There are very few things that frustrate me as much as nearly complete a task only to realize ". Crap I need a developer for that."While there are some posts job best left to programmers, coders, and quality control specialists, there is room for us as marketers to step up our game. Mastering these five skills and I bet you trust the developers a little less and make your job a little faster.
Tracking data
1. Google manager tags
Google manager labels started to make our lives as non-programmers much easier and limit the amount of effort it takes to set up tracking tools and optimization of sites. You're probably familiar with it, but it's really an expert?
If you have not studied in Google Tag Manager, it's time. Allows you to add, remove and manage tracking tags websites without having to edit the code directly into your website. If you are completely familiar with GTM I start migrating from labels and mastering the logic behind the data layer of GTM.
The data layer involves editing code, but the compensation is rich data about user behavior.
For bonus points, you must familiarize yourself with the automatic variable event and start following major actions such as button clicks or error messages in forms.
Even if you do not go as far as editing the code within the data layer yourself (do not feel bad, I guess you most vendors will not), have a good understanding of their capabilities. That knowledge alone will help you tremendously as you determine which tags to add to your website and coach developers through the process. Access to more information is only going to make a best seller in the end.
Coding and Design
Two. HTML and CSS Coding Basic Shapeswhether you're an amateur or a beginner HTML, knowing how to create or edit HTML forms and get into CSS will help you get the ideas to market faster. Work out a template if needed, but spend some time with an encoder and take a few HTML courses to make you feel comfortable editing forms and launching contactless changes a developer.
Use cheat sheets to help you create different types of fields and buttons so you can take your marketing efforts from conception to completion with little involvement of a developer. Check out this article for coding specific advice if you are new forms.
If you have a good understanding of how forms are built, you cannot just build your own, but you can also identify when a shape is broken and why. With practice, you may even be able to do the fix yourself.
Three. Markdown
Markdown is not new, but is becoming an increasingly valuable for people who do not have a coding background resource. Using simple key is allowed to integrate things like headings, block quotes, images with references, links, and my personal favorite - Tables - in text documents to be formatted for the web.
While some may still see it as a simple tool for bloggers with Markdown you do not have to fight hacky editions WYSIWYG editors for the styles you want to appear on your site.
Tools like MarkdownPad version for Windows and browser allow you to write in Markdown format and convert it to HTML so even if you are not integrating the content in WordPress, for example, which has a Markdown plugin, you can easily enter the content correct time format that is consistent and time again.
Quality Control Testing
Sellers may be professionals in the A / B testing to determine the success of the ideas or tactics, but if you are throwing new feature, upgrade one way or prepare for a big sale online, you need to think as a specialist quality control and testing work before it enters into force. There are two test scenarios that marketers should be well versed in.
April. Testing Changes in different browsers
Use a web-based tool as BrowserStack to create a virtual machine and simulate what a site looks like in different browsers and operating systems.
BrowserStack has almost all active browsers and operating system combinations, which is especially useful if you know of a particular combination is more popular among visitors to the site according to Google Analytics, but not personally used that version of the browser or system operating.
Changes Testing and troubleshooting on different browsers can discover something that requires a developer to fix, however, should prevent his team so dependent on quality control.
If you do not have a team of quality assurance, definitely add this resource to your toolbox.
Be sure to remember your website demographic when being tested. A task that is simple for you may not be easy to someone at a range of more or much younger age.
Demographics older, for example, are more likely to double-click buttons that are younger. Consider how the audience will interact with the site to ensure they get the best possible experience problems and you get caught in a test environment, rather than hearing about them to a customer.
May. Load testing for peak traffic
Load testing is especially important if you are preparing for a big event that will lead to an unusual spike in traffic and activity on your website. Some testing tools free performance can be easily configured to simulate an estimated number of users and the amount of time you think you will stay in place. Running these tests will give you the assurance that your site will support an increase in visitors.
Moreover, these tests will be announced well in advance if you need to make technical changes before your event to handle the increase in traffic. While changes to improve the ability to place a developer are required, it is always better to take a proactive approach when it expects a large increase in traffic to your website.
