Is digital marketing a good career?
We think that digital marketing is a great career choice, but obviously, we’re a little biased, so we’ll do our best to justify why, and how to get into digital marketing.
So why is digital marketing a good career choice?
Digital marketing skills are in demand
Currently, digital marketing skills are massively in demand, with a very clear shortage of professionals and an abundance of digital jobs available. Particularly over the past couple of years, many businesses have been forced to learn the importance of having an online offering and how, if done well, it can keep their businesses thriving through tough times.
It’s clear that we now live in an ever-increasingly digital world and that’s never going to change. More and more companies are moving their budgets into digital marketing and it's an essential part of the business world today, and it's only getting bigger.
This means, there’s always going to be a need for digital marketers and online professionals who can help drive this demand into progress and growth for businesses.
Ultimate flexibility
Digital marketing is a career choice where you can have a great deal of flexibility. Starting from the business you work for - you have the freedom to choose whether you work for a small start-up or a large corporation, everyone needs digital marketing. Additionally, there are other options, part-time, freelancer, consultants, in-house, agencies - there are plenty of possibilities.
Plus, with remote working becoming the norm in a lot of industries, and with research showing 63% of digital marketers can work remotely, a career in digital marketing often gives you the opportunity to work from wherever you want in the world, all you need is a laptop and a strong WiFi connection.
Flexible hours are becoming more common within this industry too with 67% of businesses offering a flexible working policy. So it’s likely you’ll have some flexibility over the hours and the way that you work.
Good salaries
The average salary of a marketing executive in the UK is £30,201, almost £3,000 more than the UK average. And the average salary for an entry-level digital marketing assistant is £22,415 - we’ll discover more about this later in this post.
Progression
Digital marketers have many opportunities to advance their careers and earn more money over time, with a wide range of roles varying from assistant, right through to head of’s and directors.
Plus, if you fancy going out on your own, you have the opportunity of starting your own digital marketing company.
Variety
Digital marketing is an umbrella term that covers a variety of different strategies, tools, channels and skills. This includes SEO, PPC, social media, email marketing, websites, and loads more.
Working in this industry, you can choose whether to focus on a specific area or be someone that covers it all, the choice is yours.
As a recommendation, and speaking from experience, it’s great to start out as ‘generic’ as possible until you really find an area that you’re passionate about and good at. This is the point you can then focus in on a particular area.
Getting into digital marketing
Let’s start with a few things you should probably know about digital marketing. It’s a fast-paced industry, it’s constantly evolving, and it can sometimes be quite subjective and demanding but it’s very rewarding
There are a number of different ways of getting into digital marketing, whether that’s through a more traditional educational route, or whether you work your way up through gaining valuable experience.
What qualifications will you need?
It depends on what kind of role you’re heading into as to the qualifications you’ll need to start your career in digital marketing.
There are plenty of digital marketing courses available in the UK, whether it’s at university, college or an apprenticeship. But, it’s not the only way to get started.
How to get into digital marketing without a degree
There are many reasons why people don't have a degree and still want to get into the field of digital marketing. Some people may not have had access to higher education, or maybe they didn't feel that their university experience was worth the money. That’s okay though, digital marketing isn’t a career choice that always requires a degree.
The first thing you should do is find out if there are any companies in your area that offer internships or apprenticeships for those who don't have degrees. You can find these opportunities by looking on sites like LinkedIn and Indeed as well as reaching out to local companies and offering your time in return for practical experience.
In order to be successful in digital marketing, you’ll need a strong understanding of the internet and good technical knowledge, everything else can be learned from experience.
Gaining digital marketing experience
Gaining experience in digital marketing is an excellent way to enter the field and build a career in a rapidly growing industry. There are many ways to gain experience as a digital marketer, including internships, volunteering, and freelance work. We’ll explore a few of the routes below.
Get stuck in
One of the best ways to learn about digital marketing is to get stuck in and actually do it.
One of the most valuable things a lot of marketers can do is to build themselves a website and then learn as they go. It’s a great way to test new ideas without the risk of failure.
Another way of gaining first-hand experience is through volunteering and internships. If you’re looking to gain more experience, approach agencies and offer your help. In return, you’ll get some valuable practical experience.
Read all about it
Digital marketing books are a great way to learn about the basics of this field. There are loads of great marketing books out there, some of our favourites include…
Digital Marketing For Dummies
Epic Content Marketing
Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook
Digital marketing blogs are also a great way to stay up-to-date with the latest digital marketing news and trends. They provide you with useful insights and tips on how to improve your marketing knowledge. Some of our favourite blogs include
Be Social
There are some great digital marketing communities on social media. Follow industry-related figures and groups to stay up to date and learn loads more from true experts. This is especially prevalent on Twitter and LinkedIn, so having a presence here is vital.
Listen and learn
Podcasts are a great way to boost your knowledge passively. Whether you’re out on a walk or lying in bed, podcasts are an extremely effective learning tool. Some of our favourite digital marketing podcasts include.
How to find a job in digital marketing
Digital marketing is a rapidly growing industry and the number of jobs in this field is increasing by the day. If you want to find a job in digital marketing, there are plenty of ways you can do so.
Some of the best ways for finding digital marketing jobs are LinkedIn and Indeed. You can also utilise other social media accounts to find job opportunities.
Another effective way to find a job in digital marketing is through outreach. If you’re looking for an agency role, find out what agencies are in your area and look at their websites. Most of them will have a careers page, and if not, it’s worth sending a quick email with your CV and a short cover letter. It’s a great way to get discovered!
Average salary of a marketing executive and assistant
The average salary of a marketing executive in the UK will vary. However, Reed.co.uk state that this figure is around £30,201, with the lower end being £26,818 and the higher end being £35,430. Whereas Indeed report the average base salary to be £28,807.
Obviously, this will differ depending on factors such as your location, with the Indeed report showing the average salary of a marketing executive in London as £33,282, far above the UK’s average.
If you’re just starting out in digital marketing, you can expect a slightly lower salary, with Indeed reporting that the average salary for a marketing assistant is £22,415.
Conclusion
So there you have it, we hope that we’ve convinced you that digital marketing is a great career choice.
If you have any questions or are looking for some advice, get in touch with us today, we’d be more than happy to help!