In this blog, I often write content to/for people in and around the marketing industry. Yes, I write for a marketing company. But no, that’s not why I write about marketing.

The truth is, I believe marketing is an essential tool for businessmen and women in all types of industries. On more than one occasion, I’ve seen the positive impact it can have on a business firsthand. If executed correctly, it really can be the difference between having and achieving goals.

Interested in finding out if marketing is your perfect professional match? Ask yourself these simple questions and who knows— by the end of this article, you may be looking at a new career goal.

Do you enjoy sales?

Good news… if you answered “no” to this question, a career in marketing could still be for you. I know you’ve probably always thought that marketing is the same as sales, but it’s not. In fact, sales is only one small part of the marketing industry. And though an extroverted, “sales-like” personality would definitely help get you far, it’s not necessarily required to succeed in the industry.

Today’s marketing has less to do with door-to-door sales and cold-calling, and more to do with a strong digital presence and the ability to manage relationships with clients. If you can handle those two things without problems arising, chances are you’d be a perfect fit for a career in marketing— sales personality or not!

How’s your understanding of the web?

In today’s market, digital marketing is essentially the most important kind of marketing. Because it’s so widely used and sought after by other companies, it’s also one of the most important to be familiar with.

Seems drastic to say, but understanding how the web works is a big part of marketing. Just think of where we’d still be in this industry without SEO, interactive websites, and social media. So unfortunately, if you don’t consider yourself at least somewhat “tech-savvy” you may only have two options: familiarize yourself with the web or find another industry to break into.

How do you feel about writing?

Believe it or not, writing can be a really important part of the marketing process. Therefore, if you don’t possess the ability to produce original, creative content, the marketing world may not be for you.

Now, I wouldn’t consider this a deal-breaker in the industry. But in any industry, solid writing skills are a huge plus. Factor in the marketing industry’s need for copywriting, blogging, and consistent online posting (on platforms like email and social media), and you’ve got a recipe for professional disaster if your writing isn’t up to par. Why? Because no matter how hard some people try to avoid it, writing good content is a critical key in gaining and keeping the attention of a growing audience.

Do you absolutely hate unfinished tasks or projects?

I ask this because there is no step-by-step process when it comes to marketing. You can’t just hop on Google and look up “how to market my product or service in 3 easy steps” and expect it to be done before 5 o’clock that day. Marketing is all about identifying specific needs, setting attainable goals, planning (sometimes over the course of a lengthy period of time), and working hard to turn those plans into action.

So, if you’re not one for waiting, marketing may not be the best career choice for you. While multitasking is definitely a skill that’s useful in all industries, it’s also not always the best way to do business.

Are you a team player?

Whether you own a marketing company or a business that markets solely itself, you simply cannot do it all on your own. At the end of the day, if you can’t honestly say that you work well in a team environment, a career in marketing just isn’t for you.

In any business, people need people in order for everything to run smoothly. In marketing, this is especially true. Because this industry’s task vary so widely, you’re likely not going to be able to produce grade A work on your own 100{a2396c2253210e4fe96a9350db4998fead2ccefaff88800abc5f9217fb562a1a} of the time. And that’s okay. It’s normal, actually.

The most important thing to remember here is that marketing is successful when the entire team is successful— as individuals. Hiring separate employees and dividing tasks accordingly (such as a researcher, content writer, salesperson, financial advisor, and account manager) is your best shot at producing the highest quality work in the marketing industry.

Are you willing to keep learning?

As always, I’ve saved the most important question for last.

In marketing— like many other industries— it’s not just about staying in the competition… it’s about staying ahead of the competition. That means you need to be willing and able to keep learning. If you’re not, I can confidently assure you that marketing isn’t the career for you.

What I’ve learned about this industry is that, these days, two things matter above all else: technology and technique. And if you’re not familiar with even one of these two things, you need to be. Not following? Take research, analytics, and software programs for example… these are all things that marketers have become highly dependent on in order to be successful in today’s web-obsessed world. Unfortunately, they’re also constantly changing.

Bottom line: refresh, refresh, refresh. Hop on board with this idea early on and you’ll be set for success in this innovative industry.

But wait, there’s more headed your way soon! Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more blog posts just like this one. As always, thanks for reading and happy marketing!

—Amanda Myers, Copywriter at BoydTech Design, Inc.