What are the most common mistakes that prevent people from getting a promotion in marketing?

I firmly believe that setting clear goals isn't just something each team member needs personally; it's a strategic must for collective success.

settling for ok is too common. we must set goals and do what it takes to achieve them. How can you know if you succeeded if you don't have a goal to achieve? Adding value to your organization and being a positive part of the team helps a lot too.

I'm going to disagree with the need for clear goals for your career. I firmly believe in setting personal goals and professional goals, but one of the biggest challenges people have that hold them back from getting promoted is the unwillingness to experiment with their career. To be willing to take an unknown path that wasn't on their radar. By being flexible, taking on challenging responsibilities, and by getting out of the way of your own expectations you will open up entire new doors of opportunity that you didn't even know existed. Don't limit your growth by focusing on only what you know or can see. The distant horizon is filled with an incredible number of unseen opportunities.

Based on my personal observation and discussion with a few mentors, setting strategic long term goals is key but getting sponsorship is equally important because we let people know we can fit the role or take on new challenges. Networking is pertinent as it open doors to opportunities. Learning & developing new skills is an going journey to embrace as a Marketeer because the market place is an evolving arena. Marketing is both science and social. It's a good blend of both as marketing focus on customers, helping them to thrive in their business or add value to their desired outcomes. Take courage, be confident to the next role. Someone shared with me, if you think you are 100% fit, you are already over qualified for the job.

Excellent advice Richard. As someone who has spent years in the executive suite, I can say that the people we looked to promote where those who were open to taking on challenges that were out big problems (as opposed to something they knew and were comfortable with).

Definity I have seen a common thread in success stories when it comes to marketer careers - clear, well-defined goals. Without them, A marketer is like a campaign without a target audience - ineffective and directionless. Here’s the deal: Set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals. Align these with what your organization aims to achieve. It's not just about setting them but also about tracking and adapting them as you evolve in your career. Remember, your career is a marathon, not a sprint. Regular checkpoints in the form of career goals keep you on track, motivated, and clearly communicate your value to your team. Set those goals and watch your career take off!

Marketing is not a soft skill; it is a science. Marketing should be data driven, and marketers need to be familiar with marketing formulas and mathematics, such as Share of Voice. There are way too many markers that think marketing is nothing more than an art. It is a science, and it should be precise and measurable.

Not having a career plan developed with your manager, with clear G&Os (goals and objectives) that will prove the impact you generated on some of the key pillars of the corporation. This plan should also list the top missing skills you need to build/acquire via enablement/coach sessions/training, in order to get to the next level of your career. It all linked to a timeline check with deadlines. I would also add that having exposition to the leadership team contributes to your "personal brand awareness".

Always check (weekly or monthly in writing) to ensure you are on the same page as the business development team. Too often you can take the wrong path and wind up in a dead end. You may think you are being productive, but company goals change because we live in a dynamic global space where things can suddenly turn in a new direction. Stay alert and always communicate with the team members for whom you are providing the best tools available.

En Marketing es imperativo conocer los objetivos de la marca En mi experiencia me ha funcionado analizar, entender y conocer las metas de tu consumidor final, trabajando en un plan de acciones que te guíen a estos objetivos, respetando tus limites presupuestarios, buscando aliados y dinamizando tu marca a través de las herramientas y plataformas publicitarias que ayuden a que tu marca se exponga y crezca exponencialmente

To avoid the mistake of not updating their skills and knowledge, marketers can: 1. Invest in ongoing education and training programs. 2. Attend industry conferences and webinars. 3. Join marketing associations and networks to learn from peers. 4. Follow industry blogs, podcasts, and news sources. 5. Experiment with new tools and technologies. 6. Conduct regular self-assessments to identify areas for improvement. By staying proactive and committed to staying current, marketers can better navigate the ever-changing marketing landscape and achieve better results for their brands and clients.

To overcome this challenge, consider implementing a proactive approach to skill development. Here are some things to enhance your marketing skills and boost your chances of promotion: 1. Identify Skill Gaps: Conduct a self-assessment and seek feedback from colleagues 2. Stay Informed on latest Trends 3. Enroll in Training Programs 4. Networking and Mentorship: Connect with peers and seek mentorship from experienced marketeers 5. Hands-On Projects and collaborate to broaden your skill set 6. Set Clear Goals 7. Measure and Showcase Results

Be a "Learn-It-All", not a "Know-It-All". Invest time into online communities, platforms like LinkedIN and networking IRL. Get hands on with tech and social platforms. TBH real-life conversations are far more useful. Attend 3rd party events if you're near a metropolitan centre such as London, Paris or New York. If not, reach out to interesting people, grab a zoom or a coffee. Its the best thing you can do. Oh, and quite simply - live and breathe AI. Marketers that embrace AI will beat those that don't. So use it to support everything you do.

I changed my career in my 30s after 5 years as a project manager. What I found helpful in being able to do that was continuous sudy and updating. You don't necessarily need to take expensive Master's degrees if you are curious enough; some of my tricks were: - attending events and webinars where experts from various fields of marketing were speaking, which always left me with useful insights to learn more about; - Taking courses on Coursera; - Getting books recommended to me by more experienced colleagues; - Following people on Linkedin who helped me broaden my perspectives; - Delving deeper into online magazines, industry blogs and podcasts; - Carrying out small personal projects to experiment with new tools, social media and technologies.

Not considering data when creating campaigns and setting marketing goals result in not meeting your marketing goals. So, all the marketers out there, please learn how to analyze data and using it to set up the right channel and right pace to meet your goals.

One thing to consider is to avoid dead jobs. I define them as job that have repetitive works that sounds like you are doing marketing but actually you gain no skill from doing those jobs. Choose job that have scope expands constantly or make your job filled with many projects that brings you different skill sets and even help you gaining new ones is better. Marketing, like other constantly change. New tools, new way of doing things and new developments happening around you everytime. So constant update, look out, and learning is a given. A job that pays well and teaches you is great, have one at a time is oke but having none of the two is an issue.

In the dynamic field of marketing, staying updated on evolving trends and acquiring new skills is crucial for professional growth. Individuals who don't prioritize skill updates may miss out on opportunities for promotion, as a proactive approach to learning is often valued in such competitive environments. Continuous learning enhances adaptability and ensures marketers can effectively navigate the ever-changing landscape of their industry.

In the dynamic field of marketing, staying abreast of the latest trends, tools, and technologies is crucial for professional development. Failing to update skills can lead to stagnation and limit your ability to contribute to innovative campaigns and strategies.It's essential to invest in ongoing education, attend industry events, and seek out new experiences to broaden your skill set and stay relevant in the field.

Take time to understand the business priorities and how your work aligns with them. You can have a great campaign, with amazing results, but if it's not driving the right business outcomes you've missed the mark. Once you understand how your work aligns with, and drives/supports the business priorities, you can outline how your results are contributing to the company. That is a key metric is demonstrating that you understand the business and are delivering impactful work.

It is the human condition to not always speak about your achievements. You are not alone in this. One thing I have learned to do now is that for every project, I create a 2 - 3 slide presentation that I imagine I would present to a management team. I highlight the goals, the impact, losses, and lessons learned. You can also do it in a spreadsheet and then review the best ones to add to your portfolio every quarter or so.

I've been guilty of this to be honest, just getting bogged down with everything you're doing in your day to day and not shouting enough about the wins you have. You can bet that sales guys shout about their wins but a lot of marketers tend to be much more introverted when it comes to that kind of thing.

In my experience, marketers may get the result but because of not showing the previous data to the organization, the key persons really are not aware enough of what occurred by them. In my opinion to showcase the result , some actions should be taken into consideration: 1. Show the organization the current situation with metrics. 2. Set a clear goal to bridge the gap . Don’t forget to inform the organization!😊 3. Define milestones to reach the goal and plan , do and check the process. 4. Let the results showcase you and simultaneously you showcase the result by comparing data and metrics before and after the process.

In marketing, showcasing measurable results is vital. It's not just about creative campaigns; it's about quantifying their impact. Track key metrics, use analytics tools, and regularly report your successes and learnings. Link your results to the broader business goals and communicate them effectively. Remember, clear data and results not only validate your strategies but also highlight your role as a strategic asset to the organization.

Insinuate yourself into corporate planning, teach the company what marketing really means (sensing, serving, and satisfying the wants and needs of customers). Kotler said, "The purpose of marketing is to make sales superfluous" (or something like that). Show a direct relationship between your efforts (everyone's efforts) and profits. If you can't do these things, you don't deserve a promotion. Look for another line of work....

It is all about growth! Everything you do, talk and show inside the organization should drive discussions around growth. For marketers, embracing a growth mindset is pivotal! How? 1. Take Data-Driven Decisions: Analyze data for strategic insights. 2. Experiment: A/B test and optimize relentlessly. 3. Create Content That Converts: Create compelling content keeping your audience and goals in mind. 4. Collaborate: You are not aloone so align across teams for holistic growth. 🌱🚀

I think a lot of marketers don't shout about their successes/results enough, I know I've been one of them. No one likes to look like a show off but if you can show what you do well consistently it will massively help to improve your promotion chances.

I'm sure I've already commented on this or one reallllllly similar. But basically not shouting out enough about achievements. You know the sales guys do it, but marketers can be too modest for their own good

Showcasing your results doesn’t just mean just the wins-it means the failures too. The great part about marketing is even when we fail, we can still add so much value to the business with what we’ve learned about our customers from the results of our campaigns (good or bad). Sharing these learnings with leadership and other teams across the organization will help demonstrate the value of your work, even when campaigns don’t get the results you were hoping for.

Marketers are notorious for being terrible at internal marketing. You need to show the entire company the value you are bringing to the table. Meet with other teams. Tell them what you’re working on and how it helps them. Show them your value. This helps make you indispensable, which leads to promotions!

Fostering meaningful connections with your managers, colleagues, and clients is vital in the marketing realm. Your network can play a crucial role in driving your business forward. Always strive to maintain a positive relationship with everyone, both within and outside your organization. Open communication and authentic recognition will help build trust and encourage collaboration, leading to better outcomes.

One common mistake hindering promotion in marketing is neglecting to build strong relationships. Personally, I've found that 'Never Eat Alone' by Keith Ferrazzi has been instrumental in expanding my network and fostering meaningful connections. It's not just about what you know, but who you know, that can propel your career forward in the competitive marketing landscape.

Implementing marketing in a company with no prior marketing presence can be daunting. It requires consistency, testing, and a commitment to finding what works for your audience. But most importantly, the internal team needs to collaborate and see the value in marketing. When they start to see the wins, buy-in becomes much easier. Building that trust and achieving results takes patience and persistence.

Relationships are critical to career success. It's often people going to bat for you in meetings that you're never part of that will help propel your career. So take every opportunity to build real relationships with your colleagues across the organization.

In marketing, neglecting to build relationships is a critical misstep. It's a field where collaboration and customer-centricity are paramount. Without strong connections with managers, peers, and customers, you risk losing trust and support. Focus on effective, respectful communication. Be open to giving and receiving feedback. Offer help, show appreciation, and seek mentorship. Strong relationships are the backbone of successful marketing strategies and career growth.

I believe it’s critical for Marketers to build strong relationships (bridges) with Sales and Product/R&D. Do Sales people know that you understand the challenges and push-back from customers/prospects? Does R&D know that you fully understand the differentiation of the product/service they’ve developed? I’d also throw in Finance as well as do they know you are conscious of getting the best ROI on every dollar spent. The best marketers are experts in building these internal relationships.

(1) Ignoring customer and internal feedback or not actively seeking it. (2) Lack of data analysis and being able to tell and share the story behind it. (3) Focusing on promotion solely and not on the pain of your customer or internal stakeholders.

It's mission critical for you and your business to collaborate and work alongside each other to achieve common goals. Understanding what it is you're trying to achieve... and how you'll go about delivering it, and who with is critical to success. Team work makes the dream work but if you're not communicating, it's nigh on impossible to make that happen.

You have to promote yourself/your department just as you have to promote your product/service. In any oprg, there are awlays some people are naturally good at self-promotion and do it without even thinking about it. Sometimes these people are annoying cretins. Find a good line, strike the right balance. Promote visibility of your good work. Do important people favours. Take the time to have a chat with some people. It all adds up.

Marketing is a creative and fast-paced aspect of business and requires you to be proactive, reactive and good at metaphorical juggling. Own that. People aren't going to just offer you a promotion unless they feel that you would be both confident and competent in that role—and the best way to do that is to show what you can do. Put forward your ideas. Start the research to see if a campaign idea is viable. Use data as a foundation, and trust your intuition. But above all, don't forget to manage up. Leadership teams are busy, and they hired you because they feel that you can do the role. So, don't wait for step-by-step instructions, show them what you're capable of—because when you do, promotions become easier to obtain.

Marketing is also a contact sport. Often marketers are leading a charge, not waiting for orders. You need to jump out ahead and confidently complete tasks. Personally I wait a week for an approval and then I assume it's a yes. Have I received some complaints? Yes. Do I slow down? No.

This is really true in any part of the organization - you need to go beyond your role. Start proving that you're ready for a promotion by taking on the responsibilities of that role - or at least help someone who is already at the level. Look for ways to go beyond your job description, always.

Be the person you want someone else to be. Be that proactive one who takes charge. Proactively taking on unassigned projects demonstrates your drive and abilities. Look for ways to meaningfully expand your responsibilities and expertise.

In the dynamic world of marketing, taking initiative is key. This means going beyond your regular duties and showing your ability to lead and innovate. Taking on new projects, suggesting improvements, or leading a team effort can distinguish you as a proactive and valuable employee. Demonstrating leadership and a willingness to tackle challenges can make you stand out as a candidate for higher roles.

This is the key for me. In marketing, our stakeholders are often extremely busy with operating the business and providing services and products to customers. This means we are an important, but small, part of their day. For me, its important to really embed yourself in the business and build your understanding in order to rely so heavily on stakeholders for content etc. Make it easy for stakeholders to engage because the work is 95% there before they need to get involved. And, lead with the plans rather than wait for the plans to come - as subject matter experts we should lead and advise, not just deliver to order.

A seasoned marketer knows that no two businesses are alike and that even within the same business, different services or products may have different audiences. This means that different audiences require different approaches, mediums, and strategies. Applying the same solution to different situations is not effective. Therefore, a marketer should always be learning new tools and channels, as well as exploring new and different channels, testing and trying them based on their assumptions of the channel audience and their interests. This can help marketers create better ROI because they will widen the competitive field and that demands creativity based on the platform and their audience.

Un error común es No superar la falta de valoración o el rechazo a las ideas, ya que esto suele suceder sí las ideas son criticadas o ignoradas y es importante cuando ocurre este tipo de situaciones, mantener la confianza y persistir en la búsqueda de oportunidades para contribuir. Para poder considerar un ascenso en el área de marketing, es importante enfocarse en desarrollar una mentalidad proactiva, es decir buscar formas de destacar, de asumir nuevos retos para demostrar el valor más allá de las responsabilidades diarias.

Marketing, specially digital marketing is a fast-paced field with no secret formula. If you want to succeed you'll need to test different things with different perspectives and obtain knowledge from that.

We often get stuck in a false reality that people will automatically appreciate you, understand what you do and will reward you accordingly. This is not the case. Advocate for yourself by showing the value you provide, your experience and knowledge (that you may not be using in your current role). Ultimately if you don't ask, you won't get.

Sin duda hacerse valer es una de las cuestiones más importantes en el ámbito profesional. No puedes esperar que la otra persona (en este caso tus superiores) vean tu trabajo de la misma forma que tú lo haces, por lo que será tarea importante hacerles ver hasta qué punto les interesa que estés a gusto. Siempre, eso sí, mostrándoles primero el beneficio que tendrán ellos si tú estás bien. PD: Me atrevo a decir que más del 70% de gente que no consigue un ascenso es porque no se atreve a pedirlo

Big one for me is if you don't ask you don't get. You could also be doing loads of great work but not shouting about it and your successes enough. We all need to do more of that in marketing.

If you don't ask you don't get, not many people remember that. Simple but true. Another is not shouting about achievements enough to make sure you're standing out. Finally the size of the marketing team you're in can have an impact. Say you're a solo marketer in a business, there is no one there for you to compare against, whereas if you work in a marketing team it would theoretically be a lot easier to stand out when in direct comparison to another team member.

Just the way you market for a brand, treat yourself like one. Market yourself. Actually, analyse the data. - How much revenue is coming in. - How many people are showing interest. - What initiatives (jobs/projects) have you started and their growth. You have got to sell yourself. No one is coming intentionally without being asked to give you more money.

New skills can be learnt and existing skills updated through an outward looking focus, however behaviours are harder to change. To progress it's really important to have the right behaviours and to apply them consistently and lead by example. Knowing how others view you and being accepting of feedback and seeing things from another person's point of view are key. Focus on your behaviours first!

The worst they can do, is say no, and tell you how you can improve. Best case scenario, you get the promotion. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose!

Sometimes it's necessary to ask especially with the inflation we are faced with today. Whether you are at a large agency or in-house, marketing sometimes gets overlooked until it is done poorly. Before you ask, make sure you are asking from something within the norm of national averages AND have been a high performer at your current position for at least a year. I have only worked for 2 employers and had to ask twice in my 27 years but successful each time. Tell them what you like about your job and the company. Discuss your contributions. Just be real and if you are asking its probably because its needed not wanted. Be prepared to look elsewhere if they can't make it happen.

Nobody has your back like you do. Don't be afraid to take that leap and don't doubt yourself. You can expect others to always speak up on your behalf and you shouldn't feel afraid to state your worth.

Marketing people best positioned for promotion do a lot of work months or years in advance (separate from their normal role). Professionals go out of their way to find an internal coach within the company (usually someone in a VP or senior role). They meet with their coach a few times a month to ask for guidance on ways to build relationships across teams, volunteer for extra assignments, add specific skills, etc. and share successes. The coach should generally not be in the same reporting structure but should be familiar with the department or business unit. A coach provides support, experience, and perspective. Building this type of connection may not directly result in a promotion but candidates are well positioned.

In my experience, I have found that being a humble individual does not always work to your advantage. Finding the right balance to demonstrate your worth to your organization while being a valuable and respected team member is key. If you generated millions of dollars in additional revenue last year and did not highlight this achievement, that is your fault. Ensure that all of your efforts are quantifiable. Sometimes, as experts, we get so caught up in how we will achieve the goal that we forget to celebrate our successes when we reach them. Schedule quarterly meetings with key stakeholders in your organization to showcase your efforts and utilize your resources. Be bold. Be justified. You will never get a raise if you don’t ask for it.

Be bold! Be creative! Too often a lot if people just keep on repeating what is working until it stops to work. If you want exponential growth, you need to take risks and try new things. Don't be afraid to experiment! If it doesn't work new learnings and insights will come out from that.

Not shouting about your wins. You can guarantee that sales guys are shouting about all their successes whereas in marketing it’s the opposite

I think the most important thing if a marketer wants to promote is to get closely friend with his manager and peers. The second on is to be updated and skilled in all field of marketing and sales. Attending in blogs and journals might be helpful for promoting. And the last thing is to have self esteem and self confidence.

One crucial aspect that I would like to highlight is the necessity for marketers to possess a clear understanding of the business goals, particularly when working in management positions within small to medium-sized companies. It's crucial to effectively communicate your efforts to the leadership team, demonstrating the value of marketing initiatives and your qualifications for advancement or promotion.

An additional thing to consider - and this is relevant to individuals in all functional areas who are seeking promotion - is that "what got you here won't get you there" (see the book by Marshall Goldsmith). As you seek promotion within your area, you have to demonstrate not just mastery of the responsibilities of your current role, but also understanding and aptitude for the increased responsibilities of the next level - whether that be strategic thinking, people management, budget management, etc. Meet with those in roles you aspire to - to gain understanding of what those next responsibilities are, and to get feedback on how you can demonstrate your ability to take on those responsibilities.

Something important to keep in mind is that you have to think strategically when trying to get your next role. If you are trying to go from manager to director, your thinking needs to shift from how to execute the strategy to what the strategy is and what your team needs to do to manage it. The higher you go and the more you grow, so does how you think of tackling items.

I strongly believe that Marketing is a one type of Entrepreneurship where we are owner of our profile. A clear distinct goal helps much. Keeping a track record of growth clear the way further. A strong team is the heart of profile & Networking is the oxygen. Apart from these a problem solving attitude & being confident is a must. If you have all these you can add value to any of the organization & can have or ask for a generous promotion. VALUE YOURSELF...... the WORLD will adjust.... Good Luck All the Best Happy S A L E S