5 tech skills I'm investing in learning this year as an entrepreneur — even though I don't work in tech

• Jen Glantz is an entrepreneur and the founder of Bridesmaid for Hire.
• Regularly strengthening your technical knowledge is important as an entrepreneur, she says.

For the past seven years, I've made one big promise to myself as a solopreneur. At the start of a new year, I'd pick a handful of skills that I'd invest time and money into learning so that I could stay up-to-date on emerging trends and tech.

As your own boss, you're the one who has to add professional and personal development to your calendar. If not, you might find your business, ideas, and scaling capabilities are becoming stale.

I spend a week in January researching what the most useful and up-and-coming tech skills are that will likely be relevant in the year to come. Then, I select one to focus on for a two-month period by taking courses, attending workshops, or even hiring a coach.

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Here are five tech skills that I'm working on in 2022.

1. HTML coding

One skill I wish I learned years ago is HTML (hypertext markup language) coding, which is the code used to structure a web page and its content.

I often find myself at a disadvantage for not understanding how to write HTML when I'm making adjustments to my website, building email templates, and embedding content on blog posts. Knowing how to edit, write, and understand HTML will allow me to make quick updates without having to hire an expert.

Depending on how much you plan to use HTML (whether you want to build our own website or just make edits) you can take an HTML introductory class or a more intensive one that matches your end goal.

2. AI and machine learning

Whether or not you believe artificial intelligence and machine learning, which uses computer algorithms to improve an experience, is the future, understanding how it can save you time and money as an entrepreneur is increasingly useful.

You can use AI to help you with content copywriting or machine learning to help with customer-service processes. Either way, it's worth it to take an introductory course to expand your knowledge.

3. Data analytics

With so much data available to you as a business owner, from your website analytics to your social-media metrics, having a clear understanding of how to process and parlay those numbers into decisions, next steps, and pivots can be essential.

The best way to get better at doing this is to take a data analytics boot camp, which will start off with the basics and evolve into how you can use data to plan your next steps as an entrepreneur.

4. UX/UI design

If you're someone releasing products, services, or digital assets (websites, newsletters, or content), learning the basics of UX design could be a game changer.

UX designers help create a usable and enjoyable experience for users. Whether you decide to hire a professional or just pick up new UX skills, knowing how to improve your offerings and assets is a great way to strengthen your business.

You can start off learning basic principles in an introductory course and then continue on to get a certificate in UX if you're interested.

5. NFT creation

Over the past few months, my curiosity around NFTs has spiked.

NFTs, which are non-fungible tokens that can be bought and sold using blockchain technology, are not always static investments. Sometimes, NFTs come with community and extra perks, like access to conferences, exclusive events, and product drops.

Learning how to design an NFT and create a community around an NFT project is high up on my to-do list.

If you're interested in learning about NFTs, it might be best to start off with a quick introduction course before taking a more intense lesson.

Whether you plan on hiring someone to implement these skills or you're going to be the one taking charge, it's important to start off with a basic understanding of these tech skills and see how they can apply to what's on your to-do list this year.