We all begin to feel frustrated when the search for a new job drags on. It’s worth remembering that very few people are successful with every job application they make. The trick for marketing professionals in today’s tough economic climate is to try and learn something from each failed job application, take it on the chin, and move on. Here are five tips on how to stick with it, as you search for your perfect marketing role:

1. Stay positive

It’s vitally important to stay positive, especially when dealing with potential employers. In marketing being a sharp communicator and a quick thinker is expected of you, so don’t make calls or approach influential people at networking events unless you’re certain a positive mindset will come across. Career experts say it helps to build a support network of friends and family you can to talk to, for support and advice. Remember to stay focused on your strengths, not weaknesses. Write an action plan too. By setting some written goals you have a structure to work to. Confidence and enthusiasm helps make a good impression, both in writing and in person.

2. Research target companies

Don’t even think about targeting a company for a marketing job unless you fully understand what they do, what their brand values are and how they operate. When you approach a company to offer your skills and talents in marketing you must prove from day one that you are as good as you claim to be. That means being bright, inventive, knowledgeable about their market and on top of your game. Research will be key so scour the corporate website. What is the company’s mission statement? Do customer testimonials or forums give insights into what they do and how they are viewed by the public? How financially successful do the relevant industry news services say they are?

What is their current marketing strategy and how do you think you could help them reach their brand-building goals. Which channels do they sell through and are they international? Other areas of research not to skimp on are: the competition in the market; their top personnel; their latest product launches or service announcements. If you arrive at an interview with plenty of relevant knowledge and are able to ask the right questions, you will really impress.
» Read more: Five ways to stay motivated during your marketing job search

Take a look at most of our advertisements from television adverts to large billboards and you will usually find a celebrity endorsing the brand. You will find most brands from the well-established to the recently launched will use a famous celebrity, from familiar TV personalities to glamorous film stars, in order to help sell their products.

This is not a new idea, as celebrity endorsement, whether obvious through a TV campaign or less obvious through sponsorship, has been happening for years. They have been used to sell every branded item possible from beauty and hair products to coffee and food.

The idea behind celebrity endorsement is to choose someone that best represents the brand image created for its target audience and shares similar values in order to increase sales. For example, sports stars such as football players are often chosen for sportswear advertising and sponsorship as the link is believable. Such marketing campaigns can often continue for years and create a positive celebrity endorsement link between the brand and the star. A non-sportswear campaign example is Walkers crisps advertising and Gary Lineker (pictured), which has run successfully for a number of years. Although the adverts have evolved over the years Gary has remained a popular character.

Celebrities are often used to endorse luxury and well-known brands. Aspirational and glamorous stars are used to sell the products to the audience. Beautiful Hollywood stars and supermodels, for example, are often used to sell large global beauty brands and perfumes. They sell the idea that these beautiful women use these products in order to retain and enhance their looks.

Brands also look to people that are currently trending and in the public eye in order to raise their profile. For example, when Cheryl Cole enjoyed a prime Saturday night television spot as an X Factor judge, she also endorsed L'Oreal hair dye with heavy advertisements to take advantage of her popularity.

When the endorsement is believable and the audience believes that the celebrity uses and supports that product, the campaign is a success. Both the celebrity and the brand gain from the potential of a successful brand marketing campaign. As well as the pay cheque, the celebrity can also achieve positive exposure and greater status helping their career as well as sales of the brand.

It will come as no surprise to know that celebrity endorsement does not come cheap and that the higher the star, the higher the cost. For example, Beyoncé Knowles was once rumoured to have signed a five-year contract for just under $5 million to promote L'Oreal hair care products. For this she was expected to keep her hair in fantastic condition with no drastic changes and to work just 10 days at photo shoots and personal appearances during that time.

It's easy to see why celebrities are willing to promote these brands when these large sums of money are great additional earnings on top of their careers for relatively little work. These costs have meant that the more recognised stars are usually found endorsing luxury, high-end brands that are willing to pay high advertisement costs in order to protect the brand.

Negative publicity can be a pitfall Celebrity endorsement, however, does not always mean success for a brand. There are times when a celebrity's personal life takes over the positive link with the brand and the endorsement fails, reflecting badly on the product.

One negative example of a celebrity endorsement was when Kerry Katona became the face of the Iceland campaign following her crowning in the jungle on 'I'm A Celebrity, Get Me out of Here'. This was a successful campaign and as a 'down to earth' celeb mum, it was believable that she shopped there. The media even snapped her taking Iceland deliveries at home. Press coverage then emerged detailing her addictions and the infamous interview on 'This Morning' followed, showing her speech slurred. Iceland no longer wanted this negativity attached to their brand and dropped her from the marketing campaign.

Another pitfall that has recently been highlighted is that some high profile stars admit they do not use the products that they advertise. Some argue that it does not really matter if they do not use the product, as long as they are matched correctly and are identified with it, creating a believable campaign.

One recent example has been Jamie Oliver admitting that he uses independent suppliers for his restaurants rather than Sainsbury's. He has been involved in a successful campaign for the supermarket for the last few years, even creating recipe cards for shoppers. With such a high profile campaign, shoppers expect him to buy from there.

Another example is Helena Bonham Carter fronting the Yardley cosmetics campaign and then admitting that she doesn't wear make-up. This had a far more damaging effect on the brand, as the campaign was no longer believable.

In order to create successful campaigns, marketers are looking at celebrities that won't bring negative press to their doors. Many are turning to techno-celebrities such as Lara Croft, seen in the Lucozade adverts, in order to protect their brands. At least that way, there is no chance of them publically debunking the brand they represent.

Photo by Litonali

Everything in marketing is changing at the moment, and no one is really sure which way it’s going, the only thing that we can be certain of is that it’s an exciting time.

In order to prepare you as best we can for the year ahead, we’re taking a look at some of the emerging trends that we believe will be big this year in the marketing world and whether the trends will have an impact on the hiring process.

Mobile The digital marketing boom of 2012 has somewhat become a foregone conclusion. Businesses are already starting to move their marketing budgets away from ad and print channels and more to digital channels and we can expect to see this increase. We spoke to Kathryn Gallan from marketing recruitment specialists 2nd City Recruitment, who reiterates this point, stating: “We’re expecting a continuation in the growth of skills surrounding digital channels.” It is therefore important for marketers to know the latest developments in this area - as well as develop specialised skills.

Mobile and tablet marketing is really set to take off this year. If you stop to think how many people now have one or both of these then it’s a key marketing area. It’s estimated that 44% of last-minute online shopping searches in 2011 came from smartphones and tablets. Whether you decide to connect with the audience via an app, QR codes, targeted offers (more on that later) or more simply, by making sure websites and landing pages are optimised for mobile screens, it’s definitely an area that marketers have to develop. This in turn, could see mobile marketing manager roles becoming key positions in companies.

Social Engaging your customers has always been key to marketing but never more so than in this age where the customer has more flexibility to choose what they wish to read or view. This year will see greater interaction between marketers and customers in order to develop business brands.

As Kathryn Gallan goes on to say: “So many businesses have focused on strengthening their online acquisition activity; they will need to focus on online retention.” Developing customers who can act as brand ambassadors will be important. This can be through social media, which in 2012 will be about creating and sharing information with employees and influential customers to help define their brands from the ground up. This can also be through user-generated content which has more credibility with customers than anything marketers produce.

Data Last year, was the year that businesses developed single and complete views of their customers, 2012 will see businesses trying to gain meaningful insights from that data, with more brands using econometric modelling.

Kathryn Gallan says; “Roles that combine IT systems, data and marketing will start to emerge in response to how quickly businesses are amassing data, and learning how to use this data to engage on a mass yet personal level.” Marketers will need to learn how to collect and interpret data, and no doubt specialist roles will develop in this area also.

Data enables marketers to become even more targeted with their marketing. This is especially the case when it comes to offers. New technology such as mobile phone tracking, WiFi, RFID, is allowing the growth of location based marketing (LBM). This means that business can deliver content to consumers based on their location such as targeted ads, specialised offers, or even directions to their nearest store.

Content Content will return next year as more companies skip traditional media and publish consumer news and information themselves. Kathryn Gallan suggests that: “As more information can be found online and more individuals and organisations take to self-publication, we should expect to see a decline in copywriting roles. However, just because there’s lots of content available it doesn’t mean that it’s good.”

Content can come in a variety of formats from blogs and white papers, to infographics but it’s video that seems set to boom in 2012. Video already makes up 40% of consumer internet traffic and looks set to reach 62% by 2015 with the growth of smartphones and tablets. There are so many options to consider with video - from video brochures, video newsletters, and video training on products. This could mean the promotion of content strategists into senior positions where they can collect and authorise all the different strands of content from user-generated, to video, and infographics.

Next year seems set to have a growth in new types of marketing jobs and a decline in the more traditional roles. This is the year marketers need to retrain and retool - but don’t worry, key marketing skills will still apply.

Photo by Judy Breck

According to Mp Daily Fix, influencer marketing is all about marketing to those people or groups whom your prospects look to for information. It is not a new strategy. In fact, many B2B companies have been targeted influencers for some time.

For more information visit the Mp Daily Fix website.

With the passing of Steve Jobs, it’s useful to celebrate his life by identifying key things to learn from his sojourn through business and technology, according to the Business2community website.

Here are some thoughts to ponder:
Don’t hesitate to copy a concept – just adapt the concept much better than anyone else.

Ever hear of Go? They built one of the very first tablet computers – way back in 1987. We can’t forget the Newton platform, either.

What Steve Jobs did was combine design and economy of scale to build iPad – the world’s first successful tablet. Yes the design and functionality of Apple’s iPad were beautiful, but beautiful design combined with economies of scale driven by new Apple CEO, Tim Cook, made the iPad a true success…

Visit the Business2community website for the full story.

Online marketing jobs cover several aspects of marketing carried out over the internet, including Search Engine Marketing (SEO), Pay Per Click (PPC), Email Marketing, Online PR, Affiliate Marketing and more.

These aspects of online marketing are often grouped together for roles like “Online Marketing Executive” or “Digital Marketing Executive”, although each aspect of online marketing mentioned above is a specialisation that can be the sole focus of an individual’s job. You may find, for instance, jobs advertised for PPC specialists or Affiliate Marketing experts.

Below is an example of a job description and ad for an Online Marketing Executive. If you are interested in jobs like this, have a look at our latest online marketing jobs.

Online Marketing Executive We have a vacancy for an online marketing executive who has experience in SEO, PPC, email marketing, online PR, affiliates, forums, blogs and other relevant techniques of improving traffic.

Your role will entail planning, developing, implementing and managing campaigns. You will also have excellent verbal and written skills.

Job title
Online Marketing Executive
Job description
Working on SEO, PPC, email marketing and other types of online marketing campaigns. Be creative and strategise ongoing online marketing campaigns and deliver ideas & results to clients.
Salary
Negotiable depending on experience
Core requirements
• Excellent Skills in SEO, PPC, Email Marketing and other online marketing techniques such as video, social media, viral etc.
• Creative flair for developing online marketing strategies.
. Understand the importance of web design and development.
• Understand the importance of web usability, accessibility & standards.
Location
Our office is in London
Start date
ASAP

PR jobs form a large part of a company’s overall marketing strategy and PR careers can be very varied and exciting. Public relations jobs can change from day to day so they are best suited to dynamic and motivated individuals who are prepared to work hard. To find out more about PR jobs and PR careers, read on. About Pubic Relations Jobs

• The main thing that PR careers focus on is managing a reputation which can sometimes be more important than the product itself. Good advertising will sell a product by PR jobs involve ‘selling’ the company or brand as a whole and this can be done in a number of ways.

• Public relations jobs require the use of a lot of media and communications mediums to communicate key messages and build reputations. This can also be done through sponsorship of certain events or charities to increase the goodwill and mutual understanding between a company and the public.

• PR careers require the individual to be very motivated and confident; good interpersonal and communicative skills are also essential to be successful in PR jobs. An organised and methodical approach to work will be well suited to PR careers as there can often be a lot of things happening at once.

• Those with PR jobs could find themselves writing press releases, organising events, commissioning or conducting market research, using various ‘new media’ technologies to convey a message and finally reporting to management.

• Public relations jobs generally require a degree qualification and any previous experience in similar roles will be very helpful in your search for PR jobs. A smart appearance, confident personality and the ability to work under pressure are all good qualities to have in PR careers.

• The salary for PR jobs can vary but those with entry level positions should expect to earn in the region of £15k-£18k per year and this will rise with experience and more senior job roles. Senior management level PR jobs will come with salaries in excess of £60k per year. You can search for PR jobs here on Simply Marketing Jobs.

Marketing executive jobs are involved in promoting products, services or ideas through marketing campaigns. These types of jobs in marketing can be varied, but are also extremely challenging due to the range of working activities that are required. This marketing job description outlines what an executive marketing job entails. A large number of organisations, both private and public, have marketing departments that deal with the promotion of all types of business and product. As mentioned, marketing executive jobs incorporate a large variety of different tasks that include: •    Planning •    Advertising •    Public relations •    Event organising •    Development of products •    Distribution •    Research •    Sponsorship The work that this sort of marketing job involves generally includes: •    Networking and liaising with all stakeholders (customers, suppliers, partners etc.) •    Managing relationships with customers •    Reaching out to target audiences •    Placing advertisements through different media •    Producing marketing material such as leaflets, posters, flyers, DVDs and newsletters •    Reading and writing copy •    Working with designers and printers •    Arranging photo shoots •    Organising and attending conferences, exhibitions and seminars •    Finding sponsorship deals •    Carrying out market research •    Managing budgets •    Keeping an eye on the activity of your competitors •    Supporting and directing colleagues and employees

Event jobs can be thoroughly satisfying and rewarding. Like most other industries, experience and progress could ensure an increasing salary in event organising. For more information about how much can be earned in events jobs, see the following details. •    Typical starting salaries for event jobs range between £18,000 and £25,000 per year. •    Mid-level earnings could be between £25,000 and £40,000. •    After around 10 to 15 years of experience the salary for event organisers could reach £50,000 to £70,000. The salaries for event jobs can vary greatly depending on the employer, where they are based, and what sector they are in. Often, event organisers can earn pay that is performance-related. In addition, commission and bonuses can be given.

PR careers can be very vibrant, challenging and rewarding. Public relations jobs are concerned with overseeing how a company or a product is viewed by the general public and other businesses. Public relations jobs however can’t be done by everyone and there are a number of key skills and qualities required to really excel in PR jobs, to find out if you have these skills, read on. Skills For PR Careers

• PR careers require individuals that are highly motivated and target driven while at the same time able to work under pressure and to deadlines as the very nature of public relations jobs means that deadlines are often only around the corner. That said however flexibility is also required as things can change very quickly.

• To be successful in pubic relations jobs, you need to be a very confident and friendly person as you will be dealing with a huge range of different people on a daily basis therefore good communicative and interpersonal skills are essential. The key to PR jobs is to be able to form and maintain relationships with people.

• PR jobs make extensive use of conventional and new media to get their clients’ message out, it is therefore essential that you have a good knowledge of these industries so you can spot and pursue openings as they arise. The world of public relations jobs is constantly changing and the ability to think on your feet to react to unforeseen (good or bad) changes in circumstance is essential. Our Public Relations Jobs Description article explains PR careers in more detail.

• To be successful in PR careers you need to be IT capable and also work in a organised and methodical way to keep on top of the large amounts of work that may come your way. Writing press releases and other documents for the media is also part of public relations jobs so good written and spoken English skills are essential.

• Most people with PR jobs will have been through university and gained a relevant degree in media, marketing or similar. A degree may not be a necessity however and it is possible to start PR careers with A-levels or similar FE qualifications.

If you feel you have the skills for PR careers, you can search for a wide range of public relations jobs here on Simply Marketing.