Is Digital Marketing a Good Career Choice? – Scope & Career Opportunities
A career in digital marketing is one of the most popular and demanding choices in India. There is a wide range of options to choose from, such as SEO, SEM, email marketing, content creation and marketing, and more. Digital marketing has become an essential part of every business’s marketing strategy by combining creativity with marketing strategies. In this blog, we will discover the essential steps and insights to help you explore career opportunities in the field of digital marketing.
What Is Digital Marketing?
Digital marketing is using digital channels, platforms, and technologies to market and advertise a brand or company’s products and services.It encompasses various online promotional tactics. Some common components of digital marketing strategies include the following:
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Social media marketing
- Email marketing
- Digital campaigns
- Content creation
- Web-based advertising
If you want to enhance your skills, consider taking a digital marketing course with a placement guarantee to gain knowledge in this field and get guaranteed job opportunities.
Evolution of Digital Marketing
Have you ever wondered how digital marketing came into being? The story of one of the most revolutionizing domains of marketing that exist today began way back in the 1990s. From then, it witnessed several changes transforming into an impactful way to attract and engage customers to facilitate businesses. Here are some of the major steps in the evolution of digital marketing:
- 1990s: The internet came into being and the Web 1.0 platform was developed. People could find information on this platform but could not share it over the web. Marketers were unsure of how to leverage the internet at this time.
- 1993: The first clickable banner went live and HotWired, one of the first commercial websites on the net, bought some banner ads for their advertising. This was the beginning of the digital era of marketing.
- 1994: Some new technologies entered the digital marketplace and Yahoo was launched. When the search engine received about 1 million hits in its first year, companies began to optimize their websites to get higher search engine rankings.
- 1996: Other search engines and tools like Alexa, LookSmart, and Hotbot were released.
- 1998: Launch of Google, MSN search engine, and Yahoo web search. The big companies eliminated the competition and smaller search engines almost ceased to exist.
- 2003: Social media platforms emerged. These became a new channel for marketers to reach potential customers. Several businesses created their profiles and pages to share information and updates about their services and products.
- 2004: Internet advertising and marketing leaped forward with Web 2.0, allowing users to interact with other users and businesses.
- 2006: Search engine traffic grew to about 6.4 billion in a single month and digital marketing saw a surge. Another major development during this period was the introduction of cookies. Digital marketers could now customize their marketing materials according to user’s preferences with the help of cookie tracking. This was the beginning of targeted advertising that allowed companies to reach customers on the web.
- Present: Now, marketers leverage a diverse range of channels to digitally market their products and services. These include email and social media. Though email marketing existed before, it is now coming into vogue again. The use of VPNs has been popularized to market products to audiences located in different countries. Several new trends including voice-based advertising, generational targeting, and cryptocurrencies are expected to maximize the marketing efforts further.
Scope of Digital Marketing in 2024
According to the latest study, there will be 6 billion internet users in 2027, leading to an increasing demand for professionals who can help businesses reach their target audience. The valuation of the digital marketing industry is expected to scale with a CAGR of 32.1% by 2028. A major share of the revenue generated is expected to be invested in hiring skilled professionals, increasing the scope of digital marketing.
Digital marketing skills are listed as one of the top ten in-demand skills in 2024, with about 860,000 job openings. Some sub-domains employers are constantly hiring are social media, SEO, content strategy, and analytics.
Career in Digital Marketing
Digital marketing is an excellent option for those looking to build an online marketing career. With the growing importance of digital marketing, companies are constantly seeking digital marketing expertise, which makes it a highly in-demand field globally. Digital marketing professionals in India get lucrative packages based on experience and skills. While traditional methods of advertising still hold importance, digital marketing has become more prevalent due to its affordability and ability to track analytics.
How to Start a Career in Digital Marketing?
Here is the digital marketing roadmap to help you build a career in digital marketing.
1. Learn the Fundamentals of Digital Marketing
As someone new to the world of digital marketing, it is important to familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of this field and its key components. These include:
- Understand the target market and audiences.
- Learn how to create engaging content.
- Know how to use social media platforms effectively.
- Implement SEO strategies to improve online visibility.
- Analyze data and metrics to perform marketing research.
- Learn paid online advertising through platforms such as Google Ads and Facebook Ads.
- Gain an understanding of email marketing to reach out to potential customers.
- Learn how to optimize mobile marketing campaigns.
2. Start a Website
Digital marketing is not just about theory. Putting your knowledge into practice is essential for learning digital marketing techniques. A great way to do this is by starting a website. There are many CMS (content management system) platforms, like WordPress and Blogger.com, that you can try out for free.
Creating a blog or website allows you to improve your knowledge and skills actively. It can also serve as a portfolio to get a job or potential clients. With an active website, you can showcase your expertise and enhance your credibility when securing contracts or job opportunities.
3. Become a Certified Expert
It is essential to possess the following skills to pursue a career in digital marketing.
a. SEO
A strong foundation in SEO (search engine optimization) is essential for anyone looking to pursue a career in digital marketing. By learning about SEO in digital marketing, you can gain knowledge on how to create a professional website that is appealing both to users and search engines.
Here are the main components of SEO that you should learn about:
- Keyword research
- On-page and Off-page SEO
- Link building
- Technical SEO
- Website analytics
- Local SEO
b. Google Analytics
To build a career in digital marketing, you need to learn about analytics and understand various organic traffic-generating tools. Google Analytics allows you to make an informed decision based on factual data analysis that covers all aspects of a digital marketing campaign’s performance. With the help of data analytics, you can determine how many individuals have viewed your campaigns, clicked on ads, and converted into customers.
c. Facebook Ads
Facebook has emerged as a vital tool for any successful digital marketing campaign, apart from being a popular networking platform. Facebook Ads is a paid advertising platform where businesses create and publish ads to reach their target audience on Facebook. It is an essential tool for digital marketers because it enables them to increase brand awareness and the value of the company they are working for.
4. Get a Digital Marketing Job
To advance your digital marketing career, consider getting a job in the field of digital marketing. Utilize online platforms such as Internshala, Upwork, Fivver, etc., to seek out and apply for digital marketing positions. If you are a newcomer in the digital marketing field, start by applying for digital marketing entry-level/fresher jobs.
5. Master Digital Marketing Tool
As you advance in your career in digital marketing, it is essential to familiarize yourself with other digital marketing tools. To effectively evaluate their performance and manage multiple projects at once, you need to understand how various analytical tools work. Also, by using these tools, you can generate comprehensive dashboards for different channels and meaningful reports for clients.
6. Stay Updated
The world of digital marketing is constantly evolving, and digital marketers have to thrive on this constant change to keep up. With Google making numerous changes to its organic and paid search methods each year and the ever-changing Facebook algorithm, it is clear that the industry is moving quickly. As a result, anyone pursuing a career in digital marketing must be prepared for continuous learning and stay updated with changing trends.
Career Opportunities in Digital Marketing
Here are the different digital marketing career scopes and opportunities.
1. Social Media Manager
Social media managers are responsible for promoting brands across various networks, such as Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
- They create campaign strategies and produce engaging content in the form of videos and graphics.
- They conduct audience research to reach their target demographic effectively.
- To excel as a social media manager, you need a combination of writing, designing, and project management skills.
2. Content Creator
This is one of the top career opportunities in digital marketing. The digital marketing team relies heavily on content creators to drive their success by creating engaging content.
- Content creators consist of skilled copywriters, videographers, and graphic designers.
- They are responsible for producing high-quality content for various platforms, such as social media, blogs, email campaigns, and landing pages.
- Their expertise helps attract new potential customers while also retaining existing ones through engaging and well-crafted content materials.
3. UX Designer
A UX (user experience) designer plays a crucial role in designing and improving the overall experience of a user for a particular product or service.
- They are primarily responsible for identifying and resolving any technical issues that may arise and evaluating existing digital products to find ways to enhance them.
- They also conduct research on user behavior and preferences through usability tests and market analysis.
With an online UI/UX design course with a placement guarantee, you get a guaranteed job while learning the essential skills of UI UX design.
4. SEO Specialist
A search engine optimization (SEO) specialist is responsible for enhancing the visibility of websites on search engine results pages (SERPs).
- This involves conducting research on commonly searched keywords, evaluating current website content, and analyzing competitor sites.
- By making necessary adjustments, SEO specialists help improve the speed at which people can find website content to boost website traffic.
- They can also utilize their understanding of various programming languages and hardware systems to enhance loading times and create a more user-friendly experience for visitors.
5. Ad Manager
An Ad manager is a skilled individual who coordinates and supervises the advertising activities of a company or group.
- Their job entails devising, executing, and refining ad campaigns to reach their intended audience and fulfill marketing goals.
- In digital advertising, an Ad manager may utilize various channels, such as Google Ads or Facebook Ads, to achieve desired outcomes.
- They are also responsible for developing ad campaigns, identifying target demographics, monitoring performance indicators, and implementing necessary modifications to improve the impact of the advertisements.
6. Digital Marketing Manager
This is one of the best career opportunities in digital marketing.
- A digital marketing manager effectively manages various online channels and campaigns to attract potential customers, improve brand awareness, and boost business growth.
- This position involves working closely with the marketing department and coordinating with content creators such as writers, designers, and videographers.
- Furthermore, the digital marketing manager must collaborate closely with the business and sales teams to develop strategies that align with goals and produce desired results.
7. Email Marketer
An email marketer is responsible for generating leads, driving traffic, enhancing conversion rates, and elevating brand recognition by sending specialized emails and newsletters to target audiences.
- They create campaigns that align with the general objectives of the larger marketing team.
- They monitor open rates, conduct A/B tests, and evaluate the most effective language and graphics to use in their email marketing strategies.
What are the High-Paying Jobs in Digital Marketing?
Digital marketing is an ideal choice for those looking for high-paying opportunities. Several roles are paid a lucrative salary in this industry. Let us explore some of the digital marketing salaries:
Job Roles | Salary Range |
Pay-Per-Click Manager | ₹6 LPA – ₹11 LPA |
Digital Media Manager | ₹7 LPA – ₹20 LPA |
SEO Specialist | ₹5 LPA – ₹10 LPA |
SEM Specialist | ₹6 LPA – ₹12 LPA |
Content Strategist | ₹7 LPA – ₹14 LPA |
Benefits of Working in Digital Marketing
Working in the digital marketing industry has several advantages. Before you begin your career as a professional digital marketer, you must go through these benefits to gain a better understanding of the domain.
- Diversity in Job Roles: Digital marketing offers a plethora of opportunities in diverse specializations like social media marketing, email marketing, search engine marketing, content marketing, copywriting, etc.
- Flexible Work Process and Environment: The work process in digital marketing is less stressful and challenging as compared to traditional marketing because you can easily alter campaigns and their content. Further, digital marketing companies allow employees to work from home, in-office, or part-time, promoting flexibility in the work environment.
- Evolving Industry: The digital marketing industry is constantly evolving and adapting to newer technologies in an attempt to maximize marketing efforts. By working in this field, you get a chance to stay updated on the latest trends and learn new technologies, diversifying your skill set.
- Lucrative Compensation: Employers pay a handsome salary to skilled individuals who possess all the requirements necessary for a digital marketer. Additionally, they pay a bonus if your work helps the company increase revenue or return on investment.
- Accessible Learning Opportunities: You can learn digital marketing through simple online courses or refer to resources like blogs and videos to learn basic concepts. It does not require you to pursue lengthy courses for three to four years.
- In-Demand Skills: Most businesses today are leveraging digital marketing to enhance their brand awareness and image. This has made digital marketing capabilities an in-demand skill and proficient individuals will find more opportunities.
Explore our blog on traditional marketing vs digital marketing to get a better understanding of the benefits of digital marketing.
Limitations of Working in Digital Marketing
While a career in digital marketing is beneficial, it also has some limitations. You should understand these in detail before you decide to begin your career.
- Strict Deadlines: While you may be provided with a flexible work schedule, the deadlines are to be adhered to all the time. This is because companies look to attract new customers as soon as possible. Strict deadlines may be intimidating; however, you can overcome the stress by creating detailed calendars and to-do lists and prioritizing tasks.
- Constant Development: While rapid change is inevitable and ensures the domain keeps up with the changing times, it may be a challenge for many to stay updated with the new trends. To thrive in such a situation, you can listen to podcasts or watch educational videos discussing the latest digital marketing trends. Additionally, you can attend workshops or industry events.
- Increased Screen Time: Various tasks involved in digital marketing are done through a computer, laptop, or mobile device, significantly increasing the screen time. This may irritate the eyes or cause headaches if you work long shifts. To ensure a healthy work environment, take regular breaks to allow your body and mind to relax.
How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency?
A digital marketing agency connects with online customers through websites, social media, email, blogs, and television to market the products and services of a business. It helps businesses build their customer base, increase sales, and establish brand loyalty. If you wish to begin your entrepreneurial journey by setting up a digital marketing agency, here are simple steps to follow:
1. Research and Ideation
Research the digital marketing industry, its latest trends, and popular companies to get a rough idea. Browse through services offered in the industry and check if there is something that interests you. Then, ask yourself these questions:
- Is there a demand for the service you wish to offer?
- Can you form a team?
- What is your goal for the company?
- Can you produce results?
- Are you committed enough?
2. Work on Your Digital Marketing Skills
Develop essential digital marketing skills to be able to command the operations well. If you are beginning with a small or no workforce, then this step becomes crucial to ensure you can provide the best digital marketing services to your clients.
3. Select a Service to Offer
There are three major types of digital marketing agencies: full-service, single-channel, and multi-channel. The first offers all or most of the marketing services, the second offers services in a specific area of digital marketing, and the third offers some complementary services on top of their core services. Now, you have to decide which services you wish to offer to your customers. Some examples of services that you can include are:
- Pay-per-click Ads
- Email marketing
- Influencer marketing
- Social media
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Website design
- Content marketing
4. Choose a Niche
There are several digital marketing agencies in the market and stepping into all the industries at once may hamper your business. So, choose if you wish to work with finance companies, healthcare institutions, corporates, small-business owners, or entrepreneurs like you.
5. Register Your Business
Once you have chosen a business model and selected a niche, you need to register your business. Search for the relevant applications, tax requirements, location, and other formalities and complete them accordingly. After you have registered your agency, you can begin promoting it to find your first client.
6. Search for Clients and Market Yourself
Now you need to conduct market research to find your target clients and approach them with information about your offerings. Some of the ways you can market your agency and get clients are:
- Create a Website: Having an official website of the agency is a must. This is where the customers will find all the essential information about your company and the services you offer. Ensure that you create an appealing website because it will represent your marketing skills. You can send inbound leads to specific landing pages through ads and content marketing. Above everything, a website builds credibility for your agency.
- Build a Portfolio: You should have something to show to your prospective clients. A portfolio with previous projects or samples can help demonstrate your abilities and your company’s worth. Include accurate timelines, crucial metrics, and positive results in your portfolio to create a good impact.
- Open Social Media Accounts: Social media is one of the most popular channels to market your business. Therefore, your company should have its official social media accounts to reach potential customers.
- Cold Call or Email: Instead of randomly calling companies, research which ones may need your services and find out about their business. Reach out to them once you have all the information. Customized calls ensure that the clients feel understood and valued.
7. Begin Working
When you have your first client, work on the project diligently and keep a record of everything. This will help you review your shortcomings and optimize your services accordingly. Ensure that you take feedback from your clients. This is a great way to understand your brand value and if there are any changes to be made.
Conclusion
A career in digital marketing can be highly rewarding and lucrative. With the constant evolution of technology and consumer behavior, there is always something new to learn, which makes it an exciting field to work in. The demand for skilled professionals continues to grow as businesses realize the importance of establishing a strong online presence. A career in digital marketing offers endless opportunities for growth and success, making it an ideal choice for those looking for a dynamic and fulfilling digital marketing career path. Also, check out our digital marketing resume-building guide.
FAQs
Digital marketing is a great career for individuals looking for creative jobs with a blend of technology and marketing. The domain is preferred by several because it offers a diverse range of opportunities. Further, with experience, an individual can become eligible for higher-paying opportunities, making digital marketing a lucrative career.
You can follow these steps to get a job in digital marketing:
– Understand the basics of digital marketing and develop a strong foundation by referring to online resources and
courses.
– Research and identify your niche or specialization.
– Gain practical experience by applying for internships.
– Stay updated with the latest trends in the industry to remain relevant.
– Build a portfolio.
– Network and connect with industry professionals through platforms like Internshala clubs to know about the
latest vacancies and gain referrals.
– Search and apply for jobs on online portals like Internshala. Set an alert for jobs in digital marketing to receive
instant notifications about the latest opportunities.
You can grow your career in digital marketing by following these steps:
– Upskill yourself by taking an online certification course.
– Choose a specialization and develop digital marketing skills.
– Pursue internships or take projects to get hands-on experience and refine your skills.
– Post your recent work on social media and connect with industry professionals to create your online presence.
– Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experience. Ensure you modify these –
according to the job and company you are applying for.
– Apply for jobs and prepare accordingly for interviews.
The average salary of a digital marketer in India ranges from ₹4 LPA to ₹12 LPA. This compensation varies depending on several factors like the location of the organization, your experience level, educational qualifications, skills, and expertise.
You need a combination of skills to excel in the field of digital marketing. Some of these skills are as follows:
– Search engine optimization
– Search engine marketing
– Content creation
– Pay-per-click advertising
– Research and data analysis
– Analytical skills
– Communication skills
– Social media marketing
Yes, digital marketing is a good career. It provides individuals with dynamic and versatile job opportunities and lucrative salaries. Further, you can easily find remote jobs in digital marketing, allowing more flexibility in the schedule and timings of work.
Yes, you can get into digital marketing with no experience. There are a few things you can do to strengthen your job application in case you do not possess relevant experience:
– Highlight relevant coursework completed during college or certification courses to show that you possess knowledge and understanding of the domain.
– Add digital marketing projects to your portfolio to showcase your skills.
– Participate in workshops, conferences, competitions, and other industry-related events to demonstrate your interest and willingness to learn.
No, you do not need a degree to become a digital marketer. You can pursue an online digital marketing course from trusted platforms like Internshala to gain essential skills and knowledge. Additionally, you can apply for internships to gain relevant experience and kick-start your career.
Yes, there is a huge demand for digital marketers in the job market today. This demand is only expected to grow more in the coming years. It is listed as one of the most secure jobs for 2024, highlighting the stability of the digital marketing industry and the increasing demand for skilled professionals.
No, digital marketing is not a dying career. With the global valuation of the digital marketing market expected to reach 24.1 billion USD by 2028, it is said to be one of the most rapidly growing industries today. This growth has created a demand for more skilled individuals where they can easily find ample employment opportunities.
Yes, there is a future in digital marketing. It is one of the most promising careers in India. While the domain is constantly evolving to accommodate newer technologies and trends, professionals in the field tend to adapt to these changes and increase their customer base.