Who Is a Digital Marketer, and How Can You Become One?

The world has gone digital, and people now spend more time on the internet than ever, with the number of internet users increasing with the growing population. Hence, businesses and brands find digital marketing a very effective way of reaching people and promoting their goods and services.

As more businesses incorporate digital marketing, digital marketers enjoy great patronage. As the industry grows, it is becoming more competitive, and becoming a digital marketer is easier said than done. However, this article will provide you with all the information you need to become an expert digital marketer.

Who Are Digital Marketers, and What Do They Do?

A digital marketer conducts marketing campaigns by leveraging digital tools and mediums, like social media, email, websites, and search engine rankings, to reach a large audience and promote the goods and services of a business.

The functions of a digital marketer include the following:

• Planning and execution of brand awareness and marketing campaigns.
• Analyzing the performance of marketing campaigns.
• Analyzing the market, consumer behavior, and needs.
• Generating leads for brands and businesses.
• Nurturing and converting leads into active customers.
• Generating traffic to a company’s digital mediums or platforms.
• Driving sales increase by leveraging digital tools.

What Skills Do You Need to Become a Digital Marketer?

To conduct effective marketing campaigns as a digital marketer, you must possess certain skills. Each skill serves a specific function and is instrumental to the overall success of your marketing strategy. Here are some of the most widely used ones.

1. Content Writing

Content writing involves using written words or text to inform, educate, engage, or entertain a target audience. Engaging in digital marketing campaigns is only possible using content writing.

Hence, content writing is a crucial skill you must develop to become a digital marketer. As a digital marketer, you’ll use content writing to create ebooks, articles, and blog posts that drive customer engagement and marketing programs.

2. Copywriting

Copywriting is the process of using powerful written words to persuade readers to take action. The aim of writing a copy may be to sell a product, service, or idea to a target audience. Digital marketers use copywriting to create irresistible offers for customers. Hence, copywriting is a vital tool in the arsenal of digital marketers to drive sales.

3. SEO and SEM

Search Engine Optimization involves curating content laced with keywords, updated title and header tags, and other technical SEO tactics to improve its search ranking on the internet. Thus, search-engine-optimized content is easy to find when searched for on the internet.

Search engine-optimized articles make generating free traffic to a company’s website and other digital platforms easy. Then, Search Engine Marketing comes in to promote a company using SEO articles. Therefore, SEO and SEM are important skills digital marketers must possess. Here’s how to become an SEO expert.

4. Social Media and Email Marketing

Social media marketing is using social media to publicize and sell the goods or services of a brand. Seeing the vast, growing population of people and companies who use social media today, learning how to tap this goldmine is an important skill digital marketers must possess.

Email marketing is using email messaging to promote a company or brand. One good reason companies incorporate email marketing is that it provides a one-on-one relationship with the customer, which companies desperately need.

5. Graphic Design

Visual designs are a great way to arrest people’s attention and pass a message to them in the most appealing way. It is always a great idea to accompany your content with a visual design that summarizes the information you intend to convey. Hence, digital marketers should have basic design skills and knowledge of visual tools like Microsoft PowerPoint and Canva.

6. Market Research Analysis

Market research analysis involves the process of gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data about a target market. This data from market research analysis aids a digital marketer in planning the most effective strategy to penetrate the market. Hence, it would help if you learned how to become a market research analyst to succeed as a digital marketer.

7. Effective Communication

Digital marketers typically utilize digital mediums to communicate and effectively convey a message to a target audience. The mode of communication may be through writing, audio tapes, or video sessions. Hence, you must develop effective written and oral communication skills as a digital marketer.

How to Become a Professional Digital Marketer

Now, having identified the skills used in the digital marketing industry, how can you develop these skills and become a digital marketer?

1. Take Online Courses

Online courses are a widely used learning method to gain the knowledge needed to start a digital marketing career. There are tons of courses available on the internet where you can learn the skills you need to become a professional digital marketer. You can check out this list of the best online digital marketing courses.

Also, online courses are designed to make you job-ready as soon as possible and provide the information to conduct effective marketing campaigns successfully. Additionally, online programs are regularly updated to keep you up-to-date with the latest tools, skills, knowledge, and technological advancements in the industry.

2. Obtain a Degree in Marketing or Equivalent Subjects

Getting a degree in marketing, business administration, or related fields is a great way to lay the foundation for your career in digital marketing. College education in these subjects helps you learn and understand marketing theory and various industry concepts.

Moreover, most companies will require you to have a degree before employment. Hence, obtaining a university degree is important in your career as a professional digital marketer.

3. Find Digital Marketing Roles to Gain Experience

After obtaining the required knowledge and skills in digital marketing, you need to start gaining experience in the industry to be regarded as a professional. Thus, you can gain experience in the industry by taking up digital marketing roles.

A great way to find digital marketing opportunities to gain experience is through freelancing. Freelance digital marketing jobs are becoming increasingly popular as companies look to outsource their branding and marketing needs for cost-effectiveness.

Also, you must develop your portfolio by documenting each project and marketing campaign you undertake, as this shows the level of your experience in your career. Building a solid portfolio is especially important because it increases your chances of getting more jobs.

4. Start a Digital Marketing Agency

With your skills as a digital marketer, you do not need to wait for employment in a company before offering your services to interested parties. Instead, you can establish your own company and sell your digital marketing services to businesses.

By running a digital marketing agency, employers gain the impression that you have the resources it takes to handle their marketing needs. Furthermore, the skills you gain as a digital marketer will help you promote your services and attract clients who expect you to replicate your successes in their business.

Some of the top digital marketing agencies in the world are:

Become a Professional Digital Marketer Today

Traditional marketing is becoming obsolete. Companies now look to digital marketing as the best way to conduct, monitor, and measure the success of their marketing campaigns.

As such, becoming a digital marketer is smart as you can leverage companies to reach wider audiences and build their customer base. In return, you build your portfolio, improve your skills, and earn good money.