Pretty well every modern business wants to establish its online presence and connect with customers through digital channels. That means skilled digital marketing professionals who can navigate the complex landscape of search engines and social media platforms are in demand.
But how do you actually get started in this field? What areas can you specialize in? And how can you make yourself stand out to an employer?
Help is here! In this post, we walk you through seven essential steps you can follow to launch a successful digital marketing career.
- Understand What Digital Marketing Is
- Identify Your Interests and Strengths
- Take Relevant Training and Certifications
- Build Your Digital Presence
- Gain Practical Experience
- Stay Updated and Keep Learning
- Apply for Jobs and Prepare for Interviews
1. UNDERSTAND WHAT DIGITAL MARKETING IS
Digital marketing is the umbrella term for all marketing efforts that use digital channels. That includes websites, search engines, social media platforms, and email. The goal is to reach and engage customers online.
Key components include:
Search engine optimization (SEO): Improving a website’s visibility in organic (non-paid) search engine results. It involves optimizing content, keywords, site structure, and backlinks to rank higher on platforms like Google.
Search engine marketing (SEM): Paid advertising on search engines. This includes pay-per-click (PPC) ads, keyword bidding, and campaign targeting to drive traffic and conversions.
Content marketing: Creating and distributing valuable, relevant content (blogs, videos, infographics, etc.) to attract and retain a target audience.
Social media marketing: Promoting brands and engaging users on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.
Email marketing: Sending targeted emails to potential and existing customers. It’s often used for newsletters, promotions, onboarding, and nurturing leads.
Web analytics: Collecting and analyzing data about website traffic and user behaviour. Tools like Google Analytics help marketers understand what’s working and where improvements are needed.
Understanding these core areas will help you determine which skills you need to develop and where you want to specialize.
Digital marketing offers a wide range of specializations
2. IDENTIFY YOUR INTERESTS AND STRENGTHS
Digital marketing offers a wide range of career paths. Some roles are creative, while others are technical or analytical. Understanding your strengths will help you choose the right direction.
Do you:
- Enjoy writing and storytelling? Content marketing or social media management could be a good fit.
- Find data and trends fascinating? Areas like SEO and PPC might be up your alley.
- Love engaging with people online? Consider email marketing, influencer marketing, or client-facing roles where relationship building is key.
Don’t worry if you don’t have all the skills yet. The point is to identify where your natural interests and aptitudes lie, then build the necessary skills to support those strengths.
3. TAKE RELEVANT TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS
While some people break into digital marketing without formal education, structured training can make you more competitive in the job market. Many colleges offer certificates or diplomas in digital marketing that can get you career-ready in a relatively short time.
Look for programs that cover the fundamental areas of digital marketing while allowing you to specialize in your area of interest. Quality training should include modules on:
- SEO basics
- Social media strategy
- Search engine advertising
- Marketing strategy and planning
- Analytics tools like Google Analytics
In addition, earning certifications from Google (Ads or Analytics), Meta, or HubSpot can help prove your expertise to employers, or at least help you get by the applicant tracking system. The certification process involves studying the official learning materials and then passing an exam.
4. BUILD YOUR DIGITAL PRESENCE
As a digital marketer, your online presence serves as both your portfolio and your proof of concept. Employers want to see that you can effectively market yourself before trusting you to market their products or services.
To do this:
- Create a LinkedIn profile: Optimize it with keywords related to digital marketing and share insights about the industry. LinkedIn is often where recruiters first discover potential candidates.
- Start a blog: Write about digital marketing topics, analyze campaigns, or showcase projects you’ve completed. This is your chance to demonstrate your content creation abilities and SEO knowledge.
- Be active on social media: Follow industry experts, engage in discussions, and share relevant content.
The key is authenticity and consistency. Choose platforms that align with your career goals and post valuable content regularly. Your digital presence should reflect your professional interests and demonstrate the skills you’re developing.
It’s important to build and nurture your online presence
5. GAIN PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE
Hands-on experience is crucial in digital marketing. You need to demonstrate that you can apply what you’ve learned.
You can gain experience through:
Volunteering: Offer to help local small businesses or nonprofits with their digital marketing. Many small businesses need help with social media management, basic SEO, or email marketing, but lack the budget for professional services.
Internships: Some agencies and companies offer internship programs specifically designed to help newcomers gain experience. Colleges like Herzing include internships as part of their digital marketing curriculum.
Personal projects: Launch a social media campaign for a cause you care about, optimize a friend’s website for search engines, or create a content marketing strategy for a fictional business.
6. STAY UPDATED AND KEEP LEARNING
Digital marketing is constantly evolving. New platforms emerge, algorithms change, and consumer behaviour shifts. Staying current is essential if you want to build a long-lasting career.
Here’s how:
Follow industry blogs and podcasts: Sites like Moz and Neil Patel offer insights on trends and strategies. Subscribe to newsletters from digital marketing leaders and set aside time weekly to read industry news and insights.
Join online communities: Engage with other professionals on LinkedIn, Reddit, or niche Slack groups.
Attend webinars and conferences: These are great for networking and learning from experts. Many are free or low-cost.
Prioritize ongoing education: Plan to earn new certifications annually and take courses in emerging areas like artificial intelligence in marketing, voice search optimization, or new social media platforms.
Developing a habit of continuous learning will keep your skills relevant and help you grow throughout your career.
7. APPLY FOR JOBS AND PREPARE FOR INTERVIEWS
Now it’s time to apply for jobs. Best practices here include tailoring your resume to each job posting, highlighting your certifications and hands-on experience, and including links to your LinkedIn profile, blog, and/or portfolio (if you have one).
You should also prepare for interviews by practising your answers to common questions like:
- How would you improve our website’s SEO?
- What’s your approach to creating a social media campaign?
- How do you measure success in digital marketing?
Herzing students can benefit from the expertise of our career development team. You can get one-on-one help with identifying suitable jobs, crafting your resume, and even practising your interview skills. It’s all about helping you succeed.
KICK-START YOUR DIGITAL MARKETING CAREER AT HERZING
Herzing College offers a diploma program in digital marketing that covers marketing strategies, campaign building, and project management. You’ll get hands-on practice with industry tools like HubSpot and Google Analytics so you can graduate ready to be an asset to any employer.
The 14-month program is delivered online and includes a six-week internship for real work experience.
Click below to get further details and chat live with a friendly admissions advisor. We’re here to help!
