Digital marketers combine their technical expertise and creative enthusiasm to form one of the most gratifying – and expanding – occupations in the digital realm. Pursuing a job in digital marketing can be intimidating, but the odds are that the learning process won’t be as difficult as you might expect. It is likely that you already have some of the abilities needed to begin!
This article provides instructions on how to become a digital marketer, even if you have no prior knowledge of the area.
Steps to Becoming a Digital Marketer
Do you have an affinity for social media, the ability to identify influencers, and an aptitude for writing? If so, you’re off to a good start! Listed below are the five steps required for digitally savvy professionals to transition into a career in digital marketing.
Assess Your Current Skill Set
It’s possible that you don’t have a past job that specifically focused on marketing, however, this does not imply that you don’t have any relevant work experience. There are many different professional backgrounds that lead to digital marketing. Those with a background in advertising or customer service are ideal for the role, and those with strong communication abilities are also well-suited. Aspiring digital marketers can easily make the switch from professions such as sales, marketing, communications, web design, or data analytics.
Here’s a quick list of the core capabilities you’ll need to develop as you figure out your digital marketing career options:
- Brand development
- Competitive research
- Content strategy
- Conversion tactics
- Paid search
- Customer service
- Social media management
What marketing abilities connected to your profession do you currently possess, and which do you still need to develop?
Gain a Foundational Understanding of Digital Marketing
Advertising and branding are the foundation of both digital and traditional commerce. Despite the competition in the digital market, personal, corporate, and non-profit companies all vie for visibility on an array of purchasing sites. Digital marketers must strive to give their clients’ brands an advantage over others by creating advertising content that resonates with the intended audience, is engaging, and is timely.
But the duties of an accomplished digital marketer are not limited to creating effective advertising strategies. These branding experts put companies and services in a favorable light and make them highly visible on search engines and through social media plans. They target specific groups of people on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok by creating engaging visuals and tales. In some situations, they might also collaborate with influencers to increase a company’s visibility among its desired customer bases.
Now that we have gone over the fundamentals of what digital marketers do, let us look into how to become one and land your initial job.
Obtain an Education
Here are some of the primary educational paths for learning digital marketing: attending degree courses, participating in boot camps, or teaching yourself. Each one of the three provides a distinct educational experience and necessitates varying amounts of time and money to be invested.
Not sure which is the best for you? Let’s walk through the pros and cons of each.
Bootcamp Learning
A digital marketing boot camp is an intensive program that lasts for 18 weeks and combines multiple disciplines which allows students to gain practical experience. The online classes enable people to gain mastery in digital advertising, marketing planning, and website metrics.
Boot camp courses typically deal with things like figuring out who the target market is, creating a brand identity, and utilizing SEO to increase visibility. After finishing the boot camp, students will be able to devise their own digital marketing plan — plus have a substantial portfolio of projects to show to prospective employers.
Boot camps that offer online courses usually also provide a variety of different timetables. Further, they require no previous marketing or programming experience. In conclusion, if you are committed to putting in effort and dedication, attending a boot camp could be a great way to acquire the basics necessary to start your career in digital marketing.
Degree Programs
If you’re looking to gain a thorough understanding of public relations, advertising, and brand marketing, then a four-year college program might be the best option for you. A degree in advertising, marketing, journalism, or design can be beneficial for someone wanting to start a career in digital marketing at an introductory level.
Even if your major is seemingly unrelated to marketing, such as computer science or data analysis, it can still be beneficial; as marketers are now more dependent on digital platforms and analytical tools than ever before.
If you have a bachelor’s degree in an area that is not typically applicable to digital marketing, you may wish to look into getting a master’s degree. Programs at a higher level of education often delve into analytics, design, and global marketing, which are all extremely advantageous to those looking to pursue a career.
Programs of study at the college level are highly beneficial due to their thoroughness; nevertheless, they may not be the optimal solution for everyone who is curious about how to get into digital marketing. Generally, it takes several years of dedicated, full-time study to obtain a degree and it tends to be costly. If you are able to commit the resources necessary to pursue a degree, you will be in a great place to enter the digital marketing industry when you graduate.
Self-Directed Study
Maybe you have an interest in certain areas of digital marketing, but don’t have the energy or interest to take classes for it. If so, self-directed learning might be your best bet. Nowadays, digital marketing courses available online provide a thorough exploration of marketing concepts. You can learn about data analysis, writing copy, running social media accounts, creating content, and sending out emails for marketing purposes. It is beneficial for those wishing to pursue a career in marketing to become familiar with these topics.
Although it may not be simple, taking an independent course of action is not impossible. Individuals who are attempting to acquire knowledge on their own must have a high level of determination and self-discipline; they don’t require an instructor or a formal class schedule to incite their educational pursuit. Consider your learning style before you start! If you believe that you have the discipline and motivation to stay on task, attempt self-guided learning. If you work best in a traditional learning setting, a boot camp or college course may be the best choice for you to reach your academic goals.
Get Real-World Practice
If you wish to acquire a position in digital marketing, it is essential to compose a portfolio that shows off your marketing abilities to potential employers. This portfolio should be a carefully selected collection of projects.
People who go to college classes or boot camps can get a collection of portfolio projects through their courses; the capstone projects are usually intended to achieve that goal. Nonetheless, those who wish to pursue a career in digital marketing are not restricted to building their resumes in a classroom setting.
Internships can be a great way to get started in a digital marketing job, allowing you to create a website or digital ad for a real-life business. This work can be presented to potential employers while you are looking for a job.
Digital marketing also rewards self-starters. Recent college graduates or boot camp learners can increase the size and impact of their portfolio and resume by offering to volunteer with organizations that do not have the resources to hire interns or freelancers. It is possible you are aware of a local charity that would be improved by a well thought-out social media plan; or it could be that a small business in your area requires extra exposure to create its brand. In either case, helping them helps you!
Send a plan to one of these small companies explaining how your talents and knowledge could improve their recognition. Outline the main elements of your proposed campaign. Even if there is no salary, you will still get a worthwhile learning experience and people to vouch for your skills.
Build a Professional Network
Developing a strong network of contacts is essential for constructing a successful career. Making networking connections can help you stay informed on the latest developments in the digital marketing field, learn about potential job opportunities, and gain knowledge on advancements in the industry.
Not sure how to get started? Consider attending professional workshops or digital marketing seminars. A lot of these events take place over the internet, providing knowledgeable knowledge and chances to get together with industry frontrunners.
Remember that your professional brand is integral to networking. Even if you like to keep your personal social media accounts hidden, having a professional account that is visible to the public can help you gain recognition. It also offers proof of your digital marketing skills.
Getting creative on social media can be beneficial, too. Begin or add to a bulletin concerning digital marketing – create a blog if you have the opportunity! Become a respected member of marketing communities and discussion forums. The better you can demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in marketing through your online presence, the more likely you are to be successful in an interview.
Free Online Courses for Social Media Marketing
Social Media Certification
Offered by Hubspot Academy
Hubspot Academy’s social media certification program is at the top of our compilation of the greatest free online classes for social media promotion. This activity requires almost five hours to finish and contains nine modules, 40 videos, and 34 quizzes. This is intended to assist companies in gaining new patrons by constructing a successful plan for social media.
This curriculum is comprehensive and contains a wealth of useful knowledge that can benefit both novice and experienced marketers. Pupils will be instructed on topics such as content promotion, developing individualized connections, and the fundamentals of online marketing. The class also educates professionals in the ways of figuring out their social media output in relation to the amount of money spent, so they can tell what is successful and what needs improvement.
The HubSpot online social media certification is offered without charge and is equivalent to a master’s degree credit at Northeastern University in their social media concentration. This can be accomplished both in person at their Boston campus and over the internet. Hubspot offers an online forum as well as local meetups for members to share data with fellow participants. These qualities make it an excellent learning experience as well as an outstanding chance to build connections.
At the end of the course, you will get a badge that can be featured on your website, LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV, though no certification is offered. HubSpot’s premium quality free classes are acknowledged in the industry and can help you advance your existing abilities to become an authority in your area.
Social Media Marketing Course
Offered by eMarketing Institute
eMarketing Institute was established in Copenhagen in 2014 with the purpose of providing people of all financial backgrounds the ability to receive basic qualifications in digital marketing. Their classes are completely free of cost, and unlike a lot of the others on the list, they do not make you pay to receive your official recognition. You will, however, need to pass the exam.
You can work your way through this comprehensive online social media marketing course at your own speed, with 165+ pages of detailed content. And the best part – it’s free! There are 25 chapters covering social media topics like:
- Marketing for mobile
- Blogging
- Target Audiences
- Content sharing
- Creating a strategy
- Promotion
- Return on investment
- Analytics
- SEO
This is just a brief overview of the topics addressed in the program. Once you finish the course, you will be eligible to take the final exam. You must answer correctly at least 25 out of the 50 multiple-choice questions in order to pass. Once you have succeeded, you can get your accomplishment credentials to add to your LinkedIn Profile, resume, and any other place you desire to show it.
Social Media Marketing Specialization
Offered by Northwestern University through Coursera
One of the leading universities in the nation is offering a comprehensive social media marketing specialization program on Coursera. Completing the course should take around five months if you dedicate four hours a week to the training. The syllabus is comprehensive. Individuals in pursuit of the most comprehensive free course on social media marketing will find this to be one of the finest selections.
Certificates in the specialization can be earned by paying for the Coursera program. The paid course provides graded tasks and a concluding project, plus students are given the choice to showcase their certifications on their websites, LinkedIn accounts, or resumes. Nevertheless, each part of the class can be reviewed at no cost. Taking the course in an auditing capacity gives you access to all of the material, but you will not be evaluated or receive any form of official recognition. Individuals who would like to receive the certification but cannot pay the price can request monetary assistance.
This program is created to give people instruction in social media analytics, influencing, marketing tactics, and measurement. In conclusion, after taking this course, students should have a comprehensive comprehension of the principles of social media marketing and the capability to commence formulating their own plans.
Strategic Social Media Marketing
Offered by Boston University through edX
Barbara Bicket, a Senior Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Marketing from Boston University, is delivering a comprehensive six-week course. During the program, students will learn about:
- Developing social media marketing strategies
- Delivering engaging content across a variety of platforms
- Analyzing the effectiveness of their efforts
- Utilizing social media to monitor consumer behavior
- Social media management
The syllabus is exhaustive and created for advanced-level learners. Those who are looking to gain useful and strategic techniques to use social media to expand their own or their employer’s or customers’ brands, can find all they need in this program.
Students have the option to pay for a certificate signed by an instructor and featuring the Boston University logo, although this is not mandatory. The entire online social media marketing course can be taken in an audited version without any cost.
Social Media Advertising
Offered by the University of Colorado Boulder through Coursera
The University of Colorado offers a Social Media Advertising class as part of their Digital Advertising Strategy Specialization which is the third class in the series. You can complete the Coursera program without paying anything, in which case you will not receive a certificate, or you can pay a fee and get a certificate that you can show to others.
This 14-hour online course in social media marketing provides an understanding of the different types of social media advertising, which ones have the greatest chance of succeeding, how to use targeting parameters to get to particular groups of people, and how to carry out social media advertising initiatives. This course encompasses Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and contains a great deal of examples so that students can comprehend the practical uses of the course.
