How to become a Digital Marketer: a step by step guide

The Internet expansion represented the breaking down of barriers and the creation of numerous opportunities for professionals of all kinds.

Few areas, however, have gone through such a remarkable revolution as marketing, which today has a large part of its activities performed in the digital environment.

By using the most appropriate channels, the so-called Digital Marketing facilitates the relationship with the audience. It also allows companies of all sizes to increase the brand’s reach and improve business outcomes.

For the results to be positive, however, every company needs to count on excellent Digital Marketers.

It is an extremely active and dynamic market, requiring that marketers always stay tuned in to new trends and seize opportunities.

Want to know what you can do to enter the Digital Marketing industry and become an excellent professional? This guide will go over:

• What is Digital Marketing?
• What are the tasks of a Digital Marketer?
• What skills does a Digital Marketer need?
• How to become a Digital Marketer?

 

What is Digital Marketing?

Digital Marketing refers to a set of marketing activities carried out through the Internet. Its specific objectives vary according to the reality of the company.

Still, some are present in all cases, such as: attracting more business opportunities, creating positive relationships, and developing the brand identity.

Digital Marketing changes every day, and not only because of the various tools and channels available. 

To be successful in a digital strategy, the company must know how to effectively analyze things such as the influence of economics and politics on consumer purchasing decisions.

It must also closely monitor trends that may impact the wishes and needs of the public.

A variety of channels shapes Digital Marketing. Among them, blogs stand out, being one of the oldest formats for publishing content on the Internet.

Blogs are used for various purposes and are excellent for attracting and informing consumers. However, it is imperative to adopt a multi-channel strategy.

Social networks such as Facebook and Instagram are other essential channels for the development of a Digital Marketing strategy.

They have high engagement potential and enable the creation of campaigns to increase the brand’s reach. In many cases, such channels are used for customer service.

As you can see, Digital Marketing is very versatile and diverse. Therefore, having a professional capable of making safe and efficient decisions is a must for every business. They are responsible for developing, implementing, and managing digital strategies.

Do you want to know more about the tasks involved in the daily routine of a Digital Marketer? We will talk about it in the next topic.

 

What are the tasks of a Digital Marketer?

As you have already noticed, the presence of a Digital Marketer is valuable for the results of any company.

Marketers must be able to understand the business scenario and the audience, identifying the best strategies to impact the persona.

They must also be able to create campaigns and attract customers to the company’s channels, boosting engagement and conversion.

The general goal is to enrich the consumer experience since this is one of the most critical factors to achieve more sales.

Daily tasks of a Digital Marketer vary according to the guidelines of the company and the market in which it is inserted.

Next, we will show you some of the tasks you will face when you start your Digital Marketing career!

Staying on top of trends

Keeping up with the major trends in the area is a must for any professional, but it is even more relevant when we talk about digital marketers.

It’s just that in addition to knowing what’s new in the market, you’ll need to follow the changes in public behavior carefully.

Understanding, for example, the topics of most significant interest on the Internet is critical to create compelling content and attract traffic to the website.

The information speed in the digital era makes specific topics gain and lose relevance quickly. Therefore, it is essential to act promptly.

You will also need to keep an eye on the different types of content that impact consumer tastes.

Noting, for example, that video consumption is a growing trend on the Internet, the Digital Marketer must be prepared to respond to it.

Finding the most relevant channels

Another critical task for a Digital Marketer is to find the most appropriate channels to promote the brand and its products.

The good news is that there are several options, so it is a matter of knowing the audience and understanding their preferences.

It is important to emphasize that it is not necessary to limit your strategy to one channel.

In fact, it is highly recommended that you diversify your means of contact with the audience in order to promote richer and more engaging experiences.

That’s why a Digital Marketer must know how to deal with the public on different social networks.

Platforms like Instagram and Twitter are excellent channels for attracting and nurturing the audience, as well as very useful in the branding process.

We will talk about that in the next topic.

Carrying out branding efforts

To sell its products and services, a company must have the public’s trust. That has always been a fact, but the characteristics of the 4.0 consumer make it even more important.

Modern buyers pay enormous attention to the reputation of the companies they buy from.

Therefore, every company needs to create an identity for itself that makes it recognizable and differentiates it from its competitors.

And that is where the branding process comes in. The marketing department is responsible for taking care of the brand image, starting with establishing its identity.

It’s the Digital Marketer’s job to make that identity consistent in all channels and actions of the company, starting with the visual part.

Developing, establishing and managing a content strategy

According to a recent study released by HubSpot, 70% of marketers actively invest in Content Marketing efforts.

The potential for organic reach and the ability to nurture leads are factors that contribute to the strategy’s popularity.

Thus, a Digital Marketer needs to know the principles of content production and structure a plan of action.

Their job is to engage the audience and guide their journey along the marketing funnel, aiming at converting them into customers.

In order to manage a Content Marketing strategy, the professional needs to evaluate the results frequently. An essential part of the job is gathering and analyzing performance indicators, as well as executing the appropriate optimizations.

As you can see, a Digital Marketer has to deal with a lot of different situations, which requires a whole set of skills.

 

What skills does a Digital Marketer need?

After getting to know the core tasks of a Digital Marketer, you should already imagine some of the skills needed for the job, right?

It is crucial, for example, to have a good understanding of how digital channels such as blogs and social networks work. However, that is not all.

We are talking about a complicated job that requires both soft and hard skills. Read on to find out the most relevant ones!

Curiosity

Every marketer needs to be curious. Curiosity is an essential soft skill for keeping the professional on top of trends.

In an environment that keeps changing, a good Digital Marketer needs to have the interest and appetite for learning about new techniques, methods, and tools.

Persuasion skills

Regardless of the strategy employed, the ultimate goal of a Digital Marketer is to convince the audience of buying a product or service.

Therefore, it is essential to know how to identify and explore triggers that can persuade the customer to advance in the marketing funnel.

Creativity

Without creativity, marketing campaigns are useless. It is the element that differentiates a brand from competitors and makes consumers interested in their content. Thus, a Digital Marketer needs to be creative.

This skill, it’s worth remembering, is not only useful for the development of successful campaigns. Creativity is fundamental for making quick and efficient decisions that can directly impact business results.

Multitasking skills

It’s unlikely to see a Digital Marketer working on just one project. This job is all about multitasking, so be prepared to perform tasks simultaneously.

To do this, you will need to develop a sense of priority and define which duties are most important to the business.

Social media knowledge

Social media management is one of the many tasks that a Digital Marketer needs to perform. For this reason, it is essential to know today’s main platforms.

Each social network has unique characteristics, and knowing them is the only way to explore its full potential. The professional must also count on analytical skills to evaluate the results obtained and make the necessary strategic changes.

It is worth noting that it is not enough to use these channels just to reproduce content posted on the blog.

Social networks must be an active part of the consumer journey, encouraging engagement, and providing the required nurturing to enable conversion.

Content Marketing skills

As we have already mentioned, Content Marketing is one of the most relevant approaches in the current scenario. Thus, an excellent Digital Marketer must know how to implement and execute a content strategy, which starts with basic notions of SEO.

The professional must understand how a marketing funnel works and know how to attract leads organically.

They must also be competent in establishing a positive relationship with the prospects, turning them into loyal customers. 

 

How to become a Digital Marketer?

Well, now you know what a Digital Marketer does, understand the relevance of this position, and recognize the primary skills required for the job. Now, let’s pass on some fundamental tips for you to qualify and become a successful professional.

Learn from specialists

Seeking knowledge is key to success in any profession and could not be different in Digital Marketing.

Therefore, find out about the leading experts in this field and what they have to add. Many times, signing up for a course can be a big step in your marketing career.

However, if you still don’t feel confident about making this investment, don’t worry.

There are several free content on the Internet that can enrich your learning. You can look for blogs and Youtube channels that offer quality content.

Also, don’t forget the good old books. Below is a list of the must-reads:

• Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us, by Seth Godin;
• Epic Content Marketing, by Joe Pulizzi;
• Invisible Influence: The Hidden Forces that Shape Behavior, by Jonah Berger;
• Selling The Invisible, by Harry Beckwith;
• Jab, Jab, Jab Right Hook, by Gary Vaynerchuk.

Attend networking events

In addition to investing in your knowledge, it is crucial to get to know the right people. And the best thing is that you can do both by attending a Digital Marketing event.

Lectures, conferences, and on-site courses are excellent opportunities to meet the best professionals in the area and to network.

Attending these events is also vital for you to keep up to date with news and participate in constructive activities, such as workshops.

Often, contacts made on one of these occasions may represent the opening of opportunities in the future.

Find a Digital Marketing internship

Internships are excellent opportunities for you to taste the work environment and learn more about the profession.

Sometimes it can be a real challenge, but if competent professionals surround you, you will gain valuable practices that no book can teach.

Also, taking an internship is a way to improve your resume and thus get more opportunities in the future.

Your time as an intern will be useful for you to understand your skills and structure your career plan.

Practice continuous learning

Even successful professionals can become obsolete if they don’t practice continuous learning, even more, when we talk about Digital Marketing.

So, when you feel you’re good at something, try to improve it continuously.

Throughout your career, cultivate curiosity and a desire to learn. Make connections with other professionals and be aware of new trends and techniques.

It is always important to invest in courses and events that can represent a valuable experience for your professional trajectory.

Now that you know how to become a Digital Marketer, it’s time to act and start applying the tips we’ve passed along this post.

Remember that new techniques and tools come up often, so you need to keep an eye on what’s new. Other than that, it’s vital to network and focus on developing your skills.

When working with Digital Marketing, you’ll see different terms and expressions. See here the 18 Digital Marketing terms that all marketers need to know!