As a business owner, you know that marketing is essential to the success of your company. And as your business grows, you’ll need to hire a marketing director to develop and implement a marketing strategy that aligns with your business goals. But before you bring someone on to your team, it’s crucial to understand exactly what a marketing director does and what to look for when you hire them.
In the search for talented and experienced marketing directors, many organizations find themselves challenged. The job market is competitive and employers are offering more benefits, remote work options and competitive salaries.
The marketing director role has become more complex in recent years. There are more channels for marketing communication and more opportunities for marketing campaigns. As a result, marketing directors need to have a wider range of skills.
What is a Marketing Director?
Equal parts analyst, strategist and manager, a Marketing Director, or Director of Marketing, is responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies; overseeing marketing campaigns and managing the marketing team. They are also responsible for managing the marketing budget and ensuring that all marketing activities are aligned with the overall business strategy. Your marketing director will measure and monitor your campaign performance and identify trends and opportunities for growth.
What are the benefits of hiring a Marketing Director?
A marketing director can help your business grow by developing and implementing marketing plans and strategies. Your marketing director will help your organization increase its visibility, attract new customers and boost sales. Additionally, a marketing director can help you better understand your customers and their needs; identify and target new markets; develop new products and services and improve your company’s branding, image and reputation.
When should you hire a marketing director?
Knowing when, or if, you need to hire a marketing director can be difficult. If you’re asking this question, the answer is probably now! If you face any of the following challenges in your business, it’s time to think about adding a marketing director to your leadership team:
- Your business growth has plateaued
- You lack structure, systems and processes
- Your leadership team lacks senior marketing experience
- There is a disconnect between your sales and marketing teams
- You are overly reliant on agency partnerships
- You don’t have the resources to properly execute your marketing plan
With a director of marketing at the helm, you can steer the ship in the direction of becoming a marketing-led organization and take control of your marketing.
What are the skills required for a Marketing Director?
The best marketing directors are able to wear many hats and have a wide range of skills. They need to be able to think strategically and come up with innovative ideas and campaigns. They need to be able to effectively communicate with a wide range of people, from the CEO to the website programmer; and work well under pressure.
They need to be able to manage and motivate a team of marketing professionals, as well as vendors and contractors.
Strong business acumen is required. They must be able to forecast and manage budgets, measure success, and analyze and interpret results.
Last but not least, you want to hire a marketing director who is passionate about marketing. They should be constantly keeping up with the latest marketing trends and strategies, and should be excited about helping your business grow.
How can I find the best candidate for the role?
When hiring a marketing director, it is important to look for someone with extensive experience in marketing and management. They should be able to demonstrate a track record of success in delivering results. The following tips will help you identify the best marketing director for your organization:
- Define your objectives, and then define the role
Before you begin the hiring process, it is important to define your business’ objectives. From this you can clearly outline the role and responsibilities of the marketing director and what you expect them to achieve.
- Look for experience
It is important to look for a marketing director with experience that is transferable to the responsibilities you have outlined. They should also have a strong understanding of your business and target audience. Ask for a portfolio or case studies to demonstrate successful campaigns and their results.
- Assess their skills
When assessing candidates, it’s important to look for those with strong analytical and problem solving skills. They should also be creative and have the ability to think outside the box. They should be able to communicate clearly and articulately.
- Look for a good fit
It is also important to find a marketing director that is a good fit for your company culture. They should be someone you can work closely with and share your values.
- Set realistic expectations
Your marketing director won’t be able to solve all of your marketing challenges overnight. Nor will they be able to generate immediate, measurable results. Be patient and take the time to find the right candidate.
When you’re not ready for a full-time marketing director
Finding the right marketing director can be a difficult task. It’s important to ensure that the candidate you choose is the best possible fit for your company. By doing your research and asking the right questions, you can make sure that you end up with a marketing director who can help take your business to the next level.
If you’re looking for help reaching your marketing goals, but don’t want to hire a full-time Marketing Director, then Able & Howe fractional MDS services are perfect for you. Our team of experienced marketing leaders have the collective knowledge and experience to develop and execute a marketing plan that fits your budget and achieves your desired results. Book a call with us today to learn more.
Written By:
Jennifer Domansky
Jennifer is an experienced Marketing Director with over 20 years of proven success on award-winning agency and in-house teams. With a wealth of experience across a wide range of industries; from CPG and Hospitality to Retail and B2B; she is passionate about crafting creative solutions that connect through thoughtful strategy and execution.
