Should You Choose a Career in Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing is an exciting and ever-changing field that keeps people on their toes by always having new technologies, strategies and markets to explore. 

Another great thing about digital marketing is that you're always working with a variety of people, on new projects, and with new clients, and devising new strategies to stay ahead of the competition, so it’s nearly impossible to get bored when you're working in this field.

Moreover, it offers a variety of employment opportunities, including freelance, working for an agency, or even starting up your own firm. Plus, you get to network with people all around the globe, sharing ideas, exploring new techniques, and staying on top of all the trending topics and content that are taking the world by storm. 

But as great as all this sounds, digital marketing is a demanding and fast-paced job that requires a special skillset and training, and because of that, it’s not for everybody. If you're considering a career in digital marketing, here's some information and a series of questions that will help you decide if it’s right for you.

Introducing Digital Marketing

Digital marketing is often defined simply as any marketing efforts that focus on digital, and particularly online, channels. However, a more in-depth definition extends to any marketing efforts that involve electronic devices, regardless of whether the user is online or offline. 

With the expanded definition, digital marketing can apply to media like radio, television and telephones as easily as it can to email and other connected platforms. The major focuses of most digital marketers include:

• Content marketing
• Email marketing
• Social media engagement and marketing
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Influencer marketing

Regardless of the platforms you focus on, the goals of digital marketing remain the same, and they include helping businesses to find new prospects, engaging audiences, driving traffic and converting visitors into customers through digital, electronic and online tools and channels.

The Job Outlook is Exceptional

One of the most appealing things for prospective digital marketers is that the job outlook in the industry is excellent, even in times when job security is a major concern for many people in a variety of fields. 

The main reason for this is simple: digital marketing is the marketing format of the present and future, and it will only continue to become more important as more businesses realize they need a digital presence in order to remain visible and relevant. The need for skilled digital marketers can be seen everywhere, and according to McKinley Marketing Partners, some of the most in-demand jobs of 2017 were in digital marketing, and the following skills are especially in demand:

• Digital advertising
• Content creation and curation
• Content strategy
• SEO
• Email marketing
• Social media

As a digital marketing specialist, you can expect to make nearly $50,000 a year, whereas a digital marketing manager can make upwards of $60,000.

Questions to Help Decide if Digital Marketing is Right for You

Are You a Digital Native or Fascinated by New Tech and Developments?

You certainly don’t have to be a Millennial or Gen Z'er in order to be a digital marketer, but growing up with technology in your life does give you an edge in the industry. Digital marketing requires technical skills, knowledge of terminology, and being comfortable with all forms of technology, and that puts younger generations at an advantage because they’ve been surrounded by computers, gadgets and electronics their whole lives. 

That being said, digital marketers are people of all ages and from all types of backgrounds, and especially those who have knowledge, skills and interest in areas such as audio and video production, eCommerce, web design, social media, analytics, mobile marketing, content management and marketing strategies in general.

Are You an SEO Whiz?

SEO is a huge part of digital marketing strategy since it’s one of the chief tools used in the industry to improve website visibility and drive traffic. Having at least a basic understanding of on-page and off-page SEO best practices is a great asset for would-be digital marketers, but even if you aren't an expert, it’s important to have an interest in learning.

Do You Like the Idea of Working in a Field That’s Always Evolving?

Digital marketing changes faster than most other industries because technologies emerge and develop at such a rapid pace. This means that successful digital marketers are always looking out for what's new, are always willing to adapt and explore new skills, and are always interested in learning about new technologies, tools, channels, and approaches. Some people, however, prefer professions that are more static and less influenced by trends, and digital marketing probably isn't a good fit if that’s the case.

Are You an Analytical Thinker and Problem Solver?

Being able to analyze a problem and come up with a solution is a crucial skill for any prospective digital marketer. Every client you encounter will have individual goals, budgets and resources, and each time you take on a new project, you'll be responsible for evaluating the situation and devising an effective strategy to help that business achieve its goals. 

Not only does this require that you have a solid understanding of all the digital marketing tools available to you, but also that you can assess the tools to determine ways they can serve you and your clients. Often, this means finding innovative ways of using technology or adapting techniques for a customized approach, and that demands critical thinking. 

Furthermore, analyzing metrics to determine the success of a campaign is another key role that digital marketers perform, and that also demands a critical mind.

Do You Have Excellent Communication Skills?

At its core, digital marketing is all about helping clients connect and engage audiences, and that comes down to communication. Along with being able to create high-quality content, you also have to be able to convey complex ideas in easy-to-understand ways, be able to listen to what audiences need and be comfortable with different storytelling media, such as video, text and audio. 

Beyond that, it’s also important to have clear and open lines of communication with clients, because that’s the only way you'll be able to deliver the results they want.

Can You Spot New Trends and Great Content?

As mentioned, digital marketing is always evolving, and one of the main drivers of change is consumer behavior. For instance, when mobile search first became popular, the best digital marketers around immediately realized the need for responsive sites, and businesses that had mobile-friendly sites early on were rewarded for being ahead of the curve. 

However, new technologies aren't the only thing you have to consider, and being able to spot trending ideas and content will also help you keep clients relevant and engaged in important and timely discussions.

Do You Like the Idea of Helping Others to Grow Their Businesses?

No matter what goals your clients have, the main aim of digital marketing is to help clients grow their businesses. Some of the most common digital marketing goals include driving website traffic, building brand awareness, fostering relationships, and increasing conversions, and all of these paths eventually lead to business growth. 

As such, digital marketers can think of themselves as facilitators of this growth, and that means helping startups, small businesses, medium companies, and even large corporations to reach their goals and find success.

Do You Want a Job that Allows You to Flex Your Creative Muscles?

Digital marketing is about a lot more than optimizing websites and analyzing metrics to gauge success, and there are plenty of opportunities to be creative as a digital marketer. For instance, content creation is a huge part of a digital marketer’s job, and that means you get to write stories, shoot videos, record podcasts, create infographics, and partake in other creative content generation strategies. 

Beyond that, the job also demands novel and out-of-the-box approaches to problems, and that leaves plenty of room for creativity.

Summary

Digital marketing is a fascinating and fast-paced profession that requires special knowledge, specific skills, and a great deal of passion for all things digital and technological. The job is also highly flexible, and there are many digital marketers who freelance, work from home or work for themselves, and this is appealing to a lot of people. 

However, digital marketing isn't for everybody. Some of the most important qualities of successful digital marketers include being analytical but also creative, having excellent communication skills, and being able to spot trends and new movements. It can also be about wanting a job that requires you to continue learning, changing and having a desire to use modern technology, to help clients connect with their audiences and grow their businesses.

Whatever the motivation, digital marketing is a rewarding and exciting career in demand by industries across the globe.