Wanted: Marketing Skills

Question: Where are corporate marketing departments spending their money in 2006?
Answer: Internet marketing

A survey of more than 1,700 marketing professionals at Fortune 500 companies across the United States and Canada provides insights into what areas of marketing large companies plan to focus their attention on in 2006.

More than half of all large companies plan to increase spending on Internet marketing, according to the "2006 Spending & Staffing Trends for Corporate Marketing Departments" study. Other areas receiving increased focus are brand marketing (42%) and advertising (39%).

The survey also found that an improving economy and an impending labor shortage combine to raise the following concerns among large corporations:

• 59 percent of companies are concerned about employee retention
• 78 percent believe employee turnover will be a challenge over the next five years

So, large companies are concerned about retention and turnover and they are looking for workers with marketing and Internet experience. Web designers and Web developers who can document Web-based marketing project expertise can position themselves today to take advantage of the opportunities of tomorrow.

To supplement your technical training with marketing knowledge sign up for one of three Web-based marketing classes:

• High-Impact, Low-Cost Marketing -- BusinessWeek [ FREE ]
• How to Develop a Marketing Plan -- Virtual University [ $20 ]
• Run Your Own Direct Marketing Campaign -- HP Learning Center [ FREE ]

You can review the highlights of the marketing survey in a press release or obtain a free copy by contacting Kelly Shumaker at Aquent Marketing Staffing, a Boston-based a global professional services firm.