The Covid-19 pandemic was a massive disruption to almost every industry and one that will have long lasting effects. The ramifications of the pandemic also extended to higher education with numerous online course providers going offline due to lack of demand as well as financial uncertainty.
While some offer completely free education with the option of a low-quality learning experience – others saw an opportunity to re-configure their delivery models and emerged as online digital marketing courses providers where students can access high-quality lectures and course material from reputable universities.
What Is Digital Marketing?
If you’re reading this, I assume you’re interested in learning more about digital marketing. If so, then congratulations! You have chosen an abundant online resource that provides a wealth of information about this subject. To get started, let’s take a quick look at how digital marketing is different from traditional marketing:
- Digital marketing is any marketing activity that happens online.
- Traditional marketing is any marketing activity that happens offline (i.e., in magazines, newspapers, radio, and television stations).
- Marketing analytics is the practice of tracking the results of marketing activities.
- Measurement and analysis of marketing activity is considered a critical part of the marketing process.
- Social media is a type of digital medium that allows for social interaction and content sharing among users
Why Should You Become A Digital Marketer?
If you’re reading this, I assume you’re thinking about becoming a digital marketer. To understand why this is a worthwhile endeavor, let’s examine the job market for digital marketers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while the number of marketing jobs will increase by 27% from 2020 to 2025, the demand for digital marketers will increase by 58%. That’s a substantial increase in demand and one that can be attributed to the fact that digital marketing is a rapidly growing field. With new tools like Google Analytics and Hootsuite making it easier than ever to measure and analyze marketing activity, there are endless opportunities for digital marketers to grow and contribute to the field.
Is Online Digital Marketing The Future Of Marketing?
Let’s be honest – no one wants to have to go back to living in the physical world after getting hit with the pandemic. That being said, the rise of remote work and digital nomads during the pandemic makes it clear that we are shifting to a digital world. If you’re looking to enter the field, this is certainly achievable through online course providers. Additionally, several marketing research companies predict that up to 75% of all marketing activity will be carried out in a digital manner by 2025.
This is reflected in the fact that the most in-demand occupations in 2025 will be:
- Operating systems analyst
- Web developer
- Marketing manager
- Digital marketer
So, is online digital marketing the future of marketing? Without a doubt, yes. In fact, the most prestigious brands in the world have shifted to an online marketing strategy. Some of the world’s best-known companies – from blue chip to small startups – use online marketing to great success.
What If You Want A Career In Marketing?
If you’re reading this, I assume you’re wondering about entering the field of marketing and want to know what opportunities are available. Let’s get straight to the meat of the matter; while there are countless options for marketing jobs, many of which can be found online, the majority of these positions are in-house roles working for large corporations. As we’ve established, however, this is slowly shifting toward a more digital world and it’s becoming more acceptable for marketers to work remotely.
According to Glassdoor, the most in-demand occupations in 2025 will be:
- Operating systems analyst
- Web developer
- Marketing manager
- Digital marketer
So, if you’re looking to enter or to further your career in marketing, you should do so through online courses. With so much information available online, you’ll be able to rack up the hours necessary to attain the required knowledge and skills to enter or further your career in marketing. Additionally, with the world transitioning to a digital sphere, the competition for jobs in this field is likely to be high. Going back to school and acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills to enter or further your career in marketing will put you ahead of the competition.
Is An Online Degree Necessary For Success In Digital Marketing?
It’s always a good idea to further your education. More often than not, additional education can put you ahead of the competition. In the case of digital marketing, however, going back to school doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be able to secure a more prestigious job. In fact, several prominent brands have shifted to an online marketing strategy due to the current pandemic. This, in turn, has led to a significant rise in the number of highly qualified jobseekers.
According to Glassdoor, as of April 2021, there are 269,000 job openings in America alone. While this number will fluctuate, as more and more people get back to work, you can bet that there will be more job openings.
Additionally, depending on where you want to work, a business or marketing degree might not be required at all. If you’re looking to break into corporate America, then a marketing degree might not be necessary as you’ll likely need a 4-year degree for that. Additionally, if you plan on going into management, then a business or marketing degree might not even be required. Finally, if you’re looking to secure a job working for a digital marketing agency, then a 2-year degree in marketing might be sufficient as the skillsets required here are typically software-based.
Which City Is The Most Suitable For Success In Digital Marketing?
If you’re looking to secure a job in digital marketing, then you might want to consider moving to a large city. According to the American Institute of Stress, working in an office every day can be highly stressful. Working remotely during the pandemic has become commonplace with many firms adjusting to a more digital strategy. As a result, there are more job openings and higher pay scales available.
Based on these criteria, here are the top 5 cities for success in digital marketing:
- San Francisco
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Seattle
- Boston
The stress levels in these cities make them prime candidates for budding digital marketers. If you decide to live in one of these cities, you’ll be able to access a wealth of information online as well as from local libraries with ease. Additionally, the cost of living is high in these cities so you might want to consider moving to one of the smaller towns like Marlborough, Massachusetts where you’ll have more affordable housing and a lower cost of living.
How Many Weeks Of Class Will You Need To Study?
Another important consideration is how many weeks of class you’ll need to study for your exam. Depending on what school you’re attending and what program you’re following, this could range from a few hours a day to a few days a week for a few months. To give you an idea of what you might be in for, here are the estimated hours of study per week:
- Week 1: 400-500 hours
- Week 2: 400-500 hours
- Week 3: 400-500 hours
- Week 4: 400-500 hours
- Week 5: 400-500 hours
To put this into perspective, the required knowledge and skills to study for your exam can be distilled into a 20 hour/week format. So, if you’re looking to enter or further your career in marketing, you might want to consider whether an online degree is right for you. As we’ve established, though, the world of digital marketing is ever evolving and with new tools like Google Analytics, you’ll be able to secure a lucrative career regardless of whether you go back to school or not.