The digital marketing skills gap: developing a digital marketer model for the communication industries.

Royle, Jo; Laing, Audrey

Abstract

Scholarly literature suggests digital marketing skills gaps in industry, but these skills gaps are not clearly identified. The research aims to specify any digital marketing skills gaps encountered by professionals working in communication industries. In-depth interviews were undertaken with 20 communication industry professionals. A focus group followed, testing the rigour of the data. We find that a lack of specific technical skills; a need for best practice guidance on evaluation metrics, and a lack of intelligent futureproofing for dynamic technological change and development are skills gaps currently challenging the communication industry. However, the challenge of integrating digital marketing approaches with established marketing practice emerges as the key skills gap. Emerging from the key findings, a Digital Marketer Model was developed, highlighting the key competencies and skills needed by an excellent digital marketer. The research concludes that guidance on best practice, focusing upon evaluation metrics, futureproofing and strategic integration, needs to be developed for the communication industry. The Digital Marketing Model should be subject to further testing in industry and academia. Suggestions for further research are discussed.

Citation

ROYLE, J. and LAING, A. 2014. The digital marketing skills gap: developing a digital marketer model for the communication industries. International journal of information management [online], 34(2), pages 65-73. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2013.11.008

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 14, 2013
• Online Publication Date: Dec 14, 2013
• Publication Date: Apr 30, 2014
• Deposit Date: Sep 22, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 22, 2015
• Journal: International journal of information management
• Print ISSN: 0268-4012
• Electronic ISSN: 1873-4707
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 65-73
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2013.11.008
• Keywords: Marketing; Communication; Social media; Digital; Skill gap
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/1302
• Contract Date: Sep 22, 2015