It’s no secret that the digital world is changing fast. New technologies are being introduced at a rapid pace, and marketing strategies need to be updated on a regular basis in order for them to make an impact on your audience.
The good news is that there are more opportunities than ever before for people interested in marketing careers, but it can be difficult to get started with all of the changes that have taken place over the past decade or so.
Why Should You Consider Digital Marketing Career?
Marketing careers are not limited to the traditional marketing agencies you might be thinking of. A whole world out there has moved online, and it’s up to digital marketers like yourself to make sure these businesses are getting the right messages across through their websites, social media channels, email newsletters, etc.
This can be a very rewarding career, and it’s one that will continue to grow as more and more businesses move online.
In this post, we will discuss the best ways to get started in digital marketing and what your career path might look like.
You should start by asking yourself a few questions about your own interests and skills.
What’s Your Skillset? First, you need to take stock of the skills that you already possess.
Are you good with numbers or data analytics? Do you have strong research abilities? Maybe interpersonal communication comes naturally to you; if so, marketing communications might be a good fit.
Start With Your Current Employer
If you benefit from being employed in marketing today, then you already have an opportunity to get some experience under your belt before moving on with your career.
If that’s not possible at your current place of employment, but there are any digital or technology-related departments that you can volunteer to work with, then that would be a great way for you to tap into your target market.
While working within another department might not provide the same opportunities as being directly involved in marketing, it’s still better than nothing at all if this is what you have available to you now.
Market Yourself Effectively – Once You’re Ready to Jump Ship
Suppose you know that marketing is your calling but don’t have the opportunity to get experience within an existing department or company. In that case, it’s time for you to start thinking about how you’re going to market yourself effectively.
One of the best ways for recent graduates and people who are looking to break into digital marketing is to start building your own personal website.
This is how you’re going to share the results of all of your hard work with potential employers, and it’s also a great way for you to establish yourself as an expert in this field before anyone else even has the chance.
How can I Start My Marketing Career?
If you are looking for ways to get started with your marketing career, plenty of options are available right now. You could take an entry-level position as a digital marketer or work on your own by offering freelance services through Upwork.
There are also many digital marketing training courses that you can take to get ahead, so make sure that you do your research before making any final decisions.
Digital Marketing Career Options
If you decide to pursue digital marketing, there are a few different routes that you can take along the way.
Most likely, your career path will change at least once or twice over the course of your lifetime in this field, so it’s important for you to be open-minded about new opportunities and challenges as they arise.
You may even decide to specialize in a particular niche or aspect of digital marketing, so use these steps as a guide for starting your career.
At the most basic level, there are two routes that you can take when it comes to being successful at digital marketing: agency-side and client-side.
If you’re interested in working with brands and businesses on the agency side, then you’ll have to start out by gaining experience at an ad agency or marketing firm.
Once you get your foot in the door here, it’s up to you to prove that you are a valuable asset and advance from there.
On the client-side of digital marketing, some people choose to work directly with consumers and businesses as marketing consultants.
If you want to work with brands or companies directly, this can be an excellent way to gain valuable experience in your chosen niche pretty quickly.
People who are just starting out must understand the difference between these two career paths before they decide which one is right for them.
You’ll also want to take the time to research which companies, brands, and agencies are at the top of their game within your target market.
The more you know about these early on in your career path, the better off you’re going to be when it comes down to making a decision later on.
Search Engine Optimization Specialist (SEO)
This is a position that focuses on making sure that your website does its job of converting visitors into paying customers. SEO specialists create content for their clients’ websites by optimizing the site’s keywords, metadata, and links to make them more searchable. They also monitor their client’s competition and keep up-to-date with the latest trends in SEO to ensure that they are always one step ahead of their rivals.
Social Media Manager
There is a ton of opportunity for social media managers out there right now, which has led to an explosion in this field since the rise of Social Media. Social media managers are responsible for building and maintaining their client’s social networking presences, which includes everything from creating scheduled posts to carrying out marketing campaigns on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, and similar platforms.
Content Writer/Editor
The content writer is a key figure in digital marketing because they work with clients to create blog posts, articles, and other forms of web-based content that are designed to reach their target audience. The writer’s job also involves editing existing pieces, so it’s important for them to have strong writing skills as well as solid research abilities.
Copywriter
While the copywriter works on a freelance basis or within an agency environment, they are responsible for generating text-based marketing content that is designed to reach their client’s target audiences. Copywriters also make sure that they are in compliance with current SEO (Search Engine Optimization) standards before sending over the finished pieces, so it can be a very rewarding job when done correctly.
Design and Visuals Expert
Digital designers play a critical role in the world of digital marketing because they are responsible for creating logos, banners, and other visual elements that can be used to promote their client’s brands. They also have a lot of freedom when it comes down to working with clients on projects, So this is an excellent position if you enjoy being given free hands over your creative ideas.
Analytics Expert
Analytics experts keep track of their client’s website analytics and data, which is used to create reports that can be used for tweaking SEO strategies. Analytics specialists also make sure that they are tracking the right metrics to better understand what needs optimizing before making changes on behalf of their clients.
Digital Marketing Strategist and Consultant
A digital marketing strategist is a person who helps their clients create an effective strategy for promoting themselves across various online channels. These individuals come up with plans and courses of action that can be used to reach out to the right people, increase brand awareness and boost overall sales numbers.
What is a T-Shaped Marketer?
A T-Shaped Marketer is a person who has broad knowledge and experience in many marketing fields, but they specialize in one or two areas. This means that you have to be willing to get your hands dirty by working across various teams, which can include sales, product development, and management. The goal here is for marketers to bring together the right people to achieve what is needed in order to sell products.
Which Marketing Specialization Should I Choose?
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing which area of digital marketing you want to specialize in because this is going to be based on your own interests and personal goals. However, it can help if you check out which specializations are trending on Upwork right now to get an idea of what is popular.
Recommended Steps to Start Your Digital Marketing Career
- Take courses that provide certifications in digital marketing, email services, web design, or online advertising.
- Build your own website to showcase your skills by including previous work you have done by yourself or with others.
- Seek out internships at businesses you want to work for.
- Practice the skills learned during the coursework via self-study or projects submitted online, showcasing what you can do for potential employers.
- Network and learn from fellow marketers. This is the best way to stay updated.
Tip: The best way to learn digital marketing is to start with an Internship or build your own passion project (preferably start your own blog) and implement all your learning on your project.
Who Can Benefit From Digital Marketing Careers?
If you’re interested in starting up your own business or working for someone else on their digital marketing team, then there are some great opportunities out there for you. Here is just a small sampling of the types of people that can benefit from digital marketing careers:
Freelancers – If you’re looking to become a freelancer, understanding how online businesses work is essential. You will need to be familiar with social media channels like Facebook and Twitter, for example, in order to connect with your followers and get the word out about your services.
Digital Marketing Managers – If you’re working for a larger company looking to expand its online presence, it’s up to you to help them find its target audience through social media platforms like Facebook. You will also need to keep track of analytics to determine how well various websites are performing to tweak the strategy for success.
Business Owners – If you’re an entrepreneur, then this is a great career choice because it lets you take advantage of digital marketing strategies to get your company noticed online and off. You will need to learn how SEO works so that potential customers can find their way back to your site with a Google search.
Bloggers – Marketing your blog is an excellent way to get more people interested in what you have to say and share with them, so bloggers need to learn about marketing strategies that can help their website stand out from the crowd of other blogs online. If you’re not familiar with how to do this, then you can hire someone to help.
Marketing Directors – If you’re in charge of the marketing department in your company, then it’s up to you to bring together the right people so that they can work efficiently on their projects. You will need a broad knowledge of many different types of digital marketing strategies.
Conclusion:
Digital marketing careers are a great way to make yourself stand out from the crowd and help your company grow.
The best thing you can do is take courses that will provide certifications in digital marketing, email services, web design, or online advertising. Build your own website to showcase your skills by including previous work you have done by yourself or with others. Seek out internships at businesses you want to work for. Practice the skills learned during the coursework via self-study or projects submitted online, showcasing what you can do for potential employers. Network and learn from fellow marketers. This is the best way to stay updated!
If you have any doubts or questions about digital marketing careers, feel free to ask them in the comments.
