Here’s a brief list of what Digital Marketing Specialists do:

• Digital Strategy Development: Develop and implement digital marketing strategies aligned with business goals and target audience preferences.

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimize website content, meta tags, and structure to improve organic search engine rankings and drive traffic.

• Paid Advertising Campaigns: Create and manage pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns on platforms like Google Ads, Bing Ads, or social media advertising (e.g., Facebook Ads, LinkedIn Ads).

• Social Media Marketing: Plan and execute social media campaigns to build brand awareness, engage followers, and drive traffic to websites or landing pages.

• Content Marketing: Develop and distribute valuable and relevant content (e.g., blog posts, articles, videos) to attract and retain target audiences.

• Email Marketing: Design and execute email campaigns, including segmentation, automation, A/B testing, and performance analysis to nurture leads and retain customers.

Here’s how YOU can become one:

1. Earn a Relevant Degree or Certification:

• Bachelor’s Degree: Obtain a degree in marketing, communications, business administration, or a related field. A solid educational foundation in marketing principles, consumer behavior, and digital technologies is beneficial.

• Certifications: Consider earning certifications such as Google Ads Certification, Facebook Blueprint Certification, HubSpot Content Marketing Certification, or others relevant to your area of specialization. These certifications validate your skills and knowledge in specific digital marketing tools and platforms.

2. Develop Key Digital Marketing Skills:

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Learn to optimize websites for search engines to increase organic traffic and improve search engine rankings.

• Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising: Gain proficiency in managing PPC campaigns on platforms like Google Ads (formerly Google AdWords), Bing Ads, or social media advertising platforms.

• Social Media Marketing: Understand how to create and manage social media campaigns across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.

• Email Marketing: Learn email marketing strategies to build and nurture customer relationships through effective email campaigns.

• Content Marketing: Develop skills in creating and promoting content (blogs, articles, videos, infographics) to attract and engage target audiences.

• Analytics and Data Interpretation: Familiarize yourself with digital analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) to track and analyze campaign performance, measure KPIs, and optimize marketing strategies based on data insights.

• Digital Advertising: Understand the fundamentals of digital advertising, including display advertising, remarketing, and programmatic advertising.

1. Internships and Entry-Level Positions:

• Internships: Seek internships at digital marketing agencies, marketing departments of companies, or startups to gain hands-on experience in various aspects of digital marketing.

• Entry-Level Roles: Start as a digital marketing assistant, social media coordinator, PPC specialist, or content writer to learn the ropes of digital marketing campaigns and strategies.

2. Freelance Projects and Personal Branding:

• Freelance Work: Take on freelance digital marketing projects or work with small businesses to build a portfolio and gain practical experience.

• Personal Branding: Develop your personal brand online through a professional website or portfolio showcasing your digital marketing skills, achievements, and case studies of successful campaigns.

  This is a very brief and general plan. To know your specific academic path for this career please talk to an advisor at the college or program you plan on attending!