How to Start a Career in SEO and Digital Marketing
SEO and digital marketing have been experiencing tremendous growth over the past couple of years, which means that skilled professionals in these fields are always in high demand.
More and more companies, including small businesses, are tapping into the power of digital marketing and SEO in order to promote their products and services on the internet. Given that the pandemic has brought about a significant shift in the way we shop – online channels have become increasingly popular.
Besides, even before COVID-19 introduced the concept of social distancing, 87% of shoppers started their product searches online.
Let’s talk about the steps you should take if you want to pursue a career in SEO and digital marketing.
Learn the Fundamentals of Digital Marketing
Digital marketing is an umbrella term, covering a wide variety of different digital disciplines, including content marketing, SEO, social media marketing, pay-per-click advertising, affiliate marketing, email marketing, to name just a few.
Since a good digital marketing manager should be versatile, it’s highly recommended that you learn the basics of all the above-mentioned channels and acquire the skills that can open the door for you to work in a digital marketing agency.
Of course, later on, you can narrow down your interests and become a specialist in a particular field. But since all these channels are intertwined, it's good to know how to combine them.
Build Your Own Website
There are several reasons why this is an indispensable step when it comes to your new career in digital marketing.
First of all, you’ll need a lot of real-life practice, so the best way to see how things really work and apply everything you’ve learned is to build your own website.
The goal of almost every campaign you’ll create and run for your clients will be to bring visitors to their websites and turn them into paying customers, either through SEO, PPC, social media, or any other digital channel.
In other words, most of your efforts will revolve around boosting website traffic.
One of the most important sections of your website should be your blog. No matter what you advertise and promote, content marketing is essential for educating your audience, offering solutions to their problems, and piquing their interest in your services.
Secondly, if you want to be a successful digital marketer, you need to build your online presence and reputation, and running a blog and optimizing it for search engines will showcase your expertise. It can be like your online portfolio.
Start Networking
Getting to know other digital marketers and connecting with them is crucial.
That’s how you’ll learn about the latest trends, find out about potential gigs, and generally speaking, become a part of the industry.
The more people you meet, the better you’ll be connected. For example, from some of these connections, you’ll get a tip on which training is worth investing in such as executive coaching or specific courses worth attending, while others may refer you to their clients or acquaintances.
Although the entire world has been practicing social distancing for over a year, it’s still possible to attend online networking events, leverage social media platforms and other communication channels for networking purposes.
Join Facebook or LinkedIn groups for digital marketing, start participating in discussions, and help others with your advice.
Create a Winning Resume
Before you start applying for any job or gig, you need to design a personalized resume.
This means that you’ll have to highlight the skills relevant for that particular position and align your pitch to the requirements of every specific application. You will find many types of digital marketing jobs on Jooble.
While applying for open positions in bulk might sound like a good idea when you’re looking for a job, it’s much better to make a selection, do your research, and tailor your resume and cover letter. Or you can even check the prospective companies’ websites and offer a couple of suggestions about how you would improve it.
This way, you’ll increase the odds that their recruitment specialists will take notice and invite you for an interview.
Accept Entry-Level Jobs
When you’re just starting your career in SEO and digital marketing, you’ll inevitably have to accept entry-level jobs if you want to learn and develop new skills.
The thing is that these junior positions are a necessity for all digital marketers during the early stages of their career because it’s very unlikely that someone would give you a big fat paycheck if you’re not a seasoned expert.
Get ready to work hard and learn all the time if you want to advance and get promoted.
Starting a career in SEO and digital marketing is a great idea, as you can expect a decent salary once you establish yourself as a skilled professional, growth opportunities are practically unlimited, and you can enjoy the advantages of working remotely. However, to get there, you’ll have to be persistent, dedicated, and willing to learn and work hard.
