Launching Your Digital Marketing Career in [2023]

Launching Your Digital Marketing Career in [2023]

What is Digital Marketing in 2023?

Digital marketing refers to any online strategy that companies use to reach, engage, and convert potential customers. As technology and consumer behavior evolve, so do marketing tactics.

While the core principles remain similar, 2023 requires a fresh perspective on digital marketing best practices. Read on to discover updated insights for launching your digital marketing career this year.

Digital Marketing Channels

Today's digital marketers manage content and campaigns across multiple online channels, including:

• Websites - The hub for all digital content and campaigns
• Search engines - Like Google and Bing where people discover new brands
• Social media - Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok
• Email - For lead nurturing and sales
• Mobile apps - For convenience and engagement

Conversational Marketing

Marketing copy has shifted from formal language to a more conversational tone that feels natural and human.

Brands now interact with customers similar to how friends chat - using humor, emojis, gifs, and viral trends to better connect.

Personalization

Thanks to data collection and analytics, marketers can now hyper-target campaigns to focus on individual user interests and behaviors.

Personalized content performs better, leading to higher engagement and conversion rates.

Most In-Demand Digital Marketing Jobs

Specialized digital marketing roles provide focused opportunities to apply your skills. Here are current top job openings with average salaries:

• Content Strategist - $75,482/year
• Content Marketing Manager - $83,717/year
• SEO Specialist - $55,696/year
• Social Media Manager - $52,011/year
• Paid Ads Manager - $48,461/year
• Digital Marketing Manager - $75,287/year
• Partnership Marketer - $51,943/year
• Branded Content Manager - $66,178/year
• Audience Development Manager - $79,855/year

Crucial Digital Marketing Skills

While specific roles require specialized abilities, core skills apply across all digital marketing jobs.

Analytics

Using data to track campaign performance and identify optimization opportunities. Key platforms:

• Google Analytics - The industry standard free tool
• Adobe Analytics - Robust paid option for enterprise brands

Content Development

Creating written, visual, and multimedia content to attract and engage customers.

• Copywriting
• Graphic design
• Video production
• Podcasting

Email Marketing

Best practices for lead nurturing, promotions, driving traffic, and sales via email campaigns. Top platforms:

• Mailchimp - Most popular free tier for small businesses
• Constant Contact - User-friendly paid solution
• ConvertKit - Great for creators and influencers

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Optimizing content to rank higher in search engines like Google and Bing.

• On-page SEO
• Technical SEO
• Link building
• Local SEO
• Voice SEO

Social Media Marketing

Engaging followers and promoting brands across social platforms.

• Facebook/Meta
• Instagram
• Twitter
• TikTok
• Pinterest
• YouTube

Paid Advertising

Purchasing ads on search, social, and other websites to increase brand awareness and site traffic.

• Google Ads
• Facebook Ads
• Display/banner ads
• Amazon Ads
• Native advertising

Essential Digital Marketing Tools

The top digital toolkits for executing campaigns across channels:

Analytics

• Google Analytics (free)
• Adobe Analytics (paid)
• Hotjar for user testing and behavior analytics (free and paid tiers)

Email Marketing

• Mailchimp - Most popular (free and paid)
• AWeber - Easy automation flows (paid)
• Constant Contact - Best templates (paid)

Social Media Management

• Hootsuite - Social media scheduling (free and paid plans)
• Sprout Social - Social media monitoring (paid)
• Sendible - For agencies (paid)

SEO and Content

• Ahrefs - Backlink and site audit tool (paid)
• Semrush - SEO keyword research (free and paid tiers)
• Grammarly - Writing enhancement (free and paid)

Project Management

• Asana - Task and team coordination (free for individuals)
• Trello - Kanban-style boards to manage workflows (free and paid)

Graphic Design

• Canva - Quick custom social graphics and images (free and paid)
• Creative Market - Graphic templates, fonts, icons, and illustrations (paid)

How to Learn Digital Marketing Skills

You can start learning digital marketing skills through:

Free Online Courses

• Google Skillshop's Fundamentals of Digital Marketing course
• HubSpot's Inbound Marketing Certification
• Google Analytics Individual Qualification

Paid Certification Programs

Earn credentials from top digital marketing education providers like:

• Facebook Blueprint
• Google Adwords
• HubSpot Academy
• SEMrush Academy

Hands-on Experience

• Create marketing campaigns for personal brands and side hustles
• Offer to help manage social media for local businesses or nonprofits for free
• Job shadow or intern with an agency or marketing team

How to Build a Digital Marketing Portfolio

Showcasing work samples and measurable results can demonstrate skills and experience better than any resume.

Create Mock Campaigns

• Build hypothetical brand strategies for companies that interest you
• Design sample social media posts, emails, landing pages
• Include realistic metrics showing projected performance

Offer Marketing Services to Friends

• Manage social channels for their small business or creator brand
• Audit their website and provide SEO optimization tips
• Set up email nurture sequences and analyze performance

Spotlight Results

For both mock and actual campaigns:

• Present impressive statistics like open/click rates
• Note increase in followers and engagement
• Show before/after site traffic improvement
• Calculate return on ad spend (ROAS)

Request Testimonials

Positive client feedback verifies abilities so ask contacts you've helped for a review.

Finding Your First Digital Marketing Role

Getting hired for your first digital marketing job takes targeted preparation.

Leverage Specialized Job Boards

Focus your search on platforms frequently used by digital marketing recruiters:

• Mashable's Digital Marketing Job Board
• Smart Brief's Digital Marketing Jobs
• Problogger's Job Board

Prepare Your Elevator Pitch

Summarize your digital marketing skills and passions in just a few sentences as simply as possible.

Include Your Portfolio

Send links to your digital portfolio showcasing impressive work samples with all job applications.

Craft a Standout Cover Letter

Research the company first then highlight your most relevant skills for the position in a brief but compelling letter.

Get Ready to Interview

Prepare to answer both general and specialized digital marketing interview questions like:

General

• How do you stay on top of the latest marketing trends?
• What social media strategies excite you right now?
• How would you describe our target audience?
• What metrics do you track to measure campaign success?

Specialized

• If you were tasked to improve our SEO strategy, what would you change first?
• How could we improve the conversion rate on our site?
• What emerging social platform would you explore next for our brand? Why?
• If I gave you $1k in ad budget, how would you allocate it across different paid channels?