If you are reading this article, it means that you already know what digital marketing means, you understand what it means to have a career in this field, and you want to actually know what steps you need to allocate.
In the beginning, I too had a lot of questions and had no one to turn to for guidance. I had no example around me of people who had such a career and I can say that everything was super new for me.
I currently (as of this writing) have over 6 years of experience in digital marketing. I have a marketing distribution, I have a thick portfolio of works and I have also accumulated a lot of knowledge that I want to share with those who are at the beginning of the road.
If I were to talk to my past self, I said what I would tell myself you need to do.
Table of Contents
1. Accumulate the necessary knowledge in the field
It is impossible to start this career and be parallel with what you need to know.
Start by reading and documenting yourself so that you have an overview of what this field entails and know well what is required and what you should know how to do, relative to your own ability to acquire new knowledge.
At the same time, I assure you that in this field you can find a lot of free information and resources on the Internet. The problem is that there are tons of videos, articles, guides, etc. it will be hard for you to choose.
Time is limited after all, so is energy, and so is the money you have.
You can start with my free guide.
2. Take online digital marketing courses from credible sources
Anyone who asks me: “Andrei, how do I start?” I recommend they to first take the free courses from the top platforms.
Before that I make a small clarification:
- it is normal that these courses are made with the aim of getting you to use their platforms and subsequently spend money on their platforms;
- it is essential to consider this aspect and take everything in an open and objective way, without strictly referring to these platforms.
Google Digital Marketing courses
Google offers a wide range of digital marketing courses. Watch the step-by-step videos to fully understand what’s going on.
I did these courses when I was just starting out.
They helped me understand things better, including consumer behavior online.
It is important in digital marketing to understand the customer very well and to provide value to the customer. Only in this way will we be able to earn money from our work.
Facebook Blueprint
If you are a fan of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, then it is important to understand these platforms at the level of digital marketing.
Once you have a good understanding of the platform and the algorithms and the options you have, you will be able to exploit all these elements and do much better marketing on these platforms from Meta.
Also, try Facebook courses.
Google Skillshop
Once you’ve passed the beginner phase of Google courses, you’ll be able to move on, and start to specialize.
Here you can take the Google Skillshop courses that give you more in-depth knowledge about promoting on Google.
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All these courses also come with exams and certifications that are internationally recognized and can be added to your CV.
3. Learn Digital Marketing from Youtube
YouTube is the largest video information aggregator in the world. You find good and valid information about any field, including digital marketing.
Here I recommend you search for many relevant keywords and learn from those with experience in the field. You can find hundreds of free resources and tutorials on almost anything specific.
You can follow me as well as other marketers or businesses with educational videos about digital marketing.
Create playlists and add relevant videos you’ve been through there and take notes!
4. Learn marketing in general
Although we talk a lot about digital marketing, it is only a sub-field of marketing.
I recommend you also learn marketing in a general way.
That will make the difference.
You see, most people who do digital marketing are under the impression that it is only about social media, Facebook ads, or website marketing.
Unfortunately, it is incomplete.
Marketing is much more complex.
It’s important to establish a solid foundation to build on.
I recommended to you at the beginning only some more specific courses about those marketing platforms, but it is not enough.
Marketing is about understanding consumer behavior. It’s a lot of psychology and research.
Marketing is about data. It is about understanding the target audience, positioning, the market, about many more things.
Check my marketing articles here.
5. Search and read articles, books, and guides on marketing
Therefore, it is important to continuously read and educate yourself about marketing.
I recommend both the articles on some useful blogs where they write about marketing, as well as some marketing guides like the one I wrote.
However, these are only the “tip of the iceberg”.
The depth comes to the level where you start reading entire books on marketing.
I recommend both the new releases, but most of all I recommend the old marketing books.
Why?
Because in the time we live in now, things are done more to be done. In the past, people would spend years researching and writing profound books, books that would remain valid for decades.
Now people write books more because of the trend and for their own egos, or to help them be visible and known to other people.
But that doesn’t mean the new books aren’t good at all either. It’s just that we have to consume all the information with an open mind and understand that not everything is fixed as it is said to be.
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6. Start now
So, start right now. Apart from this article, go and learn more about digital marketing.
And most importantly: take action.
7. Promote yourself
You learn best by doing. If you don’t have anyone to do digital marketing with, the easiest way is to start with yourself.
Create your brand or be the brand and start promoting yourself and making yourself known.
Take all the information you learn over time and share it with your small audience.
8. Start working on taking on freelancing projects
Start working and taking on freelancing projects.
You can find these projects on freelancing platforms, Facebook groups or other groups.
You will see that after you start promoting yourself (and you do it consistently for a good few months), the first projects will come that can even be paid.
9. Find business owners to be your customers
Start connecting with business people and start helping them by solving their problems.
Approach entrepreneurs and find your first customers.
10. Optimize
After you do all the things mentioned above, keep doing them and improving them.
You will begin to develop your own procedures and systems of work and learning.
It will start to become easier and more fun to do digital marketing.
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