Your Career Guide on MarTech: How to Choose, Use, and Integrate

Marketing technology, also known as MarTech, describes the software that marketers use to optimise their marketing efforts to achieve their goals or objectives. The MarTech industry is growing rapidly, with an estimated worth of around USD $509 billion in 2022. An estimated 8,000 MarTech market vendors in 2020 represented over 5,000 per cent growth compared to 2011 [1]. 

Consequently, new jobs and MarTech projects are emerging throughout the UK. However, because it's such a relatively new industry, it can take time to determine where to start. In this guide, you'll learn more about choosing and using marketing technology, how to integrate it into your business, and the various MarTech jobs and careers. 

What exactly is MarTech?

Marketing technology, or MarTech, is the use of technology to improve marketing campaigns and strategies. MarTech can include using software or machine learning, automating marketing tasks, and using data analytics to track and improve marketing performance. 

Many different tools and platforms can help marketers better understand and reach their customers. Some popular examples of MarTech tools include:

• Email marketing platforms like Mailchimp or Constant Contact

• Social media management platforms like Hootsuite or Sprout Social

• Marketing automation platforms like HubSpot or Marketo

• Customer relationship management (CRM) software like Salesforce or Zoho CRM

The rise and importance of marketing technology

Here are three trends that have helped increase the importance of MarTech.

1. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI): AI is increasingly used to automate marketing tasks, allowing marketers to focus on other things.

2. The ease of cloud computing: Cloud computing makes storing and analysing large amounts of data easier and cheaper, which is essential for marketing to track performance and improve strategies. 

3. The prevalence of big data: Big data is becoming more widespread as businesses collect more data on their customers. You can utilise this data to segment audiences, personalise messages, and track results.

What’s in a MarTech stack?

A MarTech stack is a collection of software tools marketing professionals use to manage their work. The range of tools can cover content management, CRM, email marketing, and more. When it comes to your MarTech stack, you'll want to have some key components that will benefit your business. Here’s a rundown of what you can include:

Marketing attribution software: This type of software helps you track and attribute conversions to specific marketing campaigns or channels. You can use this information to optimise future marketing efforts.

Email marketing: Email marketing software allows you to automate your email marketing campaigns, making staying in touch with customers and prospects easier. Consider features like automation, A/B testing, and integrations when choosing an email marketing platform.

Content management system (CMS): CMS helps you manage your website content by making it easy to add, edit, delete content,  and keep track of who made what changes. When choosing a CMS, consider factors like ease of use, scalability, and security.

Customer experience software: This software helps you to understand how customers interact with your website or product. By understanding customer behaviour, your business can make improvements that lead to better customer experiences. When choosing customer experience software, you'll want to consider features like live chat, customer surveys, and ticketing systems.

CRM software: This software helps you manage your customer relationships. CRM software can store customer contact information, track customer interactions, and automate tasks like sending follow-up emails or scheduling appointments. When choosing CRM software, consider useful features like contact management, lead management, and sales automation. 

Search engine optimisation (SEO) tools: SEO tools can help you improve your visibility in search engines like Google and Bing. By optimising your website for search engines, your business can attract more site visitors. When choosing SEO tools, you'll want to consider features like keyword research, link building, and site audits.

Social media management: Social media management software makes posting content to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter easier. Social media management tools can track mentions of your brand on social media and engage with customers and prospects who mention them online. When choosing social media management tools, consider features like social listening and publishing schedules.

What is the role of a MarTech professional?

A MarTech professional manages and uses technology to market a company or product. Some MarTech professional duties may include:

• Developing and implementing technology for marketing plans

• Conducting market research 

• Choosing or creating marketing technology

• Managing social media accounts

• Managing and executing marketing technology projects 

• Evaluating new marketing technologies and recommending how to utilise them to achieve marketing objectives.

What skills are needed to succeed in MarTech roles?

A firm understanding of marketing, technology, and how they work and change together can help you succeed in MarTech. Staying well-versed in all aspects of online marketing, having a keen eye for detail, and possessing strong project management skills can help you stay ahead of the curve and adapt as new trends emerge. 

Here are some skills that can help you when working in marketing technology roles:

• Ability to adapt

• Creativity

• Emotional intelligence

• Interest in big data

• Marketing skills

• Organisational skills

• Sales skills

• Strong leadership skills

• Tech skills

Read more: 22 Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills in the Workplace

MarTech job roles

For MarTech positions, some roles focus heavily on the technical side, whilst others focus on the creative aspects of marketing. You could be a developer, an analyst, a project manager, or even a technology salesperson. Here are some MarTech roles available:

*All annual salary data is sourced from Glassdoor as of February 2023.

1. Programme manager

As a programme manager for MarTech, you'll oversee the development and implementation of marketing technology programmes. In this role, you'll work closely with marketing, sales, and IT teams to ensure you deliver programmes on time and within budget. You'll also develop training materials and support project managers during the rollout of new programmes.

Annual salary (UK): £64,182 [2]

2. MarTech project manager

As a MarTech project manager, you'll organise your team and get them on track to deliver a successful marketing project. As a MarTech project manager, you'll organise your team and get them on track to deliver a successful marketing project. You’ll need to be able to define the scope of a project by determining the goals and objectives as specifically as possible. You’ll also create a project plan, including timeline, milestones and tasks for the team. You should be comfortable communicating regularly with your team, and ensuring everyone is working towards the same goal. 

Annual salary (UK): £48,103 [3]

3. Marketing technology product owner

As the marketing technology product owner, you're responsible for your product's strategy, roadmap, and execution. Being well-versed in everything related to marketing technology and able to make intelligent decisions can help your product succeed.

You'll work closely with other teams to ensure they integrate your product into their workflow and use it effectively. As the product owner, you'll also want to keep track of the competition and be able to quickly adapt your product accordingly. With so much responsibility on your shoulders, it’s essential that you have a clear vision for your product and know exactly what your team needs to do to succeed.

Annual salary (UK): £55,536 [4]

Read more: 9 Digital Marketing Jobs + How to Get One

4. Marketing technologist

Marketing technologists use technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of marketing campaigns and initiatives. You'll work with marketers and IT professionals to ensure they use data correctly to achieve the desired results.

Annual salary (UK): £51,229 [5]

5. Digital marketing operations manager

Digital marketing operations managers deal with the strategic planning, execution, and measurement of digital marketing campaigns. As a digital marketing operations professional, you'll manage all aspects of a campaign from start to finish, including budgeting, target audience research, content creation, asset development, lead generation, and reporting.

Strong technological skills in digital marketing and the ability to think creatively and solve problems can help you succeed in this role. 

Annual salary (UK): £52,355 [6]

6. Marketing automation specialist

Marketing automation involves automating processes such as segmenting customers, generating leads, and managing campaigns. With marketing automation, you can target your audience more precisely, making your marketing efforts more effective. You can also save time by automating repetitive tasks, like email marketing. With the right tools, you can even measure the ROI of your marketing campaigns in real time.

Annual salary (UK): £51,229 [7]

7. Marketing database architect

As a marketing database architect, you'll design and manage databases that store customer data. Strong technical skills and experience in database design and development can help you in this job.

Annual salary (UK): £72,234 [8]

8. Marketing automation developer

As a marketing developer, you'll connect different marketing software applications. Strong software and business analysis skills and experience in software development and integration can aid you in this position.

Annual salary (UK): £43,191 [9]

9. Marketing analytics, insights, and science professional

A marketing analytics professional collects and analyses data to help inform marketing decisions. You’ll use data to understand how customers interact with a brand, what campaigns are most effective, and where opportunities exist for improvement. 

Possessing strong analytical skills and experience working with data can help you succeed in this role. You’ll also need to be able to communicate your findings to non-technical audiences effectively.

Annual salary (UK): £55,823 [10]

10. Scrum master

As a MarTech Scrum Master, you're responsible for leading and coordinating Scrum teams to deliver quality software and other products. You'll work with other Scrum masters, product owners, and developers, ensuring they complete each objective on time and within budget. In addition, you'll make sure the team adheres to the Scrum process and best practices.

Annual salary (UK): £57,013 [11]

11. Growth hacker

A MarTech growth hacker uses marketing and technology to grow a company. In this role, you’re responsible for finding new and innovative ways to market and grow a company using technology.

Annual salary (UK): £40,424 [12]

12. Marketing operations

Marketing operations roles work in managing and executing marketing campaigns. This may include planning, budgeting, execution, measurement, and more.

When done correctly, marketing operations can help you do the following:

• Save time by automating repetitive tasks

• Get better results from your campaigns by optimising performance

• Make better decisions by tracking campaign performance data

Annual salary (UK): £48,915 [13]

Industries that use MarTech

Many different industries use MarTech. The following represent just a few examples:

• Retail: Retailers use MarTech to help understand their customers better and target them with more relevant ads and offers.

• Health care: Health care providers use MarTech to improve patient engagement and track outcomes.

• Financial services: Banks and other financial institutions use MarTech to fight fraud, cross-sell, and improve customer service.

• Travel: Airlines and hotels use MarTech to personalise the travel experience for their customers and improve loyalty programs.

How to get started with MarTech

You want to get started in MarTech but need help figuring out where to start. Here's a look at some requirements, including qualifications, experience, jobs, training, and certification.

• Qualification: A bachelor's degree is typically the minimum requirement for many MarTech positions. However, depending on the specific job, you may be able to get into entry-level roles with a foundation degree or a higher national diploma. 

• Experience: Many entry-level MarTech jobs require previous experience in a related field, such as marketing or IT. However, with the proper knowledge and skills, you may find a job without any prior experience.

• Target jobs: Many different types of MarTech jobs exist, from entry-level positions to senior management roles. Some job titles include marketing analyst, business information manager, digital marketing manager, head of marketing technology, and marketing automation specialist. Find job specifications and the required application criteria to build your CV toward your target roles.

• Training: Most MarTech jobs require previous training, either on the job or through formal online or in-person training courses. However, if you have the correct skill set, you may be able to get hired without any formal training.

• Certification: Whilst not required for all MarTech positions, relevant certifications or courses, such as Marketing Technology Practitioner, can enhance yourself in the job market and show potential employers that you're serious about your career.

Ready to learn more about MarTech?

If you're interested in learning more about MarTech, you'll find plenty of online resources. The great thing about MarTech is that it’s constantly changing and evolving. New tools and technologies are continually emerging, so opportunities exist for those willing to learn.

One great way to get started is by taking a course on Coursera. You might consider the Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate. This programme will teach you the fundamentals of digital marketing and e-commerce—two necessary topics to master. The courses in this programme are 100 per cent online and available to beginners.