THATBlog

What's coming to the world of marketing in the next year? The next two years? Five? The industry is changing at a furious pace, but one thing you can be certain of is that there are more shake-ups to come. Future-proofing your marketing career is an effective way to accommodate these evolutions and ensure you are an invaluable part of your organization no matter what new technologies are released and techniques come into vogue.

How can you make that happen? ROI in marketing means everything, and your ability to prove it is nothing short of essential to future-proofing your career. These five strategies can help you get there.

1. Use Your Data

The power of data-driven marketing cannot be ignored. Factors like lead generation and customer acquisition are readily measured, and you're expected to know what they look like and how to display your progress/success in this area.

You not only need to show how you contribute to good numbers, but also how you managed to increase them after you became part of the team. Don't forget to look at the value of new customers, as well as how you created value with existing customers - who tend to cost a company less.

2. The Big Picture Matters

Marketing is only one piece of the puzzle. Your initial marketing efforts often touch every other part of a customer's journey. As a result, connecting with other teams (e.g. sales) is a way for you to learn more about what you're doing right while optimizing your message. That could mean better interactions and increased profits down the line.

3. Be Knowledgeable about Industry Trends

A recent Adobe study found that marketers believe marketing has changed more in the past two years than it has in the past fifty. What does that mean for you? Understanding what's about to change is essential. Technology is constantly changing, and, today, that means marketing is too.

Customers ignore channels of the past in favor of emerging channels, so make it a habit to stay up to date on those trends. Follow blogs that keep track of marketing changes and read marketing publications. Spend some time networking, too, so you can make use of your connections to learn more about what is coming down the pike.

4. Invest in Tools

Learning is crucial – but it isn't enough anymore. Not by itself. Instead, you need to know what tools are out there that may help you do your job more effectively. Think about working with imaging software to give every campaign a sharp, professional look, adding analytical platforms, and utilizing learning software to add to your tool and skill set. The key, though, is to never stop learning or using new tools. Just keep going!

5. Offer More

How much are you giving back to those people within your network? If you're not consistently delivering value to your connections, they may not be as interested in you as you are in them. Instead, exchange information regularly.

Be sure you're helping out with their challenges. Introduce them to new leads that might work for their business. You'll create relationships that work both ways. When you need something in the future, they will be far more willing to help you if you have been there to support them.

Proving your ROI in marketing may not be easy, but steps like these can help you do it and create a marketing career that will pay off well into the future.