You love the internet, and you spend your time exploring all the different communication channels that exist online. You might even have some experience cultivating communities around a brand you love. Could you make a successful career in digital marketing?
Digital marketing is a growing industry, and demand is high for talented workers who are passionate about building visibility for client brands. The average salary for a digital marketer across the U.S. is about $62,860, though digital marketing managers can earn upwards of $121,299 and with experience, digital marketers can move into top-level management, even the C-suite.
So, if you are interested in digital marketing career, can you get started right away? Absolutely, and here’s how:
Cultivate the Right Skills
Being a digital marketer is much more than being engaged with brands online. Though understanding online brand behavior can be useful, you need to spend some time honing the skills you will need to accomplish digital marketing tasks and deliver positive results.
While you might be able to piece together the right knowledge and abilities from free or inexpensive online courses, the truth is that most digital marketing firms demand at least a bachelor’s degree from their new hires. If you don’t already have a degree, you might as well pursue one in the field of digital marketing. During your degree program, you should strive to build your professional network by forming connections with professors and peers.
Refine Your Online Presence
The hiring managers at digital marketing firms are as adept at using the web to find information as you are, which means you need to be careful about how you come across online. You might spend some time scrubbing your social media profiles of any unprofessional posts, pictures or other information, and you should try to make as many of your online accounts private as possible.
While you are focused on your online presence, you might consider developing a personal brand. Just like business brands, personal brands are supposed to demonstrate your distinctive value. Usually, the goal of personal branding is to compel prospective employers to reach out and hire you, and personal branding can be especially effective in the field of digital marketing, where it showcases your knowledge and skills.
Find Digital Marketing Firms
Once you have the requisite skills and credentials, you can begin applying for jobs. However, before you submit any applications, you should spend some time exploring the different types of digital marketing firms to determine what best suits your interests. There are several varieties to consider, but the two main categories for you to consider include:
Full-service digital marketing agencies, which tend to be large companies that offer a full range of digital marketing services. If you want the opportunity to work on a campaign in its entirety, this might be a good option for you.
Specialty agencies, which focus on one or a few related digital marketing services. Clients may come directly to these agencies, but more often, specialty firms work as resellers, partnering with other digital marketing agencies to give clients convenient access to a suite of services. For example, many digital marketing agencies partner with SEO resellers because SEO is a more technical service that is difficult to manage in-house. This option might be better for you if you strongly prefer specific digital marketing tasks and have little interest in other aspects of digital marketing.
Digital marketing is a competitive industry. In the U.S. alone, there are over 10,000 different digital marketing agencies, which means there should be plenty of opportunity for you to find an employer with entry-level positions available for you.
Continue to Improve Your Abilities
Even after you secure your first position with a digital marketing firm, your career is not complete. You should continue to invest in your digital marketing knowledge and skills — not only because it improves your chances of rising the ranks but also because the internet is constantly evolving. By continuing to engage with new developments in the digital marketing space, you will continue to renew your passion for this field and continue to deliver value to your employer and your clients.