Guide to Marketing Education and Training

Encourage employees to get marketing degrees

The more marketing education your employees have, the more they can promote your goods or services and meet customer needs. Consider reimbursing your employees' tuition if they decide to pursue a marketing degree. Today's online marketing degree programs can ensure that they don't need to miss work to attend classes.

I recommend: University of Phoenix offers an undergraduate Bachelors of Science in Business/ Marketing and a graduate Master of Business/Marketing, both of which can be completed entirely online. DeVry University also offers an online degree option for a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Sales and Marketing. At Golden Gate University, your employees can earn a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications, a degree that encourages students to seek unified approaches to marketing.

Provide an ongoing marketing training program in the workplace

You want your employees to learn the latest marketing trends and ideas, and you want to make sure they can translate these ideas into action. Ongoing marketing training helps with this, as long as you choose a company that you know you can trust.

I recommend: The Laredo Group offers a range of seminars in Internet marketing techniques, as well as interactive ad sales training, search engine marketing training and email marketing training, held at locations around the country.

Tailor your marketing training program to your company's needs

Creating your own in-house marketing training helps your employees master the skills that can directly affect your bottom line. If you don't have the resources to create your own program, consider customized computer- or web-based training.

I recommend: The ICS Learning Group creates interactive and engaging content custom-made to meet your needs. You can read the company's white paper, “The Building Blocks of a Successful e-Training Program” to see if this approach is right for your business. Resource Bridge also offers customized, engaging computer based learning, with an option for you to develop your own marketing training.

Stay on top of marketing trends

If you want your employees to become educated in marketing, you need to make sure that you understand the latest trends and share your knowledge with your employees on a regular basis.

I recommend: Subscribe to the Journal of Marketing, a peer-reviewed journal that can help you put the latest trends into action. You can view and subscribe to the Journal of Interactive Marketing online for a focus on Internet-based marketing ideas.