Tips for Succeeding in the World of
Digital and Social Media Marketing
Digital and social media marketing are the young upstarts in the broader fields of marketing in general and advertising, but they have demonstrated that they are here to stay. They have a number of elements that make them attractive to brands, including their relatively low cost, the opportunity for innovation, and the chance to gather data on customers and better serve their needs. This is a great time to get into the marketing field with a focus on these areas, and the tips below can help you succeed.
Getting Your Education
The first thing you’ll need to do is get a degree. Many companies require a bachelor’s degree even for entry-level positions, so you’ll have a lot more opportunity once you get one. Digital marketing programs are still not very common although a few schools offer them, but you can take classes on it and related topics under the umbrella of a regular marketing degree. In fact, this might be preferable anyway since it may give you a broader sense of the overall field.
Many hesitate to pursue a career that requires college because of the cost. However, there are several different ways you can pay for it, including taking out student loans. An even better option is college scholarships since you don’t have to repay these. You may be surprised at how many different types of scholarships you find when you search and apply online. Be sure to apply for a variety of them, both large and small, to increase your chances of an award.
Get Experience
As a student, you may want to look into internships. This can be an excellent way to get your feet wet in the real world of social media and digital marketing and do some networking. However, even if an internship isn’t possible for you, you can find other ways to get experience and build a professional network including creating and maintaining your own accounts. You could also offer to create a digital marketing plan for free for a local business or as a volunteer. Anything that gives you material for a portfolio that you can show to a potential employer is helpful.
Be Ready to Pivot
This is a fast-moving industry. The older you are, the more you may have a sense of the rapid rise and fall of various social media networks and both digital and social media trends based on your own experience; if you’re younger, you may have familiarity with whatever is currently popular but be prepared to shift with the market. Another challenge in this industry is that it can be tough to predict what will and won’t catch on, this is one reason it’s not uncommon to see big corporations sink money and effort into ultimately failed digital efforts. None of this needs to scare you off, and in fact, this is a scenario in which some people thrive. If this sounds exciting to you, get ready to pay attention to trends, be a good prognosticator and switch strategies quickly.
