Making it in digital marketing

With over 41,900 devices now connected to the internet in Korea (source: KISA), it’s no surprise that digital marketing is becoming the hottest field in Seoul’s booming technology sector. Digital marketing takes advantage of the many online channels - email, social networking sites, websites, apps, SMS - and delivers information about brands directly to an audience in a customised, personal way.

Demand generation

We're in the era of Big Data, and most of the new marketing tools being developed today utilise the capability to market directly to individual consumers based on their demonstrated buying preferences and behaviours in addition to the traditional demographic models. This model is why companies like Ticket Monster and Netflix are so successful and lucrative - precision-targeted recommendations coupled with an easy path to purchase.

In Seoul, demand generation technology is being innovated by companies like Criteo and Wider Planet, whose tools help companies of all sizes and verticals walk customers through the funnel, from lead generation through lead nurturing to the buy. Experts with experience using these companies’ technologies have the advantage in the competitive digital marketing job market, as do candidates with proven success metrics in search, display ads, email marketing, social media marketing, etc. 

Communications

Communication is another hot marketing role in Seoul’s competitive, progressive start-up climate. With so many companies jostling for attention in a noisy space, a good communication specialist can make a big difference in getting a new company on the radar of thought leaders and influencers. Good communication isn’t just about buzz; for start-ups, it can make a huge difference in landing funding. For this reason, even small companies often hire an internal press hound who can pitch their story to the right media outlets.

User acquisition

Specialists with refined skills in digital marketing are a hot commodity in Seoul and Pangyo, and we are constantly on the lookout for professionals with proven expertise.

For mobile app companies, getting users to buy, install, and use apps is a paramount focus of digital marketing. While customer acquisition is of course crucial to companies of all kinds, successful tactics to attract mobile users is a moving target that takes a sharp, creative mind.

Mobile user acquisition can involve managing online bids and buys on pivotal ad networks, encouraging mass installs and getting apps charted in top ten rankings of the Google Play store and other popular lists. This market is constantly changing, so a great user acquisition candidate is constantly one step ahead of the game, tuned in to tech specs and algorithms but also capable of “blue sky-ing” new ideas.

Not surprisingly, one of the best ways to stay in the know about digital marketing trends and topics is to pay attention to what’s going on in the digital marketing online arena, and that changes from day to day.

Networking in person is also important. Proving that you really want to be a part of this growing field means making an effort to show up at Seoul tech events like Seoul Tech Society and Bloter Academy.