We don’t want to brag but starting a career in digital marketing is probably one of the best things you can do – take it from us. Anywhere you look, the popularity of social media, blogs, and social influencers are steadily on the rise, making the need for careers in digital marketing greater and greater. Unsure of what kind of salary you can expect from a career in digital marketing?
According to payscale.com, the average salary of a digital media manager is $62,331 per year. Not too shabby, if I do say so myself! So, how do you start a career in digital marketing, and what’s the best way to go about it? We’re going to share some tips as an entrepreneurial company that specializes in digital marketing to help you on your way.
Know Your Stuff
When it comes to starting up a career in digital marketing, you can’t just go in blind – whether you are looking for a full-time gig in the industry, or you’re looking to get hired as a freelancer, there has to be a reason why you are getting hired over someone else. Stay on top of the latest industry news and changes and know your terminology – if you don’t know what PPC, SEM or SEO is, you’re in trouble!
Make yourself an expert in the digital marketing industry by doing as much research as you possibly can, and confidently be able to answer whatever questions are thrown at you. If you are just getting started, showing that you have a vast amount of knowledge on digital marketing strategies will impress potential employers, and show them that you most definitely have potential.
Showcase Your Skills
A great way to set yourself apart from your digital marketing competitors is to start your own projects. Your potential employers shouldn’t have to just take your word for it – show them what you can do. While starting your own blog is an excellent way to get started, take it a few steps further than that.
Run your own tests and test out digital marketing theories yourself and be able to account for the success or failure of that project. Show that you are a master (or are, at least, pretty decent), at multiple aspects of digital marketing, whether that be blogging, social media, SEO, PPC, digital analytics, etc.
Taking it even another step forward, show that you have the experience to design your blog or website yourself. Having additional skills that are not necessarily in the realm of digital marketing but are closely related are a great way to show a potential employer that you can bring even more than what they’ve asked for to the table, in a way that could hugely benefit them.
Network
If these tips were in any particular order, networking might just be at the top! Of course, there is no point in networking if you don’t know what you’re doing, but you get what I mean. Physically go and attend industry-specific meetups and conferences and meet as many different people as possible in the industry. Talk to them about your goals, and what you’re looking to learn and achieve. It’s always possible that someone may be able to take you under their wing or has the space for an intern.
You can also network without leaving your home, through the magic of social media platforms. Follow digital media influencers on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook and let them know that you appreciate their work. Even if they don’t want to chat, following them can help you stay up to date on the latest news and trends in digital media, and may even get a follow back.
Get Certified
You may have a general degree, or you may have no degree at all, but getting certified in digital marketing specifically will help companies know that you have gone through training and passed tests in this field. There are multiple Continuing Education programs at Ontario universities that offer a certificate in digital marketing. McMaster’s Digital Marketing Certificate includes course requirements such as digital marketing strategy, Search Engine Optimization, Search Engine Marketing, and Digital Advertising, and Data Management: Digital Metrics and Measurement.
As previously mentioned, having additional skills that are not specifically digital marketing, but could be largely beneficial to employers, such as graphic design, would be a great way to make your resume even more appealing. Taking a course in graphic design would be a great way to stay on top of the competition, and show your potential employers that you have a lot to offer. With many certificates that can be completed completely online, you’ll be able to add this to your resume from the comfort of your own home!
Be Willing to Learn
Understand that a career in digital marketing will mean constantly learning. You are never going to be able to sit down and learn everything you need to know in one go. There will be constant changes in the world of digital marketing, and you have to be ready to go along for the ride. You must always be researching into the latest trends, and staying on top of all the different scopes of digital marketing. Don’t like having to stay on top of different social media trends? Then this probably isn’t the job for you!
You must have a genuine interest in digital marketing and have a passion for making sure your client’s blog, website, or article is ranking as high as it can in search engine ratings. When you have a genuine passion, it most definitely shows and will help you succeed above the rest in your career in digital marketing.
These are just a few of our tips on how to start a career in digital marketing. There is not really a cookie cutter way to go about jumping into this field. You may be coming into this with a passion for the subject, but no actual experience or you may have been professionally taught all the necessary skills under the sun! Either way, if you have a genuine passion for digital marketing, taking stock of our tips can be a great way to help get you where you want to be.
