We are living in a digital-first world. Any business, big or small, must have a strong online presence to be successful. As a result, the importance of digital marketing cannot be overlooked. Compared to traditional marketing, the digital route is more accessible even for the smallest of startups. Anyone can post an ad with a minimal budget on platforms like Facebook or Instagram. So, there is no excuse to get your journey started with digital marketing. And if you’re smart, you can reach a broad audience in a short time.
Digital marketing isn’t only beneficial for businesses. You can master this skill and help organisations as a freelancer or in a full-time position. There’s no doubt that digital marketing has created countless jobs, and there is still a growing market waiting for you to get in.
So, how do you start? Truth be told – the world of digital marketing is vast, and starting can be intimidating. Not to worry, as this blog can act as a guide for you to take the first step. We will give you a complete roadmap on how to start learning digital marketing.
We have already discussed the importance of digital marketing; now, it’s time to go deeper into that. It’s especially important to point out why learning digital marketing is still a viable career path. Even if you’re not pursuing a career in the marketing sphere, having a good idea in this field will help your future business ventures.
The global market for digital marketing is estimated to reach a whopping 1.5 trillion by 2030, compared to 608.5 billion in 2023. This growing figure indicates that the demand for digital marketing professionals will not end anytime soon. In fact, it’s about to grow even more, and more and more businesses need the help of marketers for their growth. Therefore, this is the best time to get into the marketing field if you haven’t already.
Once you master digital marketing, the opportunities are endless. Not only are you going to be a valuable asset in a marketing position in any company, but you can also work remotely as a freelancer. Not a fan of working under anyone? Then, you can start your own business, and your marketing skills will take your brand to the next level.
Only 17% of businesses have a clearly defined digital marketing strategy, which means you can beat your competitors with a clear strategy. Currently, better marketing means more visibility and more profit. As a result, there is no alternative to mastering this skill.
Ready to start mastering digital marketing? Not too fast! As we have pointed out before, the world of marketing is vast, like a sea. That’s why you need a clearly defined set of goals that you want to achieve, and we will help you out with that in this section.
Before you jump into the ocean of digital marketing, ask yourself these two questions:
If you run a firm or are an entrepreneur, your priorities should be on the abilities directly influencing the growth of your brand. These include Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising for instant traffic, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for raising the visibility of your website, and Social Media Marketing (SMM) for interacting with your audience. Tracking performance and forming data-driven decisions depend on learning analytics as well.
If you want to work as a freelancer, you should look for skills that clients want. Focusing on areas like SEO, content marketing, social media management, or email marketing will set you apart. Mastery of client communication, creating a solid portfolio, and networking will also be absolutely vital for your success as a freelancer.
Broad knowledge of digital marketing is crucial if you wish to pursue a career in this field. Those who can manage several tasks—such as conducting campaigns, content management, and data analysis—are much sought after by companies. Starting as a generalist lets you investigate several facets of digital marketing before choosing a field of expertise.
Digital marketing is not just about showing ads on social media; there are a lot of sections under its wing. You can’t possibly get into this world without choosing a focus area. Here are the different fields you can get into –
If you’re interested in dealing with websites and improving their rankings on search engines, then SEO is the field for you. Search engine optimization (SEO) is all about improving website visibility on platforms like Google and securing more organic traffic.
Interested in dealing with social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X? Then you’ll enjoy social media marketing (SMM) where you will not only be involved in creating relevant and meaningful content but also run targeted ad campaigns for businesses.
Paid campaigns can drive quick results and boost sales. It’s one of the easier fields to get into, but the competition is fierce. If you’re a business owner, then PPC will take a lot more funding than other marketing methods in the long term.
If you are more interested in creating content like blog posts, ebooks, and videos, then content marketing is your field. In this subsection, you will work on creating content that connects a business with its audience. Such content can also be useful for SEO and SMM.
Emails are a great way to reach and communicate with existing customers or leads. With 4 billion daily email users, this field is huge. With email marketing, you will build effective campaigns, create catchy email copies, segment an audience, and analyse data.
If statistics and data thrill you, analytics is a rewarding focus area in digital marketing. In this profession, you will be involved in collecting, analysing, and interpreting data to gauge campaign success and maximise plans for improved performance.
Once you have focused on which field of digital marketing you want to pursue, it’s time to plan your learning path. The good news is that there are numerous resources available to help you get started—many of them completely free. Let’s check some options for your digital marketing learning paths below.
Online courses are one of the most efficient ways to learn about anything, especially digital marketing. When you have decided on your focus areas, you can enrol in an online course to get started. Sikkhon courses, made by professionals and academic teachers with a clear learning path, can be the right place for you.
Self-study using free materials is a flexible and affordable approach to learning digital marketing for people who would rather learn alone. From beginner-friendly advice to sophisticated techniques, the internet is overflowing with excellent material produced by industry specialists. Here’s how you might use free resources to grow in knowledge:
Blogs and online articles are excellent for staying updated with the latest digital marketing trends, tools, and strategies. Leading marketers and organisations share their expertise, making it easier for you to learn and apply new techniques.
For SEO tips, content marketing, email campaigns, social media, and analytics, check out Sikkhon blogs or blogs available on websites like Moz, Neil Patel, and HubSpot.
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YouTube channels are also a great method of learning about digital marketing. Some people can learn better visually, and channels like Ahrefs provide playlists where you can enjoy a structured learning environment for free.
Although theoretical knowledge has great value, digital marketing is a skill best learned by experience. Practical experience lets you apply techniques, play around with tools, and learn what works in real-world situations. Here’s how you begin to gain practical knowledge and grow in experience:
One of the best ways to gain practical knowledge is by starting a personal project where you can test your skills.
These projects act as a playground where you can experiment without fear of failure, allowing you to learn by trial and error.
Put the theories you’ve studied into practice by trying out different digital marketing techniques.
Nothing compares to the insights you gain from working with real clients or companies.
Once you have gained some knowledge or experience in the digital marketing field, you can choose to get certified. Having a certification is great for getting employment opportunities as you have proof of your knowledge. Although education and practical experience are vital, certificates prove your seriousness about what you do and verify your experience to possible employers or clients. They not only give your resume legitimacy but also show your will to keep current with tools and industry developments.
Here are some of the most recognised certifications that can boost your credibility in digital marketing:
In a field crowded with professionals, certifications make you a standout candidate. They act as proof of your dedication and proficiency in specific areas of digital marketing.
"Learn the fundamentals of digital marketing, from SEO to social media, and discover how to reach and engage your audience effectively."
Learn SEO basics, from search engines to key strategies like on-page, off-page, and technical SEO, to boost website ranking and traffic.
Learn digital marketing with a step-by-step guide. Explore key areas like SEO, PPC, SMM, and more to grow your business, freelance, or land a job.
Learn what social media marketing (SMM) is, its importance, and how it works to boost business growth, engagement, and SEO results effectively.
Learn how content marketing drives digital success by boosting engagement, SEO, lead generation, and brand loyalty with blogs, videos, and visuals.
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