In the dynamic landscape of the current digital contemporary, digital marketing careers open up paths for various new and exciting opportunities. A job in this field would require a blend of creativity, analytical skills and strategic thinking. Be a recent graduate or a person considering a career switch, the guide below will provide you with ways in which you could kick-start your career in digital marketing.
What is Digital Marketing?
Encompassing all the marketing efforts on the internet, digital marketing involves channels, platforms and technologies to advertise products, services or brands to a target audience. Digital marketing has become essentially important as the world has become more digitally connected and available.
Building a Solid Foundation
To have a better understanding and knowledge about digital marketing, one must go on to acquire foundational knowledge through online courses and gain certificates in various fields like Analytics, digital marketing fundamentals and SEO. Platforms like Google Digital Garage and HubSpot Academy offer free courses to get you started in digital marketing careers.
Having gained basic knowledge about the field, you could go on to hone the innate skills that are required for the job.
Digital marketing is all about the type of content created and the manner in which it is disseminated. Honing essential skills such as content creation, data analysis and social media management. Practising using tools like Google Analytics, SEO tools and social media scheduling platforms to gain more experience.
Courses for Digital Marketing Career
Google Digital Garage
This branch of Google offers free online courses through its digital garage platform. The courses offered on this platform cover the fundamentals for digital marketing careers and are suitable for beginners.
Udemy
This is a platform that hosts a variety of courses including digital marketing courses. It allows the learners to study at their own pace. And while some of the courses offered are free, most require payment, although Udemy does offer discounts and promotions.
The fees for courses differ and range from Rs. 799 to Rs. 3199 and beyond but constant discounts are available and offered.
LinkedIn Learning
This is an online education platform owned by the professional networking site. It offers a wide variety of courses, and video tutorials largely focusing on professional and career development. They offer subscription based courses whose fees vary from course to course.
HubSpot Academy
An extension of the company HubSpot, this platform offers a variety of free courses and certifications covering topics like but not limited to marketing, sales and customer services. It is to be noted that most of the courses offered are free although there may be a few with costs.
Coursera
An online learning platform that offers a variety of courses including digital marketing with variety even in that. They have various courses specialising in analytics, marketing, SEO and many more areas. It works on a model that provides a set of courses that are free but since most of the courses are from renowned universities there is a cost associated, even for certification and specialisations.
Now, let us discuss the important aspects or key components of digital marketing:
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO): To optimise a website’s technical configuration, content and link popularity so that the pages become more visible on the internet.
- Search Engine Marketing (SEM): Like SEO, SEM also optimises the search; the only difference being that is one is paid.
- Analytical and Data Analysis: In marketing, data analytics is the practice of gathering and analysing data, from various digital sources, to gain actionable insights into a company’s digital marketing strategies.
- Content Marketing: A marketing strategy used to attract, engage and retain the audience by creating and sharing relevant content.
- Social Media Marketing: The use of social media to promote products, services and brands.
- Email Marketing: Sending targeted messages to a group of people via email to advertise and promote.
- Affiliate Marketing: Partnering up with other businesses or individuals(affiliates) who promote your products and services in exchange for a commission.
- Influencer Marketing: To collaborate with social media influencers wherein they promote your products and services to their audience.
Creating a Personal Brand and Building a Portfolio
In the digital marketing area, establishing an online presence is crucial. In order to do so, create a professional LinkedIn profile and showcase your skills and achievements. Share relevant content, engage with industry professionals and join relevant groups to stay up to date with all the relevant industry trends.
While an online presence is essential, there should be relevant credibility in your name. Create a portfolio showcasing your digital marketing projects. Include any relevant case studies, analytics that demonstrate your practical skills, etc. A strong portfolio is immensely essential and it will definitely set you apart from others when applying for a position.
Networking
Having built a strong presence and portfolio is not where it ends; there’s more to the process. You should be interested in attending industry events, webinars, seminars and joining marketing communities. Networking has the ability to open doors to various opportunities, providing experience and keeping you informed of the latest trends.
Internships and Freelancing
Gaining experience is one of the most important things required when applying for a position. One way to gain experience is to apply and learn through internships. While internships are appreciated, freelancing is also a plausible method. The use of freelancing platforms would enable one to find projects and work on them freely. These activities not only build your portfolio, they also provide real-world insight into the industry.
While the experience gained is for a position, it would be better to begin with an entry-level position such as digital marketing assistant, content coordinator or social media coordinator. During these applications, you can focus on particular skills in your portfolio and your eagerness during the duration of your work.
Stay Updated and Keep Learning
Digital marketing is an ever evolving area and keeping yourself informed about the various industry updates, algorithm changes and emerging technologies is essential. This could be achieved by following blogs, attending webinars and subscribing to a newsletter to remain on the forefront of the field.
As mentioned earlier, digital marketing is an ever-evolving field that keeps changing and with it, there is a need to keep yourself up to date with all the trends and changes; be well-versed. Pursue advanced certificates, attend workshops and consider specialised courses to deepen your expertise.
Conclusion
Beginning a career in digital marketing requires a combination of knowledge, skills and a proactive approach. By following the above mentioned steps, you can lay the groundwork for a successful and fulfilling career in this ever-expanding field. As you embark on this path, remember that the digital landscape is ever-evolving, making adaptability and continuous learning essential. Stay curious; a curious mindset will keep you motivated. Be adaptable, embrace change and view opportunities as challenges. Commit to continuous learning, it is a valuable asset in this field. Network and collaborate. Stay resilient. By embracing these qualities, you’ll not only thrive in your digital marketing career but also contribute to the innovative and ever-evolving landscape of the industry.
