How to start as a Newbie Digital Marketer – A Complete Roadmap

In this blog, we are going to discuss how to get into digital marketing and carve out a niche for yourself.

It’s a dynamic and ever-evolving field, and as someone with a business degree and some marketing experience under your belt, you’re already ahead of the game.

Get Your Hands Dirty: Practical Experience is King

Theory is great, but practical experience is where the real learning happens. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to gain experience without a fancy title:

• Build a Website (WordPress): Create a personal website or blog to showcase your skills.
  
• Play with Google Ads: Even with a small budget, you can learn a ton about campaign management and performance analysis.
  
• Design with Canva: Social media posts, infographics, even just mocking up ad campaigns – Canva is your friend for visual content.
  
• Freelance or Intern: Check out Upwork, Fiverr, or even local businesses that might need some marketing help.

Applying marketing skills specific to an industry and provide entire marketing solutions is going to be the future. With growing competition, it is very important to have skills specific to the industry, which you have experience in.

You’ve Got This: Leveraging Your Existing Skills

Don’t underestimate the value of your current experience! Your business studies and marketing background provide a solid foundation. Skills like market research, understanding customer behavior, and strategic thinking directly apply to digital marketing.

Market Research: Understanding trends and identifying your target audience is critical in any marketing role.

Customer Behavior Analysis: Knowing how people think and what motivates them is essential for creating effective campaigns.

Strategic Thinking: Developing a cohesive and well-thought-out marketing plan is crucial for success.

Understand the industry: To be a successful marketer, you need to develop a deep knowledge of one specific industry.

The basic things like common sense and problem solving are very important to build a successful career or business.

In GA4, “Events” are actions taken by users on your website, such as button clicks, form submissions, downloads, or video plays. “Conversions” are specific events that you define as valuable actions, such as a lead form submission or a product inquiry request.

Find Your Niche: Where Do You Shine?

Digital marketing is a HUGE field. Don’t try to do everything at once. Explore different areas and see what clicks with you. Some popular niches include:

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Become a master of getting websites to rank higher in search results.
  
• Social Media Marketing: Build and manage a brand’s presence on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
  
• Content Marketing: Create valuable and engaging content (blog posts, videos, infographics) to attract and retain an audience.
  
• Email Marketing: Craft compelling email campaigns to nurture leads and drive sales.
  
• PPC Advertising: Manage paid advertising campaigns on platforms like Google Ads and social media.

Never Stop Learning: The Digital World Changes Fast

The only constant in digital marketing is change. Stay ahead of the curve by:

Reading Industry Blogs: Digital Vidya, Neil Patel, Moz, and HubSpot are excellent resources.

Watching YouTube Channels: Ahrefs and Google Analytics Academy offer tons of helpful tutorials.

Experimenting with Tools: Get familiar with Google Analytics, SEMrush, and Hootsuite.

Network, Network, Network: Connections Matter

Don’t be afraid to reach out to others in the industry. Join online forums, attend webinars, and connect with people on LinkedIn.

• Reddit: Subreddits like r/DigitalMarketing are great for asking questions and getting advice.
  
• Quora: A place to ask specific questions and get answers from experts.
  
• LinkedIn Groups: Join groups like “Digital Marketing Professionals” to connect with others in your field.

Boost Your Resume: Certifications Can Help

While experience is essential, certifications can give you a competitive edge. Consider these options:

• Google Ads Certification: Free through Skillshop, this shows you know your way around Google Ads.
  
• HubSpot Content Marketing Certification: Demonstrates your understanding of content marketing strategy.
  
• Facebook Blueprint Certification: Validates your expertise in Facebook and Instagram advertising.
  
• SEMrush SEO Fundamentals Certificate: A solid foundation in SEO principles and best practices.

There’s money to be made in B2B digital marketing

According to my observation throughout the years, B2B marketing is somewhat beneficial and a good career option.

Why?

Not a lot of companies in India take marketing seriously as they are sales oriented businesses. But marketing can really help boost the sales efforts. Here’s where you can fill the gap as a marketing resource.

The ticket sizes are big in these businesses, so the ROI on each lead is significantly higher compared to that of B2C.

The work is process driven as the product is technical, so meticulous research and detailing go with every marketing work that you do.

Stability within the industry: If you master B2B marketing in one particular industry, then you wipe out the competition as you are more technically equipped, you have the right references, and you have proven successful strategies.

The Bottom Line: It’s a Journey, Not a Destination Breaking into digital marketing takes effort and dedication. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results overnight. Keep learning, keep experimenting, and most importantly, keep building your skills and network.

Good luck on your journey!