Are you a recent graduate, traditional marketer, or a tech-savvy entrepreneur who is ready for an exciting career change? Do you want to excel in a field that bolsters unlimited learning opportunities and potential for rapid personal growth? So, how to become a digital marketer?
If you are ready to become a highlyin-demand digital marketing professional, you have to be in the right place.
There are 2 million jobsforecast to be available by 2020 in the UK alone andthe increased use of the internet. There has never been a better time to start a new career as a digital marketer!
What is digital marketing?
Any marketing is always about reaching out to your audience wherever they are and at the right time. Digital marketing isn’t so different.
Digital marketing is about connecting with audiences in the place where they are spending most of their time – the internet.
So, in other words, digital marketing is any form of marketing done online.
As a digital marketer, your job will be executing marketing campaigns using online platforms. It can be social media, advertising platforms, websites, email, and mobile phones to promote and drive sales of various products and services.
Now, you understand what digital marketing is. So, the services that you can offer. And, you should take a quick look at a little process to become a digital marketer.
Pick your niche
As you have seen, there are lots of services that you can offer as a digital marketer. If you want to run a successful digital marketing business, don’t be a jack of all trades and attempt to provide all the services thinking. This way will improve your chances of getting clients.
Instead, pick one or two closely related services such as content marketing and social media marketing and perfect those services. This way will make you an expert in this area. It will also be easier for you to keep up with the ever-changing trends.
Acquire a skill
Next, acquire an expertise in the area/s you have picked. Digital marketing is a new area. The chances are that you don’t have any certification or degree in digital marketing (and you don’t need one)
However, you do need to learn the ins and outs of digital marketing, so DON’T skips this part.
Digital Marketing Courses
Copywriting skills
Email marketing skills
Social media marketing skills
PPC and SEO skills
Practice your skill
You learn by doing. Once you’ve earned an ability or two, you need to put that theory into action.
Do so by practicing your chosen digital marketing skill at every opportunity you get.
Getting clients with your limited experience at this stage will be tough. So to start, we suggest doing small and even free jobs for friends and family. You could work for free for a short while for startups and nonprofits who are always looking for help.
This way will be an excellent chance to try out what you’ve learned and wet your feet into digital marketing and working with clients.
You could also do lesser paid jobs or digital internships (some startups offer this). Next, you use it as an opportunity to put your skills to use in real life.
Build your website/online presence
When it comes to being a digital marketing freelancer, you certainly need to build some online presence.
You can’t promote yourself as a digital marketing expert when you have zero online presence. Clients aren’t likely to find that very reassuring.
You need not be on page one of Google search results but at least have a website to start with it.
Decide what to charge
Depending on the service you want to specialize in, the skills you’ve acquired and also your experience, come up with a fee that you want to charge your clients. You can have a one for all price, package your services in packages, or charge an hourly rate. The choice is yours.
Do some background research on how other digital marketing freelancers are charging so that you don’t step too far from current industry-standard rates.
Find clients
Now you’re ready to make some money! You can now start looking for clients who can pay you some real cash.
Finding clients won’t be a walk in the park and will require lots of effort at first. But don’t get disheartened by this!
– Ask for referrals from friends and family.Let your former colleagues know that you’re now running a freelance digital marketing business. Also, ask them to recommend you to people in need of your services.
– Approach local digital marketing agencies and pitch your services.There are lots of agencies that prefer to work with freelancers than hiring full-time staff, and this could be an excellent way for you to get started and build your portfolio.
– Browse jobs boards that offer freelance jobs to digital marketers.There are lots of online jobs boards that you can use to find new clients.
More details about where to find work, below. Keep reading.
Find communities and network
Attend meetups and conferences related to digital marketing. Here you will not only learn about new trends in the industry you also get to meet prospective clients.
Find online communities where other freelancers hang around and join them. Facebook and LinkedIn are an excellent source for digital marketing communities where you can learn from others and get client leads too.
Work from anywhere you want as a freelance digital marketer
Interested in learning how to set up a successful freelancing business that will allow you to travel the world as a digital marketer or any other digital nomad job? Check out our program calledThe Digital Nomad Roadmapthat teaches you EXACTLY how.
Get reviews and build your portfolio
Whenever you get client work, always ask them for a review after you complete the job.
Don’t also forget to request your LinkedIn connections for reviews (recommendations). These go a long way to highlight your skills, experience, and capabilities.
Add a portfolio on your website and list all your past works. Here you can include the clients you’ve to work with, graphics you’ve created, published works and even any case studies that you’ve done.
If you want to become a professional Digital Marketing Manager, above is what you need to equip yourself with it. Hopefully, after the above article of HowtoNC, readers will partly understand more specific, and have a better overview of the profession, to be able to go further in their career path.
The essential skills shared above are not only the skills that a Digital Marketing Manager needs to learn, but also other relevant job positions such as marketing staff positions need. It will take them to reach Getting the Marketing Manager position these skills are also beneficial for marketing staff. Or if you are working in an online marketing staff to improve your skills, do not forget to hone these skills, proficient use of methods. For example, email marketing or SEO will help employees online marketing is easy to reach customers, accelerate sales, develop products.
Good luck!
