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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.