Essential Hard Skills in Sales & Marketing

Marketing

1. Market research and analysis (e.g., surveys, focus groups, data interpretation)

2. Proficiency in digital marketing tools (e.g., Google Analytics, HubSpot, SEMrush)

3. Social media management and advertising (e.g., Facebook Ads, Instagram, LinkedIn)

4. Content creation and copywriting

5. Search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM)

6. Branding strategies and product positioning

7. Graphic design skills (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite)

Professional Sales

1. Customer relationship management (CRM) software proficiency (e.g., Salesforce, Zoho)

2. Understanding sales techniques (e.g., consultative selling, upselling, cross-selling)

3. Building and delivering persuasive presentations

4. Managing sales pipelines and tracking leads

5. Negotiation and closing skills

6. Analyzing sales metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs)

7. Proficiency in e-commerce platforms (e.g., Shopify, Amazon)

Entrepreneurship & Self-Employment

1. Business plan development and execution

2. Financial literacy (e.g., budgeting, profit and loss analysis)

3. Knowledge of legal requirements for small businesses (e.g., permits, taxes, licenses)

4. Product development and innovation strategies

5. Risk assessment and management

6. Networking and partnership-building skills

7. Proficiency in tools for small business management (e.g., QuickBooks, Trello, Slack)