How To Get Ahead In A Digital Career

How To Get Ahead In A Digital Career It’s no secret that the world is becoming increasingly digital. Our personal and professional lives are inundated with new apps, gadgets and social channels that promise to help us run the show a bit more smoothly. It may be easy to sit back and let the digital storm wash around you, absorbing only as much as you need or can be bothered to learn. However, if you’re looking to excel professionally in the digital sector, it’s essential to stay informed. Standing out amongst the tech-savvy, entrepreneurial competition can be tough, so here are a few ways you can make sure you don’t go unnoticed. Keep up with digital trends There are so many ‘digital experts’ out there, and while you may be sceptical to their self-proclaimed expertise, plenty of them really do know what they’re talking about. Even better, in the age of the internet, it’s easy for you to become an expert too. Technology is, HubSpot â€" the blogs from HubSpot offer loads of advice, from using analytics successfully to closing on sales. Most of their blogs focus on ‘Inbound Marketing’, but you can apply their thinking to whatever you’re doing digitally to market your business. MOZ â€" the guys at MOZ are widely recognised as some of the finest SEO practitioners around. Their blogs are packed with the most up-to-date analysis of Google’s algorithms and how to create search engine-friendly content. Econsultancy â€" exploring multiple digital genres, Econsultancy’s blog is the place to go for the latest news, recent case studies and in-depth guest posts Get qualified While staying well read will help you keep up with the latest trends, it might not be enough to put you ahead of your competitors. If you really want to stand out, getting a digital qualification will show future employers that you’re seriously committed to a future in the digital sector. Studying for an MBA in Digital Management will expose you to real-life applications of the theories, techniques and technology that you’ve studied. This experience will give you greater insight into how digital advances can, when used properly, boost business. While you study, you’ll also be developing stronger leadership skills and networking with like-minded people who could become invaluable business connections later on. Educate yourself Even if getting qualified isn’t an option for you right now, it’s important to make sure that you keep learning. Google’s Digital Garage and Analytics Academy, and HubSpot’s Inbound Marketing Certification can start you off on the right foot as you set out to make a name for yourself in the digital industry. Google and HubSpot are digital leaders and can give you some idea of how to implement modern practices into your marketing campaigns. Keeping up with the latest tech is also essential for anyone who wants to be taken seriously Get connected Networking can help you take business to the next step. There’s a reason people continue to reel off the old saying: “it’s all about who you know, not what you know”. While it would be foolish to disregard what you know, it really is essential to make the right connections and use them to your advantage. Fostering mutually beneficial relationships with other professionals and businesses will almost always offer some payback. Networking could help you find a much-needed introduction to a potential client, or expose you to new trends and ideas that will help you to grow your business. Digital growth has made networking easier than ever before with channels like LinkedIn and Quora, but it’s important not to neglect face-to-face communication when it comes to building long-lasting and reliable professional relationships. Fiona King writes for Manchester Metropolitan University, a world-class institute offering specialised MBA programmes in Digital Management.