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I Hate Social Media, but It’s Good for Business

I Hate Social Media, but It’s Good for Business

The statement after the word “but” is why you are here. It’s why you’re reading this. But for me, there’s a love-hate relationship.

There’s no conversation you’re having these days without social media influencing it. You either saw something or read about it at some point while scrolling. Then you go ahead dissecting it with whoever shows interest or with your brain. Either way, it made you wonder or affirm.

And to think it’s just a tool like any other tool. A tool that has come to dominate our lives and invade everything. And I mean everything, especially when you let it.

This reading will help you understand why hating social media is valid. And why no business can survive without it in the 21st century.

What is social media?

Social media is a tool people use to communicate their thoughts. For sharing ideas, personal messages, etc. And every other type of content via the internet.

As of October 2022, analysis from Kepios, according to datareportal shows that there are 4.74 billion people around the world who use social media. Imagine being able to communicate anything to people anywhere in the world. Wild right? I know.

You can exchange pictures, exchange ideas, and watch anyone’s video as long as they upload it on social media. It’s beautiful and yet poisonous.

Poisonous because what you see on social media isn’t always what it appears to be. There’s a false belief, and people have unconsciously trapped themselves in it.

Poisonous because people are sharing information we shouldn’t know about. Some of us know about people’s business against our will. There are too many bad habits that have become normalized out there. People are doing outrageous things for clout, likes, followers, and subscribers. What a time to be alive on Earth.

The effect of social media is expected, as there are pros and cons to almost everything involving humans. It could positively or negatively impact people by encouraging cyberbullying, depression, and access to immoral acts. It’s doing as much harm as good.

Social media is a beautiful mess.

Why I Hate Social Media

You’re wondering why I still have to highlight it here even after the above rant. It’s for you to understand how powerful that tool is. It has me in a chokehold.

  • People are much more comfortable staying indoors because they can see everything on their phones. Loneliness has increased.
  • It’s a major reason for anxiety because you’re seeing your peers create highlight reels of their lives without the behind-the-scenes (BTS) reality. Then you go into a mini panic mode wondering, “Why me?”
  • There has been an increase in depression and suicide because of the awareness it creates. It’s so bad that people even jump on the trend for clout’s sake. Skibii don’t do it again. (He once faked his own death.)
  • The glorification that comes with being the first person to record something and share it on social media is another reason I’ve got a beef with the tool.

I could go on, but the world has always been a terrible place, and humans have always had an awful side, it’s nothing new. Social media gave it more exposure. The tool gives everything exposure if you must know.

But amidst all this, guess what has made the creation and thriving of businesses easy? That’s right, dearest social media. This is where we explore why social media is good for business.

Social media has changed the way businesses reach their customers and increase revenue. For businesses of all sizes, it’s one of the most effective ways to connect with prospects and clients.

Ever heard about social media marketing? I’m hoping so. Do you understand what it entails and how to navigate it, or do you only use social media to exercise your thumb? Scrolling king and queen: yes, I am judging you.

What Is Social Media Marketing?

It’s a subset of digital marketing. It allows you to leverage the power of popular social media platforms to achieve your marketing and business objectives. It goes beyond creating a profile or account on one of these sites and posting when your mood allows. Social media marketing entails an evolving strategy with goals you can measure.

Why It’s Good for Business.

  • Businesses can develop their brand by having a presence on various social media platforms.
  • The personal feature of social media enables businesses to develop connections with customers. And to build brand loyalty.
  • Businesses can use social media to advertise and connect with new audiences. They can also reach people most likely interested in their offerings by generating targeted and dynamic ads.

Remember what coca-cola did with their “share a coke” campaign that had the names of people on a bottle? I bet even those who don’t drink soda bought a bottle just to jump on the trend and share an image of it on social media.

  • Businesses can also use social media to showcase their products and services and persuade people to buy or do something. Sites like Facebook and Instagram have developed features that allow businesses to sell their products directly on their platforms. 75% of internet users use social media to research products.
  • Businesses can use it to educate, entertain, and inform people about whatever they’re selling that aims to make their lives better. Making things and the lives of people better.

You could go on reading about why social media is good for business but I’ll stop here. And show you a place to learn and practice. Where you can better understand the power of social media marketing. You don’t believe it?

Read about how Precious Ojukwu made a career switch to digital marketing with the help of Virals and Signals.

As much as I despise social media, Virals and Signals taught me that using it for business is not only necessary but also beneficial.

Great marketing on social media can bring remarkable success to your business. Helping each business create die-hard fans (aka brand advocates), and drive leads and sales. But you can’t hack this if you don’t have in-depth knowledge of how to leverage the tool.

So, while I dislike social media, it is not only good but also excellent for business.

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Digital Marketing Sales Search Engine

Why I Quit Sales and How It Triggered a Life-Changing Career Switch to Digital Marketing

Why I Quit Sales And How It Triggered A Life-Changing Career Switch To Digital Marketing

  • It comes down that so many people wish to change their career or change industries to a career that is more flexible and remote. Most especially, lots of people hunger to break into Tech but are scared to do so because they are worried it means throwing away all the knowledge, training, and experience they have acquired over the years. Some may even be afraid that they might not succeed in it. Most people who have the will to switch to Tech do not want to code as well. The truth is that not all Tech careers require coding, take for example Digital Marketing. Anyone can learn digital marketing without having to code.

I am Ojukwu Precious an alumnus of Virals and Signal Creative Marketing Agency and I am excited to tell you my story on how I quit my Sales job to learn Digital Marketing and also went from earning in Naira to earning in Dollars within three months.

ABOUT MY CAREER CHANGE

On a reflection, my career journey has been quite intriguing. Firstly, I studied pure and applied chemistry in university and did a six months internship at a PVC pipe production company. Everyone expected me to dive into one of the chemical industries or do something related to my course but well, I found myself in the luxury fashion retail sector as a sales executive. Not by choice anyway, I needed a Place of Primary Assignment for NYSC. 

You might be wondering how that worked for me, I was great at it funny enough. At first, it was difficult considering that I am a shy and reserved person, but I got used to it. I started enjoying meeting new people and interacting with different personalities. I remember hitting my sales target the first time, I was blown away. I kept staring at my commission like it was a trophy. It was a trophy because I hadn’t made such money before.

Well, selling got boring at some point. There was nothing new and as someone who gets bored easily, I felt I was being held in a box, repeating the same things every day. Well, I quit my job a few months after NYSC. I did get other jobs, working in different roles but I was just never fulfilled. I started spiralling and that was the toughest time of my life. Then one day I decided to explore Tech courses, but I knew I didn’t want to code. I needed something thrilling and spontaneous. I did my research and I discovered Digital Marketing, I had to do a lot of deep thinking before I finally decided to learn Digital Marketing. 

Oh, in the case that you don’t know what Digital Marketing is all about. It is also called online marketing for short. It is the promotion of bands to connect with potential customers using the internet and other forms of digital communication, through email, social media, and web-based advertising. You don’t even need any prior experience to learn Digital Marketing. You also don’t need to have a college degree to learn Digital Marketing. 

So back to my story, I decided to learn Digital Marketing because you have a high chance of working remotely, no more facing the Lagos traffic. I could also freelance if I wanted to, all while earning in foreign currencies. Then Digital Marketing is constantly evolving, there is always a new trend on social media and other digital marketing channels. This means that there is always something new to learn and try out. Isn’t that exciting? You have to be up on your toes. Trust me, nothing is boring about this career at all. I just knew I was going to love this and I had to take the next step which was to find a place to learn digital marketing. 

I went on a hunt for an academy to take the course. I wanted somewhere with a flexible teaching schedule and also cost-effective. I found Virals and Signals Creative Marketing Agency and it did check all my boxes. They also have very great reviews. And if the weekday classes are not convenient for you, you can also register for the weekend classes. Majorly for those who have a 9-5 and do not want to quit yet. There is also room for private coaching and all these can be done online or on-site at the academy. 

LIFE AT VIRALS AND SIGNALS CREATIVE MARKETING AGENCY

So, my journey began. I loved the classes a lot. You can tell if you would enjoy a class from the first day actually and damn, I did enjoy my first day. The classes were fun. The funny part is that questions are usually thrown randomly so you just have to pay attention because you do not know when and you don’t know who will be asked, it could be you. I’m sure you wouldn’t like to fall your hands. Another fun thing is that you get to handle projects at the end of every section of the course. The projects helped me with the practical knowledge of the course. You get to learn every aspect of Digital Marketing, from Marketing Fundamentals and Strategy to Content Strategy, Social Media Marketing, Social Media Advertising, Search Engine Optimization,

Search Engine Marketing with Adwords and Email Marketing even a free course on Freelancing. This covers all aspects of digital marketing and it was very exciting. I had a very wonderful coach, he was so patient, and he teaches to make sure everyone understands and nobody is left behind. I had a wonderful time learning digital marketing at Virals and Signals Creative Marketing Agency.

AFTER MY DIGITAL MARKETING COURSE

After my course, I ran a three months internship with the agency. I needed that because it was an opportunity to groom myself. I also took up free jobs from friends and everyone willing just to build my portfolio. After a few months, I decided to start applying for a full-time job in international companies, just the way I have always dreamed it. This phase was a bit difficult; I wouldn’t lie. I almost got discouraged. After two months of trying, I got an email from one of the companies asking if I was available for an interview. The happiest day of my life! Well, I did three interviews with them and even did a demo project before I finally got an offer! Now I have my dream job and making money, just the way I wanted it. I have just been growing so far since then.

SOME OF THE CHALLENGES I FACED IN MY JOURNEY

 Well, I would definitely be lying if I said I didn’t face any challenges on this journey. So one of my biggest challenges during the career change was the fear of failure. I didn’t want to flop at this one cos I had already put my mind and soul into it. I kept asking myself questions, secondguessing my thoughts. I hate failure a lot so I was scared to even start. And I think just before the change, I was very unsure about myself, and more than anything, I wanted to be clear about that.

I had to do a lot of soul-searching to decide if I needed this. I kept asking myself, “what if I don’t succeed”. But I had to snap out of that. 

Then I suffered from imposter syndrome. I couldn’t believe I was doing what I was doing. I remember finishing my first project while learning and thinking it was a whack only for my coach to say it was excellent. I was like “Oh, wow”. The fact that I was achieving a lot and doing a lot of things that I didn’t think I could even do, like writing. At every point, I had to have selfcompassion and celebrate my successes and every baby milestone I achieved.

 This has been the biggest step of my life and I am happy I did take it.

 WHAT AND WHO HELPED ME THROUGH THIS JOURNEY

 Speaking on the “What”, I must say the willingness and the zeal. I am naturally a highly driven person when I want to achieve a goal. I mean, that might be a good side to imposter syndrome, the hunger to be exceptional and to learn and be perfect in the field. I also wanted to prove myself so bad. I had been stuck for a while not knowing what to do at some point, but once I figured that out, I decided to put all my mind and strength, and energy into it. I wanted to be somebody, to have something and I was bent on achieving that.

 Well, on the “Who”, I will forever be in debt to my coach at Virals and Signals Creative Marketing Agency. He saw me through all the difficulties. He was ever ready to answer all my questions and clarify all my confusion during the course and even until date. He is very reliable and he doesn’t hesitate to come through. My family and friends as well, they were all supportive and rooting for me because they knew what I had been through. And they understood that that was a huge step for me.

THE BEST THING ABOUT CHANGING YOUR CAREER TO DIGITAL MARKETING

 Well, the absolute best thing about being in this field is that you never get bored. The whole aspect of this career changes as technology changes every day. So, be assured that you are going to be doing something new every day and the good side to it is that you’re also learning every day. I believe growth comes through learning.

I have a very flexible work schedule while also working from the comfort of my home and earning my cool cash. I mean, I love making money and being financially free. Everyone does.

MY ADVICE TO PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A DIGITAL MARKETING COURSE.

 Honestly, if you don’t change that career that you so much hate today, you might end up regretting it tomorrow. And if you feel it is too late, the good news is, it’s never too late for anyone.

The truth is every business needs Digital Marketing, so there is always a guarantee of a job after learning Digital Marketing. It would never phase out. It is constantly changing as the world is evolving. There is a money-making guarantee on that. But you have to choose the best place to train which is why I would forever recommend Virals and Signals Creative Marketing Agency because it changed my life and it also has changed the lives of so many people. There is nothing better than learning from a place where you feel comfortable, and where the coaches interact with the students very well. Where you have freedom of expression and the freedom to express your misunderstandings. So, I will give the academy a five star always.

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Categories
Data Science Digital Marketing

Why Digital Marketing is a great career in 2023

Are you wondering how successful you can be as a Digital Marketer?  Let me show you why switching careers makes sense, what digital marketing can offer, and how it can transform your career.

Have you been thinking about exploring digital marketing? If you’re currently doing your research, you’re in the right place… 

We’ll cover how you can start your digital marketing career, what skills you need, and how to impact businesses and earn your worth by 2023. 

Digital Marketing is a career that brings much excitement as well as sleepless nights. And in today’s world, you can’t grow a business or brand without digital marketing. Which means that digital marketing will always be In high demand forever. 

Think about this for a second… 

The Internet and modern technology have made digital marketing possible. Considering global civilization and technology are only going to keep improving, organizations and businesses will always need the help of digital marketers to grow their brands. 

In this article, you’ll learn why digital marketing is a great career in 2023, and how the possibilities you can achieve in this high demand industry.

Keep reading.

What is Digital Marketing?

If you’re wondering what exactly is digital marketing, I’ll tell you in one simple sentence.

Digital Marketing is how businesses are reaching potential customers in the digital space.

From being on the first on the first page Google for competitive keywords, writing emails and sponsoring ads, businesses continue to combine tactics to be the first choice for customers.

Why You’re Not Wrong About Switching Careers In Digital Marketing 

All over the globe today, new and existing businesses will always be In need of digital marketers.

If you’re passionate about making an impact, and you can communicate well with people, or you work in traditional marketing…

Then digital marketing is the right career for you.

Here’s a complete guide on how you can start a digital marketing career.

The Pros And Cons Of A Digital Marketing Career 

One of the perks many digital marketers love about their careers is the flexibility and pay they enjoy from offering their services.

Yet, there are pros and cons you should be aware of before you start your journey.

The pros of becoming a digital marketer.

Digital Marketing is a growing career. According to simplilearn, one of the reasons a digital marketing career is so exciting is because the field is evolving as different platforms are being introduced.

Karan Shah has this to say about digital marketing “In 2023, the demand for digital services is higher and the need for skilled digital marketing professionals is even higher. To bridge the gap and ensure that their campaigns are well taken care of, brands are ready to hire digital marketing specialists for particular platforms and for a particular niche.”

Not only is it a high demand career, you can specialize in different niches and new ones that are yet to exist.

Another Pro to consider is that you can work from any location in the world. The world is a global village, and businesses that want to thrive are always searching for digital marketers freelancing their skills online. So, if working remotely is on your wishlist, digital marketing is a career that can help you tick it off.

Digital Marketers earn good salaries. Payscale calculated the average digital marketing manager salary in Nigeria to be N2,160,000 based on 14 salaries. But you can also freelance your skills to earn the global average annual base salary which is $72k/yr.

You can impact lives and businesses with your digital marketing space. This will help you become an industry leader or thought leader if you decide to build a personal brand.

Click here if you want to pause and find out how you can get the skills you need to land a job in digital marketing.

Now that you know the Pros, let’s talk about the Cons of choosing a digital marketing career…

The Cons of a Digital Marketing Career.

If you’re passionate about our ever evolving digital space and digital marketing professions, it will be easy to overcome the following cons:

Digital Marketing requires time and patience. That includes your work process and how fast you grow in your career. Having structure and clear goals will help you deal with this con in your work process and career growth.

Adapting to change is crucial to your digital marketing career. You must be able to use new and existing technology or tools to continue being in demand for your skills.

You can’t afford to stop learning in your digital marketing career, unless you want to get left behind. When you keep learning, your value will continue to increase and you will be able to provide value to businesses no matter their channel of digital marketing.

What Are The Skills You Need For Digital Marketing?

It’s important you know that there are foundational skills every digital marketer should have. Still, you can specialize in one digital skill and still be in high demand.

Let’s take a quick look at the digital skill you need to start your digital marketing 2023 career.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

In simple terms, search engine optimization is the process of improving a website to show up on the first page when customers search for products or services related to a business in Google, DuckDuckgo or other search engines. Learning this skill well can help you land one of the following popular roles as a content writer, SEO specialist, SEO analyst and SEO Consultant.

Social Media Marketing. With billions of potential customers on social media platforms, businesses need digital marketers who can help them leverage social media to reach customers, increase brand influence and drive traffic to their websites. Popular roles you can get with this skill include, social media specialist, social media analyst, public relations, brand manager, and social media strategist.

Email Marketing. This skill is so underrated by many digital marketers and businesses. That’s why it’s one of the best skills to have as a Digital Marketer. With your email marketing skills, you can help businesses increase the LTV ( lifetime value) of their customers, build relationships and make more sales. Another thing to note is that Email marketing revenue is estimated to reach almost 11 billion by the end of 2023. Which means businesses are expected to increase their budget for email marketing next year. This will open lots of opportunities for email marketers. Exciting! Popular email marketing job roles include  Email marketing specialists, Email marketing expert, Email Marketing Manager, and Email Marketing coordinator

PPC (pay-per-click). Most times when you search for a product in Google, you’ll see sponsored ads of brands selling the product you search for. This is what pay-per-click does. It’s a skill that marketers reach their potential customers when they use platforms like Google, Duckduckgo or Bing. PPC also includes sponsored ads on social media, YouTube or a random website. You can land a job as a PPC specialist, PPC Analyst,  Google Ads Specialist, and Social media marketer.

Here are the technical digital skills that a digital marketer will need to be successful in their career.

1. Video Creation/Marketing

If you are passionate about digital content or making videos, you know that video marketing is effective.

Increasing your website engagement and boosting your ranking online can be difficult, but with the right resources and information, it’ll be a breeze. You need to know how to create, edit, and promote videos to get real results.

2. Content management systems

When working with websites, knowing how to code or having a basic understanding of HTML and CSS will give you an advantage. Common content management platforms for websites are WordPress, Magento, and Shopify.

3. Data analytics

If you want to track and report the performance of your website, you’ll need to learn how to use and understand Google Analytics. Despite its complexity, a little knowledge can go a long way in helping you create innovative solutions that bring in more traffic and conversions.

Check out a list of the most important digital marketing metrics every business should track.

4. Graphic and Web Design. Yes, a basic understanding of graphic design is necessary too. UI and UX design knowledge is also essential for any digital marketing campaign. If you want to build a successful digital marketing career, make sure you know the basics of design thinking. 

5. Marketing automation tools are a popular solution for today’s businesses. If you want to save time, streamline processes, and increase productivity, understanding marketing automation will be helpful.

Soft skills are as important in digital marketing as hard skills. It’s important to not focus only on the business side of things, but also to consider what people skills might be necessary to succeed.

Here is a list of five soft skills that will help you land your dream digital marketing career.

  1. Understanding others and expressing your ideas will lead to better collaboration, clarity, and efficiency for you, your company, and others. This will help you avoid misunderstandings and miscommunication, which could be disastrous for your project. Trust me.
  2. Persuasive writing is the use of reason and rhetoric to change people’s minds, behaviors, beliefs or emotional states. Of course, you need to be persuasive in order to sell your product or service. And, everything you do is an experiment. You won’t get it right the first time, but that’s something you’ll have to accept.
  3. Being Analytical. If you can back up your claims and make a strong argument, you’ll be more persuasive. Understanding how numbers work and how they affect the company is vital.
  4. Being a good Listener. As a digital marketer, your top priority should be listening to your customers. You have to understand their perspective, concerns, and what’s stopping them from buying. Then you should take those insights to find a solution that addresses the problem. 

If you’re not willing to follow your digital-marketing dreams, this is probably not the career for you. This field always changes and if you don’t enjoy learning on a daily basis, then it might be best to seek out another career.

How To Get Digital Marketing Jobs.

If you’re just starting out in digital marketing, the following steps will help you kickstart a 2023 career.

1. Get some experience

The best way to get a job is to build up your resume with projects that show you have experience and skills. If you’re new to the industry, it’s hard to find a job that requires experience so this is another reason why building up a portfolio is essential.

2. Find a good agency (or start your own)

If you want to work for an agency or start your own, it’s important to research agencies before applying for jobs at them. Some agencies are better than others and it’s important that you find one that fits your needs and expectations. You can also learn more about agencies by reading their reviews online or checking their social media profiles.

3. Start marketing yourself

Speaking of social media profiles, now’s the time to start building one! Social media profiles are one of the most important tools that any professional has at their disposal when looking for employment so don’t neglect this aspect when starting out. 

What are the possibilities you can achieve with digital marketing?

Digital marketing is a popular way for companies to reach customers, but there are many options. So what are the possibilities you can achieve as a digital marketer?

You can use digital marketing to help promote your client’s or employer’s brand and attract new customers. You can use effective strategies to build awareness of your company, increase traffic to their website and increase sales.

Digital marketing helps you connect with consumers who are searching for products or services that match their needs. This is especially useful for small businesses that have limited resources for advertising in print media or television.

Where Can You Start Learning Digital Marketing…

Digital marketing is an exciting career field that offers a variety of opportunities. However, to land your dream job, you must differentiate yourself from the competition. 

Viral and Signal is a digital agency that will help you get the digital skill you need to land a digital marketing job. We will walk you through how to create and share effective content, leverage social media to amplify your message, make your content discoverable in search, run paid advertising campaigns on Facebook, Instagram, and much more. Click here to find out more

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