More Job Opportunities in Digital Marketing

By Bernice Bessey
Digital marketing and communication expert, Kwabena Appianing has predicted more job opportunities in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector for Ghanaian youths.

Speaking at a digital orientation programme organized by the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG), recently in Accra, Mr. Appianing said ICT avenues, like digital marketing had job opportunities for skilled professionals.

He was, however, worried over Ghanaians lack of enthusiasm to study digital courses that would enable them to build their capacity in the field.

“The world is heading towards a digital era where mobile, instant messaging and social media sites are always actively engaged, unlike the traditional media,” he said.

To address the unemployment situation in the country, he advised young professionals to pursue careers in digital marketing, especially to make them “hot cakes” on the job market.

He expressed the belief that most serious companies were embracing different aspects of digital marketing in their day-to-day operations, saying that had opened a plethora of opportunities for people with the right digital thought.

“As a modern day marketer, a programme like the Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing is a necessity and several institutions such as Institute of Ireland, which is affiliated to African Institute of Technology and Entrepreneurship (AITE) and CIMG, run such programmes in Ghana,” he said.

He added that social media alone, which is a minute part of digital marketing has employed thousands of professionals in the industry.

Citing a recent research conducted by Moz and Fractl, two renowned technology researchers who sought to find out the most in-demand marketing skills, he found Digital Marketing Manager, Marketing Manager, Digital Marketing Specialist and Social Media Manager, as some of the most sought after skills by employees after analyzing key word trends via Google analytics and LinkedIn search results.

He believes that trend had caught up with employees in Ghana. Kwabena Okyire Appianing is the Head of Digital Media and Innovations at Global Media Alliance. Prior to his current appointment, he was the Digital Media Coordinator for Groupe Ndoum, Jobberman Ghana, and Web Projects Manager for Techcom Visions.

He was recently the guest speaker at the Executive Women's Network seminar on the topic “Social media for today's business woman”.