Why you should learn digital marketing: 10 reasons
With varied job roles, flexible working and increasing demand, see why digital marketing is a great industry to join and where to start.
As more businesses move online and innovative new technologies keep developing, the growth in digital marketing continues to surge. The way we communicate and interact with brands is now predominantly done online, which means businesses that don’t utilise digital marketing tools will inevitably get left behind.
A digital marketing strategy is now an essential part of any successful business, as companies look to target the 78% of internet users that conduct product research online. This means that businesses are allocating more money towards their digital marketing efforts than ever before and recruiting expert digital marketers to help propel their company forward.
This is why you should learn digital marketing, so you can fill this skills gap, contribute to raising a brand’s awareness and open up new economic opportunities for businesses.
In this article, we will explain why digital marketing could be the career choice for you. We’ll look at the main reasons why you should choose digital marketing and explore the online courses that are available to further your learning.
What is digital marketing?
Digital marketing has become the most effective way of promoting a brand to customers. It is now widely used by successful businesses that want to spread information about their products or services to as many potential customers as possible. Some of the main digital marketing types include:
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- Social media
- Content
- Pay-per-click (PPC)
- Influencer
Businesses rely heavily on digital marketing strategies in order to target the huge amount of people that now shop online. Whether it’s on a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or any other digital device, the majority of shoppers now browse online rather than in physical stores.
If you choose digital marketing, you’ll be able to help drive a brand forward and make the business more profitable. The opportunities for digital marketers are plentiful, which is why digital marketing is fast becoming a popular career choice, with approximately 7,661 digital advertising agencies in the UK to choose from in 2023.
10 reasons why you should learn digital marketing
So, the evidence so far is clear; digital marketing is on the up and now is a great time to apply for a job in the sector. However, if you still need convincing, we have collated the top 10 reasons why learning digital marketing is worthwhile.
1. Relatively easy to get on the career ladder
The barrier to entry for digital marketers isn’t too much of an obstacle, with plenty of entry-level positions available to those that don’t have much experience in the field. Having the right qualifications and experience will obviously help, but getting your foot in the door is still possible without them.
If you’re a recent graduate or switching careers, then having the right skills and a positive, creative mindset will help your application. Basically, you shouldn’t be discouraged from choosing a career in digital marketing based on your background and experience, as there is scope to start from the bottom and work your way up.
2. High demand for digital marketers
As digital marketing continues to boom, the demand for digital marketers inevitably rises alongside it. In 2021, 225,000 people were employed in the advertising and marketing sub-sector and the number of digital advertising businesses in the UK has grown 6.1% per year on average between 2018 to 2023.
This is why digital marketing is a great option for employees that want plenty of choice and opportunity. Businesses now understand the importance of promoting their brand online and are expanding their digital marketing departments accordingly.
In the future, it’s likely that demand for digital marketers will continue to grow, which is why now is the time to start gaining the necessary qualifications and start learning more about the profession with expert-led digital marketing courses.
3. Varied job roles
One of the main advantages of choosing a career in digital marketing is the variety of different career paths available to you. Jobs in this sector are incredibly diverse, allowing you to specialise in social media, SEO, content, email, and so much more. No matter your primary skills and passions, you’re likely to find a role in digital marketing that suits your needs and encourages you to thrive.
It also makes switching roles easy, with plenty of transferable skills and knowledge between the various diverse career paths on offer. With digital marketing, you don’t have to worry about doing the same job at the same company for the rest of your life, with plenty of options to diversify.
4. Flexible working environment
Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, digital marketing companies were already beginning to roll out flexible working schemes. Now, it’s very uncommon for a job in digital marketing to not offer flexible working, with most companies offering you the opportunity to work from home. Some jobs will be fully remote, but a hybrid approach is often favoured.
It’s also a good career choice for those that would like to work as a freelancer. Due to the online nature of the role, you can pretty much work from anywhere in the world, which is why the profession is becoming so popular with digital nomads.
5. Develop new skills
There are so many diverse roles within digital marketing that you’re bound to be exposed to various roles that develop your skill set. A diverse set of skills is incredibly valuable in a competitive job market, which is why having as many strings to your bow as possible will benefit you enormously.
Whether it’s website development, content writing, social media production, SEO, or PPC, the digital skills you learn across these areas are all highly transferable. If you ever did decide to switch professions and leave the world of digital marketing, you can rest assured knowing the skills you learnt will help you in other sectors.
6. Competitive salaries
Money isn’t everything, but the competitive salaries offered in this profession will be one of the main reasons why people want to learn digital marketing. Digital marketing salaries are pretty high when compared to other industries, with plenty of earning potential for those that want to progress their career.
The average salary for digital marketing jobs in the UK is £37,500, but this will obviously rise significantly the more senior you are. As demand for digital marketers continues to grow and more money is spent by businesses on digital marketing, it’s expected that salary expectations will keep on rising.
7. Allows you to be creative
If you consider yourself to be a creative individual, then learning digital marketing will be right up your street. The role of a digital marketer allows you to combine your passion for creativity with your professional goals, whether you choose to specialise in videography, graphic design, copywriting, or any other field within the sector.
It’s likely that your job responsibilities will change week to week, allowing you to be creative across a variety of different roles and projects. Bold and innovative ideas are welcomed in the world of digital marketing, which means you can let your creative juices run free.
8. Rapid industry growth
The digital marketing profession continues to grow, as does the amount of money businesses spend in this field. In fact, in 2022 the overall digital marketing spending in the UK was £25.84 billion. This figure is rising every year and shows no sign of slowing down, so the future is bright for digital marketers.
As long as online technology continues to develop and our reliance on the internet doesn’t abate, then it’s hard to see how the digital marketing industry won’t continue to go from strength to strength.
9. Benefits team players and collaborators
Key digital marketing skills include being a team player and the ability to collaborate and communicate effectively. If these are all traits you possess and enjoy, then you’ll be a great fit. A lot of digital marketing roles involve strategy and tackling complex problems as a team.
Due to the diverse and varied nature of job roles, you’ll also find yourself working alongside other departments very closely and will often be expected to help out where appropriate.
Digital marketers tend to build strong working relationships and teams tend to be very close and supportive of one another. Learning digital marketing is a lot of fun and fortunately that enjoyment doesn’t stop when it comes to the day job.
10. Job security
The final reason why you should learn digital marketing and consider a career in the sector is arguably one of the most important. In a competitive job market and in an ever-changing world, job security is becoming increasingly sought after.
As we have already mentioned, the digital marketing industry continues to grow, demand is high, and job roles are incredibly varied, which all bode well in terms of career longevity.
Recently with the Covid-19 pandemic, we witnessed a lot of sectors struggling to cope, but this wasn’t the case with digital marketing, as even more companies focused their marketing efforts online.
If you want to embark on a career with ample opportunities, the ability to progress your career, and good job security prospects, then choosing to become a digital marketer would be a savvy move.
Why you should learn digital marketing: additional courses
Hopefully, it’s now a little clearer why you should learn digital marketing and the benefits of doing so. In this article, we have included 10 of the best reasons why digital marketing is such an excellent career choice, but we could’ve easily extended that list.
At FutureLearn, we offer a variety of digital marketing courses to help further your learning and ensure you have the knowledge and know-how to make your career as a digital marketer a success.
Below, you can find some courses that will help you learn all about digital marketing and get you one step closer to beginning a successful and long career in the profession.
- Digital Skills: Digital Marketing by Accenture
- Get Started With Digital Marketing by Coventry University
- Introduction to Digital Marketing by The Open University & Target Internet
- Master Digital Marketing Strategy by The Left Bank
- Fundamentals of Digital Marketing by FutureLearn & HubSpot
- Digital Copywriting Fundamentals by The Open University & Target Internet
- Creative Strategy for Emerging Digital Media by Ravensbourne University London & Moving Brands
- Digital Marketing Analytics and Measurement by The Open University & Target Internet
- Digital Marketing Content Creation by The Open University & Target Internet
- Email Marketing eCRM by The Open University & Target Internet
- Social Media Marketing by The Open University & Target Internet
- Online Display Advertising by The Open University & Target Internet.
