One of the most in-demand jobs in the world is being an online marketer. The demand for digital marketers is projected to grow 30% year from 2020 to 2025.
This rapid increase in demand is mainly attributed to the fact that more businesses are moving to online marketing, especially marketing for e-commerce and brand awareness.
The good news is that with the right education, you can become a digital marketer and have the world at your fingertips.
Here is some essential information about online marketing degrees.
Why Online Marketing?
With the majority of industries moving online, the demand for digital marketers is expected to increase. According to the LinkedIn 2022 Marketing Jobs report, the average marketing job pay in 2022 is $97,000 per year, including bonuses. Additionally, the job satisfaction is rated as high as 93%. All of this points to one conclusion – if you want to be financially free, become an online marketer.
The trend of businesses moving to online marketing was first observed in the early 2000s and has since continued to grow. In fact, in some industries, such as e-commerce and digital marketing, the shift is so dramatic that many people have dubbed this the ‘internet of things’ era.
As a result of this shift, traditional marketing methods, such as radio and television advertising, have declined in favor of online marketing. Additionally, marketers can no longer depend on consumers showing up at physical stores to make a purchase. Now, they can choose to browse a website, make a purchase online, or use a mobile app.
Forbes also states that by 2025, 94% of global marketing budget will be allocated to digital and online platforms.
Matching the Right Education To The Right Career
So, how does one become a digital marketer? The first step is to determine whether you want to become an in-house marketer or work for an agency. The second step is to decide what level of education you need to attain in order to land the job.
If you are applying for an in-house job, your company may have already decided what level of education they need for their staff. However, if you are looking to break out and start your own agency, you may have to search for a degree that will make you stand out.
Below, we’ll discuss what differentiates a bachelor’s degree in marketing from a bachelor’s degree in commerce, for example, and how that might affect your career choice.
Marketing Vs. Commerce
Let’s say you are deciding between a marketing degree and a commerce degree. The primary difference between the two is that a marketing degree is about generating revenue for a business, while a commerce degree is about serving a business through buying and selling.
A marketing degree can also be focused on marketing strategies and tactics, whereas a commerce degree might be more focused on the theory of marketing. Additionally, a marketing degree might include courses on statistical analysis and marketing research, whereas a commerce degree might not. Finally, a marketing degree is often accredited, while a commerce degree is not.
Breaking it down even further, a marketing degree might include courses on marketing management, marketing analytics, digital marketing, and others. A commerce degree, on the other hand, might include courses on managerial economics, marketing theory, and marketing research. It is also common for a marketing degree to be more focused on the applications of marketing, such as social media and e-commerce, while a commerce degree might be more focused on marketing principles.
As you can see, a marketing degree can be fairly versatile and cover a lot of ground, while a commerce degree can be a bit more specific.
What Is a Bachelor’s Degree In Marketing?
If your decision is to pursue a bachelor’s degree in marketing, you are usually applying to an undergraduate program. These are typically four-year degrees and can be completed online as well as on campus.
An undergraduate degree in marketing is usually a prerequisite for medical school, but it also qualifies you to become a marketing manager, brand manager, or even a market research manager. Many employers also see a bachelor’s degree in marketing as a pre-requisite for an entry-level position in a marketing agency. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the job growth for marketing executives to be 26% from 2020 to 2026.
A bachelor’s degree in marketing is essentially an introductory degree for those who want to pursue further studies in marketing. However, depending on your interests, you might decide that a bachelor’s degree in marketing is not enough. For example, if you are interested in medical marketing, you might want to consider an additional degree, such as biostatistics or public health. These are offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and will give you the skills you need to effectively market healthcare products and services.
The Demand For Online Marketers
The demand for online marketers is expected to increase 23% year from 2020 to 2025, according to the LinkedIn 2022 Marketing Jobs report. Additionally, the average salary is projected to increase by 28% year from 2020 to 2025.
The LinkedIn 2022 Marketing Jobs report states that the largest job sectors for online marketers are:
- Digital marketing (75% job growth expected in 2022)
- Marketing analytics (69% job growth expected in 2022)
- Social media (68% job growth expected in 2022)
- E-commerce (66% job growth expected in 2022)
- Content marketing (55% job growth expected in 2022)
- Email marketing (52% job growth expected in 2022)
- Website development (41% job growth expected in 2022)
- Search engine optimisation (37% job growth expected in 2022)
In light of this, now might be a good time to enter the workforce or finish your degree. While the job growth for online marketers is expected to be significant, competition for job openings can be fierce.
If you are interested in a career in marketing, you should do some research into the different types of degrees available. You should also consider what type of education will make you stand out from the competition.