\n
Resources to Learn More<\/span><\/p>\n
\n
How much do digital marketers make?<\/strong><\/a> – a detailed study of the salaries of digital marketing professionals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\nStep 3: Enroll in a digital marketing course<\/h3>\n
$\"Reliablesoft$
Reliablesoft Digital Marketing Full Course Bundle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
If you don\u2019t have a college degree, the best way to build your digital marketing skills and equip your CV with a recognized accreditation is to enroll in a digital marketing course<\/strong><\/a> and get certified.<\/p>\n
Following a good digital marketing course<\/strong><\/a> is the fastest way to get a solid understanding of what digital marketing is and how it works.<\/p>\n
In the absence of a college or university degree, you can use your digital marketing certification<\/strong><\/a> as a way to prove to your future employer that you know the basics and have the willingness to learn and build your skills.<\/p>\n
When choosing a course, make sure that:<\/p>\n
\n
It covers a wide range of digital marketing topics (SEO, content marketing and Google Analytics are the absolute minima)<\/li>\n
It comes with a certification.<\/li>\n
It\u2019s updated regularly.<\/li>\n
It comes with a money-back guarantee.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
We did our research and crafted a list of the best online digital marketing courses and digital marketing certifications you can follow and learn digital marketing<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n
The top 5 are:<\/p>\n
\n
Digital Marketing Full Course<\/strong><\/a> (Reliablesoft Academy with Certification)<\/li>\n
Fundamentals of Digital Marketing<\/strong><\/a> (Google Digital Garage with Certification)<\/li>\n
Digital Marketing Pro<\/strong><\/a> (Digital Marketing Institute with Certification)<\/li>\n
Digital Marketing Specialist<\/strong><\/a> (Simplilearn with Certification)<\/li>\n
Digital Marketing Specialization<\/strong><\/a> (Coursera with Certification)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
Resources to Learn More<\/span><\/p>\n
\n
Do digital marketing courses worth it?<\/strong><\/a> – explains the benefits of learning digital marketing through an online course.<\/li>\n
Digital marketing training resources<\/strong><\/a> – blogs and websites covering a wide range of digital marketing topics.<\/li>\n
Digital marketing bootcamps<\/strong><\/a> – a review of the best bootcamps to learn digital marketing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\nStep 4: Start a digital marketing blog<\/h3>\n
$\"start$
How to Start a Website<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Digital marketing is a highly practical process, and the only way to find out if you have the skills to work as a digital marketing professional is to practice.<\/p>\n
Only when you start blogging and get into the mindset of optimizing a website for search engines or run advertising campaigns you\u2019ll understand what you have learned in a course and through studying.<\/p>\n
Since your goal is to get into digital marketing, my recommendation is to start a digital marketing blog<\/strong><\/a> and not any other type of website. When you start blogging on digital marketing topics, you can benefit from a number of things:<\/p>\n
\n
It will help you comprehend the different concepts better.<\/li>\n
It\u2019s good for your personal brand.<\/li>\n
It\u2019s good for your CV (in the absence of a degree and working experience)<\/li>\n
It\u2019s the starting point of becoming a freelancer or starting your own agency<\/li>\n
It will give you the confidence you need for a job interview.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n
Resources to Learn More<\/span><\/p>\n
\n
How to start a website<\/strong><\/a> – If you don\u2019t know how to make a website, this is your starting point.<\/li>\n
How to make money blogging<\/strong><\/a> – blogging can eventually generate an extra source of income for you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\nStep 5: Choose a specialization<\/h3>\n
$\"Digital$
Digital Marketing Specializations<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
One of the first things you\u2019ll notice when you start looking through job requirements and courses is that digital marketing has a number of specializations.<\/p>\n
For beginners, this is too much information to absorb so it\u2019s best to start your career by choosing a specialization. Once you become an expert in one area, you can expand your skills to cover more areas and eventually become a digital marketing manager<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n
Here are some tips to help you make your decision:<\/p>\n
Digital Marketing Specialist –\u00a0<\/strong>has good knowledge of digital marketing and knows how to run campaigns on different marketing channels. It has a wide range of skills and better career opportunities than other specializations.<\/p>\n
SEO Expert <\/strong><\/a>– has great SEO skills. Knows how to do keyword research, can fix technical SEO errors, optimize content for search engines, rank websites high in the search results.<\/p>\n
Content Marketing Specialist<\/strong><\/a> – knows the ins and outs of content marketing. Loves writing. Can design, implement, and optimize content marketing campaigns.<\/p>\n
Social Media Specialist <\/strong>– has the skills to run campaigns on social media networks to promote a brand or products. Can analyze the results of social media campaigns. Manages the social media presence of a company.<\/p>\n
PPC Specialist <\/strong>– can run paid campaigns on Google, Facebook, Bing, and other networks. Knows how PPC platforms work and how to use them to target the right audiences.<\/p>\n
Email Marketing Specialist <\/strong>– has the skills to run email marketing campaigns and convert visitors into leads and customers.<\/p>\n
Affiliate Marketing Specialist <\/strong>– is responsible for expanding the affiliate program of a company.<\/p>\n
In regards to the best order to follow, it\u2019s always recommended to start with SEO. SEO is at the core of any digital marketing strategy<\/strong><\/a> and one of the highest-paying jobs in the industry.<\/p>\n
When you\u2019re good at SEO, you can find a job easier or start your own online business<\/strong><\/a> without having to rely on advertising.<\/div>\nStep 6: Follow the work of established digital marketing experts<\/h3>\n
When you break into a new career, especially one that needs a lot of studying and practice, you\u2019ll need inspiration. A great way to get inspired is to follow the work of established digital marketing experts.<\/p>\n
Experienced marketers tend to maintain an active blog and they share tips, success stories, and case studies that will help you get the inspiration you need to keep working until you reach your goals.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been working in the digital marketing industry for 15+ years now and reading other blogs is something I do on a daily basis. Digital marketing learning is a continuous process and there is always something new to learn.<\/p>\n
My recommended blogs are:<\/p>\n
\n
Search Engine Roundtable<\/a><\/li>\n
Content Marketing Institute<\/a><\/li>\n
Social Media Examiner<\/a><\/li>\n
Search Engine Land<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Step 7: Become a digital marketing freelancer<\/h3>\n
Let\u2019s recap the steps so far:<\/p>\n
\n
You\u2019ve done your research and know which marketing jobs are high in demand now and how much they pay.<\/li>\n
You\u2019ve gone through a course and know the basics of digital marketing.<\/li>\n
You\u2019ve started blogging to teach others what you have learned about digital marketing and started using your blog to test different digital marketing techniques.<\/li>\n
You have identified which websites to follow to enrich your knowledge and stay in sync with the latest developments in online marketing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The next step before applying for a job is to become a digital marketing freelancer. There are a couple of reasons why you need to take this path before doing anything else.<\/p>\n
\n
It\u2019s the first step for building your portfolio. Even if you work with a couple of clients, this is much better than having no client experience and it can play a role when applying for a job.<\/li>\n
It will help you understand what clients need and how the freelancing process work. Maybe you can decide that going full-time as a freelancer is what you want to do so no need to look for jobs.<\/li>\n
It will make you some money and give you the confidence to move forward.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The best way to secure your first client as a freelancer is to view the jobs posted on Upwork, Fiverr, PeoplePerHour that are related to your specialization.<\/p>\n
View the client requirements and reply fast to their applications. Keep your prices low and try to satisfy the needs of the client. Upon completion of the job, ask for a review, and post it on your blog and CV.<\/p>\n
My comprehensive guide on how to become a digital marketing freelancer<\/strong><\/a> will help you go through this process.<\/div>\nStep 8: Apply for a digital marketing job<\/h3>\n
$\"Entry-Level$
Example of a Digital Marketing Job Posting<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Once you get to this point, it\u2019s time to apply for a real job and start a career in digital marketing<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n
If you have followed the steps correctly, by now you should have a good understanding of digital marketing and some working experience either on your own blog or through freelancing.<\/p>\n
You also know from steps 1 and 2, what are the job requirements and which positions are available in your area.<\/p>\n
When you apply for a job, make sure that:<\/p>\n
\n
Your CV is updated with your certifications, customer reviews, and working experience.<\/li>\n
Don\u2019t hide the fact that you don\u2019t have a college or university degree. What is important for employers is what skills you have and how you can help them with their campaigns.<\/li>\n
When asked for an interview, make sure that you appear on time (whether it’s a physical interview or online).<\/li>\n
Prepare for the interview by familiarizing yourself with the company and what services they offer, who is the manager, when the company was founded, etc<\/li>\n
When asked questions that are a bit technical, don\u2019t tell them the theory (they already know this) but the practical steps you would follow to complete the specific task.<\/li>\n
When you don\u2019t know an answer, be honest. It\u2019s better to say \u2018I don\u2019t know\u2019 rather than giving a wrong answer.<\/li>\n
Be yourself. There is no reason to panic. If you don\u2019t do well in this interview, learn from your mistakes, and apply for the next one.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Step 9: Start your own digital marketing agency<\/h3>\n
Another way to work in the digital marketing industry without worrying about degrees or job interviews is to start a digital marketing agency<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n
It will be difficult in the beginning but with the right approach and patience, everyone can do it.<\/p>\n
In the case of starting your own business, you\u2019ll need additional skills like managing a business and working with remote teams, so it will be a good idea to spend some time learning how to do these tasks.<\/p>\n
You won\u2019t know everything from day one, entrepreneurship is an ongoing process but don\u2019t get stressed, stay positive, and look for the big picture.<\/p>\n
The most challenging part of having a digital marketing agency is finding new clients.<\/p>\n
Advertising is generally not an option because the costs are high so the most efficient way is through blogging, retaining your existing clients, and getting new clients by referrals (from existing clients).<\/p>\n
I started my business almost 20 years ago and built a portfolio of hundreds of clients exclusively through blogging.<\/div>\n
Some tips to help you get new clients from your blogs:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Choose topics that potential clients may search for. <\/strong>If your target market<\/strong><\/a> is small business owners then make sure that on your blog you answer questions or give advice that will be helpful to them.<\/p>\n
Use simple language<\/strong>. Small business owners looking for digital marketing assistance probably don\u2019t understand technical terms so speak their language.<\/p>\n
Make it easy to contact you<\/strong>. A simple contact form is enough to get a lead. Don\u2019t ask users for too many details but get the lead and ask them questions during your meetings.<\/p>\n
Blog consistently.<\/strong> In order to get any results from blogging, especially in a saturated niche as digital marketing, you need to create a lot of good content for a number of months before you get enough targeted traffic<\/strong><\/a> that will convert into customers.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a lot of work but if you persist, sooner or later you\u2019ll start getting enough leads to sustain and gradually grow your business.<\/p>\n
Step 10: Build your personal brand<\/h3>\n
To become a successful digital marketing professional, you need to be recognized as an expert by other people in the industry.<\/p>\n
The only way to achieve this is to build your personal brand. You need to do this even if you work in another company, doing work as a freelancer or running your own agency.<\/p>\n
The best methods to build your personal brand are:<\/p>\n
Maintain an active digital marketing blog<\/strong> – I\u2019ve stressed this a number of times so far and it\u2019s of great importance. Your blog is the front door of your business and a reflection of your skills and knowledge.<\/p>\n
Grow your social media following <\/strong>– create an account on Twitter and LinkedIn and build your following. Facebook is also good but not that important for business purposes. Digital marketers tend to use Twitter and LinkedIn more. Make sure that you follow the industry leaders and try to get some people to follow you back. Being followed by other digital marketers is important.<\/p>\n
Guest post on other blogs <\/strong>– Guest posting besides being an additional source of traffic and good for SEO, it\u2019s also great for establishing your personal brand. Try to get published on high-trusted digital marketing websites and demonstrate your expertise.<\/p>\n
Create a YouTube channel or podcast <\/strong>– if you feel comfortable in front of a camera and speaking, starting a YouTube channel is great for your personal branding.<\/p>\n
Network with other professionals <\/strong>– attending events and networking with other professionals is worth gold. Building friendships and personal relationships is a great way to gradually build the reputation of your personal brand.<\/p>\n
Publish case studies and success stories<\/strong> – this is perhaps the best method to prove to others that you are a digital marketing expert. Publishing real case studies and sharing your success stories (for work you do on your blog or clients), will get the attention of the industry faster than any other method.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t worry if that sounds too much work now, these are tasks you will execute gradually and as time passes, it becomes easier to get recognized for your work.<\/div>\n\n
Key Learnings<\/h2>\n
Getting into digital marketing without a degree is not as difficult as it sounds. While having a degree is good and a requirement for some jobs, having good knowledge of digital marketing and some experience is more valuable.<\/p>\n
I know from experience that most employers don\u2019t care if you have a degree or not but they care if you\u2019re the person that can do the job efficiently.<\/p>\n
The best way to demonstrate your skills and expertise is to show them examples of your work. If you know how to rank websites on Google, how to run profitable PPC campaigns, how to do keyword research correctly, and how to write great content, then you don\u2019t need a degree or other qualifications to secure a digital marketing job, work as a freelancer or start your own business.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re starting now from scratch then your first step is to enroll in a course and start learning what digital marketing is<\/strong><\/a> all about. Learn the different concepts and get a certification to add to your CV.<\/p>\n
Once you know the basics, it\u2019s time to practice and experiment in real-world scenarios by applying what you\u2019ve learned in your own blog.<\/p>\n
Take some time and build a great blog and then go out and pursue the job of your dreams or become your own boss. It will require a lot of hard work and patience but there is nothing stopping you from getting into the exciting world of digital marketing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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