“What is digital marketing and what do I need to know about it?” This is a question we hear all the time. Digital marketing has evolved into such a broad term that it’s hard to get your head around exactly what it entails, who does it and why they need this knowledge. Kids can also learn its basics by joining steam camps. Let’s try break down the elements of digital marketing and see what we can come up with.

With digital marketing, you will often hear the words SEO (Search Engine Optimization), SEM (Search Engine Marketing) and SMM (Social Media Marketing). These entire elements merge together to make up a good digital marketing strategy.

Digital marketing as career:

“Now that I know what elements make up digital marketing, how can I get started?” Well this is where you need to ask yourself a few questions.

What do you have access to? Do you have an existing social media following or contacts in the industry?

How can you add value to people’s lives? Think about a business or service you truly believe in and know a lot about.

What do people around you need? Maybe there is a gap in the industry your local area has been needing to be filled, so why not start something yourself!!

Finally, ask yourself what your passions are. If it isn’t social media marketing then don’t do it! It sounds simple but all too often we see people end up unhappy with their career because they chose it for the wrong reasons.

The digital world is ever changing and growing, so I suggest doing a bit of research around what you can do to start your own digital marketing journey. For example, if you have a local shop/ pub, or local business you can create a digital marketing strategy for them and start knocking on doors to get clients!

Warning: There are a lot of people out there who can do digital marketing, so if you want to stand out from the crowd and be successful, you need to do your homework! Don’t have unrealistic expectations because no one will pay you to post selfies or share random articles on Facebook. Really sit down and think about if this is what you want to do and how you can add value to people’s lives.

One more thing: Don’t be afraid of the digital world, it is entirely possible to make a living from starting your own small business online.

Here are some important tips to boost your digital marketing career:

Be patient:

The digital world is forever changing and evolving, so it’s important to stay on top of your game. If you feel like you’re falling behind or your skills are outdated then better invest in some training!

Be unique:

To truly succeed online today, you need to create something that stands out from the crowd. Whether you’re creating digital marketing campaigns for local businesses or starting your own small business online, just remember to think outside the box and be unique!

People don’t like salesy:

We live in a world where we are constantly being sold to. Whether it’s on our commute home from work, at the shops or scrolling through social media. No one really enjoys the hard sell and we don’t like being sold to constantly. So, to stand out you need to stop selling! Instead of trying to convince people that they “need” your service or product, offer them something valuable for free first. Then if they love it enough, ask if they want more of what you do.

Seek Feedback:

Without feedback we can’t grow and improve. Seek feedback from your peers and learn from it. Also, ask people you look up to how they achieved their success and what they would do if they started again.

Network:

If you think of yourself as an island then no one will want to work with you! We all need each other to succeed and no one person is the expert at everything. So get out there and meet people in your industry. You never know who can help you grow!

Attend events:

There are so many great networking events out there that can be a great place to start to develop connections with successful people within your industry or you can take courses or online tuitions for this, or to learn more about what you do.

Take Risks:

If you never take any risks then how can you expect to achieve success? Get out of your comfort zone!! Trust me; it’s so much better on the other side. Learning new things will help you grow exponentially as a person!

So, if social media marketing is what you’ve wanted to do for a long time now or even if you’ve just stumbled upon this article then I wish you the best. Digital marketing is a diverse industry and if you want to succeed it’s important to be passionate about what you do!

Learn to Adapt:

The digital world is constantly changing, so in order to stay successful you need to be able to adapt with the ever-changing landscape. Be willing to learn new skills and if necessary completely change direction!

Closing thoughts:

So there you have it! My tips and advice to kick start your digital marketing career. It’s a great industry and there are so many opportunities out there. Put in the hard work and don’t be afraid to take some risks, and just remember: Be patient!