You may not have realised, but digital marketing encompasses a wide range of skills, including copywriting, editing, email marketing, social media, search engine optimisation, video production, analytics, content management, user experience and business strategy. A long list you’ll agree.
This means that there is a wide variety of career options for anyone who has a qualification in digital marketing, and students with the skills will be in demand from the beginning of their careers.
Because of the wide range of business needs met by a marketer, demand for digital marketing skills outstrips supply. A report last year showed that 69% of companies planned to hire more marketers in 2018.
As businesses access new markets through online channels, they need employees who can help to build their online trading and commerce capabilities.
For those starting their careers or students with limited work experience, or anyone returning from a career break, digital marketing offers a chance to build your ‘brand’ in your own time, even before setting foot in a workplace. Building a strong social media presence and starting a blog or YouTube channel that is visible on search engines to show off your new skills mean you can create your own portfolio to demonstrate your success and engagement with the public to prospective employers.
For example, Dublin based fashion illustrator, Holly Shortall got noticed when she tweeted her illustrations to celebrities online. A number of glossy magazines and top fashion brands then approached her and commissioned her work.
Entrepreneurs and owners of small businesses can also use these skills to sell their new products. As 88% of online experiences start with a search engine, learning how to optimise your website for search engines will help you get seen online. Online advertising is a crucial skill to learn for business owners, to help reach targeted audiences in all markets.
So how do I get started?
ICDL has developed a new digital marketing module with input from practising digital marketing professionals from all over the world to help prepare you for this exciting sector.
The Digital Marketing module sets out the fundamentals of digital marketing. It covers areas such as creating a web presence, optimising content for search engines, using social media platforms, selling online, different types of advertising, as well as monitoring and improving campaigns using analytics.
Successful candidates will be able to define different elements of digital marketing, understand what goes into a campaign and identify the typical goals used. ICDL modules focus as much on skill acquisition as on the understanding of concepts. Having successfully completed this module, candidates will feel confident carrying out digital marketing tasks effectively and efficiently. The syllabus is standardised and vendor-independent, so skills are always transferrable.
Begin your digital marketing career today
Now you can see that everyone needs to know digital marketing, take the next step and sign up for the ICDL Digital Marketing module. You can learn at your own pace and you’ll receive a verified digital certificate upon completion. Get in touch at https://www.icdl.ie/contact/ or call us on 01 23 777 99.
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