks books such as the Associated Press or Modern Language Association.
If you find yourself applying for a position that places an emphasis on content writing, most likely, the position will also require experience and skills within content editing and proofreading.
Big data analytics experience will propel any digital marketing candidate to the top of the list.
6. Email Marketing
In addition to content such as blog posts and landing pages, digital marketers will often also develop an email based strategy to attract and engage customers. As the American Marketing Association pointed out, however, email marketing skills involve more than just sending out regular messages. A truly gifted email marketing professional will be able to devise innovative new ways to use email to promote a brand. An email marketing strategy needs to be interesting enough to entice the recipient to open the email and not head for the delete button.
7. Visual Marketing
A picture certainly is worth a thousand words, or in this case, hundreds of engagements. According to JeffBullas.com, numerous studies have indicated that pictures can drive consumer engagement up by a staggering 100 percent. Apparently, an additional study found that tweets with images recording an 110% increase in engagement when compared to tweets without.
Consequently, an ability to scout out and edit appealing images, or create custom visuals is highly regarded by digital marketing employers. Have experience working with images and visuals? What a plus! Compile your work into a portfolio to send along throughout your job search.
