Christopher Earle: 5 Common Challenges All Digital Marketers Face & How to Own Them

Monday, 30 January 2017

5 Common Challenges All Digital Marketers Face & How to Own Them

Big or small, B2B or B2C there are a core set of challenges that all marketers face. The extremity of these challenges will vary from brand to brand and person to person but undoubtedly exist within every organization.

Within the last few years alone, it now takes 52% more touches to close a deal than it did in the years prior. Yikes! Those aren’t the best odds, and now that marketing is becoming even more responsible for sales (not that that’s a bad thing), the modern marketer is stressed out.

But don’t fret, you’re not alone. The first step to overcoming your obstacles is identifying what they are. Once you know what’s in front of you, it’s much easier to tackle them one piece at a time.

Below are 5 common challenges that every marketer faces (at one point or another) as well as some sage advice for how to approach them head on.

#1 – Time

Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day, but some days feel like they’re made of mere minutes, not hours. You might start a day with five things on your list and end it with ten. And let me tell you from experience, that’s no way to live!

Helpful Tip: Time can be a big challenge, but there are some simple ways to manage time more effectively. First of all, get your big rocks out of the way first thing in the morning. If you don’t, they will loom over you like a dark cloud all day long and can actually hinder productivity.

#2 – Budget

A pain that we are all familiar with is that when budgets need to be cut, marketing is often the first to go. Despite its effectiveness, marketing is still seen as a cost center, not a means of profit for an organization. But don’t fret, lack of (or reduced) budget does not determine the success of your marketing program.

Helpful Tip: Creativity doesn’t cost a thing. When budgets are cut you have two options: 1) wallow and worry about how you’ll get everything accomplished 2) find creative ways to push boundaries and show success.

#3 – Resources

Ok, I know…“resources” is such an all encompassing topic. A lack of resources can refer to internal staff, external staff or funds. However, the problem is the same; you don’t have enough manpower to do the job that needs to be done.

Helpful Tip: If you’re experiencing a lack in resources you can repurpose marketing content to get more bang for your buck, incorporate influencers to add credibility (and create more content) or hire an agency to help you reach your marketing goals.

#4 – Innovation

It can be incredibly frustrating to see other marketers around you coming up with excellent ideas while you’re stuck in a marketing rut. But instead of spending time worrying about what everyone else is doing, take time to find your own inspiration.

Helpful Tip: The first step to innovation is thinking outside the norm. Spend time researching, put all ideas (even bad ones) down on paper and don’t limit yourself. Some of the best ideas are may seem crazy at first, but after developing further have a glimmer of brilliance.

#5 – Impact

Improving the impact of marketing programs is top of mind for all marketers (no exceptions). Customers are distracted and overwhelmed which means that it’s that much harder to get their attention.

Helpful Tip: Take an inventory of all the marketing “activities” that you have planned and commit to focusing only on those that are likely to have the biggest impact on your end goal.

Identify Challenges & Face Them Head-On

You’re not alone in experiencing the common challenges above. However, what separates good marketers from great marketers is their ability to view these challenges as an opportunity, not a setback.

What is your best advice for marketers to crush the challenges above?

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