The Future of Sales and Marketing: Skills That Will Get You Ahead

Let's talk about something that's been buzzing in my head lately: sales and marketing. I know, I know, it sounds like boring stuff. But trust me, it's actually pretty cool, and it's becoming a huge deal.💵

Before we rolling in the deep more, let me tell you a quick story. My dad was a businessman💼. Growing up, I used to tag along with him to his office, meetings, tradeshows and I picked up a lot just by watching. It was like being a little business sponge, soaking up all the knowledge. 

I even did a business course, HND in Business and E-commerce🎓, back in 2007. But then, I got this crazy idea to become a pharmacist cause I thought, "Hey, medicine is super stable, right?" Wrong! (Half-wrong). Little did I know, sales and marketing📈 were becoming some of the hottest jobs around. Can you believe it? I mean, who would’ve thought, kan? Even pharmacist pun kena buat sales sekarang. Huhuhu.

Fast forward, even though I ended up in the medical⚕️ field then dabble here and there; retail, manufacturing, education, oil & gas, agriculture and hospitality, I can’t shake this feeling that I missed out on something big. 

The Skills Shuffle: Why Skills Matter Now More Than Ever💡

The world is changing super fast than a chameleon changing color. The way we buy stuff, the way companies connect with customers, it’s all different. And guess what? To keep up, to stay ahead of the game, you need the right skills. It’s like playing a video game, you need to level up to beat the next boss.

Think about it this way, sales and marketing used to be about just selling stuff 👥. Now, it's about building relationships, understanding customers, and creating amazing experiences.⭐ It's about being a problem-solver, a storyteller, and a tech wizard, all rolled into one.

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: Which is Cooler?

Think of them as your tools for success🛠️. In sales and marketing, having the right skills is like having a toolbox filled with the perfect wrenches and screwdrivers. They help you build and fix things, right?

Now, let's break it down. There are two types of skills: hard skills and soft skills.

Hard skills🧠 are like learning to play an instrument or how to use specific tool. You need practice and knowledge to master it. In sales and marketing, hard skills include things like knowing how to use social media, understanding SEO🗂️ (which is basically making your website super visible on Google), computer program (so basic) analyze and crunching numbers.🔗

Soft skills, on the other hand, are about how you interact💭 with people. Think of them as your personality and people skills. Things like communication, teamwork👥, and problem-solving are soft skills. These are the skills that make you shine, even if you don't know the latest tech jargon.

Imagine you're selling a car🚗. You need hard skills to know the car's features and price. But you also need soft skills to connect with the buyer and convince them to buy.💯🚀🎯

Top Sales and Marketing Skills You Need💬(as of now)

The world of sales and marketing is changing all the time. New technology, new ways of reaching customers – it's crazy! But some skills will always be important (well, including common sense and manner) 😊

Hard Skills for the Future ✔️ 

Skill	Description
Digital Marketing	Using the internet to reach people through websites, social media, and online ads.
Sales Management	Leading and motivating a sales team to achieve goals.💲
Social Media Marketing 📋	Building a following and engaging with customers on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
Business Development	Finding new customers and partners for the company.🤝🏻
SEO	Optimizing websites to rank higher in search engine results (like Google).

Soft Skills That Will Make You Shine🌟

Skills	Description
Communication	Being able to talk and write clearly is like having a superpower.
Problem-solving	You need to be a detective and find solutions to challenges.
Listening	This might sound simple, but being a good listener is key to understanding your customers.
Emotional Intelligence	Understanding your own emotions and the emotions of others helps you build strong connections.

Level Up Your Game

Staying updated on industry trends and best practices is crucial for staying ahead in any field. So, are you ready to boost your skills?🔥How do you get these skills? There are tons of ways of course. Here are some effective strategies:

1. Online learning platforms. Websites💻 like LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, Edx, Google, Microsoft, Coursera, Udacity, e-Latih etc. offer courses on everything.
2. Professional event; workshops and conferences (or webinar). Attend events to learn from experts and meet other people in the industry.
3. Mentorship👨🏻‍💼. Find someone who can guide you and share their knowledge. By connecting with a mentor who has extensive experience in your industry can provide valuable insights and guidance.
4. Industry Publication. Subscribe to magazines, journals, and newsletters relevant to your industry.
5. Blogs and Websites👩🏻‍💻. Follow influential blogs and websites that cover the latest trends and insights.
6. Online Communities. Join forums, LinkedIn groups, and other online communities where professionals share knowledge and experiences.
7. Follow Thought Leaders. Keep up with industry leaders on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
8. Hashtags and Trends📊. Use relevant hashtags to discover trending topics and discussions.
9. Podcasts. Listen to podcasts that feature interviews with thought leaders and cover current trends.
10. News Aggregator📲. Use news aggregator apps like Flipboard, Feedly, or Google News to get curated content from various sources.
11. Professional Organizationn or Memberships. Join professional organizations that offer resources, events, and networking opportunities.
12. Market Research and Analysis🔎. Regularly conduct research to analyze market trends, competitor strategies, and emerging technologies.
13. Read books? Yup, no need to elaborate more. Knowledge is power.

Okay, that's it for now. 13 resources to stay ahead🌏. If you have any additional points, thoughts or questions, please feel free to add them in the comments ⬇️below, your feedback is always welcome. If you need my help to compile all the resources, I would be happy to help!🥇

Last but not least, remember, learning is a lifelong journey. Keep exploring and growing. By focusing on both hard and soft skills, you'll be ready to conquer the world of sales and marketing. It's like building a strong foundation for your future.

So, who already dive into the world of sales and marketing? 🙋🏻‍♀️Raise your hands!

What do you think?🗣️ Are you interested in learning more about sales and marketing? 

P/S: This post is dedicated to you, Nur Aneesa Izwanis. So we can learn from each other and together, again.