To paraphrase a Mr Adam Ant, c. 1981 (digital) ridicule is nothing to be scared of.  I meet more and more marketing people who seem overwhelmed by the level of change caused by the digital marketing revolution and paranoid about their lack of knowledge.   This is understandable as digital is becoming increasingly complex, hence why there are specialist sectors in all areas from ECRM to search and now social media.

Even as an MD of a digital agency for nearly 10 years, I feel  I am working harder and harder just to keep  abreast of the ongoing change.  This is probably a natural human reaction to our 24/7 society as we all try to get to grips with the real time web.  It is ironic, however, that we all receive more information than at any time in history, but many people still feel that they don’t know enough.

If you are one of those marketing people intimidated by the digital marketing industry, here are my top 10 tips to improve your knowledge and remove that fear…….

1) Try and learn something new every day…..

How do you eat an elephant, as the self-help cliché goes?  One bite at a time.  Pick one subject a week and try to learn something every day.  Make a commitment to spend 10-15 mins per day, learning something new.

2) Use all your senses…

Experiment with the way you receive information.    Of course you can read blogs, trade mags and books but also try podcasts and watch youtube videos and slideshows.

3) Try the real world….

A great way to improve your knowledge of the virtual world is by getting out more in the real world.  Resolve to attend more digital events in 2010 and see expert speakers and attend networking events.

4) Get a digital buddy..

If you work with someone who also feels they need to learn more, buddy up with them, and share what you have both learnt over lunch or coffee once a week.  The best way to ensure you have learnt something is to try to teach someone else.  Recently I heard that Time Warner pairs its most senior executives with young graduates.  It recognises that even the most experienced media professionals struggle to keep up digital innovations, so what better than to learn from the new digital natives within the organisation.

5) Set up or join a group

Set up a digg or tumblr account so that your department or company can start sharing interesting digital news and work.    Join a linkedin or facebook group and connect with people with experts in the areas you want to learn about.

6) Develop your personal Twitter newsfeed

I found Twitter fantastic for listening and learning from some of the brightest and best people in the world (and Jermaine Defoe).

7) Use digital to pursue your passions

If your passion is photography, sport, art, films or train spotting become more active within the relevant digital communities.   Find more groups, participate more in discussions, write a blog post, record a youtube video.  Get involved!

8 ) Ask for training

Ask your company if they will pay for training in any form of digital training.  If they refuse, offer to co-fund it.  Invest in your own future.    Ask if your company could invite specialist guest speakers.  At Skive, clients pay us to train their marketing staff, but very often for prospective clients we initially offer free training sessions.

9) Don’t be afraid to ask silly questions….

If you are with digital people who are using terms that you don’t understand, ask them to explain.  If you don’t know, there is probably someone else in the room who is also baffled.

10) Be excited, be very excited…..

Try and change your feelings from digital dread to a real excitement about learning something new and different.    No one knows it all and we are all learning as we go……