Choosing a New Digital Marketing Career in 2021

From checking our social media in the morning, browsing our favourite websites at lunch and unwinding with some funny videos in the evening – the internet has become a way of life for us.

If you are looking to switch careers in 2021, digital marketing is a great choice. Not only are you helping to build the internet of the future, but you will find a role full of variety, excitement and progression.

Join us as we look at the benefits that digital marketing can bring, the skills you will need and how to get started in your career.

Why choose a digital marketing career?

There are lots of reasons why taking a job in digital marketing is a fantastic choice.

Here’s why you should consider a career as a digital marketing professional.

There are so many options

The great thing about digital marketing is that there are a lot of choices. Some of the areas you can specialise in include:

• Data analysis – using Google Analytics and market research to plan strategy and make changes
• Social media marketing – managing social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, as well as creating scheduled and reactive content
• Email marketing – growing email marketing lists, creating newsletters and writing email copy that resonates with prospects
• Ecommerce marketing – managing and promoting an online store, whether on a company website or a third-party platform like Amazon or eBay
• Content marketing – creating, publishing and delivering a variety of information to a target audience. Examples of content include blogs articles, website copy, infographics and videos
• Influencer marketing – collaborating with social media users and bloggers to promote a company’s products
• Mobile marketing – marketing that focuses on reaching an audience on their smartphones and tablets
• Conversion rate optimisation – making amends to a website or app to increase the number of conversions that are generated
• Affiliate marketing – managing systems that allow people to earn a commission for promoting a company’s products
• Pay per click (PPC) – promoting businesses on search engines (like Google and Bing) and social media to generate conversions
• Search engine optimisation (SEO) – optimising a company’s website to increase their presence in the search engines
• Graphic design – creating images, brochures and videos, as well as retouching photos

This list is not exhaustive as new marketing disciplines are emerging all of the time. For example, artificial intelligence (AI) to automate processes and decision-making is popular at the moment.

You can choose to specialise in a particular niche, or you can elect to be a more generalist digital marketer, with knowledge of all areas.

You can elect to be an in-house digital marketer, work for an agency or even go freelance.

No matter which path you choose, there is a perfect digital marketing career for you!

Demand for digital marketers is growing and growing

Even the most traditional companies are now seeing the benefits that digital marketing can bring. With this in mind, there is a massive demand for marketers across the country. The Digital Marketing Institute advise that demand currently outstrips supply, with 44% of businesses wanting to hire more marketers.

What does this mean for you? It means that digital marketing has a healthy future and that if you make the switch, you are guaranteed a career for life.

The perfect blend of creative and analytical skills

With digital marketing you get to be technical and artistic, making it the perfect career choice if you enjoy exercising both the left and right-hand sides of their brain. You could be writing a fun and informative blog article one day, and analysing how many leads it brought to your business the next.

With digital marketing, you’ll never get bored!

It’s a career with tangible results

The majority of digital marketing disciplines can be measured, meaning that you can see at a glance how your campaigns are faring. It’s a fantastic motivator!

Plus, it’s an amazing feeling to see your campaign take off. You can show your friends and family and say ‘I was involved!’

Digital marketing is flexible

As all you need is a laptop, a phone and a strong internet connection, you can do digital marketing wherever you want – either in the office or the comfort of your own home.

It’s an excellent option for people who need to work around childcare commitments or live far away from the office.

Who knows, you may even find yourself working for an international company!

No two days are the same

It may often come across as a cliché, but every day is different when you’re in digital marketing.

From responding to customers online through to working with other staff on campaigns, digital marketing is an exciting career choice. Plus, as the digital landscape is always growing and evolving… you’re learning new things all the time!

The skills you need for a successful digital marketing career

If a digital marketing career sounds perfect for you, then there are a couple of skills that will help win you your first role.

• Adaptability – as digital marketing is so varied, you need to be able to quickly jump from one project to another
• Multitasking – you will be working on a variety of different tasks at a time, so you need to be able to manage your time effectively. If you are working at an agency, you may have to swiftly switch industries. One minute you may be working with a restaurant, and the next doing digital marketing for a chain of care homes!
• Communication – you need to have excellent verbal and written communication skills. There will be a lot of reporting and presenting to different people, some of
  which may not have digital marketing knowledge. You need to be able to listen to others too, as they will provide critical insights into carrying out the perfect marketing campaign
• Data gathering – no matter which area of digital marketing you choose to specialise in, you will need to be able to review, analyse and act on statistical data
• A willingness to learn – the digital marketing landscape is changing all the time, so you need to keep up with the latest trends. Your company or agency will be relying on you to keep informed of all the latest developments
• Quick decision making – if a catastrophe happens, you need to be able to react quickly and with a cool head. If you can thrive in a crisis, then you will excel in the world of digital marketing!

How to get into digital marketing

Did you know that digital marketing is one of the top ten careers that can be started without a degree? This makes it open to a wide range of people from all walks of life.

Here are some of the ways that you can make a move into the world of digital.

Do your research

The best way to learn digital marketing is by building your own personal brand. Set up your own website and blog on a regular basis. Create social media profiles and follow marketing influencers. Sign up to email lists and apply what you learn to your career.

As digital marketing is changing and evolving all the time, keep up to date with the latest developments, even if they don’t directly apply to your niche.

Network with people in the industry

Even with lockdown meaning many of us have to work from home, it’s still important to network. Connect with people on LinkedIn, sign up to webinars and go along to online networking events.

Not only will you learn lots of useful things to help you in your future digital marketing career, but you’ll also make connections with people who can help you get your next gig.

Find an internship or voluntary role

If you’re new to digital marketing, an internship or voluntary role can be a great way to grow your skills and get experience.

Many companies offer entry-level internships to graduates and college leavers. This will give you experience in a busy marketing department and allow you to find out more about which digital marketing niche is right for you.

Alternatively, many charities are looking for volunteers to help with their marketing. For a few hours of your time a week, you can get insight into how digital marketing campaigns work, as well as a glowing reference to put on your CV.

Boost your CV with qualifications

As mentioned earlier, you don’t need to go to university to be a digital marketer. However, it is definitely worth boosting your knowledge with qualifications and certifications, both free and paid for.

60% of industry experts are more likely to recruit digital marketers on their skill set rather than on a traditional qualification, so it’s essential to keep up to speed.

In conclusion

Digital marketing is a fantastic career to get involved in.

Not only is there lots of flexibility and a wide range of areas to specialise in, but the market is growing all the time!

No matter your age, skill set, or location, there is a perfect role out there for you.