DIGITAL MARKETING AS A CAREER
Living in 2020, we all collectively agree this is an age of the Internet.
From the moment we open our eyes in the morning, the Internet proves itself to be a handy tool for the entire day.
A report from the Internet and Mobile Association of India says India has the second most number of Internet users. Surprising or not, but we spend our entire day consuming digital content from the Internet.
With social media, there is no stop to it. And in a world, where everything is turning digital, it is hard to not know about Digital Marketing.
Digital Marketing has been in the business since the 1990s but it has picked up a boom in the last few years as much as the term Social Media.
So, What is Digital Marketing?
In a simple language, it is an art and science of using digital mediums to market products or services.
The traditional methods of marketing: television, radio, billboards, newspapers, magazines, etc. were quite influential too, right?
Then, why this shift to Digital Marketing?
Well, here’s why.
You must have heard a customer is considered a king of the market. Why? Because business evolves on the basis of what the customer is using.
And today, the Internet is what everyone is fueling on. A survey shows 63% of the students use a smartphone for 4 to 7 hours daily. Another study reveals an Indian user spends 4x time being online on smartphones than that of being offline.
Not just individuals, but even businesses have gone digital. Be it any industry, digitalization has become a priority. And why not?
- Every business wants to gain as many eyeballs as possible. The visibility factor is the start of many other factors and the Internet provides you a platform where you can cater as much audience as you want
- The online research. What do you do before buying anything? You Google it, right? Around 90% of people research a product or service online before making a decision.
- Not restricted to geography. The sky is actually the limit to your business market when using digital platforms.
Easy access to customers. They have your details at the tip of their fingers. How convenient does it make the process of communication?
- Last, but definitely not least. The survival of your business. When every other company is going digital, how else do you reckon you are going to sustain in the competition?
Whether big or small, every organization is, therefore, dealing with the market online which has turned Digital Marketing into a growing and flourishing career option.
With Digital Marketing becoming a genre of business, job opportunities are bound to explode. Job portals like Naukri.com, Shine.com, Timesjobs.com, etc. show a total of around 5,94,960 jobs in India in Digital Marketing.
In the ranking of future jobs in demand by a website Mapped Skills, Digital Marketing holds the position at the no. 8. Many websites hold the same result. It is also said that Digital Marketing is now expected to create over 20 lacs of job per year.
In the times when the unemployment rate is increasing, what do you think is better than opting for a career choice whose demand is seemingly increasing over the years?
As of now, Digital Marketing isn’t a part of the Indian Education system. It is not taught as a subject in schools neither is there a fully-fledged specialization adopted by Indian universities.
There are diploma courses and several Digital Marketing training institutes. Some Business schools like IIM has also started providing crash courses in Digital Marketing.
What are the Advantages of choosing a career in Digital Marketing?
- A Growing & In-demand Industry – The Internet, being the core of it, the Digital Marketing industry is growing faster than ever. The Internet audience is consuming content within seconds. It is being used in every front – be it politics, entertainment industry, medical field, technology, or science. And with the Government of India initiated the campaign for digitalization all over the country in 2015, India has seen a significant rise in digital empowerment.
- High Pay Profile – The industry is highly demanding right now and with professionals not being enough in numbers, you have the advantage of gearing yourself in a career where demand is higher than supply naturally resulting in the increment of the value of the article along with the price.
Marketing Hiring Trends 2018 report says that the demand for individuals in Digital Marketing is 59% but the supply lies at just 19%. Take a minute to imagine what kind of opportunities lies for a digital professional considering the gap.
And an individual with the right set of skills will always have the benefit of negotiating the pay scale.
- Embark your own journey – Unlike any other career option, where you need to hold a master’s degree or at least a bachelor’s degree or a diploma, Digital Marketing doesn’t hold you into these barriers.
You can start with as small as creating a social media presence. If you have got an interest in a particular subject, you can start your blogging platform. You have got various Digital Marketing Institutes giving you courses to learn or improve your skills.
- Flexibility – Digital Marketing celebrates the factor of flexibility like no other industry. It does not need to involve a room of equipment.
You can practically start your work just with your laptop and an Internet connection which becomes the reason for many companies allowing ‘Work from home’ benefitting the employees. The restraint of a 9-hour job, unlike in traditional jobs, does not exist in maximum Digital Marketing companies.
Companies are even keen on giving out a lot of freelancing opportunities that are practically feasible for employees.
- Creative and Experimental – In order to appeal to the masses, creativity has a lot of room in every aspect be it writing, design, or audio-video production.
Social Media is a major part of Digital Marketing and instrumental too, with every age group using it. I am sure you must have come across the social media creatives of Amul. And if not, check it out and look at the creativity they use in their content and designs. Several brands are doing the same and going crazy with the ideas.
Not just Social Media, even websites and blogging platforms fuels on creativity as no one on the Internet, having so many options, would waste his/her time on the content that’s plain words.
Therefore, creativity is welcomed with open arms in Digital Marketing and if you’re someone who loves to experiment and get creative with your ideas, Digital Marketing is for you, my friend!
Divisional verticals of Digital Marketing-
- Digital Marketing Manager
- Social Media Manager
- Content Writer
- Copywriter
- SEO Analyst
- Google Ads Analyst
- PPC Expert
- Web Developer and Web Designer
- Ecommerce Manager
With opportunities flooding, it is to be kept in mind that Digital Marketing is a dynamic industry. As the needs of the audience change, so do the job requirements in Digital Marketing. It needs an individual to be passionate and willing to change according to the external factors.
Digital Marketing is always going to have room for experiments and innovations of new methods and techniques making it a career with excellent long-term prospects.
The dynamic environment needs a constant advancement of the skills and the tools you use leading you to learn and earn at the same time and keeping you at your toes. And with various branches within, you can always push yourself to be the marketer of the next level.
Conclusion
There is no way the world is going back to the old ways of doing business.
Digitalization is only going to spread its wings and the market is more than ready to fill the gap of employees working in this flourishing field.
It is the best time for self-examination and future-proof your career by working on the best of your skills and strengths.
Digital Marketing has announced itself to be a thriving career choice and all you need to do is sharpen your skills and prepare yourself to market them in the Digital Marketing industry.
