Marketing has evolved over time from,'You can have any color you want as long as its black' to just-in-time marketing messages that might lead to your brand posting on Reddit. We're embracing digital channels and understanding the need to create marketing people love more and more ... but do we actually grasp what's running behind the scenes of all these digital campaigns?

While every business owner likely realizes the integral role marketing plays in a business's overall success, marketing for marketing's sake isn't going to get you anywhere -- there has to be a clear strategy and focus behind it.

One of my favorite things to do in my free time (besides binge reality shows Love Island and Vanderpump Rules) is to take free marketing courses online. Industries change all the time, especially in marketing, and keeping fresh up on my skills is something I've found to be not only vital to excelling at my job, but really fun.