Make sure to look for someone who is tech-savvy, especially when it comes to social media. A great marketing person should keep up with the latest trends and know how to effectively use them in their work. This is essential in 2023 more than ever because the landscape is changing so quickly. If you fail to keep up with the rapidly changing online world, you risk becoming outdated and replaceable.
Hiring a great marketing person is much like dating. You can't read his resume and then decide that you've found Mr. Right. You have to go out on a few dates and see if he is the one. Start by interviewing a few people via phone interviews and have them explain their qualifications. Ask for samples of their work and have them send them to you. That will allow you to see how professional they are and their writing style. You need to see if their style fits the tone of your company. Ask them about their greatest successes and failure. They might give you too much information, but if they aren't willing to be upfront with you, they aren't worth hiring.
Get specific with the type of marketing person that you need in your business. There are so many different sub-categories of marketing (social media, email marketing, etc.), and most people will specialize in 1-2 areas. Once you have decided what type of marketing your business will focus on, look at the candidates that fit into that specific specialization, and dig into the results that that person has provided to others in the past. If the candidate can provide numeric results - even better! Take a look to see if the results align with where you envision taking your business.
A good marketer needs to be a great storyteller. Marketing campaigns are deeply rooted in impactful content that tells a story. Your potential marketing candidate must possess this quality and must understand the ins and outs of the industry. Hire someone who is adaptable and who works well with a team.
Ask for candidates to complete a test, rather than show you a portfolio. There's some great, talented marketers out there who have less experience and may not have as extensive portfolio work as other candidates do. But just because they have a larger history of work doesn't mean someone is necessarily a better applicant. If you want to hire someone you can trust is talented, give your final picks a brief test, so you can see how they work when they're contrasted against each other on identical assignments.
When it comes to finding the best marketing talent, don’t pigeonhole yourself by only looking at specialists. Recruit candidates who have a combination of hard and soft skills. An applicant should be able to speak the language of marketing fluently and these skills allow them to do just that. For example, a candidate can demonstrate their knowledge of SEO in the interview and speak to creative ideas for marketing campaigns. A well-rounded marketer will embody a mixture of both that compliment their skillset.
Finding someone with demonstrated critical thinking skills is one best practice for hiring the right marketer. Though some elements are like a science, marketing takes a more creative approach that requires critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Put another way, where science asks why, marketing asks why not. There is room for risk where there is no room for error in an exact science, and that is where true innovation thrives.
If there's one thing that we can all agree on, it's that the marketing industry is constantly changing to meet the needs of the ever-evolving customer. In such a dynamic playing field, you'd want a curious mind on your side — one who's passionate about learning new trends and coming up with innovative strategies to keep your audience engaged. When interviewing potential employees, pay close attention to how curious and creative they are.
Vet their personal brand online. A good marketer will be able to show what they can do through a robust portfolio. They will demonstrate case studies of clients that they have moved the needle for with data to support each. They likely will have an active LinkedIn presence. These are all green flags when it comes to finding the perfect marketer for your brand.
A great marketing person is not interested in using the flashiest newest channel or creating the most controversial marketing campaign. A great marketing person is interested in what your company's goals are, both long and short term. No marketing campaign will be successful if it is created without a SMART goal in mind. Effective marketing tactics are identified through strong marketing strategies that are created from specific marketing goals.
Make sure to pick someone with a solid understanding of the analytical skills necessary for the job. It's also important to look for someone who has a good understanding of your industry. They should be able to identify the key trends and opportunities in the market and be capable of leveraging those insights in developing effective marketing strategies. This is essential because the success of any marketing plan depends on the ability to comprehend and accurately interpret industry data.
Drinking your own champage is the spruced up version of "eating your own dog food". This was a term used to describe software development teams who used their own products in order to build confidence in it's effectiveness. I think that the same concept applies to any marketing hire worth their salt. Unless it's an incredibly junior role, the hire should have experience using the marketing channel in question for their own benefit. It's possible to learn how to be a great marketer with no experience using the channel outside of work, but all of the best hires i've made, were with people that lived and breathed their channel and used it effectively for themselves before being hired.
Look for candidates who are adaptable and able to pivot in response to changing market conditions or business needs. Marketing is a dynamic field, and it is important to have someone on your team who can quickly adapt to new situations and challenges. Overall, it is important to carefully evaluate candidates to ensure that you are hiring someone who has the skills and experience to contribute to the success of your marketing efforts.
A great way to hire a stellar marketing person is to focus on the candidate's soft skills and cultural fit. While education and experience are important, these skills and qualities may be more important in determining whether the candidate is the right fit for the role. Look for someone who is an effective communicator, can think strategically, and is passionate about marketing and customer service. But also consider how well they “fit” with the rest of the team and their skills can be complementary to those of your existing employees.
If they can express themselves well and tell you why you need to hire them. If they can communicate their needs, wants, and actually sell themselves, they can sell your business too. Marketing is all about convincing. This is a great quality you should always look for in a marketer. They should be able to convince you they are good. This is how you know they will be able to convince your clients your product/service is good.
One tip to hire a great marketing person is to have them respond to the same prompt for multiple recipients. This will allow the hiring team to see how adept the candidate is at tailoring the messaging to the audience. For example, an HR director and marketing manager may ask the same question, yet the ideal response may vary depending on the role of the interviewer. The candidate should be able to create different versions of the campaign that are tailored to different types of audiences. This will show the hiring team how well the candidate understands the target audience and how well they can create messages that will resonate with them. Additionally, it will demonstrate the candidate's ability to think strategically and creatively about marketing strategies.
Looking for someone who is a good team player is a must when hiring a marketer. Very rarely are marketers the sole member of a marketing team. Daily collaboration inside and outside the department is crucial to the job, so good communication skills and a team-focused attitude are always necessary for success.
Determine how well they know the marketing business. Do they specialize in a specific marketing strategy? Can they share any predictions for future trends of marketing? For example, a solid question to ask a social media manager during an interview is where they see social media heading in the new year. This allows them to share any insight they may have as you evaluate their skillset and knowledge.
When it comes to hiring a great marketing person, my best tip is to look for someone who has the right combination of experience, knowledge and skills. It’s important to find someone with a proven track record of success in marketing, as this will help ensure they have the necessary expertise to make a real impact in your organization. Additionally, look for someone who is creative yet organized, who can think strategically and who has excellent problem-solving and communication skills. The candidate should also be up-to-date on the latest trends in the marketing industry and have an understanding of the different platforms and channels used in marketing. Once you have found these qualities in a candidate, you will know the person is a good fit for a marketing role.
When you are looking to hire a marketing person, you want to ask for a portfolio of their work. Particularly for those in digital marketing and similar industries, you want to ensure that their work yields results via data. That shows what they will be able to do for your company. A portfolio of work with data about its effectiveness is one of the best ways to learn what you need about a potential marketing hire.