The world of digital marketing is changing, and the way we engage with consumers is evolving as well. Today, advertising on social media channels and mobile apps is commonplace, while some of the traditional advertising methods – like newspaper ads – are becoming a thing of the past. New methods of marketing and connecting with consumers are emerging, and digital marketing is expanding to encompass all areas of business: from sales to operations and everything in between.

If you’re looking for a career in digital marketing, you may be wondering where to begin. While it’s always important to establish a foundation in digital marketing, it’s also crucial to find your strengths and interests. This way, you can become more effective as a marketer and grow your career – or at least, your employer’s need for your talents – as the industry continues to evolve. Let’s look at three areas where you may find your strengths and interests and how you can build a career in digital marketing.

Online Advertising

This area of digital marketing involves marketing goods and services on the internet. Like other areas of marketing, this one can be broken down into different sub-areas, including online advertising, marketing analytics, and website measurement (i.e., SEO and content strategy).

In today’s digital world, online advertising is commonplace. Thanks to the rise of social media, consumers have plenty of options for consuming media and advertisements. As a result, the way businesses advertise on the internet has changed. Instead of focusing on just billboards and newspaper ads, today’s marketers need to consider different platforms and methods of reaching consumers.

Some of the more traditional advertising methods, like TV commercials, are now considered “old school.” Thanks to the internet and social media, traditional commercials can simply be ignored by consumers. Instead of having to try to convince people to buy a particular product, marketers can use social media to connect with potential consumers and show them the benefits of their brand or product. Many companies, such as Google and Twitter, even have public advertising pages where they display ads from brands and businesses.

If you’re interested in this area, you may want to consider getting a degree in marketing or communications with a concentration in digital marketing.

Social Media

With the rise of the influencer – someone who has a large following of people on social media – content creators who are active on social media have become highly sought-after. Thanks to platforms like YouTube and Instagram, anyone can become a content creator and get paid to share their opinions and tips on various topics – including product reviews and tips on social media marketing (i.e., building a following on different platforms).

This area of digital marketing has become quite the niche. Thanks to the rise of content creators on social media, businesses can use these platforms to learn about their customers’ interests and passions and then use this information to better market their products. As a marketer for a company that develops software for businesses, you might want to consider getting a degree in the field of social media.

Mobile Space

It’s no secret that people are using their smartphones and tablets more and more each day. Thanks to the popularity of hybrid vehicles, the number of people using multiple devices (i.e., a smartphone and a tablet) has increased. With the convenience of being accessible from anywhere, mobile space (i.e., apps, websites, and SMS messaging) has become increasingly important to marketers. If your company develops software for businesses, you may want to consider getting a degree in digital marketing with a specialization in mobile marketing.

This area of digital marketing can get quite technical, so it can be difficult for someone who is not a digital marketer to find employment. As with other areas of digital marketing, mobile marketing is evolving to encompass different platforms and methods of attracting and engaging consumers. For example, some businesses and marketers are using display ads in their mobile apps while others are taking advantage of the location-based services to bring people directly to their stores via text messaging – all while using marketing software to track the effectiveness of their efforts.

If you’re interested in this area of digital marketing, you may want to look into the following sub-areas:

• Mobile Advertising
• Mobile Analytics
• Mobile Marketing
• Mobile Commerce
• Mobile Search
• Mobile Social
• Mobile User Behavior
• Mobile Marketing Automation
• Consumer Marketing Analytics
• Inbound Marketing Analytics
• Digital Marketing Analytics

Once you’ve established a foundation in digital marketing, you may then find your interests and strengths via different pathways. For example, you may want to consider getting a degree in public relations with a concentration in marketing – a popular option among students who want to become media relations professionals. Alternatively, you may consider getting a degree in journalism with a concentration in marketing. If you’re interested in mobile marketing, you may consider getting a degree in computer science with a focus on mobile apps or websites. If you’re interested in social media, you may consider getting a degree in information systems or business administration.

By establishing a foundation in one or more of these areas, you may then find your career path in digital marketing.

If you’re interested in this area, you may want to look into the following sub-areas: