I’m sure you have seen advertisements on social media for “Online Marketing Career” or “Digital Marketing Career”. These are incredibly popular career paths right now, and for good reason. Digital marketing is a broad area that covers almost all facets of internet marketing, and while it can appear daunting, the more you learn the more you will enjoy it.
If you are looking for a new career or just want to change your current one, you have come to the right place. This article is going to tell you everything you need to know about choosing the right job in the field of Digital Marketing. We will begin by answering the key question – what is digital marketing?
What is Digital Marketing?
The definitions of digital marketing and social media vary from one source to another, but the basic idea is the same – to integrate online and offline marketing campaigns so that you can reach your target audience regardless of whether they are physically near your shop or office (i.e. brick and mortar stores) or not (i.e. online shops, forums, and social media channels).
Traditional marketing basically involves one or two activities – advertising or PR, depending on the industry. With digital marketing, you will be doing a lot more than that. It is a combination of marketing and media. Your digital marketing strategy will dictate the types of content you create and promote on various platforms like social media, web sites, and blogs.
Types Of Digital Marketing
There are four distinct types of digital marketing:
- Web Marketing: This involves marketing websites via SEO and pay per click (PPC) ads. You will also be doing online store marketing, which entails promoting and selling virtual products and currencies on your websites.
- Email Marketing: This involves marketing via email, usually with a special coupon or offer that can be accessed by clicking a link in the email. You can also use email marketing to send out periodic newsletters and notifications regarding upcoming sales or promotions.
- Social Media Marketing: This involves marketing via social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The aim is to have lots of engaged fans or followers who enjoy and benefit from your content. You may choose to use paid social media advertising, which involves spending money to get more people to watch or share your content.
- Display Advertising: This involves advertising special displays (i.e. pop-ups, sidebars, etc.) on websites. The goal is to get the person reading to click on an offer or product and then be redirected to a marketing page where they can make a purchase.
Depending on your experience, you may end up specializing in a particular type of digital marketing. If you have a background in SEO or web design, you may find yourself specializing in web marketing. If you are an email marketer, you may end up doing a lot of social media marketing. Or, if you are skilled at creating banners and logos, you may find yourself doing a lot of display advertising.
The Difference Between SEO And Digital Marketing
One of the more common questions people ask when they find themselves in the field of digital marketing is: “What is SEO?”
In a nutshell, SEO stands for search engine optimization. It is a way of getting your website to appear at the top of a search engine result when someone types in keywords related to your niche.
In order to do this, you need to create content that is valuable and relevant to your target audience. You can’t just create anything and expect the search engines to bring you the customers. You will need to put in the time and effort to create high-quality content that will draw potential customers to your site.
In addition to that, you will need to make sure that your site is structured in a way that the search engines can index and find all the valuable content on it. In other words, you need to make your site mobile-friendly and create a mobile version of it as well.
Now, this may not sound like a lot to ask for, but believe it or not, a lot of newbies get it wrong. They think that all they need to do is put up a website and wait for the customers to come to them. They also believe that all they need to do is type in relevant keywords and content will pop up on the first page of the search results.
Unfortunately, this is far from true. You need to put in a lot of effort if you want to have a successful SEO campaign, and it is not easy to get results the first year or two. It takes time to build up organic traffic, and oftentimes, you have to “pay-to-play” to get the results you want. This is why a lot of people consider SEO to be a long-term strategy and not something you can rush.
However, if you want to become a digital marketer, you need to understand that SEO is just one tool in your toolbox. In other words, you will be using SEO to find customers, and you will be using other tools like PPC, email marketing, and social media to keep them. So, while SEO is certainly an important part of digital marketing, you need to understand that it is just one part of a much bigger picture.
The Rise In Popularity Of SEO & Digital Marketing Specialties
As of late, SEO and digital marketing have gained popularity, especially among larger businesses. Why? Mainly, because it is a long-term strategy that can often lead to quick results. If you want to have a successful SEO or digital marketing campaign, you need to put in the time and effort to build up a substantial audience first. This allows you to eventually pitch sponsored content or create lucrative partnerships with brands.
This is why a lot of people are choosing to specialize in these areas. If you want to be able to choose your own hours and work remotely, you can become an SEO specialist. Or, if you want to work in a field that constantly evolves, you can get a job as a digital marketer. Because these jobs are in high demand and always in need of talent, you can expect to land a job in no time at all.
The Best Advice For Choosing The Right Job In The Field Of Digital Marketing
With the above said, let’s discuss some tips on choosing the right job in the field of Digital Marketing. To begin with, do your research. You should not just look at online job sites for digital marketers. There are many opportunities out there, and you should not limit yourself to looking at the first few results on your search engine. Instead, look at articles and reviews published by reputable media sites. This will help you separate the wheat from the chaff and find out which companies and positions are worth your time and effort.
Also, keep in mind that salaries vary across the board. Some companies will pay you much more than what you would get as a regular employee. So, do your research and find out what your average salary will be before you make a decision.
Furthermore, specialize. If you are entering the field with little to no experience, go ahead and specialize in one area. You will have an easier time finding a job if you have a specific area of expertise. For example, if you are an SEO specialist, you will have an easier time finding a job than if you are just a general digital marketer. Or, if you want to become a social media manager, you can start by getting some on-the-job training and eventually work your way up to become an independent contractor. So, specialize and leverage your expertise.
Lastly, search for jobs that you are passionate about. If you are passionate about SEO, you might decide to look for a job that is connected to that area. Or, if you are passionate about social media, you might decide to look for a job that is connected to that area. The idea is to find a job you are passionate about and will enjoy doing. This will naturally translate to more productivity and better results. In other words, you will be happier at your job and able to do your job better if you are passionate about it.
In conclusion, the above discussion aims to give you a clear insight into the field of Digital Marketing. It tries to answer the question: “What is it? How does it work? And most importantly, how can I become one?” Hopefully, this article will help you make the right choice and decide to pursue a career in Digital Marketing. Feel free to leave us a comment with your thoughts! Happy hunting.