Digital marketing involves promoting products and services via the Internet using digital channels. As a digital marketer, you enter into a space that requires you to create effective and powerful marketing campaigns. These campaigns can be for any digital platform, including emails, websites, social media, etc.
Pursuing a digital marketing career paves the way for ample opportunities. You can work as a freelancer, join an agency, or work for a company as a marketing expert. No wonder that the field is gaining immense popularity among aspirants and professionals. Another reason that digital marketing is considered a promising career is that it is multifaceted and rewarding. It combines human psychology, strategy, analysis, creativity, and deep knowledge of market trends and technologies.
Those who are wondering, ‘how do I become a digital marketer?’ must possess the right balance of skills and dedication. Moreover, they must have proficiency in engaging online audiences, creating eye-catching campaigns, and converting leads into loyal customers.
In this blog, we will discuss digital marketers roadmap, sharing a step-by-step guide to making a secure career in the industry.
Who is a Digital Marketer?
Digital marketers directly or indirectly promote and advertise brands and products online. They create effective digital marketing strategies with a primary focus on a distinct Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for each digital channel. This allows companies to measure their performance across different platforms and take appropriate measures for better results.
What Does a Digital Marketer Do?
Digital marketers are known for their diverse skills and extensive knowledge as they promote a variety of products and services across multiple digital platforms. Their job responsibilities include:
- Collaborate with graphic designers, content writers, video editors, and copywriters to produce engaging content.
- Design, implement, and assess different SEO and digital marketing strategies.
- Plan and manage social media and website content.
- Analyze and optimize PPC campaigns.
- Track and assess the effectiveness of digital marketing campaigns.
- Drive website traffic and grow a company’s social media audience.
- Assess and review brand messages across different digital marketing channels and ensure they are consistent and relevant.
- Supervise all campaigns and content.
- Prepare digital marketing performance reports to highlight key performance indicators (KPIs) and return on investment (ROI).
- To set marketing goals and make efforts to achieve them.
- Help stakeholders and marketing heads to prepare budgets and stick to them.
- Guide other team members and provide learning opportunities to beginners.
- Stay updated with the latest digital marketing trends and technologies to stay ahead of the competition.
- Keep an eye on competitors’ campaigns and make the best of every opportunity.
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Digital Marketer Roadmap
There is no one route or shortcut to begin a digital marketing career. However, there are certain steps that you can take to get a headstart.
- Learn Digital Marketing Fundamentals
- Get Familiar with Key Concepts and Tools
- Structure Your Learning with a Digital Marketing Course
- Learn Important Digital Marketing Skills
- Build an Impressive Digital Marketing Portfolio
- Expand Your Network
- Develop a Strong Digital Marketing Resume
- Apply for Relevant Jobs
How to Become a Digital Marketer With No Experience?
1. Learn Digital Marketing Fundamentals
Wondering how to become a digital marketing analyst? The best way is to start from the beginning, i.e., digital marketing fundamentals. Do your homework and research, as it will give you an edge over your peers. Also, you will get a real picture of this industry, the benefits it offers, the challenges you can face, and emerging trends.
Fortunately, there is an array of resources available online, including podcasts, blogs, webinars, and tutorials that cover a range of topics.
Once you have all the information you need, work on your core technical competencies in digital marketing analytics, SEO, SEM, social media, email marketing, etc. In addition, find ways to showcase your soft and transferable skills as a digital marketer. The key is to gain as much knowledge as possible from all the available resources.
Also read: Top 13 Benefits of Digital Marketing for Business in 2024
2. Get Familiar with Key Concepts and Tools
Research and reading are crucial to becoming a digital marketer, but you also need to master key digital marketing tools that you will be using in your career. These tools will make your job easier, helping you create powerful strategies, track the performance of campaigns, assess results, and refine marketing tactics.
Most digital marketing tools offer free trials, allowing users to conduct tests, build campaigns, and follow the best practices to hone their skills before landing their first job. The more digital marketing tools you have experience with, the better it is for your career.
For example, SEO tools, such as SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Moz, are used to explore relevant keywords, check backlinks, and analyze competitors’ SEO strategies. Knowledge of customer relationship management (CRM) tools and email marketing tools are also considered invaluable.
Google Analytics and Google Ads are used to track and measure the performance of digital marketing initiatives. However, these are a bit complicated tools, so we would recommend joining an online Google Ads course to hone your skills and learn the technical aspects of using these tools.
How can we forget social media platforms, the easiest way to enhance our knowledge? Use Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook to know how to reach wider audiences, generate leads, and drive traffic. Tools such as Hootsuite, Buffer, etc., are used to schedule posts and mark a strong online presence.
Here is a list of crucial digital marketing tools that most professionals use:
- Google Adwords
- Google Analytics
- MailChimp
- HubSpot
- Salesforce
- Ahrefs
- Moz
- Taboola
- Outbrain
- Sendinblue
- Canva
- Buffer
- Omnisend
- Mailjet
Also read: Top 10 Types of Digital Marketing in 2024 (With Details)
3. Structure Your Learning with a Digital Marketing Course
Your next step must be to get a formal education and complete a digital marketing course from a trusted institute. A structured training program is important to gain specialization in the field and build a solid foundation. You will get to learn from experienced mentors and build the necessary skillsets required to succeed in the competitive industry.
These courses can boost the careers of entry-level candidates as they cover basic and advanced concepts and learn through a practical approach. Professionals can go for more advanced courses and upskill themselves for accelerated career growth.
Talk to industry leaders, seek advice and feedback, and earn a certificate from a recognized institute or college to clear job interviews in one go.
There are different options to get a well-rounded digital marketing education; each has its pros and cons. You can opt for bootcamps, college degrees, short courses, or full-fledged master’s programs. Your choice will depend on your budget, learning goals, commitments, and other factors.
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4. Learn Important Digital Marketing Skills
Digital marketing is much more than putting images and texts together. It demands varied skills and practical knowledge to compel potential customers to buy specific products or services. Your prowess in creating powerful campaigns that can lead to the highest conversions can work wonders for your career.
Irrespective of the digital marketing field you opt for, content, social media, SEO, PPC, email, etc., you need to possess a few common skills, which are mentioned below:
- Content Writing- Content writing and digital marketing go hand-in-hand. Whether you prepare posts for social media, optimize websites, write emails, or create PPC campaigns, you must be good at composing engaging content. You should know how to attract and retain users with your power of words.
- Analytical Skills- Digital marketers access real-time business data to measure the performance of campaigns and make necessary improvements. So, you must learn how to gather, compile, and analyze data using different tools.
- Creativity- As a digital marketer, you have to come up with out-of-the-box ideas to attract more users and drive traffic to websites.
- Communication Skills- You will collaborate with clients, so it is important that you know how to communicate effectively, including conveying your ideas and understanding their requirements. Also, you must tell engaging stories through interactive campaigns to promote a brand.
Yes, there are different courses available to build specific skills, but you also need hands-on experience to acquire soft skills and technical know-how. Start by signing up for an online SEO course as it is the foundation of digital marketing. Go for internships to learn about the field from the ground up and understand the nuances of digital marketing.
Also read: Is Digital Marketing a Good Career in India? 2024 Guide
5. Build an Impressive Digital Marketing Portfolio
The next important step in this guide to how to be a digital marketer is creating a solid portfolio to showcase your capabilities and skills. This will prove that you are a valuable asset to the company and an outstanding candidate for the job.
As you study digital marketing, work on real-life projects and assignments to gain hands-on experience. Address common issues faced by businesses and create effective marketing strategies to promote their products. You can seek guidance from your mentors to put together a great portfolio.
Make sure that the work you display in your portfolio looks professional and highlights your knowledge and expertise. It should add value to your profile and show recruiters what you are capable of.
Moreover, the portfolio should not simply show the final product. It must be comprehensive, systematically demonstrating the entire process and outcomes. It should showcase your planning, strategies, issues faced, solutions, results, tools used, and other factors. Include samples of social media posts, content, web designs, newsletters, etc., and your role in creating each of them.
Your social media profile and any sort of online presence can also work as your portfolio. You can even create an exclusive web page to show the projects you have worked on.
6. Expand Your Network
Networking is not a cakewalk for everyone. It may sound like a simple step, but it demands a lot of effort and time. You need to connect with digital marketing professionals to learn about the industry and this job role.
Also, it will help you understand this profession and career opportunities before you kickstart your journey. Thus preparing you for the challenges ahead and making you career-ready. It can even make your job hunt easier and help you land your dream job.
So, as you wonder how to be a digital marketing expert, here are a few simple networking tips to follow:
- Attend panel discussions focused on digital marketing.
- Connect with recruiters, employers, and colleagues who can assist you.
- Be active on different question-and-answer sites, such as Quora and Reddit.
- Attend seminars, meetups, and bootcamps to learn more about the field.
- Offer assistance and guidance to beginners, as it will establish you as an industry expert.
- Expand your network on LinkedIn, connect with professionals, and show genuine interest in their work.
- Be an active member of online groups, networks, and communities related to digital marketing.
- Share and engage with social media posts and content relevant to your area of expertise.
- Be your authentic self as you interact with your connections and industry leaders. Grab every learning opportunity and appreciate every advice that comes your way.
7. Develop a Strong Digital Marketing Resume
Your resume is your first impression. It helps recruiters get insights into your skills and capabilities, so it has to be perfect and impactful. Your resume must be detailed but simple. As there are hundreds of candidates for every job, you will have a few seconds to connect with employers through your CV, so its layout should be clean, and it must concisely convey all the necessary details.
Prefer bullet points while listing your experience, skills, achievements, and qualifications. Focus more on your relevant digital marketing skills and knowledge. Tailor your resume for each job application and profile to make it more authentic. Read the job description carefully and then update your resume and cover letter to align with the job posting. Your creativity and personality should match with the company’s brand and its vision.
As an experienced professional, you will have a lot to share in your resume. However, aspirants thinking about how to become a digital marketer after 12th must highlight their skills, creativity, and other factors that can make them stand out. Include skills mentioned in the job posting and categorize them based on adaptable skills, marketing skills, and transferable skills.
A few things to remember while preparing your resume is:
- Don’t shy away from showing off your creativity and personality.
- Make it clean and concise.
- Include hard numbers to highlight your experience.
- Mention your marketing skills and then other skills.
- Tailor your resume according to the job posting.
8. Apply for Relevant Jobs
Once you are done with acquiring knowledge and building your resume, it’s time to start applying for jobs and kickstart your career. As an experienced professional, you can apply for senior or managerial roles.
However, as a beginner, things can be tricky. You have to be realistic and might have to apply for the junior-level position. However, with determination and experience, you can work your way up and become an ideal candidate for senior roles.
There are several entry-level positions, but the trick is to set yourself apart from other candidates. This could be either completing a training course or possessing a unique skill. If you are thinking about how to become a freelance digital marketer, we would recommend offering your services for a lower price in exchange for testimonials. This will help you build an exceptional portfolio and gain extensive experience.
Here are a few tips that will make your job hunting smooth and effective:
- Update your LinkedIn profile regularly and link it to your portfolio.
- Add your skills and qualifications to your resume and social media profiles.
- Inform your friends, network, and colleagues that you are looking for a job.
- Create a profile on different job portals, find job vacancies, and keep on applying.
- Make your portfolio accessible online or as a PDF so more recruiters can see it.
- Send emails to companies and employers, conveying your interest in the job openings in their organizations.
- Offer your services as a freelancer until you find a suitable job so there is no gap in your work profile. Also, this way, you can make the best of your free time and build practical skills.
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Conclusion
There is no denying that digital marketing is an exciting career with endless possibilities. Whether you are tech-savvy, like browsing through the Internet, possess exceptional writing skills, or stay updated with social media, it offers great career opportunities. Also, it helps you connect with people across the globe and learn about different cultures.
So, now that you know how to become a digital marketer, take your first step toward your dream job and get started without any further ado. Take up an online digital marketing course and make the rest of the journey seamless and fun.
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