The 10 Fastest-Growing Marketing Skills in 2026 (And How/Where to Start Learning Them)

Over the last 5 years of running The Ninth Semester, one of the top five industries that my community has shared that they want to break into is

Marketing

Not only is this the most popular path people want to break into with so many niches and sub-industries to explore, it’s also incredibly competitive! As someone who finally broke into Marketing 2 years into her career, I get it. I started my journey in Advertising Sales at Tik Tok and eventually went into Employer Branding/Recruitment Marketing at WayUp. Now, I’m pursuing a new career path in Consumer and Cultural Marketing through a Next Gen Marketing Lenses. I’m “early” in my Marketing journey, but able to tap into my transferrable skills from past work experiences. I can’t wait to share more about this journey!

I’m actively working on some new short-form content about how I went from a STEM degree to a Marketing career, but besides the obvious ways to break into Marketing:

• gaining experience,

• building your portfolio,

• attending all-expenses-paid marketing programming

What else can early-career professionals do to start their careers in Marketing?

Invest your time and growth into building the skills that hiring managers are looking for. And because we’re in the business of designing our dream careers, you can do this on your own terms!

A new LinkedIn Skills on the Rise report highlights the 10 fastest-growing marketing skills based on year-over-year growth in skill additions and hiring data.

(They also created this list for those in Engineering, Business Development, Media and Communications, and more.)

These are the skills that companies are actively investing in for marketing professionals.

LinkedIn is even providing free access to all users until March 23, 2026, for the LinkedIn Learning courses highlighted for the industry lists!

If you:

• Work in marketing

• Want to break into marketing

• Want to increase your salary potential

• Or want to strengthen your marketing skill set

This list matters. This is your way to become a competitive candidate in an already competitive industry!

Instead of just listing the skills, let’s break down:

• What they actually mean

• What roles they connect to and job titles to target in your search

• Where to start learning them

  • From platforms such as YouTube, Skillshare, Coursera (sign up with my referral link!), Hubspot Academy, and more. I’ve curated free and low-cost courses and certificates to help you improve your skill set.

MKTG GURU VIBES

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MKTG GURU VIBES 〰️

1. Performance Analysis

What is it?

Measuring and evaluating marketing campaigns to understand what worked, what didn’t, and why, then using those insights to drive smarter business decisions to help you answer: Is this driving results, or does it just look good?

Great for those pursuing roles like

• Marketing Analyst, Growth Analyst, Performance Marketing Manager

Where to learn it

• LinkedIn Learning’s SQL: Data Reporting and Analysis

• HubSpot’s Marketing Analytics Certification

• Coursera’s Meta Marketing Analytics Professional Certificate

2. AI Literacy

What is it?

Understanding how to use AI tools in marketing, from analyzing customer data to generating content and forecasting performance. It’s all about working smarter and faster!

Great for those pursuing roles like

• Growth Marketer, Marketing Strategist, Marketing Operations Manager

Where to learn it

• LinkedIn Learning’s Generative AI for Marketing Professionals

• Salesforce’s AI for Marketers Course

• Semrush’s How to Become an AI-Powered Marketer

3. Social Media Branding

What is it?

Creating and maintaining a clear, recognizable brand presence across social platforms to help brands stand out and build customer loyalty. It’s about posting AND positioning the brand

Great for those pursuing roles like

• Social Media Manager, Brand Strategist, Content Marketing Manager

Where to learn it

• LinkedIn Learning’s Social Media Marketing: Strategy and Optimization

• Skillshare’s Social Media for Creatives: Five Exercises to Power Your Freelance Career

• HubSpot Academy’s Social Media Marketing Certificates

4. Client Prospecting

What is it?

Identifying potential clients, reaching out strategically, and converting conversations into revenue. Great for building your client portfolio, whether with an organization or as an independent consultant. As a full-time entrepreneur, this has been a go-to for me. I can’t wait to learn more as I expand my offerings and clientele for The Ninth Semester.

Great for those pursuing roles like

• Account Executive, Marketing Consultant, Business Development Representative

Where to learn it

• LinkedIn Learning’s Mastering the Business of Consultancy: Strategy, Marketing, and Client Success

• YouTube/Patrick Dang’s The Only Sales Training You Need [Full Course]

5. Visual Storytelling

What is it?

Using visuals (video, graphics, photography, design ) to communicate a brand’s message in a way that captures attention and builds emotional connection.

Great for those pursuing roles like

• Content Creator, Brand Designer, Creative Strategist

Where to learn it

• Adrian Per’s Content College and YouTube channel

• Coursera’s Adobe Content Creator Professional Certificate

• Skillshare’s Learn to Storyboard: The First Steps of Visual Storytelling

• Canva’s Design School

6. Team Collaboration

What is it?

Working cross-functionally with teams like product, sales, and operations to plan, execute, and measure campaigns effectively.

Great for those pursuing roles like

• Marketing Manager, Campaign Manager, Product Marketing Manager

Where to learn it

• LinkedIn Learning’s Teams and Collaboration courses

• Coursera’s LearnKartS Effective Collaboration & Teamwork Skills for Professionals

7. Community Engagement

What is it?

Consistently interacting with your audience to build trust, loyalty, and long-term relationships around a brand. Everyone wants to have cult-like communities, and it starts with truly connecting and engaging with your communities, as a brand, a company, or a creator. These are courses I plan on taking too!

Great for those pursuing roles like

• Community Manager, Social Media Mgr Brand Partnerships Manager

Where to learn it

• LinkedIn Learning’s Business Growth through Strategic Community Building

• Meta’s Community Management Online Courses

8. Go-To-Market Strategy

What is it?

Building a clear plan for how a product or service launches, defining the audience, positioning, messaging, channels, and rollout to maximize impact.

Great for those pursuing roles like

• Product Marketing Manager, GTM Strategist, Brand Manager

Where to learn it

• LinkedIn Learning’s Create a Go-to-Market Plan

• Datacamp’s Building a Go-To-Market Strategy

• Udemy’s Product Marketing: Effective Go To Market Strategy

9. Performance Marketing

What is it?

Running paid marketing campaigns where you pay for measurable outcomes, like clicks, leads, or sales, and optimizing for ROI. Using budgets strategically to drive revenue

Great for those pursuing roles like

• Marketing Analyst, Growth Analyst, Performance Marketing Manager

Where to learn it

• LinkedIn Learning’s Grow Your Revenue with Performance Marketing

• Google’s Ads Certifications

• Pinterest’s Media Buyer Certification

10. Operational Efficiency

What is it?

Streamlining marketing workflows, tools, and processes to improve productivity and performance. By using tools to reduce manual tasks and optimizing workflows, marketing teams can focus efforts on high-impact areas.

Great for those pursuing roles like

• Marketing Analyst, Growth Analyst, Performance Marketing Manager

Where to learn it

• LinkedIn Learning’s Operations Oversights That Increase Efficiency

• PMI’s KICKOFF Project Management course

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