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Digital marketing has exploded in popularity over the past decade and become one of the most in-demand career fields today. As more business moves online, the need for digital marketing professionals who can connect brands with customers through things like social media, content creation, email marketing, and search engine optimization has skyrocketed.
So if you’re considering potential career paths, you may be wondering: is digital marketing really a good career choice today? The short answer is yes – here are some of the key reasons why digital marketing is poised to be one of the best fields you can get into if you live in the USA.
Huge Demand and Job Growth
Recent data shows that demand for digital marketing talent is growing at an incredible pace. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in digital marketing are expected to grow by over 11% through 2026, which is much faster than the average job growth across all industries.
Some specific digital marketing roles are growing even faster. For example, jobs for search engine optimization specialists are slated to grow by 14% over the next decade. Social media marketing roles are expected to balloon by over 23% in the same timeframe.
This exponential growth is fueled by the fact that consumers are spending more and more time online – and businesses know they need a strong digital presence to reach them. As companies continue to shift their marketing budgets from traditional channels like print and TV to digital, thousands of new job openings are emerging every year.
Simply put – if you get the right digital marketing skills, you’ll be in very high demand.
Lucrative Salaries
Another major perk of digital marketing is that it offers very competitive salaries right out of the gate. According to Glassdoor, the average entry level digital marketer in the United States earns about $72,000 per year. With just a few years of experience under your belt, it’s possible to earn $100,000 or more annually.
Few other careers offer that kind of earning potential without needing years of schooling. The fact that many digital marketing roles emphasize hands-on skills over formal credentials means you can start making a strong salary more quickly.
Higher level and executive digital marketing jobs come with even more impressive paydays. CMOs at major corporations often make well into the six figures. And owing to the high demand for digital marketing pros, employers are willing to pay top dollar for talent.
Variety of Career Paths
Another major benefit of digital marketing is that it encompasses a wide range of career paths. Here are just some of the popular options you can pursue:
- SEO Specialist – Help businesses improve website visibility in search engines through keyword research, site optimization, link building, and more.
- Social Media Manager – Create social content and campaigns to grow brands’ followers and engagement on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
- Email Marketer – Design and manage email campaigns to connect with customers and nurture leads.
- Content Marketer – Create blogs, videos, and other formats to attract website visitors and improve search rankings.
- PPC Manager – Run pay-per-click ads through Google AdWords and other platforms to get in front of motivated customers.
- Web Analytics Analyst – Measure site traffic, conversion rates, and other metrics to gauge campaign success and find areas for improvement.
- Digital Marketing Manager – Oversee all digital initiatives from SEO to email across multiple channels and campaigns.
No matter what your specific interests are, there is likely a digital marketing career path that aligns with it. And it’s easy to transition between specialties – skills like data analysis, copywriting, and project management apply across many roles.
Opportunity to Be Creative
Digital marketing also appeals to those with a creative streak. While grounded in data and results, digital marketing ultimately comes down to creating content, experiences, and campaigns that resonate with an audience.
Jobs like content marketing and social media management let you flex your creative muscles every day. Even more analytical roles like PPC and web analytics involve crafting narratives using data – allowing creativity into the mix.
This marketing/creative hybrid is part of what makes digital marketing so interesting and engaging as a career choice. You’re able to use both the logical and imaginative parts of your brain.
Fast-Paced, Dynamic Work
Are you someone who likes variety and fast movement in your work? If so, the ever-changing nature of digital marketing may appeal to you.
Unlike some corporate desk jobs where you handle the same duties day after day, digital marketing is an agile field where strategies shift constantly. Trends, algorithms, platforms, and technologies are always emerging – requiring marketers to continually adapt and learn new skills.
Rather than doing the same tasks on autopilot, each day in digital marketing brings new challenges to overcome. You’ll have to regularly analyze campaign data, research new tactics, and stay on top of changes from Google, Facebook, and other digital powers.
This fast-paced change keeps the work engaging. You’ll never be bored!
Opportunity to Learn Cutting-Edge Skills
Speaking of constant change – if you want to build modern skills that will thrive into the future, digital marketing is a great option. Much of the field revolves around leveraging emerging technologies.
Here are some examples of cutting-edge abilities digital marketing will teach:
- Artificial intelligence and big data analytics
- Voice search optimization
- Virtual and augmented reality
- Conversational marketing through chatbots
- Connected device and internet of things marketing
- Blockchain applications for advertising
Rather than skills that may become outdated down the road, digital marketing teaches you to fluently apply emerging tech. Your knowledge will stay relevant for years to come.
Ability to Work Remotely
Many digital marketing roles also come with the option to work remotely full-time if desired. Perks like flexible schedules and telecommuting make digital marketing an appealing field for those who value autonomy and work-life balance.
While some companies still on-site staff for things like strategy meetings and brainstorming sessions, the typical 9-5 office job is quickly becoming a thing of the past in digital marketing. Results matter more than physical presence.
As long as you have a computer and internet connection, you can handle most digital marketing work from anywhere. That gives you the freedom to work from home or even travel while on the job.
Strong Job Security
Marketing itself has been around for centuries, but the demand for digital marketing talent shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, more than half of all marketing budgets are now devoted to digital activities according to Nielsen data.
And as long as people continue engaging online and through devices, companies will need digital marketing expertise. Even traditional businesses need digital marketers who understand analytics, social platforms, and other digital realms that are now essential to reaching consumers.
This means investing in a digital marketing career sets you up with skills that will remain very relevant long into the future. While some careers plateau, digital marketing shows no signs of peaking anytime soon.
Ability to Help Businesses Succeed
Part of what makes digital marketing so fulfilling is the ability to see your impact on real organizations. When you improve a website’s search traffic or increase conversions from an email campaign, you can directly witness how you helped that company increase visibility and sales.
Seeing your work translate into tangible business success is incredibly rewarding. And knowing that you played a key role in achieving those results provides a sense of accomplishment.
Digital marketing certainly offers plenty of analytical challenges. But the fact that your skills have real-world applications makes the work much more meaningful.
Be Part of the Digital Future
Hopefully this gives you a good overview of why digital marketing is poised to be one of the most exciting and rewarding careers in the years ahead. To summarize, some of the key benefits include:
- Massive growth in job opportunities
- Very competitive salaries
- Variety of career paths to choose from
- Taps into creativity and strategy
- Fast-paced, always changing work
- Cutting-edge skills that will stay relevant
- Ability to work remotely
- Strong job security
- Help drive business success
- Opportunity to shape the digital future
If you’re motivated by challenges, interested in marketing, and want to build skills that will only become more valuable with time, it’s hard to beat digital marketing as a career choice today.
Now is the time to start your digital marketing journey! With some hands-on training and certifications, you can be positioned for an exciting and lucrative career in this high-demand field.