Finding Digital Jesus

“And we’re just at the beginning!” This was the quote from the head of a digital marketing agency – just last week! This quote was made as we were reminiscing about how we got started on the digital side of marketing (both of us in 1995!) and discussing the recent “awakening” of brands to digital marketing. Three data points made me think 2015 is the year companies, big and small, get on-board with digital marketing:

1.) From Forbes, Prediction 5 – The Laggards Will Finally Adopt: “Businesses will finally wake up to the fact that social media and mobile marketing are no longer new phenomena and should be integrated right from the start of any marketing campaign or inbound initiative.” (source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/sujanpatel/2014/11/05/6-predictions-about-the-state-of-digital-marketing-in-2015/2/ )

2.) From Ad Age, January 2015: this year, it’s estimated that 80% of companies will increase digital marketing budgets. (source: http://adage.com/article/digital/80-companies-increase-digital-marketing-budgets/296814/ )

and finally,

3.) A report published by HubSpot: The demand for digital marketing talent will rise 308% this year. The top skill sets companies are hiring for this year are digital/social (54%), content creation (44%), big data/analytics (33%) and mobile strategy (30%). (source: http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/264375/file-1183885231-pdf/Mondo_Digital_Marketing_Salaries_2014.pdf?t=1405462726039 )

The next milestone, when “digital marketing” just equals “marketing.”