Should a marketer learn to code?

Question

Programming

Comrades, please share your opinion on this issue.

I am an internet marketing specialist. I do not plan to change the field of activity. However, there is an idea to learn how to program. I need this for general development, so that my brain does not turn sour and think faster in complex tasks.

Several questions follow from this:
1) Do developer skills really allow you to think better in other areas? It would be very interesting to hear the opinions of people who have retrained as programmers from other specialties.
2) How long do you need to study to gain knowledge for real practical tasks, for example, write a plugin for Wordpress (there is really no need for this, this is just an example)?
3) What language to choose? I'm looking towards RoR.

Answer 1

Necessary! Just professionally.
Communicated with marketers of a large company.
They have complex reporting, and they process data very efficiently in excel in VB. They have a very clear idea of ​​what they need from IT, and as a result, interaction with “technical” services is close to ideal. In other companies, reports of this level can wait for months.
Further, if you work with statistics - R or SSPS, it has its own language.
SQL - if you persuade IT to let you into the database, it can help a lot.
If you get rid of work and consider it as a hobby, then there are a lot of options. The main thing is to decide what you lack from IT and try to do it yourself.

Answer 2

Probably more useful to learn another human language.
Programming for the sake of programming is a so-so idea, but you can automate some routine task, it's not difficult and you can start from this if it's interesting.

Answer 3

I wonder if a dentist should learn programming?)))

Answer 4

“To think better in other areas” allows almost any learning process - stereotypes are developed for searching, systematizing and critically evaluating information. At the same time, you need to understand that the effect will not come quickly, and you can not notice it for years.
As far as programming is concerned, evaluate in which areas of your activity automation would be useful to you. A lot depends on the OS you're running. For example:
Excel macros - Visual Basic
Draining (un)structured information from the Internet - Python / C # / Ruby
Writing simple interfaces - C # / Python / C ++
And yes, RoR is not a language, but a framework for developing websites using the Ruby language.
Choose a language and platform - you can choose a book for beginners.

Answer 5

in no case!

Answer 6

Not worth it, especially Ruby. Html/Css will be enough for you.

Answer 7

1. They help you think more rationally and logically. Then it is transferred to other areas. So definitely yes.
2. I can say one thing - you select a task and start writing, tormenting Google, and if the question is very difficult - forums where you will be helped and prompted. And you will gain experience, and you will learn the language faster than you will just rewrite some tasks from the textbook.
3. Any. The one that suits your chosen task. But beginners are usually advised to use python or pascal, they say they are simpler. I used to start with assembler under Picmicro.
Z.Y. Remember that a programmer is not a profession, but a state of mind and mindset, not everyone can become a good programmer =)

Answer 8

1) Programming is one of the areas where work requires constant use of the brain. The brain is loaded - the brain develops. What he is loaded with is not so important. If the question is only in thinking, choose something that interests you, requires brain activity and do it intensively - programming, science, chess, mental counting, etc.
2) You should decide what you need programming for, different tasks require different technologies.
3) From the universal, maybe javascript. And you can automate something in the browser using a user script, and if you try under java and .net, you can stir up something.

Answer 9

1) Of course they allow. Real programs are written for specific areas. And here, in any case, you have to delve into the nuances.
2) Depends on the “starting point”, even the concept of “from scratch” is different for everyone. You already know something, but you don’t know something else, for example, MySQL, PHP, HTML, CSS, XML will be useful for the plugin.
3) In your case, the language is not so important, because you have not yet set specific tasks. The main algorithms and a general understanding of programming.

Answer 10

Yes. You should be able to write on rails so that you can quickly test your assumptions in practice without pulling programmers.
How can you calculate funnels, landings, and so on if you don’t know how to use measurement tools?
Learn to write websites at least a little, and then you will turn from a person who speaks well and makes a gesture with his hands into someone who can show his benefits for business with numbers.

Answer 11

> I am an internet marketing specialist.
Does your mom make you work? :)

Answer 12

An interesting question is posed, I personally think that it is worth it, at least it is interesting to participate in the creative process of creating something, in principle, not difficult for current needs on your own.
PS I have long wanted to ask myself whether it is worth getting a second degree in financial management for a programmer?

Answer 13

As a person who changed his occupation from a programmer to finance, I can safely recommend.
Helps well. Just do not go into details, but just have a good understanding of how IT systems of any class are arranged. For the brain, it is not so much useful (hello to mathematics) as for understanding the market in which you work.