7 Digital Marketing Jobs for Beginners

Looking for a new job is always a challenge. But digital marketing jobs are on the rise and may be worth considering if you're looking to switch careers in midlife. Here are seven possibilities:

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If you know a lot about social media platforms and have spent a good deal of time using them, the job of a social media manager could be for you. It requires building a strategy for social media promotions and engaging users to follow social media accounts.

The jobs site Glassdoor says the average annual base pay for a social media manager is about $52,400.

To become a social media manager, you must understand social media algorithms and how to leverage them.

Other skills for this job:

• Image editing
• Understanding of the latest market trends
• Video marketing skills
• Google Analytics

You might find it useful to take courses or training before applying for this job. The Centro Institute offers a social media advertising certification program.

And Berkeley Institute has one in social media marketing strategies.

To become a marketing manager, you'll need the following skills:

• The ability to work in what are known as pay-per-click (PPC) platforms; PPC is an online advertising model where an advertiser pays a publisher every time someone clicks on its ad
• Basic skills in HTML (the basic language of web browsers)
• The ability to manage email marketing

Knowledge of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a plus and so are skills in Content Management Systems (CMS), the software applications to create, edit, collaborate and publish digital content.

The average annual salary of a beginner marketing manager is about $40,000, according to ReliableSoft. When you gain experience, you may be able to earn $70,000 or more.

There are plenty of online marketing programs for beginners at places like LinkedIn Learning, Google Digital Garage and the American Marketing Association.

There are several skills and backgrounds you'll need before applying for a position as a content marketing strategist:

• A certificate in content marketing
• Basic research and writing skills
• Knowledge of online marketing tools and SEO copywriting

Expect to earn about $35,000 per year as a content marketing specialist newbie, according to the ReliableSoft digital marketing agency.

Here, too, you can earn a certificate to learn the ABCs. The online education programs Coursera and Udemy offer courses to do it. 

If you enjoy speaking with people, resolving minor or major challenges and communicating at a professional level, you might look for a job as a digital public relations specialist.

The job is challenging, but you may perform it well if you are good at the following:

• Communication with enterprises on a global level
• Conversations and meetings with partners
• Managing meetings online for employees

The average salary for beginners in the digital PR field typically ranges from $36,000 to $45,000, according to Glassdoor. Obtaining a digital PR certificate may help you get hired.

As an affiliate marketing manager, your job will be to promote a company's affiliate program, which pays bloggers and other people to advertise its products and services as a way of generating sales.

Here, useful skills include:

• Knowledge of digital marketing and e-commerce marketing
• Strong communication skills
• Writing skills

Affiliate marketing managers starting out can earn up to $46,000 per year, according to ReliableSoft. To learn how to do the job, you might enroll in a certificate program through a site like Udemy or Performance Marketing.

A graphics designer manages advertising design, infographics, illustrations and web design. Essential skills include:

• A degree in graphic design, fine arts or marketing
• Writing and editing abilities
• Experience using design tools

In addition, knowledge of CMS, HTML and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets — how HTML elements get displayed) is a plus.

Starting salary is often about $38,000.

Working as an SEO specialist, your job is to improve the ranking of a website during an online search. Key skills for this job:

• Copywriting
• Analytics
• CMS and HTML knowledge
• Digital marketing
• Technical SEO skills

While this job requires more technical knowledge than some of the others here, the remuneration can be great. As a beginner, you can expect to earn $51,000.

Online programs like The Complete CEO Course offer certificates for beginners.

Don't know where to look for one of those jobs? Try websites such as these:

• Glassdoor
• LinkedIn Jobs
• Indeed.com
• Upwork
• FlexiJobs
• AngelList