A growing industry with countless opportunities and an attractive salary. South Africa has been a bit dormant in the online world, but we may finally be catching on.
Due to South African businesses realising the importance of an online presence, marketing has become a growing industry.
Marketing can be a challenging but rewarding career filled with excitement and many opportunities for career advancement.
What is marketing?
According to asana, organizations establish their brand and communicate with customers through marketing.
With the help of marketing professionals, companies grow their brand by doing customer research, planning promotions and arranging marketing campaigns.
Marketing strategies used by companies often change as customers’ needs develop.
The various subcategories of marketing are plentiful. Traditional and digital marketing, however, is the primary pair. Each has a wide variety of specialized marketing strategies.
Is marketing a good career choice?
Many South African companies have started to expand their business into the digital space, creating a need for qualified marketing experts in South Africa.
According to IMM, along with the business and financial industries, the marketing industry is identified as a stabilizing trend in South Africa. There has been an emerging trend with organizations hiring more specialist marketers.
Whether you’d like to work as a digital marketing professional, social media specialist, or marketing analyst, finding a position that suits you is highly likely.
In addition, a great benefit of marketing is that you can live in South Africa and work for an overseas employer through the internet.
According to michaelpageafrica, a company’s marketing budget usually determines whether they hire a generative or specialist marketer.
Larger organizations tend to go for more specialist marketers, whereas small businesses with a lower marketing budget usually go for more generative marketers.
Marketing salaries in South Africa
Salaries for marketing positions can vary significantly based on location, company size, and industry. Compared to the global average of marketing salaries, it seems that South African marketers earn more than marketers in other parts of the world.
According to myggsa, factors like experience, qualifications, and the organisation you work at largely affect your salary.
Entry-level workers with no marketing qualification can expect a salary of R5000 to R7000 per month. Conversely, employees with a degree can look forward to earning a salary of R12 000 to R15 000 monthly.
Digital marketing
Entering the world of digital marketing will take some time, obtaining a degree, diploma, and the necessary skills first will help your journey.
According to BrainStation, acquiring a degree in the digital marketing field is an expensive but thorough way of learning everything there is to know about digital marketing.
Many companies’ first requirement for an interview is to have a relevant digital marketing degree.
In addition to formal education, developing skills such as data analysis, digital strategy, and content creation are essential for success in digital marketing.
Marketers must be able to analyze data to measure the effectiveness of campaigns, develop effective digital strategies, and create compelling content that engages with their target audience.
Individuals can look for internships or entry-level jobs at marketing firms, tech companies, or other businesses that specialise in digital marketing to acquire real-world experience, which enables individuals to collaborate with knowledgeable digital marketers and gain information from their experience.
Success in digital marketing also depends on networking and developing relationships with experts in the field.
Expanding one’s network and learning from seasoned digital marketers can be done by visiting industry events, joining professional organizations, and engaging in online forums and groups.
Finally, success is dependent upon keeping current with the newest developments and trends in digital marketing. This entails keeping watch of new technological developments, modifications in consumer behaviour, and industry standards.
Traditional marketing
Understanding the foundational ideas of marketing and obtaining the required knowledge and experience are requirements for becoming a traditional marketer.
To reach a target audience, traditional marketers use conventional media, such as print, television, and radio.
A marketing degree offers a thorough comprehension of the marketing fundamentals and different techniques employed to connect and engage target groups. Additionally, it addresses issues like advertising, customer behaviour, and market research.
Success in conventional marketing depends on cultivating abilities like communication, creativity, and strategic thinking.
To assess the success of campaigns, marketers need to be able to develop engaging content, develop persuasive messaging, and evaluate data.
A combination of formal education, real-world experience and continuous learning is needed to become a traditional marketer.
Individuals can succeed in traditional marketing and develop successful campaigns that connect and influence target audiences by mastering the fundamental techniques while remaining up to date with market trends.
Marketing is a growing industry in South Africa. With the necessary knowledge and skills, anyone can reap the rewards the marketing world has to offer. The right time to start your marketing journey is now.