A marketer’s job is to reach the right people at the right time with the right message. In order to do that effectively, you need to understand how coding and web development work. Why is that? Simply put, because the internet is built on code and your website is a big part of your marketing efforts!
Understanding the basics of coding and web development will give you a better understanding of how the internet works and how people interact with websites. That knowledge will help you create better marketing campaigns and improve your website’s design and functionality. Plus, knowing the basics of coding and web dev is a useful skill that can help you rise the career ranks!
Without further ado, here are seven essential things every marketer should know about coding and web development.
1. HTML and CSS
HTML and CSS are the most fundamental building blocks of web pages. HTML is used to structure the content, while CSS styles it. Marketers need to know how these two languages work because you will be closely working with web developers to create and edit web content to bring your marketing campaigns to life. Plus, a good understanding of HTML and CSS can come in handy if you ever need to make small changes to your website yourself!
2. The Basics of UX/UI
Another thing that marketers need to know is how UX/UI works. UX/UI are the terms used to describe the user experience (how easy or enjoyable it is to use your website or app) and user interface (the look and feel of your website or app). As a marketer, you need to understand how these two things work together to create a smooth and enjoyable experience for users. That way, you can ensure that your marketing campaigns are driving users to a website or app that they will actually want to use.
3. The Basics of Programming Languages
There are dozens of programming languages out there, but the most popular ones are Java, Python, and PHP. As a marketer, you don’t need to know how to code in these languages – that’s the job of the developers! However, it is helpful to understand the basics of how they work. That way, you can better communicate with developers and have a better understanding of how your website or app is coded.
4. SEO Techniques
SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of optimizing your website to rank higher on search engine results pages. As a marketer, you need to understand how SEO works so that you can ensure that your website is designed and structured in a way that will help it rank higher in search results. You can also apply SEO techniques to boost your affiliate marketing programs! That way, you can drive more traffic to your website and improve your chances of generating leads and sales.
5. Data Analytics
Data analytics deals with how a user interprets data to come up with various logical analyses. As a marketer, you need to be able to collect data on your website’s traffic and user behavior. You also need to be able to analyze that data to identify trends and patterns. And finally, you need to be able to interpret that data to figure out what it means for your marketing campaigns.
For instance, Google Analytics is a free digital tool that allows you to track the traffic to your website and see how users interact with it. As a marketer, you can use Google Analytics to track your website’s performance and see what marketing campaigns are driving the most traffic and generating the most leads.
6. Content Management System (CMS)
A content management system (CMS) is a software application that allows you to create, edit, and publish web content. The two most popular CMSs are WordPress and Drupal. Often, a CMS doesn’t need extensive coding skills to operate. As a marketer, you need to be able to ensure that your website’s content is up-to-date and relevant to your marketing campaigns.
7. Social Media Integration
As a marketer, you also need to know how to integrate your website with social media. That way, you can ensure that your website is designed in a way that makes it easy for users to share your content on social media. Plus, you can track how your social media campaigns are performing and see which ones are driving the most traffic to your website.
Final Word
Today’s marketers no longer work exclusively with traditional market research and campaigns. Digital marketing campaigns are here to stay! Thus, knowing the basics of coding and web development will give you a better understanding of how to use digital tools in each campaign. So, if you don’t know your HTML from your CSS, or you’re not sure what SEO stands for, it’s time to brush up on your coding and web development skills!
