If you are interested in marketing and want to embark on a career in this field, there is a good chance you will end up in a digital marketing role. These days, digital marketing plays such a major role in the overall marketing and advertising industry, with subsets ranging from SEO and content marketing to social media, email, and beyond.
Is digital marketing a good career option for you? With a better understanding of what digital marketing entails and how to get into digital marketing, you can determine whether you may want to enter this exciting line of work that’s full of potential.
What Is Digital Marketing?
According to the American Marketing Association, “digital marketing refers to any marketing methods conducted through electronic devices which utilize some form of a computer, including online marketing efforts conducted on the internet.”
Digital marketing can involve a wide range of components that include:
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising
- Content marketing
- Social media marketing
- Email marketing
- Affiliate marketing
What Does a Digital Marketer Do?
What is a digital marketing job in practice? The exact role of a digital marketer can vary greatly depending on many factors, including job title and level of experience. However, all digital marketers share a similar end goal of focusing on specific strategies and objectives to drive a brand’s online presence and marketing efforts.
Below is a sampling of some of the most common jobs in digital marketing and the type of work performed:
- SEO specialist – Optimizes website content to improve ranking in search engine results. They also conduct keyword research, analyze competitors, and implement technical site optimizations.
- Content marketer – Develops a content strategy aligned with short-term and long-term marketing targets. These creatives may produce, edit, and promote content across various channels — including blogs, videos, and social media posts.
- Social media manager – Manages a company’s interactions with the public by implementing social media campaigns, analyzing engagement data, and interacting with customers on social media platforms.
- Pay-per-click (PPC) analyst – Manages and optimizes pay-per-click advertising campaigns, including strategy, design, bid management, and performance analysis.
- Email marketing specialist – Designs email marketing campaigns, tests and optimizes emails, manages subscriber lists, and analyzes the performance of the campaigns.
- Affiliate marketer – Sets up and manages affiliate programs, recruits affiliates, tracks the performance of affiliate campaigns, and optimizes the affiliate marketing strategy.
- Digital marketing manager – Develops and oversees overall digital marketing strategy, coordinates activities of various digital marketing roles, and ensures campaigns meet business objectives.
- Influencer marketing manager – Identifies and engages with influencers who align with the brand’s audience. They also negotiate partnerships and manage collaborative content creation and campaign execution.
- Conversion rate optimizer – Utilizes analytics tools to test and improve the effectiveness of online content and marketing campaigns. These professionals implement strategies like A/B testing, user feedback, and usability testing.
- Data analyst – Analyzes data from various digital marketing campaigns to evaluate their effectiveness and uses statistical tools to decipher trends and patterns.
Why Choose a Career in Digital Marketing?
Digital marketing not only aligns well with the skill set developed through a marketing BBA but also offers a broad, adaptable, and exciting career path that is highly relevant and in-demand in today’s digital world.
Here are just a few reasons to consider a career in digital marketing:
- High demand for digital marketers – As people continue to rely on the internet for their everyday needs, the demand for digital marketing professionals is expected to rise steadily. Businesses are increasingly focusing on enhancing their online presence, leading to abundant job opportunities and robust job security in the field of digital marketing.
- Diverse career opportunities – As you can see from the aforementioned digital marketing jobs, there are plenty of diverse career opportunities available. This means you can explore the specific areas of the field most interesting to you and even enjoy the flexibility to switch roles throughout your career as your goals and interests evolve.
- Creative and dynamic work environment – If you are looking for a career path that allows you to flex your creative muscles and enjoy a fair amount of freedom in your work, digital marketing could be an excellent choice for you. This innovative industry is a welcome place for creative and out-of-the-box thinkers.
- Accessibility of entry-level positions – Compared to other fields, the digital marketing industry offers relatively low barriers to entry. This means you may have an easier time finding an entry-level job out of school, with the potential for remote work and other flexible opportunities as well.
- High earning potential – Digital marketers often enjoy competitive salaries and unique benefits. Compensation can vary based on factors such as experience, specialization, and geographic location, but the field offers numerous opportunities for financial growth. Additionally, many digital marketers have the option to pursue freelance work, providing flexibility and the potential for increased earnings.
- Direct impact on business success – Another compelling reason to consider a career in digital marketing is the ability to see the direct results of your own work and efforts on the success of your clients. If you enjoy taking on a strategic role and being able to see a measurable impact with your work, this could be a great career path for you.
- Continuous learning and professional development – Finally, because the digital marketing realm is constantly changing and evolving, there are always fresh opportunities for professional growth. If you are the type of person passionate about continuous learning, then you’ll always have something to strive toward and something new to learn as a digital marketing professional.
How to Become a Digital Marketer
With all this in mind, you might be wondering how to break into the field of digital marketing or even how to start a digital marketing company of your own.
Although, as stated above, digital marketing has a relatively low barrier to entry, you will still need to meet some basic requirements and possess some key skills to succeed in this line of work. Some of the more crucial skills you will need in digital marketing include:
- Leadership and management skills
- Financial and business acumen
- Strategic thinking
- Analytical skills
- Communication (verbal and written), especially when it comes to being able to collaborate with other marketers and clients
- Solid decision-making skills
- Strong people skills, especially when dealing with different personalities
- Understanding of business operations
- Customer relationship management
- Solid foundation in information technology
- Digital skills (knowledge of social media, email, and other platforms used for marketing)
For many looking to enter the field, a logical course of action is to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from a reputable college or university. A BBA in marketing can provide students with the comprehensive foundation in business principles and practices highly transferable and beneficial in a marketing career. Plus, with more marketing firms looking to hire professionals with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in marketing or a related field, having this kind of designation can really help you launch your career in the right direction.
Depending on the specific digital marketing role for which you are applying, work experience in the field may also be required. This is where choosing a BBA in marketing with a hands-on work experience placement can be helpful, too. This will enable you to graduate with experience in a digital marketing work environment under careful supervision and guidance.
Start a Digital Marketing Career with a BBA in Marketing at Baker
Working in digital marketing can lead to a rewarding and dynamic career. Whether you are more interested in paid advertising, SEO, or content marketing, there is likely a digital marketing role out there that suits you well. Meanwhile, having a strong background with a marketing BBA can also prepare you to work your way up to managerial and leadership positions in this field.
If you are still looking for a BBA in marketing program that accommodates your needs and interests while preparing you for a career in digital marketing, our College of Business offers a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis on marketing. This program can be completed in an average of four years and is available exclusively online, so you can tackle your studies from anywhere with the flexibility and versatility you need.
The program curriculum for our BBA in marketing combines classroom learning and firsthand experience to prepare you for the realities of the digital marketing field. This includes courses on business analytics, marketing strategy and design, and one 120-hour direct work experience. Learn more about Baker College’s online BBA in marketing by contacting our admissions team today. Ready to apply? You can get started with your online application for enrollment now.