4 answers
tony
Student
Whitmore Lake, Michigan
15
Questions
4 answers
Jackson Collins
Consumer strategy
1
Answer
New York, New York
Updated
Jackson’s Answer
Tony,
Thank you for your question. My answer to your question is a question. And actually a lot of marketing is about asking questions, so this is a good place to start :)
Why do you want to become a marketer?
Knowing why you want to become a marketer will help you decide not only if marketing is the right career for you but also what part of marketing you may want to concentrate on. Marketing is not just one type of job. For example, if you enjoy finding out why people prefer to buy Huggies rather than Pampers then perhaps you should consider market research. If you are interested in creating content and ads that will encourage people to buy a certain brand, then maybe you should consider advertising.
As well as deciding which marketing role interests you, also think about the type of organization or company you want to work at. Today almost every organization does some form of marketing. It may not always be called marketing but governments (federal, state, and local), hospitals, and charities want to understand what people think and how to encourage them to support their policies, visit their hospitals, and support their causes. Marketing is not just about encouraging people to drink Pepsi instead of Coke!
Tony, I wrote at the start that you need to answer the question "Why do I want to be a marketer?" to decide which bit of marketing is right for you and which type of organization is right for you. You should keep asking yourself that question even after your first job. If you do that, you'll set yourself up for a long and successful and, most importantly, a happy career and life.
Good luck!
Write down an answer to the question "Why do you want to become a marketer?"
Ask your friends, who prefers Coke and who prefers Pepsi? What would you do to encourage the Coke drinkers to switch to Pepsi?
Google 'great marketing campaigns'. Which campaigns appeal to you? Why? How would you improve them?
Thank you for your question. My answer to your question is a question. And actually a lot of marketing is about asking questions, so this is a good place to start :)
Why do you want to become a marketer?
Knowing why you want to become a marketer will help you decide not only if marketing is the right career for you but also what part of marketing you may want to concentrate on. Marketing is not just one type of job. For example, if you enjoy finding out why people prefer to buy Huggies rather than Pampers then perhaps you should consider market research. If you are interested in creating content and ads that will encourage people to buy a certain brand, then maybe you should consider advertising.
As well as deciding which marketing role interests you, also think about the type of organization or company you want to work at. Today almost every organization does some form of marketing. It may not always be called marketing but governments (federal, state, and local), hospitals, and charities want to understand what people think and how to encourage them to support their policies, visit their hospitals, and support their causes. Marketing is not just about encouraging people to drink Pepsi instead of Coke!
Tony, I wrote at the start that you need to answer the question "Why do I want to be a marketer?" to decide which bit of marketing is right for you and which type of organization is right for you. You should keep asking yourself that question even after your first job. If you do that, you'll set yourself up for a long and successful and, most importantly, a happy career and life.
Good luck!
Jackson recommends the following next steps:
Great Response.
Ereka Brim
Hi Jackson: your response is very insightful.
Sheila Jordan
Matt O'Donnell
Digital Marketing
5
Answers
Herndon, Virginia
Updated
Matt’s Answer
Tony - You have plenty of great advice already. One more thought -- a great way to learn marketing, or at least an appreciation for its value, is by working in sales. At literally anything.
Let's say you do a lemonade stand in your neighborhood. The first thing you realize is what's the best location? Where are the cars with potential customers passing by? What's the weather going to be in the next few days? In a very simple way, that's the start of marketing -- what's the ideal location and setting I need to find potential customers of my lemonade?
Silly example but point is when/if take a job in high school that involves selling, it will get you thinking. Whether it's cutting lawns or working at a fast food restaurant. Feed that curiosity with reading articles that touch on things that interest you in magazines like Forbes, Fast Company. Or sign-up for a email newsletter like this one: https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwi18Y3CtIf2AhWsC60GHTOvDE4YABAAGgJwdg&ae=2&sig=AOD64_2VP-q0kybCFoBXx0Dm71A0TfXBKA&q&adurl&ved=2ahUKEwi6gIPCtIf2AhUOKEQIHSBuABoQ0Qx6BAgCEAE
Best of luck!
Matt
Let's say you do a lemonade stand in your neighborhood. The first thing you realize is what's the best location? Where are the cars with potential customers passing by? What's the weather going to be in the next few days? In a very simple way, that's the start of marketing -- what's the ideal location and setting I need to find potential customers of my lemonade?
Silly example but point is when/if take a job in high school that involves selling, it will get you thinking. Whether it's cutting lawns or working at a fast food restaurant. Feed that curiosity with reading articles that touch on things that interest you in magazines like Forbes, Fast Company. Or sign-up for a email newsletter like this one: https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwi18Y3CtIf2AhWsC60GHTOvDE4YABAAGgJwdg&ae=2&sig=AOD64_2VP-q0kybCFoBXx0Dm71A0TfXBKA&q&adurl&ved=2ahUKEwi6gIPCtIf2AhUOKEQIHSBuABoQ0Qx6BAgCEAE
Best of luck!
Matt
Kim Gravell
Retired Principal at Gravell Insights, LLC
145
Answers
Nipomo, California
Updated
Kim’s Answer
Hi Tony
You have been given some excellent advice from other mentors. A couple of additional thoughts to consider: 1) Gain insight into your natural strengths to uncover some potential matches in marketing. There are a number of assessments that will help you with this process. My personal favorite is Strength Finder, but find one that fits you best. 2) If you decide to pursue a marketing degree try to participate in a summer internship program. It will help you see how marketing is put onto practice. Best wishes to you with your journey.
Research strengths assessments to find a good fit for you.
Take the assessment and review the results to determine where your strengths match marketing opportunities.
Retain the report for reference as your career path continues.
Research marketing or business internship opportunities as part of your educational path.
You have been given some excellent advice from other mentors. A couple of additional thoughts to consider: 1) Gain insight into your natural strengths to uncover some potential matches in marketing. There are a number of assessments that will help you with this process. My personal favorite is Strength Finder, but find one that fits you best. 2) If you decide to pursue a marketing degree try to participate in a summer internship program. It will help you see how marketing is put onto practice. Best wishes to you with your journey.
Kim recommends the following next steps:
Cathy Mrase
Marketing Project Manager
5
Answers
Lisle, Illinois
Updated
Cathy’s Answer
Tony,
I agree with Jackson. There are many different facets of marketing, design, copy writing, communications, research, website creation, optimization, and so forth.
As a first step I would suggest taking a number of courses if you are unable to answer the questions Jackson poses.
I have been in Marketing for over 30 years. I first started as a production artist, designer, creative coordinator specialist and now a Marketing Project Manager.
Another way to find out is to ask yourself and especially close people to you what are your strengths or interests.
Take a basic marketing course
Ask friends and family what your strengths are.
Get a under graduate degree in Marketing
I agree with Jackson. There are many different facets of marketing, design, copy writing, communications, research, website creation, optimization, and so forth.
As a first step I would suggest taking a number of courses if you are unable to answer the questions Jackson poses.
I have been in Marketing for over 30 years. I first started as a production artist, designer, creative coordinator specialist and now a Marketing Project Manager.
Another way to find out is to ask yourself and especially close people to you what are your strengths or interests.
Cathy recommends the following next steps:
Hi Cathy: great response as a follow up to what Jackson mentioned.
Sheila Jordan