Basic Guide for Staffing a Marketing Department

The world of business is getting more intense by the day and it seems that it has become a case of survival of the fittest. One of the things that helps a business out in a saturated market is effective marketing. It is therefore important for every brand to learn how to build a strong and highly effective marketing team.

Building and sustaining a team that will take the promotion of the brand to another level is something that requires strategic thinking. Whether as start-ups or established enterprises, every brand must choose wisely those that will man such important positions.

In this article, we will share tips on how to staff a marketing department with the right hands that will steer the company to its desired productivity and sales height. Meanwhile, you can read this article on the importance of marketing for any business.

Tips for Choosing Marketing Staff

We have already established that marketing is a crucial factor in the success of any enterprise. We also stated that for this reason, it is highly important to make the right choice when staffing that department.  We know this may not be easy for a lot of companies which is why we share the following tips to help you:-

Define the Marketing Objectives of your Brand

The first thing to do before you start hiring any personnel for marketing is to have a clear objective of what you want the department to achieve. A clear objective will help you determine the skill set that your potential hires should have.

An example of a clear objective is increasing online visibility. Based on this objective, your potential hire should have digital marketing skills.

Identify Existing Gaps in Your Team

Assess the competencies and skills of your team if you have one on the ground. Their strengths and weaknesses will inform the skill set that is needed in the team. Some companies may have marketers who are only good at physical promotions and campaigns.

If yours is such a company, you need people who are skilled in digital marketing. Ensure that you hire specialists in Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Management, and data analytics.  This will boost the digital footprint of your brand.

Think Diversity

For a company that already has a team on the ground, you need to get people with innovative ideas that will bring fresh perspectives. Additionally, whether you are building a fresh team or augmenting an existing one, always think about diversity when hiring new staff.

Consider diverse experiences, backgrounds, and world views in the mix of hires. This will enhance the creativity of the team and help them connect with customers of diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Consider Communication Skills

Ensure that you prioritize communication skills in every prospective hire because communication is a major factor in marketing. No campaign or promo can succeed if the message is not plain and compelling.

As you interview candidates make sure that you asses their verbal and written communication skills. It is in your interest to hire only those who can clearly communicate ideas succinctly and also collaborate with customers, stakeholders, and team members.

Assess Creativity and Adaptability

Before you hire anyone, assess their creativity and ability to adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of the world of marketing. Adaptability is a trait that enables a person to learn new techniques and master new tools. In addition to this trait, creativity is compulsory because that is what will churn out content and campaigns that are innovative and compelling.

Ask questions that will reveal the candidate’s ability to think outside the box or not. You can also bring up challenging scenarios that will help reveal their thought processes.

Other skills to look out for in prospective hires include the following:-

• Digital proficiency
• Expertise in Data analysis and utilization of data
• Proficiency in project management

Use Agencies and Freelancers

Some companies may not need a full marketing team; they may do well with outsourcing that aspect of their enterprise to an agency or signing an agreement with freelancers. You can visit https://creativesoncall.com/services/marketing-staffing for how to go about this. This is an option that many businesses are now adopting.

If however, you feel that your business needs a full team but you do not want to go through the hassles of shortlisting, interviewing, and picking qualified candidates, your best bet is to hire a consultant or recruitment agency to do the job for you.

Another thing to bear in mind about using freelancers is that you can get specialists in the area of marketing that your enterprise needs. Additionally, you would not have to spend as much money as would be required by a full in-house team.

Conclusion

You cannot have a thriving marketing team just by assembling a group of people. It is imperative that you hire people that have the right skills, diversity, and mindset to drive the success of your business. In this article, we have shared basic tips that will help you assemble this winning team. Bear them in mind and implement them as you go through the recruitment process.