If you feel lonely as a digital marketer, you are not alone.
According to an ongoing survey conducted by CareerExplorer, marketing managers rate their career happiness at 3.1 out of 5 stars, which puts them at the bottom 40% of careers.
Why would a job that involves the most entertaining and fun aspects of business, that being growth, change, and interaction between business and customer, lead to such an unsatisfactory rating?
Further, how could a job that is perfectly suited for remote working still rate so low?
Why Marketers Are Unhappy
There are lots of reasons why someone could be unhappy with their job, but for now, let’s focus on the five core factors that generated a 3.1 star rating for marketing management. We’ll expand it a bit to accommodate soloprenuers/consultants and marketing agency owners as well:
- Compensation & Revenue
- Meaningfulness
- Personality Fit
- Work Environment
- Skill Utilization
Marketing Compensation & Revenue
Marketing Managers aren’t happy with their salary, even though they rate very high according to CareerExplorer’s survey. With an average of $135,000, marketing managers are the highest among similar careers like management consultants, investment fund managers, online merchants, operation managers, advertising managers, human resource managers, and project managers.
On the marketing business side, marketing agency revenue has continued to increase as well. According to Statista, digital advertising agency revenue grew from $5.69 billion in 2012 to $30.6 billion in 2022, an increase of 437% over 20 years (22% average annual increase).
Even so, they’re not happy!
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Meaningfulness
Do marketing managers find their work meaningful? Most of them don’t according to the survey. They ranked meaningfulness at 2.7 out of 5 stars.
Personality Fit
How about the personality fit of people who are marketing managers? According to the survey, marketing managers rank fit as 3.8 out of 5 stars. Not bad considering! Still not great.
Work Environment
What about the work environment of marketing managers? That’s not bad as well, with a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars. Even so, it could be better.
Skill Utilization
Finally, let’s talk about skill utilization. Do marketing managers feel that they’re using their skills to an adequate degree? They have skill utilization a 3.5 out of 5 stars. Again, not bad but not great either.
Overall, marketing professionals are missing on a lot of the key factors that lead to job and life satisfaction. Could there be a root cause for the disconnection?
Why the Marketing Profession is Awesome
We now have some insights into why the marketing profession may not be ideal, now let’s examine why it’s a really, really good job for some people. Let’s use those same survey factors to discuss.
Marketing Compensation & Revenue
Marketers make GOOD money. The survey by CareerExplorer said $135,000 average, which sounded high to me, however, Salary.com confirmed the range with the median being $113,582. No matter how you look at it, that is a great paycheck.
Meaningfulness
This is an abstract measure, but I think marketers have a huge opportunity to find meaning in marketing. Your job directly impacts the success of businesses. Businesses provide goods and services for their customers, while also providing paychecks for 47.5% of the population of the USA. What’s more meaningful than helping 58.9 million people to get paychecks?
Personality Fit
The marketing profession is perfect for people who like networking, extroverts that like building relationships, number-heads who love analytics, creatives who like constantly creating new media, attention-seekers who love interacting with audiences, and business people who like money. If your personality fits into any of those groups, you can find a good fit with marketing.
Work Environment
Marketers to work pretty much anywhere, PLUS there are tons of networking groups, expos, masterminds, courses, and other events to attend all year long all over the planet. You can work from home, work at an office, travel to clients’ locations, or take your laptop to the beach. A marketer can create their own work environment if they want to!
Skill Utilization
Few professions utilize a more dynamic list of skills than marketing. From technical to analytical to creative to relational, marketing requires the utilization of vast, complex, and evolving skillsets. You will never get bored with a marketing career because you never know what you’re going to need to know next. Better yet, you have the opportunity to create entirely new skillsets that no one has even considered before!
Loneliness is Bad for Productivity
With all that said, why are marketers still unhappy? I believe that the majority of marketers are more socially-minded than your average person. They crave connection between people. That could be connection with other marketers, connection between companies and their customers, and connection between owners and marketing professionals.
Problem is that since marketers can work anywhere, they often default to working remotely. As of mid-2022, Linkedin reported that jobs offering “remote work” increased 457% year over year. Remote working for marketing roles working remotely increased 177% in just the first half of 2022.
What do you get when you have primarily “social” people working remotely? You get lonely, and loneliness hurts productivity, creativity, and health.
Research by Dr. Vivek Murthy showed that loneliness and depression cost employers $44 billion a year. A study of remote workers found that one in five said “loneliness” was their biggest struggle.
So, while marketers are generally well paid and provided with challenging work that engages their personalities, they are faced with loneliness which greatly impairs work satisfaction. How do we fix the issue?
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How to Fix Lonely Marketer Syndrome
The fix may seem obvious, but it is usually missed or approached too casually in most cases. Marketers need to become part of marketing communities. Not just any communities however, the ones that will truly impact their business and mindset will have the following characteristics:
#1: Formal Education Systems
Ideally, your community should have a proven set of frameworks that other marketers (preferably hundreds or even thousands) have used to succeed.
#2: In-Person & Online Events
Online events are great, but if there is no planned in-person event, you’re going to be missing an important part of connecting with others: seeing them “for real.” Your new community should have plans for in-person meeting opportunities, even if it’s just once a year.
#3: Broad & Narrow Specialty Groups
If you can find a network with a significant amount of people in your specific marketing niche, great! Just note that they should also be connected to broader topics so that you can learn more about interacting with entire marketing teams, not just people do the exact same work as you do.
#4: An Established History
Brand new groups are great, but there’s nothing worse than committing to a brand and having it disappear on you. Ideally, look for marketer communities that have been around for at least 5 years, but preferably longer.
#5: A Hierarchy for Ascension
The best communities provide opportunities for their members to grow and contribute, with the possibility of becoming a thought-leader, teacher, or contributor to the knowledge contained within an organization. Look for groups that have positions, awards, and prizes for top community members.
Where to Find the Right Marketer Community
Lucky for you, you’re already on the right website! DigitalMarketer has been growing their marketer community since 2008. With over 120,000 marketers completing courses, thousands of contributors, and over 1 million email subscribers, DigitalMarketer is the community of choice for marketers in over 60 different countries.
Whether you’re a beginner looking for your first certification with a Lab Membership, an agency owner looking to scale with our Certified Partner network, or a successful business owner looking to scale with the M3 Mastermind, DigitalMarketer is the place to be.
Beat Lonely Marketer Syndrome and join us today!
The post How to Cure “Lonely Marketer Syndrome” appeared first on DigitalMarketer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of having an entrepreneurial mindset?
Entrepreneurship has many advantages. First, you can become independent. You stop relying solely on other people.
This allows you to be your own boss and can allow you to follow your dreams. It also helps you build relationships with other entrepreneurs because you share similar challenges and interests.
You gain confidence. Entrepreneurs learn constantly. This gives you the ability to adapt quickly and be flexible. Thinking outside the box means you won't get stuck in a rut.
We are no longer bound to the regulations and rules that society places on us when we start our own businesses. We're free and able to decide what we do and how much we live.
We have two options: follow the crowd, or fight it. You can choose to succeed or fail. We have the option to either fail or win.
It is thrilling to be free. But it comes with its fair share of responsibility. Because once you step into this role, you're accountable for everything that happens within your business.
To succeed, you have to learn to manage risks. Don't be afraid trying new things. If you're willing to try to learn from your mistakes, you'll eventually reach your goal.
Keep these points in mind as you begin your journey.
Remember:
- Entrepreneurship is a lifestyle choice.
- When you run your own business, you're the boss.
- Be cautious about following the trends.
- The measure of success is not money, but freedom.
- Balance your personal and professional life.
- Set clear expectations.
- Be honest with your team.
- Do something about it if you want things to happen.
What keeps an entrepreneur motivated?
Freedom to pursue my goals is my biggest motivator. We live in a world with limits on how much money we can earn and save, how much we can invest, purchase, consume, own or borrow. However, these limits do not apply for us. We are free and allowed to pursue our dreams.
We must not allow these limitations to dictate our lives. We lose sight of the fact we are in control of our destiny if we do. We are the captains of our ships. We are the architects to our lives.
I am driven by the desire to create wealth beyond my wildest imagination. To create businesses that are bigger than life itself. To build businesses that will change the way people live for ever.
To create more powerful businesses than any government, more influential than any religion, and more enduring than time itself.
That's what keeps me here. I'm working hard to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses faster than anyone else. Because when you succeed, everyone wins.
What makes an entrepreneur succeed?
There are two types if entrepreneurs: those who make money or those who work part-time.
They approach their business differently. That is what makes them different. Money-makers focus on making more while time-makers focus on making more.
People who make money are motivated by financial freedom. Their goal, and their only goal, is to get rich and stay wealthy.
They are motivated by fear and greed. They are motivated by fear and greed, but they don't think about the long-term.
This type of person is often referred to as a hustler. They put the bottom line first and look for ways to increase revenues without sacrificing quality.
Some people make their own time. These entrepreneurs are driven and passionate. They are driven by passion to create something lasting and meaningful.
Their motivation is altruistic. They want to accomplish great things. They care about creating products and services that matter.
These people are sometimes called dreamers. They are motivated by vision and inspiration. They are aware that success is hard work, persistence and dedication.
However, the most important quality of these entrepreneurs? They are creative. They are always looking for new opportunities.
They thrive on the unknown. They are open to spending hours researching new topics. Because they enjoy learning new things, they are always open for new ideas.
They are able to adapt to changes easily. They don't mind getting dirty or doing whatever it takes to win. They won't accept mediocrity.
So which type of entrepreneur are you? Are you driven by making money or seeking meaning?
If you answered yes to both questions, then congratulations! You are a successful entrepreneur.
I have known many successful entrepreneurs over the years. One thing that unites them all is passion.
The only thing that defines successful entrepreneurs is their financial wealth. The impact defines them they leave behind.
Steve Jobs was a great example of philanthropic work, even though he wasn’t wealthy. He didn’t even own his first home until he was in the mid-40s.
His ability to make products that made a difference in the world is what brought him wealth. And this is what makes him unique.
Your job isn't to accumulate wealth. It isn't to build empires, or amass political power.
Your job will be to build relationships between customers and partners. To build trust. To support others.
To have a positive effect. This is your legacy. That's your legacy.
Let's talk if you're interested in creating a lasting legacy.
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How do entrepreneurs motivate their employees?
Motivation can come from anywhere. It doesn’t matter where the motivation comes from. Just make sure they are motivated to act. Motivation is essential for any business, no matter how it comes in the form of a carrot or stick approach.
Employees who feel motivated are more likely to do well. To make your team more productive, empower and engage them.
You must create an environment that makes them feel valued. It should be a place they can learn and grow. You can let them share your ideas and not fear of punishment.
They need a company culture that encourages them to succeed. That's how you keep your best talent happy, loyal and productive.
To keep the culture alive, reward people who help you succeed. This includes giving bonuses to those who achieve goals, providing training opportunities, increasing your pay rises, and offering perks such as insurance.
Also, you must communicate clearly with everyone. Ensure everyone knows what's expected of them and why.
Make sure that your policies and procedures have been written down. It is important that you designate someone to ensure that your policies and procedures are being followed.
Communication is essential. Keep your team informed about what's going on in the organization. Let them know what's happening and what's next.
Communication is crucial, and it is important to look after your team. They will take care you.
You could end up spending a lot of money if your employees don't get along well. Studies show that companies with high levels of employee engagement enjoy higher productivity and profitability than those who struggle to retain their top performers.
It's important for employees to recognize that not everyone wants to work at a similar pace. Some prefer working independently, while others like to collaborate. There are different ways to motivate each individual, and it's up to you to find yours.
Incentives may work better for some, but recognition might be appreciated by others. Whatever you find works best for you, make sure it's in alignment with the company’s goals.
Ultimately, it's up to you as the leader to set the tone. Keep your mind open. Listen to your team. And remember, if you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself.
What are the top five motivators in an entrepreneur?
Motivation is the key ingredient to success. Without it, nothing would happen. In fact, without it we wouldn't even exist.
Motivational psychology is the study and analysis of human behavior when motivated. Motivated people can do incredible things. It's clear, however, that motivation has limits.
The five most important motivational factors are:
- Autonomy - The freedom to choose
- Mastery is the ability or capability to master certain skills
- Purpose - The sense of purpose
- Relatedness - the feeling of belonging
- Reciprocity - the desire to give back
These motivators may seem like they could be used to motivate your business. However, each perspective is a little different about why people do what they do.
One person might desire autonomy in order to live the life he chooses. Or he might want to mastery because he wants more skill at his job.
So on. These are just some of the motivations that could be used. There are many others. But which ones are relevant to your particular situation? That depends entirely on you.
Write down three words to describe your ideal working environment. Then take those same words and apply them to your current working conditions.
If you struggle to come up with ideas, simply ask yourself why are you doing this. If you can't think of any ideas, ask yourself: "Why am I doing this?" This will help identify your goals.
Once you have a clear vision of your goals, you can start to see where you are right now. You can use that information to determine if it is time for you to make changes.
If you don't want to change anything, then it's time to evaluate your options.
But if you want to make improvements, then you'll need to start thinking about ways to motivate yourself.
Which of these motivators is most effective? It's hard not to say. Instead of focusing solely on one factor instead, you should focus on all five.
This will allow you to achieve your ultimate goal, becoming a successful entrepreneur.
What motivates entrepreneurs?
Passion drives us. We also have a natural desire to make a difference and create something meaningful. To make a significant difference in our lives and the lives of those we love.
To give back. To help others. To leave a mark.
Most importantly, we love doing this. Because we feel compelled to live life fully and experience success in ways that matter.
We are driven by a sense of purpose and mission that can never be fulfilled through money alone.
Find a way for business to be enjoyable. This is when entrepreneurship is more than a job.
This is why I am passionate about helping entrepreneurs become successful. My goal is to help them achieve financial freedom, and leave a lasting impression on the world.
I'm living proof of the fact that creating value is the best. You can share your knowledge and experience with the rest.
It is not enough to create a great product. First, you must understand your customers. What they want.
This will ensure that you always improve your offering. You will always be able to provide more value.
Offering more value will result in more customers. You will also sell more products and more services if you have more customers. And if you sell more products and services, you will generate more revenue. In the end, financial independence is possible if you are able to generate more revenue.
You see, money doesn't always mean everything. It's a means to an ends. It's not an end in itself.
You cannot only focus on your money if you want to have a happy life. Making a positive contribution is what you must do. Contributing. Leaving a legacy. Creating something valuable. Unique. It will add meaning to your life as well as the lives of others.
Entrepreneurship requires risk-taking. It does not require following set rules. Flexibility is what it means. Adapting. Adjusting. Improving.
As long as you stay true to yourself, keep your values intact and maintain integrity, you won't fail.
Entrepreneurship can be a calling. A vocation. It's an opportunity to contribute. To create wealth. To influence history.
These are the things that will make you the best version you can be.
You will be unstoppable.
Statistics
- I shifted my motivational point from something huge (and undefined) to improve by just 1% each day. (carolroth.com)
- "If you improve by just 1% every single day, in several months, you will have improved by 100%. (carolroth.com)
- Invest at least 30% managing those with authority over you and 15% managing your peers.” (americanexpress.com)
- “If you look to lead, invest at least 40% of your time managing yourself – your ethics, character, principles, purpose, motivation, and conduct. (americanexpress.com)
- That means for $150,000, you could have bought 10 percent of Airbnb." (entrepreneur.com)
External Links
kabbage.com
businessinsider.com
- 101 Best Inspirational Quotes For Entrepreneurs
- SpaceX employees are set near impossible goals by Elon Musk
due.com
twitter.com
How To
Are You a TRUE Entrepreneur?
A true entrepreneur is a person who creates value for himself and those around him. He is risk-averse, he creates businesses, and he earns money.
He doesn’t wait for anyone to offer him a chance; he searches for them himself. He's a self-starter, a doer, a leader, and a winner.
An entrepreneur is able to take decisions quickly and efficiently. He sees problems clearly and solves them creatively.
To him, there's no difference between business life and personal life. He sees entrepreneurship as a way of living.
True entrepreneurs are unafraid to fail. Failure is a necessary component of success. True entrepreneurs thrive under pressure and embrace change.
They are relentless in their pursuit of growth and achievement. They enjoy what they do, and that is why they are passionate about it.
They want to not only build successful businesses but also create happy lives for their families.
So next time you feel unmotivated or confused about whether you should start your own business, ask yourself this question...
"Am I a true entrepreneur?" If you answered yes, then go ahead and take action. If you answered "No", then it might be time for you to rethink your career path.
