Coding, Marketing, and Why You Should Blur the Line Between the Two

Marketing now isn't what marketing was in 2005. It probably won't be what it is in 2025, either. Marketing is constantly changing. Where it was once a career based on creative skills, now it is one that requires a delicate balance of creativity, analytics, and the application of real solutions. It's a dynamic field, with lots of opportunity for growth and success. There is always something new to learn and master if you have the desire, time, and energy!

Recently, I've been a marketer who is active in the London job market. One of the lines that I've heard over and over again is that those in the industry love a "Full Stack Marketer." Being full stack doesn't mean you're tall or you've been hitting the gym too much (although it could...), it usually means you're good at thinking creatively, analyzing data, deciding what to do with it, and getting dirty in the technology solutions. It often means you're a jack of all trades while simultaneously being a master at one (or maybe two...). For me, I feel pretty good about the creative and data side of my skills but I needed to up my technology skills with a course in HTML. Lucky for people like me, there are plenty of courses available online—pick your provider and get coding. HTML doesn't even have to be the be-all and end-all; there are lots of languages you can learn and communities you can join.

Do you need more convincing before you blur the line between creative and technical? Here are some good reasons to take the plunge:

It'll make you more valuable to the people who pay you...

Becoming a marketer with multiple sets of skills makes you an asset to your boss. That could mean more exciting projects, better clients, and maybe even a pay-rise if the money is there. You might even find more of your colleagues seek our your opinions or advice because you come at problems from a couple different angles and perspectives.

It'll give you a more focused perspective...

Good code is structured code. Break the structure and you end up with broken, ugly, or incorrect code, which isn't useful for a marketing campaign or anywhere else!

The structure requires you to be focused on the task at hand (Something the creative in me isn't good at. Skipping between items on my to-do list? Check!) and will help you become a super organized both inside your code and in the rest of your workflow. You'll be project management royalty in no time.

It'll enable you to talk to the developers...

Marketing is more becoming integrated into the tech products and services it sells and supports and that means its good to understand those very tech products and services.

Nothing helps understanding like getting down and dirty in the code or at least learning and understanding the vocabulary. Get to know what the devs are talking about and be able to talk about it with them. Then, add a sprinkle of your marketing brain—keeping people on your pages for longer, buying more things or doing whatever makes your marketing programme a success!

Learning another language also helps your brain grow, smartypants!

It'll give you a shot at a side hustle...

Side hustles are where it's at for millennials like me. Creating an income stream that doesn't rely on a full-time job helps us all pay for avocados on toast, pink lattes and home deposits that we so desperately want.

Once you have some coding under your belt, you'll be able to quickly and easily build and run beautiful and functional websites to promote your side gig, whether it is freelance writing, selling widgets, offering gel nails, or coaching other marketers. Then you'll be valuable to not just your employer but also your side hustle. #makingmoney!

Now it's your turn—convince yourself to give coding a try and see what it does for you in your professional life!