Five Tips on Building a Digital Marketing Career

Some rights reserved by taminator

`"Always on" for consumers means 'ever onward' for digital marketers.

That's the conclusion of a PwC and IAB survey showing that mobile advertising earned £429.2 million during the first half of 2013, continuing the sector's exponential growth.

That growth has created career opportunities for many. From entrepreneurs, new graduates, and even traditional business people are being drawn into this field. However, before joining them, here are some tips you need to consider.

A.  Know Your Path

Once, digital marketers were usually generalists, but now, specialism is in-demand. Since careers can be really diverse, it’s important to choose the right path. Below are some areas of specialization:

- Copywriting

- eCommerce

- Affiliate marketing

- PPC (Pay-Per-Click)

- Community management

- SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

- Web and mobile software development

Focusing in a specific area or skill will help you become an expert. This will help you become better equipped to understand consumer behaviour and demand. Once you’ve honed a specific skill, you’ll become a valuable asset to employers.

B.  Build an Online Presence

Social media isn’t just used to post updates about your life or reconnect with school friends—it can also help you land a job. Since most hiring managers would search an applicant’s name online, it pays to create a professional presence. Richard McMunn, CEO of how2become, advises job seekers to leverage on social media to build their online presence. In his article for Social Media Today, he said that they should always highlight their “connections, passions, and professional achievements.” Remember that your online CV will give you that leverage.

C.  Keep On Learning

Learning shouldn’t stop after graduation. In digital marketing, the real lessons are learned beyond the classroom walls. From following Twitter hashtags to joining local meet-ups with fellow marketers, it’s the best way of learning by doing. Finding a mentor in the industry is another way to gain the necessary knowledge for the job. As Time’s Edward Felsenthal said, “educating yourself is the best investment you’ll ever make."

D.  Use Digital Tools to Innovate

Innovation is one of the key drivers of the Age of Information, and it’s needed to build the world of the future. Social media tools, mobile technology, and different digital platforms are the modern marketers' tools. Now, they can easily study trends in consumer behaviour and expand a specific brand’s customer base. It’s also important to learn how to experiment with these tools and platforms to create something new. A curious mind and an inventive spirit will always have a positive effect.

E.  Learn the Upcoming Tech and Trends

Before, enterprise technology like Windows and BlackBerry drove how people used technology. Now, according to The Economist, the modern revolution is mobile and it will usher in the new dawn of personalized computing. Businesses are starting to prioritise their presence on mobile, and it will be the new “pocket universe” of the Internet. 

Digital marketing is an exciting industry and it’s the wave of the future. People who want to join need to have an open mind, the spirit to invent, and utmost patience. Without the innovative minds of these marketers, websites like Foursquare and LinkedIn won’t be enjoying the success they have today.

 Some rights reserved by Josh Bancroft