If you’re looking for a new job, then you’ve probably considered online marketing as a potential career change. Perhaps you’ve heard of the many successful entrepreneurs who started their businesses online and now run them from the comfort of their home. Maybe you know someone who runs a successful business or has a successful blog and you’re wondering if you could be that person for someone you know.
If so, then congratulations! You’re at the right place. In this article, we’ll tell you all you need to know about how to become a fashion online marketer so you can hit the ground running once you’ve made the switch.
Digital Marketing Specialties Are Endless
One of the things that make digital marketing so attractive is the fact that there are so many specialties you can become a specialist in. Just like with any field, the more you know, the more you can become useful and productive. Since there is no limit to how much information you can learn online, the possibilities for customization and progression are truly endless. Additionally, many industries are constantly changing and evolving, so you are guaranteed to always have a job. Furthermore, working online means you can work when and where you want. This allows you to balance your work responsibilities with your personal life, which many people find appealing.
Depending on your area of interest, you could find yourself specializing in SEO (search engine optimization), PPC (pay per click), e-commerce, social media, email marketing, or affiliate marketing. In fact, even the traditional print media is moving towards digital marketing, so if you’re looking for a change, now would probably be the best time to consider it.
Where Can I Work?
If you’re still wondering where you can work as a digital marketer, let’s examine the options that lie ahead of you.
You can start small by taking on a project for a friend or family member who has a business or brand name. You might develop an SEO strategy for a real estate company, set up email marketing campaigns for an e-commerce store, or perform social media marketing for a clothing company. With each project, you will learn more about digital marketing and shape your skill set accordingly. Additionally, you can find freelance work if you’re looking for extra cash flow.
As you gain experience, your options become limitless. You can start your own agency or boutique firm and employ teams of people or work independently. What you decide on will depend on your existing skills, interests, and of course, your wallet. But the sky is the limit
Top 5 Skills To Become A Fashion Online Marketer
As we mentioned above, the specialties in digital marketing are endless, but there are a few skills that even the top industry experts and freelancers value highly. Knowing these skills will set you apart from the competition and make you indispensable to any company or brand you work for. Here are the top five.
1. SEO
Every business owner or brand manager needs to understand the basics of SEO. If you’re reading this, then you probably know what SEO is and how it works. But let’s examine this topic from a fresh perspective. SEO stands for search engine optimization and is the process of affecting the ranking of your website or blog in the search results for relevant keywords.
SEO is different from PPC (pay per click) in that it is a holistic approach to growing a business online. When someone performs SEO on your behalf, they will examine your website content and make suggestions to improve your ranking. In doing so, they will analyze your site’s performance in different countries, different devices, and different browsers. They will track the structure and functionality of your site’s content and how users engage with it. In essence, SEO considers everything about your site, including its appearance, to determine its ranking. This is why it is often considered a complete digital marketing strategy.
2. Social Media Marketing
In today’s world, it is impossible to ignore social media. Whether you love to follow the Kardashians or you just want to stay connected with your friends online, you will need a decent social media strategy. Essentially, this is the process of attracting and retaining customers through the use of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
In practice, this means you will establish a presence on various social media platforms and keep your audience engaged through consistent posts. Additionally, you will engage with your followers by responding to their comments and questions. The goal is to grow a community of people who are interested in what you have to say and are willing to support your business.
This type of marketing often integrates multiple platforms and types of content, including blogs, podcasts, and website articles. A successful social media marketer will have a clear grasp of all the major platforms and the content people are using on each of them.
3. Email Marketing
Another crucial part of any marketing campaign is email marketing. Like social media marketing, email marketing involves the efficient use of email to attract, retain, and engage customers. Some of the tasks you will perform as an email marketer include setting up email marketing lists, building email campaigns, and analysing performance.
You will design email marketing campaigns, set up autoresponders, and develop email lists for various industries. You will design campaign templates, create drip campaigns, and track the performance of each email in order to determine its effectiveness. Additionally, you will have the ability to segment your lists and target specific groups of people.
Email marketing is one of the most accessible forms of digital marketing because you don’t necessarily need a website to set up an email marketing campaign. Even if you don’t have a traditional storefront, you can open an email account and set up automated emails to communicate monthly sales or special offers. Plus you can use tools to track the performance of your emails, identify any trends, and determine the ROI (return on investment) of your email marketing program.
4. Analytics
As we mentioned above, the world of digital marketing is always changing and evolving, and analytics is one of the top skills that prove you are up to date with the times. Analytics tools like Google Analytics allow you to examine the performance of your website or blog. In addition to gaining valuable insights into the way your audience interacts with your content, you can use analytics to track the performance of specific campaigns and determine their ROI. This makes analytics a great tool for determining the success of a marketing program.
5. Creative Writing & Marketing Copy (Forbes)
No, we don’t mean you need to churn out some cheesy advertising script to be able to be a successful marketing copywriter. Rather, being a copywriter involves developing marketing materials that will persuade people to purchase your product or service. It is about using words to describe a product or service in a way that will make the reader understand and appreciate what you are offering. If you’re looking to change careers and want to make a full-time salary doing what you love, then consider a career in copywriting. Not only will you be able to develop an in-house marketing department, but you will also be able to pitch your own ideas for blog posts and advertisements.
Of course, there is more than one way to become a successful digital marketer and depending on your existing skills, you may not need to specialize in all five areas listed above. If you’re looking for a generalist role, then you may not need to specialize in SEO or email marketing. But, a good generalist should still have a decent grasp of the basics, have a decent understanding of the fields, and be able to learn new tricks and technologies as they emerge.
If you’re looking to further specialize, then you should consider looking into data analyst, content marketer, blogger, or PR. Each of these specialties and their related tasks are a good source of in-demand jobs and allow you to focus on a single area while acquiring valuable expertise.
Now that you’re equipped with the basics of becoming a fashion digital marketer, where will you begin your journey?