In my career as a startup founder, I've discovered ten key traits that a great marketer needs to possess in order to be a major asset to a business.
That skillset is always evolving, and it's a rare person that crosses off all the boxes. Those that do are what I call 'Unicorn marketers', magical creatures that can help your company bloom into a billion-dollar business.
If you're ever lucky enough to find a unicorn in the wild, you want to hire him or her as soon as you can.
Here are the ten traits that the best of the best modern marketers possess.
Analytical
Unicorn marketers love to analyze data and trends, and they use to inform their strategy and messaging.
Whether it's diving into sales reports or pouring over site analytics, they're eager to use every scrap of data they can find.
Good Storyteller
At their core, unicorn marketers are good storytellers - they know how to captivate the attention of their audience and influence them.
No matter how complicated the service or product, they can break it down into something users can not only understand, but get excited about.
Sincere
People can spot insincerity a mile away - Millennials are particularly adept at spotting inauthentic messaging, and are immediately turned off by it.
Unicorn marketers craft messages which are sincere and transparent - and in doing so, they earn the trust of their audience.
Resourceful
You'll never hear a unicorn marketer say something "can't be done" - they'll always find a way to accomplish the goals that are set before them, even on a shoestring budget or with a tight deadline.
Stays Relevant
Whether it's Facebook Messenger marketing or creating Instagram stories, the best marketers find out where their audience is and meets them there.
That includes diving into unfamiliar territory.
Objective
No matter how large the workload, unicorn marketers are always clear on their objectives.
They're adept at prioritizing their tasks, and are able to reassign priority as needed.
Driven and Motivated
The best of the best possess an inner drive and fire - they give every project everything that have, and are always looking for ways to improve, learn and grow (no hand-holding required).
Humble and Open-minded
Unicorn marketers are confident, but they're also humble and open-minded.
They're willing to take constructive criticism, and are always thankful for the opportunity to improve.
Audience in Mind
The best marketers have one thing in common: their audience is always at the forefront of their mind.
They conduct persona research, and every message they write is crafted with those personas in mind.
SEO-Minded
You can have the best marketing campaign in the world, but it won't matter if no one sees it.
That's why unicorn marketers optimize their content for search so that their messaging is seen by everyone.
If you encounter a marketer that possesses all of these qualities, you've found yourself a rare unicorn. Hire them as fast as you can and watch your company grow.