Have you ever thought about working in digital marketing but lack the necessary experience? You’re in luck because we’ve got you covered! In this blog post, we outline the steps to take to kickstart your career in digital marketing and give you an idea of what kinds of jobs are available and the salary that you can expect to start out with.

The Role of Digital Marketing

The role of digital marketing is changing as traditional marketing channels continue to evolve and new ones emerge. While it used to be the case that marketing professionals would create marketing campaigns and measure their success in terms of leads and sales, the role of the digital marketer has evolved to become more multidisciplinary. Gone are the days of designing a website and sticking to that one platform – today’s digital marketer is expected to be able to master a variety of platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and Google Ads so that they can maximize the reach of a campaign.

According to PwC, by investing in digital marketing, you can expect to see your return on that investment in three years. Additionally, the job forecast for 2020 predicts that there will be a significant increase in the demand for digital marketing professionals, as businesses continue to evolve and new platforms emerge.

Where Can I Sit Reliance To Start My Career In Digital Marketing?

Whether you’re starting your career in digital marketing or are pursuing it as a side gig, it’s crucial to determine where you’ll sit when you begin your journey. Since you don’t have any experience, it’s best to begin at the beginning and take a pre-employment test to find out what grade you’ll need to score to be considered for a role. Don’t worry, even if you’re not the best, someone will take notice of your enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

Based on your results from the test, you’ll be presented with a number of roles that you can choose from. You’ll need to decide which one is the best fit for you, considering factors such as pay, work environment, and location. Once you’ve made your decision, contact the Human Resources department at the company you’ve chosen to work for to begin the application process.

The Steps To Take To Become A Digital Marketer

Now that you’ve decided to become a digital marketer, what next? Well, as previously stated, since you have no experience, you’ll need to take the time to learn the ropes. To do this, you can either look for a relevant degree or take the initiative to learn the necessary skills. While there are no concrete steps to follow, here are some of the things you can do to ensure you succeed as a digital marketer:

• Join a society of digital marketers. Being a member of a professional organization that supports career growth is a great way to learn and network. The American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s) holds an annual conference in Chicago called ‘The Big 4A Show’. This event features seminars and workshops on a range of topics from SEO to analytics and digital marketing. Simply search for the 4A’s site on the Internet and you’ll see all the available membership offers.
• Take a free online course. There are many free courses available through platforms like Edureka and Skillsoft that can help you understand the fundamentals of digital marketing. These courses aren’t just about learning the tools – they also provide the academic content you’ll need to understand the theory behind digital marketing. Additionally, you can look into getting a digital marketing certification. Doing this will not only make you more marketable but also give you the opportunity to network and build up your professional skills.
• Work for a digital marketing agency. If you’ve decided that working for an agency is what you want to do, than this is the best option. Agencies usually get work because they have connections and can secure jobs for you and your team. Additionally, working for an agency provides you with a more established network and the opportunity to see different industries and approaches to marketing.
• Seek out jobs that provide exposure to a variety of clients and platforms. Since digital marketing is a multidisciplinary field and employers are looking for professionals who can demonstrate the ability to work across platforms, seeking out jobs that can expose you to a variety of tools and technologies is important. Additionally, some agencies specialize in digital marketing for a specific industry so seeking out jobs that can expose you to various parts of the industry is another way to find the right fit.
• Stay in touch with the latest trends and technologies in digital marketing.
• Network and build relationships with people in the industry. Being able to demonstrate that you’re actively seeking out new opportunities and can identify with those in the industry who are also looking to break into the field will make you stand out above others. Additionally, being able to communicate with your non-verbal skills (i.e. eye contact, body language, and facial expressions) will also make you more approachable and likable by others in the industry. This will, in turn, make you more attractive to potential employers.
• Be persistent. Even if you don’t get the job you’re applying for, don’t give up. Instead, create a list of alternatives and continue pursuing them. Eventually, you’ll find work that compliments your skills and experience.
• Build a reputation. If you’re constantly applying for jobs but never get the call, it’s time to reevaluate your approach. One way to do this is by creating a website or blog that can act as a portfolio. Additionally, if you can, write a few articles for publications that can showcase your work. Building a reputation in this way will help you get more interviews and eventually, leads to more jobs.
• Stay inspired. The more you put into it, the more you get out of it. The key to being a successful digital marketer is staying inspired and motivated by continually reviewing your progress and learning from your past mistakes. Additionally, it’s important to set goals for yourself and evaluate whether or not you’re on the right track to achieving them. In a nutshell, being able to show that you’re constantly learning and improving will make you seem more attractive to potential employers.
• Above all, have fun! Even though this may not seem like an easy or glamorous job, it’s still a good idea to have fun while doing it. After all, you’ll spend a lot of time in your office so it might as well be a fun office!

Digital Marketing Specialties & Job Descriptions

Now that you’re equipped with the skills to become a digital marketer, let’s take a look at the specialties & job descriptions for this role. Keep in mind that there are no set rules for what makes up a digital marketer – the role is very multidisciplinary and can therefore, encompass a variety of specialties. As a digital marketer, you’ll be responsible for the following:

• Campaign strategy
• Creative (with emphasis on visual)
• Web analytics (including setup and analysis of tracking tools)
• Content strategy
• Copywriting
• Editing (copy and layout)
• Research
• Performance marketing (including A/B testing, multivariate testing, and optimization)
• Measurement (including metrics and reporting)
• Campaign planning (including strategy and stakeholder mapping)
• Sales promotion

Additionally, as a digital marketer you’ll need to have a strong understanding of the following terms and concepts: