There are many marketing and digital communication related courses that you can take online. Each one offers a unique flavor to suit your needs, financial situation, and learning style. Hopefully, this article will help you figure out which one is right for you.
Marketing Management
Marketing management is a must for any marketer, in-house counsel, or business student thinking of entering the field. One of the reasons is because marketing managers are in charge of marketing strategy, marketing planning, and monitoring marketing activities. In other words, they are often the ones coordinating multiple departments, including advertising, sales, public relations, and more to execute a marketing plan.
This role makes them responsible for analyzing market trends and data, formulating plans to capitalize on the latest market opportunities, identifying crucial vendor relationships, and managing the creative process from idea to execution. Sound a little overwhelming? That’s why most reputable marketing schools also offer a specialization in marketing management.
Marketing Analytics
Marketing analytics is the use of statistical and quantitative methods to analyze the performance of marketing activities. While marketing managers focus on the “big picture” and the interaction between various marketing channels, marketers and analysts may be more involved in the nitty gritty of marketing measurement. For example, they may specialize in marketing analytics software, such as Google Analytics, to analyze web traffic and conversion funnels.
Digital Marketing
As the name suggests, digital marketing is all about marketing online. But that doesn’t mean that offline marketing isn’t included in digital marketing! In fact, the term “digital marketing” can be used to describe all of a marketer’s online activities, including blogging, social media marketing, and email marketing. The main difference is that offline marketing typically focuses on physical locations (i.e., retail stores), while online marketing often targets consumers through virtual spaces (i.e., websites).
Even if you are a salesperson at heart and were initially drawn to the exciting world of online marketing because you want to become a better seller, you should still consider studying digital marketing. Why? Being able to clearly define and measure the results of your marketing efforts gives you the opportunity to prove to your boss (and yourself) that you are making a difference. Moreover, the ability to track the effectiveness of your marketing strategy and tactics is also important for when you’re trying to convince the higher-ups at your company to continue funding your pet project.
If you’re looking to further your education and want to get a head start in the field, consider an MBA in marketing or a Bachelors in Business with a concentration in marketing. Many top-tier business schools also have a strong marketing specialization, so you’ll be able to gain invaluable real-world experience while pursuing your studies.
Content Marketing
If you are a marketer that specializes in driving quality traffic and gaining credibility with potential customers, then you should certainly consider studying content marketing. Like digital marketing, content marketing is all about marketing online, but it focuses more on creating and distributing content (i.e., articles, videos, infographics, etc.) that will attract, entertain, and hopefully, inspire people to take a certain action, such as making a purchase or subscribing to a newsletter.
Moreover, content marketers are responsible for incorporating relevant and engaging content into websites, blogs, and social platforms to create a positive user experience. Essentially, they are in charge of creating “sticky” and popular content that will keep potential customers coming back for more. They may also use various digital marketing tools, including content curation websites like Delicious, to build out a useful guide on the topic they’re writing about.
To learn more, you can check out the University of California, Irvine’s Content Marketing Institute, which offers a bachelor’s degree in content marketing. With over 12.6 million visitors per month, HubSpot’s Website Marketing Blog is also a great source of informative articles about marketing on the internet.
Social Media Marketing
If you’re passionate about marketing and feel that you have a natural instinct for using social media to gain credibility and build a following, then you should certainly consider studying social media marketing. Much like content marketing, social media marketing is all about marketing online, but it focuses on using social platforms, like Facebook and Twitter, to engage with existing and potential customers.
The main difference is that while content marketers work to educate and inform people, social media marketers use social platforms to celebrate, support, and promote a variety of voices, products, and opinions.
If you’re looking to enter the field but don’t want to pursue an MBA, then you can gain valuable experience by getting a job as a social media marketer, where you’ll be able to work with real-world clients to solve problems and carry out marketing campaigns. Moreover, you can also use your social media skills to get involved in politics, brand advocacy, and even startup culture. If you’re passionate about marketing and enjoy using social media to connect with people, then this is a great way to explore interests while getting a leg up on the job market.
Marketing Analytics Job Outlook
If you’re looking to further your education and want to get a head start in the field, consider an MBA in marketing or a Bachelors in Business with a concentration in marketing. Many top-tier business schools also have a strong marketing specialization, so you’ll be able to gain invaluable real-world experience while pursuing your studies.
The marketing analytics job outlook is also quite promising, with some projections predicting a 135% increase in job opportunities by 2025. Many employers, especially those in high-growth industries, such as tech and pharmaceuticals, are also looking for candidates that can both analyze and visualize data.
Summing Up
An advanced degree in marketing isn’t necessary to enter the field, but it certainly doesn’t hurt! The more you know, the better you’ll be able to perform your job duties and produce valuable results. Moreover, you’ll also be able to use various marketing and digital communication tools and platforms to connect with like-minded individuals, stay informed of industry trends, and gain new perspectives. With so much opportunity out there, it’s never been a better time to enter the wonderful world of marketing and digital communication.