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How to Become a Content Marketer: What Is the Best Content Marketer Career Path?

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By Maia Estrera

Content marketing is one of the most promising and stable careers available if you have a background as a writer. If you are a good communicator and have an instinct for online trends and strong creative abilities, you might be a strong candidate for a content marketer role.

A content creator knows how crucial online platforms are to building brand reputation, generating leads, and establishing an online presence. It can be a challenging but exciting career path that could lead you to a job as a creative director, marketing specialist, or senior copywriter. If you want to know how to become a content strategist and marketer, you’ll want to read this article.

What Is a Content Marketer?

A content marketer works with a content creator to plan their online strategies and editorial calendar. This planning may include writing emails or doing research, as well as making graphics, videos, and blog posts. As a strategist, you need to ensure that content is high quality, increases readership, and aligns with the brand’s goals.

Content Marketer Job Description

Content marketers are creative thinkers because their job involves conceptualizing unique and dynamic content to grab the interest of their target audience. Once they have an idea in mind, the work involves market research, search engine optimization (SEO), social media posts, and other web content.

Content marketers need to have strong writing and editorial skills because they are responsible for ensuring consistency in every piece of content. They monitor how the audience responds to content and make data-driven decisions on how to increase its online traction. Marketers also need good communication and leadership skills to articulate a campaign’s direction to the content team.

Content Marketer Salary and Job Outlook

A content marketer has a relatively average annual salary of $51,883, according to Payscale, and $60,842 according to Indeed. If you work an entry-level job, you can expect an average salary of around $42,000, but if you level up your skills, you can be promoted to a managerial or executive position and make a higher salary.

The US Bureau of Labour Statistics does not have a content marketers page. However, we can use its promotions, advertising, and marketing managers page for reference. Job openings in this category are projected to grow 6 percent from 2019 to 2029. Expertise in this line of work can get you a median pay of $141,490 per year, according to BLS.

Top Reasons to Become a Content Marketer in 2021

If you think your skillset lends itself well to a career in content marketing, there’s no better time to start working on your credentials. With social media and online platforms playing such an important role in our lives, many companies are interested in hiring content marketers in 2021. Read on for a list of reasons to become a content marketer.

  • Be part of a thriving industry. Content marketing is set to become a $412.88 billion industry with a growth rate of 16 percent. The future job market looks promising.
  • Plenty of career paths to pursue. Just because you chose to become a content marketer does not mean you are stuck with that job for life. Your skills are applicable to other interesting roles, such as editor, technical writer, marketing manager, copywriter, or social media manager.
  • In high demand across industries. In our Internet-reliant society, companies will always need content marketers. Whether your interest lies in sports, education, commerce, or politics, your sets of skills will always be in demand.
  • Plenty of educational pathways. Whether you’re just starting your career or vying for promotion, there are plenty of ways to learn industry-relevant skills. Online videos and articles, certificate programs, and bootcamps are just a few of the materials and courses you can use to upskill.

Content Marketer Job Requirements

Companies that hire content marketers look for people with experience as copywriters, bloggers, content managers, and social media managers. They want someone who is enthusiastic about keeping a finger on the pulse of their target audience. Below are some other job requirements that companies look for in candidates.

  • Bachelor’s degree. A Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, Marketing, Communication, or IT is preferred for this role, but some companies prefer candidates with equivalent job experience.
  • Writing and editing experience. Writing online content is very different from traditional print. Content marketers need to have excellent writing skills and be well versed in copywriting and content calendar creation.
  • Data analytics skills. When you are in charge of content, every decision should be data-driven. Knowledge of Google Analytics and social media analytics is a common job requirement.
  • SEO knowledge. Companies want someone who knows SEO best practices and can apply them when creating content.
» MORE:  HR Interview Questions: Conflict Resolution, Team Management, and the Best Job Interview Answers

Types of Content Marketer Careers

‘Content marketer’ is a general term and not many job postings use it. Companies generally like to use more specific job titles that better reflect what the job entails. Here are some related job titles you may want to learn more about if you are considering a career in this industry.

Marketing Content Specialist

The primary role of a marketing content specialist is to create an editorial calendar and a content strategy for brands and products. These professionals are also tasked with writing and editing marketing content.

Content Marketing Coordinator

The primary responsibility of a content marketing coordinator is to conceptualize promotional content and improve rankings in Google and other search engines. They are also responsible for orchestrating content marketing efforts for future campaigns.

Technical Content Marketer

A technical content marketer should have the skills to turn technical data into more palatable information for the general audience through excellent writing. These professionals may rely on visual aids like infographics and charts.

Content Marketer Meaning: What Does a Content Marketer Do?

A person holding a cup of coffee and reading from a notebook next to a laptop how to become a content marketer
Content marketers are tasked with creating content calendars and implementing SEO techniques, among other responsibilities.

A content marketer plans and strategically schedules the posting of quality content to increase online presence and interaction. The work involves writing compelling content and doing research and analysis to determine the best type of content to post online. The marketer will decide what types of materials are appropriate, then plot them in an editorial calendar.

Plots an Editorial Calendar

An editorial calendar is a workflow schedule created by the content marketer to be followed by content creators. This schedule directs the team on the content they will make for the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Uses SEO Techniques

A content marketer knows effective SEO practices. They have a command of strategies like keyword research and title tag and meta description optimization and are constantly tracking post performance.

Monitors Data Analytics

An effective content marketer is familiar with basic concepts in data analytics and knows how to interpret relevant data. These professionals use tools to locate and track online trends to make decisions on content creation and plot an effective editorial calendar.

Essential Content Marketer Skills

To be an effective content marketer, you will need a specific set of skills that allows you to understand how the Internet interprets the content you put out online. The more advanced your skills become, the more job opportunities will be available to you, and the higher your salary will be. Here are some essential skills you need to master if you want to become a content marketer.

Writing and Editing

Advanced writing and editing skills are essential for content marketers. They must have a background in online writing or copywriting to design an effective content strategy and easily spot content revisions.

Technical skills

There is a wide range of tools out there that can make you more effective at your job. Content marketers use specific software for editing, researching trends, generating leads, and SEO optimization. Master these tools and you will become a very attractive candidate for any content marketer job.

Content Management

Having strong organization, management, and planning skills is essential for a successful career as a content marketer. Knowledge of content management applications can increase your value as a marketer because you will be better at automating processes and organizing digital content.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Content Marketer?

Most companies require at least one year of experience as a writer or editor when hiring a marketer. You will also need to take the time to learn technical skills such as SEO, data analysis, content management, lead generation, and research.

You can start your career as a content writer to gain experience while you acquire technical skills. About six months to one year of experience in content writing or copywriting will also serve to polish your editing skills. You can learn technical skills through bootcamps, online courses, or vocational schools.

» MORE:  Best High Paying Entry Level Tech Jobs

Can a Coding Bootcamp Help Me Become a Content Marketer?

A coding bootcamp can help you develop the technical skills you need to become a content marketer. Many bootcamps offer classes in digital marketing, data science, and web development. The best data analytics bootcamps can help you better understand the analytical side of content marketing and allow you to execute digital strategies.

Learning technical skills in a bootcamp is an effective way to become a content marketer in just a few weeks. Bootcamps offer a hands-on learning experience to develop practical skills more quickly and for less money than traditional education methods.

Can I Become a Content Marketer From Home?

Yes, it is possible to learn everything you need to know to start your content marketer career from home. There are a lot of online resources you can read, or you can enroll in online courses. You can learn and polish every aspect of the job online, including writing, conceptualizing, and researching.

How to Become a Content Marketer: A Step-by-Step Guide

A smartphone, framed eyeglasses, and coffee cup next to a computer keyboard how to become a content marketer
You don’t need a degree to work as a content marketer. What really counts is the skills and expertise you bring to the table.

Learning the basics of content marketing does not happen with just one course. You will need to understand various technical skills such as SEO, data analytics, and web development. You also need experience with various digital channels and content strategies. Combine all this knowledge with your writing and organizational skills and creativity, and you’ll be ready to get a job in content marketing.

Step 1: Improve Your Writing and Editing Skills

Even if you are already an experienced writer, there’s always room for improvement. As a content marketing expert, you constantly need to brush up on your grammar and vocabulary as well as improve your outlines and writing style.

Step 2: Learn Technical Skills

As a content strategist, you will be judged mainly by your ability to conceptualize and execute digital strategies. You should put all your effort into learning technical skills and the fastest way to do this is through short online courses or bootcamps.

Step 3: Create a Personal Blog or Website

A great way to combine everything you have learned is to create a web page or blog to practice your content marketing skills and interact with online audiences. A personal website will also allow you to market yourself and your services.

Best Schools and Education for a Content Marketer Career

Content marketing is all about making your content stand out. To do this, you need very specific skills, including writing, researching, team management, and SEO. You can acquire these skills in a number of ways. Below, we take a close look at some of the organizations and institutions you can attend to boost your content marketing skills.

Content Marketer Bootcamps

Bootcamps provide an intensive learning experience packed with hands-on training. Attending a bootcamp requires your full commitment, and getting into one may feel like applying for a job or a university.

A bootcamp will teach you technical skills, including strategy and editorial calendar creation, SEO, content planning, and data analysis. Part-time content marketing bootcamps can cost between $2,000 and $8,000 depending on the length of the course. Full-time programs generally cost around $10,000.

Vocational School

Vocational schools combine skills-intensive learning with lectures. There are not many vocational schools with content management-specific curricula, but you can easily find marketing management and digital marketing courses.

Vocational programs take around two years to complete, with an average annual tuition fee of about $11,000. You can use the credits you earn toward a four-year degree program at a university.

Community College

Community colleges have an environment similar to universities but with a more skills-centric learning style, similar to trade schools. They offer certificate courses and associate degrees, which you can finish in about two years.

The average tuition for community college is $3,400 for in-district students, but this figure is much higher for out-of-state students. To become a content marketer, you can take courses on marketing and sales, digital marketing, web design, or digital applications.

» MORE:  How Much Does a UX Designer Make?

Content Marketer Degrees

There is no bachelor’s degree in content marketing specifically, but any four-year marketing or digital technology program will serve you well. Good majors for becoming a content marketer are multimedia marketing, marketing communication, transmedia communication, and marketing management.

The average cost of a four-year degree in the US is around $28,123. If you have a four-year degree, you have a better chance of getting a higher marketing position, such as a creative director or senior copywriter.

The Most Important Content Marketer Certificates

There are plenty of organizations that offer certificate programs covering different aspects of the job, from SEO to content marketing. Having one of these credentials in your resume can make you a more attractive candidate for a job marketer position. Below we take a look at some of the main certificate programs in the industry.

Content Marketing Course by HubSpot

This certification course, offered by a leader in the industry, will give you the foundation you need to become an effective content marketer. You will learn about good storytelling, generating ideas, promoting content, and building an SEO strategy as well as key concepts like repurposing and topic clusters.

Google Analytics Certification

Passing this certification exam offered by the biggest search engine on the planet will greatly increase your value as a content marketer. There are many courses out there to help you prepare for this exam, including Udemy’s Google Analytics Certification – 1 Day Certification Guide.

SEO Essentials Certification by Moz Academy

This course is offered by another industry leader with plenty to teach. This is an on-demand instructor-led program where you’ll learn SEO essentials and receive a credential to enhance your resume.

How to Prepare for Your Content Marketer Job Interview

Content marketing jobs are skills-based, so aside from what they read on your resume, employers want to see a high level of communication skills and knowledge in the different areas the job entails. A job interview is a great place to show you have these skills and expertise. Below are some common questions you can practice to prepare for your next interview.

Content Marketer Job Interview Practice Questions

  • Why do you love writing?
  • What is your process when choosing which topics and formats to use?
  • What do you consider valuable content?
  • Has your work been criticized in the past? If so, how did you handle the criticism?

Should I Become a Content Marketer in 2021?

Starting your career as a content marketer in 2021 is a good idea. The content marketing industry is thriving and there is plenty of growth ahead, which means that you will always have plenty of job opportunities. In addition, acquiring the skills you need for this career is easy due to the many learning resources available and institutions that offer affordable technical skills training.

Content Marketer FAQ


Can You Become a Content Marketer Without a Degree?

As a content marketer, your educational background is not as important as your knowledge of the job, technical skills, and experience. This means that you can become a successful content marketer without a degree as long as you take the time to learn the trade and develop your skills.


Is It Hard to Become a Content Marketer?

Becoming a content marketer isn’t hard as long as you develop the basic skills required for the job. Bring your writing, data analysis, and SEO skills to a professional level, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful content marketer.


Is Content Marketing a Good Career?

Content marketing is a promising career with a strong job outlook in the coming years. In addition, the technical skills you develop as a content marketer transfer well into many other jobs. You can use these skills to become a digital marketer, editor, marketing manager, copywriter, and social media manager.


Can I Get Hired As a Content Marketer Without Experience?

It’s unlikely that a company will hire you as a content marketer without a proven track record producing and managing online content. If you lack experience, you are better off applying to entry-level content writer positions and trying to accumulate experience.

By Maia Estrera

Maia, from Bulacan, Philippines, started working with Career Karma in May 2021. She holds an Associate Degree in Computer System Design and Programming from the AMA Computer Learning Center in Nueva Ecija. A career freelance writer, her writing has also appeared online at Chestertons-Elite, Oldhoj, and X-Cart. Besides content writing, she also dabbles in graphic design and web design, using WordPress to create websites and the Adobe Suite for her graphic design projects. Her professional interests also include SEO.

Sourced from Career Karma

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After Getting Banned From Google and Facebook, I Learned Why Every Ecommerce Store Should Focus on SEO

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Good SEO and content strategy can help ecommerce store owners be less reliant on paid traffic.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has become a buzz word over the last few years. Many areas of online business have been implementing solid SEO strategies for a while, but ecommerce is still slow to join the rest. Ecommerce stores have been trained to use paid methods, like Google Shopping Ads, Facebook Ads and other social media ads to get people to click through to their store. However, with the ever-increasing cost it takes to acquire new customers, ecommerce store owners should get on board with SEO and develop a solid content strategy for long-term growth and reduce their cost to acquire new potential customers.

The one-legged stool

As I mentioned earlier, the cost of bringing new customers to your ecommerce store is going to keep increasing. If your store is solely reliant on paid traffic, let’s say from Google Shopping, and Google decides you violated one of the many advertising policies, all your traffic dries up and you’re out of business. No traffic means no sales and no sales means you’re out of business by the end of the month.

Relying solely on paid traffic channels is like having a one-legged stool. It’s a lot more secure for the health and longevity of your business to have more legs under the stool, in case one leg gets taken away from you. SEO is one of those legs you need to apply. Not only is it free traffic, but as long as you provide valuable information for the readers, there’s no risk of being removed in the same way paid channels can shut you out.

The results of a well-executed SEO and content strategy take time. Often, an ecommerce store won’t see significant organic traffic for 6 to 12 months after publishing those first pieces of content. But if you keep implementing and producing solid, helpful content, the effects compound over time.

I got banned from Google and Facebook

I share all this from my own experience as an ecommerce store owner. I relied solely on Google and Facebook ads to get traffic and for some unknown reason back in early 2019 both platforms decided I had violated a policy. After that point, I couldn’t get back in their good books.

I went down the SEO rabbit hole out of desperation to get some traffic and started producing content that shoppers in the research phase would find helpful. I put out other content about the best products by category to help customers choose wisely, and when those pieces of content started ranking, I was getting more traffic than ever. To give you an idea of the timeline, I started publishing content in February 2019, and by June I was already getting traffic and sales. Over time, the traffic kept growing and I kept producing helpful content. In 2020, I generated over $2 million in sales from that organic strategy from only one ecommerce store.

If I hadn’t gotten started with SEO I’d be out of business today.

Get started before you need to

Don’t do what I did and wait for the wheels to fall off after one or more paid channels drop the ban hammer. Start by writing a couple of pieces of content to get started. You don’t need a five-year content strategy on day one.

For ideas on what to write, you can write a guide to your niche and what to look out for when choosing the right product. You can answer the most frequently asked questions you receive. When people type that question into the search engine and your post helps them out, you will be recognized over time as the go-to place for research and answers. Then people will grow to trust your store and will prefer to purchase from you.

There are literally thousands of blog topics that you can produce to get more traffic, but the important thing is to get started. Over time, you will learn some more advanced content strategies that you can apply to create a better ranking chance. If you can implement some semblance of a content plan into your ecommerce store and stick to it, you’ll look back in a year and wonder why you paid so much for visitors in the first place.

By

John Murphy is the founder of Survivalist, a seven-figure ecommerce business that’s growing fast.

Sourced from Entrepreneur Europe

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How to Make Money on Instagram

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Sourced from Boss Magazine

5 Easy Ways It has become very easy to make money through Instagram. Creators nowadays have multiple options when it comes to making an income on Instagram.

It has become very easy to make money through Instagram. Creators nowadays have multiple options when it comes to making an income on Instagram. A creator has to gain engagement on Instagram to attract better earning sources. Even with a small audience, you can earn quite some money on Instagram. But you can even buy real instagram followers to get more followers for your account.  Many creators think that there are only 1-2 methods to earn good money on the platform. In this article, we will talk about the 5 best methods to earn money on Instagram.

Do paid sponsor posts

This is one of the most widely used methods to warm money on Instagram. Instagram is a great platform for creators. They get a variety of tools to create content with and have ample income opportunities. Many creators make sponsored posts for their clients. These posts help you to earn money by posting client content on your page. The brands who are interested to work with you contact you. You get to negotiate the amount you will charge for a sponsored post. Once the amount you want is fixed with the company they curate the type of content they want to see. Creators are generally paid on a per post basis. You need to have a strong audience base for brands to be attracted to you. Creators who produce content in a particular niche tend to get more sponsored posts. Brands can identify that having a sponsored post in their same niche will benefit them more. If you are a creator who has a sizable following in a popular niche, your chances of being approached for sponsored posts become much higher. In niches like travel, food, fitness, and others that are popular on the platform, creators secure a better deal.

Sell your products

Selling your products is one of the best ways to earn money without having to rely on others. Methods of earning such as brand posts are dependent on an external factor. There have been cases where a brand does not comply with the set agreement. If the investment into influencer marketing reduces you suffer as well. The best way to deal with this is by having your product line. Many of the users on Instagram love shopping from brands on the platform. If you have been able to build a strong base on the platform you will be able to establish your products. You should start at a small scale and gradually scale it up. The types of products that tend to perform well are clothing-related products or beauty products. You have to put time, money, and effort into creating a line of products that are of good quality. Your products have to be food as your reputation is attached to your products. Having your products reduces your dependence on others and all of the income comes directly to you. You should be able to convince your audience to get your products. The biggest disadvantage with this product is that you need to have investment capital. This method requires prior investment but the results it offers, in the long run, are amazing.

Become a brand ambassador

Many brands that have a presence on Instagram hire brand ambassadors. In recent years there has been a shift in the form of marketing preferred by the companies. The majority of the big companies have shifted to Instagram marketing and other forms of social media marketing. While smaller brands like to do sponsored posts as their marketing, bigger companies like to form long-term relationships with a creator. They hire them as brand ambassadors. The job of a brand ambassador is to create posts about the company. These posts are to be published in your account to get your followers to buy their products. Some brands may be willing to create products with you that will target your audience. You need to buy active followers on Instagram and become an important creator to be a brand ambassador. The companies want their brand ambassadors to be able to convince their audience to buy their products. Companies like creators having a strong audience backing them in a particular niche. This helps them secure a better target audience and greater engagement.

Affiliate marketing

In affiliate marketing, you try to sell the products of a company. To start with affiliate marketing you have to apply to companies to be an affiliate partner. The companies have varied criteria for becoming affiliate partners. We would suggest choosing to become affiliates with a company that is related to the niche of your account. This will help you make better sales. When you become an affiliate partner you will get a link. With most of these companies, you get a commission for every client that buys their product or subscribes to their service using your link. Before starting, ensure that you read the terms that they have. You should do proper research to find the companies that offer the best commissions when it comes to affiliate marketing.

Dropshipping

Dropshipping is a method by which you can sell products from sellers without having to hold an inventory. You get to have your own store without you having to purchase or store products. You advertise the products on your account with the help of stories and posts. When your followers want to buy this they have to place an order with you. You pass on the shipping details to the seller and they take care of shipping and delivering the product. This has a high margin of profit. You need to gain engagement on Instagram to have a successful shop.

Conclusion

Earning money on Instagram will become simplified by using the techniques mentioned above. Apart from the methods given above, there are various methods available. Many creators earn money by selling the art they create and by writing captions for other businesses. There are many options available. With proper application, they work quite well. You should explore them to find the method that suits you and your account.

Sourced from Boss Magazine

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How to optimize your Instagram profile for search

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By Andy Moser

Some tips to help get your Insta out there.

Trying to get your Instagram profile out there a little more? One thing you might want to think about doing is making it more search-friendly.

In other words, you want to edit your profile in ways that make it more likely to appear as a suggestion under the search bar.

There are a number of things you can do to make yourself more discoverable on Instagram. Whether you have a brand profile you’re trying to promote or you just want to snag a few more followers, here are some tips on how to optimize your profile for search.

Put keywords in your display name and handle

One of the first things you should do, as the marketing platform Hubspot suggests, is to think about the keywords you want your profile to market. Ask yourself, “What are people going to type into the search bar to find the things I’m marketing?” For example, if your profile is for a tattoo shop (or if you’re an individual tattoo artist), you would want to have “tattoo” somewhere in both your display name and your “handle” (your username beginning with @).

When I type “tattoo shop” into the Instagram search bar, all of the top account results have “tattoo” in their display name, and most of them have “tattoo” (or some variation of it) somewhere in their handle. @livebytheswordtattoo appears as a high-ranking result partly because their account is optimized, but also, to be clear, because someone I follow also follows them, which may play a hand in which accounts appear in searches by networks of people.

The account results when I search "tattoo shop" on Instagram

The account results when I search “tattoo shop” on Instagram Credit: screenshot: instagram

Having keywords in the most important places on your Insta page is a useful first step in optimizing it for search.

Hashtag your posts

If you have any hope of somebody stumbling across your profile, you gotta (gotta gotta gotta) hashtag your posts. Hashtags are one of the primary ways Instagram gears its search results and allows people to follow and discover the things they’re interested in.

Continuing with our tattoo example, if you’re a shop or an artist trying to get your work out there, you’d want to hashtag your posts with #tattoo. Keep in mind, the broader the hashtag, the broader the audience searching for it will be — and therefore, the more search results you’ll be competing with.

Broad hashtags are still good! You’ll reach a huge audience that way. The problem is, you might get buried in other posts with the same hashtag, which is why we recommend using multiple hashtags of varying levels of specificity.

Let’s say you have a tattoo of a flower you want to show off. Consider hashtagging your post with #tattoo (to reach a wide audience) and #flowertattoo (to reach a more specific audience).

The top results when I search "flower tattoo" on Instagram

The top results when I search “flower tattoo” on Instagram Credit: screenshot: instagram

When I search “flower tattoo” on Instagram, the first nine out of the 12 top results have #flowertattoo in their posts. The other three have flower emoji in their captions, which may hint at the role emoji play in driving up post interactions. We’ll get to that in the next tip.

Captions

Your post captions are another key area where you can optimize your profile. In a 2019 study from the social analytics platform Quintly reported on by Social Media Today, researchers looked at how things like caption length, hashtag usage, and even emoji usage affected post interactions among Instagram users big and small.

Length

The study found that for bigger profiles, with more than a million followers, posts with no captions received the highest engagement. For smaller profiles (between 1,000 and 10,000 followers), caption lengths between one and 50 characters saw the highest amount of interactions. So if you’re a smaller profile, caption your posts, but keep it short and sweet. For even smaller accounts, with 1,000 followers or less, interactions were about even between small captions (between one and 50 characters) and large captions (300 or more characters).

Emoji usage

Now, let’s talk emoji. The Quintly study found that whether your profile has over 10 million followers or less than 1,000 followers, captions with zero emoji tended to receive the least amount of interactions.

For small accounts, with less than 1,000 followers, captions using 10 emoji or more resulted in the highest number of interactions on average, although captions containing anywhere between one and 10 emoji were not far behind.

For larger accounts, with between 10,000 and 100,000 followers, captions with four to 10 emoji saw the highest average interactions, though emoji usage outside that range also saw a high level of interactions — except captions with zero emoji.

The takeaway? Whether you’re a big or small profile, use emoji in your captions, dammit. And if you’re a small account with less than a 1,000 followers, maybe go crazy and use 10 or more emoji?

Hashtag usage

When looking at hashtag usage, the study found that larger profiles tended to get their highest engagement when their posts included zero hashtags. Why? We don’t know for sure. But we imagine that if you’re Ariana Grande, you probably don’t need to use hashtags to get high levels of engagement with your posts. If you’re Ariana Grande and you have the specific goal of getting the highest Insta engagement you can, it’s probably best to not use any hashtags.

We can also probably safely assume that most of you reading this are, in fact, not Ariana Grande. In that case, if you have less than 1,000 followers, use hashtags and use a lot of ’em. The study found that these smaller accounts saw their highest level of engagement when they used 10 or more hashtags in their posts.

The data does get a little peculiar in the mid-range-sized accounts. Accounts with between 10,000 and 100,000 followers also saw their highest level of engagement when using 10+ hashtags. However, small (but not the smallest) accounts, with between 1,000 and 10,000 followers, saw their highest engagement when they used a modest one to three hashtags. Accounts with 100,000 followers or more saw their highest engagement when using zero hashtags.

The best advice we can offer is to consider the size of your account and determine your hashtag usage based on that.

If you want to look at the full study in more detail, you can check it out here!

Use your bio

Don’t leave it blank! Hubspotalso suggests using “secondary keywords” in your bio. Think about what else people will be searching for that goes along with what you’re trying to market.

What else would people be searching that relates to tattoos? “Piercings,” perhaps? “Shops” to schedule appointments at? Maybe including your city/region will help capture the audience closest to you! Let’s look at @livebytheswordtattoo again.

@livebytheswordtattoo Instagram bio

@livebytheswordtattoo Instagram bio Credit: @livebytheswordtattoo via instagram

Looking at their bio, we can see that they include “tattoo,” “piercing,” and “shop,” utilizing both primary and secondary keywords to help drive their search optimization.

They also include NYC in their display name, and they put both Williamsburg and Brooklyn in their bio. This, of course, tells users where they do their business, but it also outlines a broad area as well as a specific neighbourhood where they’re most likely to capture the audience they’re after.

Post content! Then check your “likes” and “views”

The best way we learn is by practicing, right? So if you’re unsure about what’s working and what’s not, how about some trial and error?

Post your content using different techniques. Play around with the length of your captions. Try adding another keyword to your profile. Use more emoji. Use less emoji. Use more hashtags. Use less hashtags. And then see what happens!

Which pictures get more likes and comments? Which videos get more views? What do your posts with the highest number of likes have in common?

We can learn a lot about what works by just giving it the ol’ college try and seeing what happens next. It’s kind of like running your own personal “study” to help you learn which things are optimizing your Instagram.

And, if you have a “creator” or “business” Instagram account, you can access “insights” to see more detailed info about your post interactions and metrics.

You have a good set of tools to help you optimize your account and track the results. So get out there and build those profiles and get those interactions! We’ll be here rooting for you.

Feature Image Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK: Sasha Ka

By  Andy Moser

Sourced from Mashable

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Where to Place Links Within LinkedIn Posts: An Analysis of 86,504 Posts

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Sourced from lightspandigital

One of the biggest debates we hear from LinkedIn fans who are determined to make the social network’s algorithm work in their favour is whether or not to place a link in the post or in the comments. In other words, does LinkedIn’s algorithm favour posts that don’t link off the platform?

The tactic of posting links in the comments instead of creating a post containing a link has become very popular with those who are trying to “work” the LinkedIn algorithm. Are they right? We decided to put it to the test.

Do LinkedIn Posts Without Links Get Better Engagement Than Posts With Links?

Socialinsider, an in-depth social media analytics provider, partnered with us to analyse their trove of data and provide insights. They analysed 86,504 LinkedIn posts from a total of 883 LinkedIn pages.

What do we mean by a LinkedIn post with a link vs. no link? Typically when we share a resource on LinkedIn, we’ll share a link with our own commentary. But what if we were to share only the commentary, perhaps with an image, and then post the link in the comments?

The hypothesis here is that posts that are not based on a link will perform better than those that share text only or images. And that leads to a preference by many to post the link in the first comment. 

If we think about it, it’s in LinkedIn’s interest to keep people on the platform as long as possible. The longer people stay, the more ads they’ll see, which is profitable to LinkedIn. Keeping people on the platform is a key strategy that’s been theorized for most social networks. It also circulates when it comes to Facebook content and might be behind Instagram’s reluctance to enable linking off the platform.

Objectives:

While our original hypothesis was related to the effect of text-based posts, Socialinsider’s volume of data gave us access to additional insight. We looked to:

  • Determine how LinkedIn posts perform when placing the link in the posts itself compared with posts without a link
  • Determine how LinkedIn posts perform when placing the link in the comments, not in the post itself.
  • Find out what type of post performs best overall on LinkedIn

LinkedIn Algorithm Study Key Insights

Posts with no links perform better across all types of posts on LinkedIn.

linkddin average engagement rate by link presence

For example, a single image posted on LinkedIn with no link can get an engagement rate that’s 70% higher than a post with an image and link.

99.8% of companies that use LinkedIn for business don’t usually place links in comments.

To note, based on an analysis of 86,504 LinkedIn posts from a total of 883 LinkedIn pages, brands on LinkedIn usually don’t place links in comments. Most brands are using scheduling tools that limit their options to add links in comments.

companies don't post links in content on linkedin

The top-performing content on LinkedIn is the image post, with a 0.45% engagement rate per post.

The most common type of business content on LinkedIn is an image with an engagement rate per post of 0.45%. Simply adding just text with no link, video, or link doesn’t increase your chances of getting higher engagement from your content on LinkedIn.

engagement rate by type of content on LinkedIn

Methodology

Socialinsider tapped into their database to evaluate more than 86,504 LinkedIn posts from a total of 883 LinkedIn pages that had an active presence on LinkedIn between January 2020 and June 2021. During that period, these pages had LinkedIn follower counts between 100 and over 100K.

For the purposes of the study, we define engagement as the measurable interaction on LinkedIn posts, including likes, comments, and shares. The engagement rate is calculated based on the total of these interactions per post, divided by the total follower count.

The LinkedIn data was also analysed based on page size, defined as the total number of followers that liked the business page.

We used Socialinsider to find out the engagement rates, the type of posts, and the link placement in the post.

Below are the categories of LinkedIn posts analysed in this case study:

  • Article – represents content that links to an article
  • Image – represents content that contains images
  • Job – represents content that contains jobs
  • Native document (PDF) – represents file types (most of the time, these are PDFs) uploaded natively. LinkedIn allows you to create posts that contain documents.
  • Text – represents content that does not contain any media
  • Video – represents content that contains videos

Conclusion

While it’s impossible to decode social network algorithms, especially since many have AI components built-in, these insights are worth exploring.

While the original hypothesis had to do with links in posts, the finding that image posts get the most engagement is beneficial and easy for you to test out on your audiences. And it may have nothing to do with the algorithm but rather with our visual human nature.

I believe that empathy is the good marketer’s superpower. Powerful content is content that gives the people what they want, how they want it, and where they want it. Algorithms are typically designed to give people what they want so they continue using that social network. If you can figure out how to give YOUR people what they want, you won’t have to worry about the algorithm. 

Sourced from lightspandigital

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5 Reasons Your Website Isn’t Driving Leads

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By Bernard May

Contribute to society, improve people’s lives, provide the next groundbreaking solution — these may be our true end goals, but we need our businesses to grow and flourish in order to make these happen.

Enter the seemingly never-ending effort to tone up our websites so they fuel excitement and inspire as many people as possible to connect, purchase or fill out our enticing site form for some free goods.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve heard thousands of ideas that “experts” promise will turn the tide when it comes to converting website leads: more content, less content, delete old blogs, refresh old blogs, add videos, add social proof and the list goes on and on.

I 100% understand the frustration. And as the CEO of a marketing agency, I will also be the first to tell you there is no single strategy that works for every website. But every website does need a strategy.

To uncover what custom strategy will work for your site, in particular, we need to find out why your current site isn’t driving leads. So, let’s dive into five of the most common reasons conversions often fall flat and what you can do about it.

You don’t have any goals.

Every page on your website needs a goal. Whatever the goal is — clicking a product link, watching a video testimonial or just filling out a form — create your page with this in mind.

I have seen hundreds of websites that either had no clear “next step” actions for customers, or worse, too many (confusing) actions from which to choose. Both are more than likely going to eliminate the possibility that your next visitor will convert into a lead.

For example, if you know that a higher number of customers become a valid lead (or buy your product) after watching your product video, then focus on that goal for the page in question. Whatever it is, establish a goal for your page and build everything to support that goal — everything else is fluff.

I know, we all get excited and want to get everything we can think of on the page, but start with your goals and work backward.

Visitors have no idea what you do.

Does your website say what you do, loud and proud, in the most basic terms? All too often, I see businesses that are so laser-focused on sounding different that the core of what they do falls by the wayside.

For example: “We drive business intelligence solutions for best-in-class e-commerce impact!” Um, what? Are you in marketing, finance, software or something else? As a business, if what you actually do or provide is confusing, chances are leads are not going to scour your site to find out.

From the second a customer lands on your website, they need to know what you do or at least be enticed to scroll down and learn more. So, if you are a service provider, say it. You offer a product? Show it — loud and clear.

Your site speed is just too slow.

As the saying goes in the culinary world, “We eat with our eyes first,” and the same is true for your website. So, if your website is slow to load or slow to interact with, this can (and most likely will) tank the perception of your brand and what it has to offer.

When it comes to almost anything online, we all crave instant gratification. That being said, take the time to ensure anything that’s slowing down your site (i.e., images, videos or even website plugins) is optimized accordingly.

Any milliseconds you can shave off of loading and interaction times increase the likelihood that your next visitor will turn into a viable lead. If you want to see what your load speeds are and how you can optimize, try using Google’s Lighthouse plugin for Chrome.

Prospects don’t trust you.

Trust is something that needs to be earned, and in the online space, you need to earn it fast. But how? In a word: proof.

Making bold claims and using spicy taglines are only going to get customers to the front door. It’s your job to kick it in for them. Can you feature any awards, certifications or endorsements? What about media spots, written reviews or video testimonials? In short, can you crank up the dial and give them some solid social proof?

Don’t get me wrong, case studies and data are great, but even adding a single quote from one of your clients is going to move the trust needle several times over.

Social proof from those outside the walls of your business is the greatest trust-building content you can provide to your site visitors, so don’t be afraid to lay it on thick.

You never asked.

Question: What do you want visitors to do on your website — download your how-to guide? Add your product to their cart? Okay, now a follow-up question: Are you asking them to take that action?

One of the first rules in sales is… ask for the sale!

Not sure what to ask? Well, what was the goal you created for this page? This should be directly tied into your “ask.” If your goal is to get the visitor to fill out your form in exchange for your free strategy guide, ask for this on your page.

“Ready to see how to leverage your business intelligence for 5X better ROI? Complete this form for instant access.” Never assume anything, and be willing to ask for what you want.

As with everything “lead gen,” it comes down to putting yourself in the shoes of your customers. Focus on giving them what they want rather than what you think they need. Be ready to test, evaluate and adapt to these wants on a regular basis.

Feature Image Credit: Getty

By Bernard May

Bernard May is the CEO of National Positions, a 5-time Inc. 500 company, award-winning marketing agency and Google Premier Partner. Read Bernard May’s full executive profile here. 

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website.

Sourced from Forbes

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The 6 Best Websites to Learn SEO

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By Gargi Ghosal

If you’re looking to learn or brush up on your SEO skills, here are the six best websites you can use.

With everything now online, content marketing has become critical. Just having great content is no longer enough if you can’t back it up with robust SEO strategies when you publish something.

For instance, even social media marketing relies heavily on the right use of SEO. That’s because when SEO best practices are followed, the quality and quantity of traffic received by a website or a webpage increase tremendously.

If you’re interested in becoming an SEO specialist, there’s no better time than now. Here are the best websites to help you learn and master your SEO game.

1. Google Analytics Academy

Google is the most popular search engine today. Therefore, it makes sense to learn how to optimize searches for Google and do so at Google’s own Analytics Academy. Here, you can improve your SEO and analytics skills using free online courses provided by Google.

You can get started by learning all about Google’s measurement tools to unlock deeper insights. These tools will come in handy while creating smarter ad campaigns. In addition to being an authority on SEO, Google Analytics Academy’s Analytics IQ Exam is an industry-recognized qualification.

To prepare for this certification exam, you must complete the Google Analytics for Beginners and Advanced Google Analytics courses. Moreover, you can access its mini-courses on YouTube, and fall back on the blog for additional reading material, best practices, and industry trends.

2. HubSpot Academy

With HubSpot being an international leader in the domains of marketing and sales, HubSpot Academy is a good place to learn everything you need to know about SEO. Here, you’ll get to choose from comprehensive certifications, methodology training programs, and quick, practical courses that are 100 percent free and online.

What’s more, you’ll get unlimited access to these courses, so you can look them up anytime. Perfect for marketers, content creators, and anyone who’s willing to ace their SEO game, HubSpot Academy’s certification courses cover website optimization, link building, keyword research, and all other related topics.

You can always view the Course Curriculum before choosing a course. Besides, every course has video lectures, quizzes, exercises, and lesson plans, thus ensuring an interactive learning experience.

3. LinkedIn Learning

With free access to over 16,000+ courses led by industry experts, LinkedIn Learning helps you take your skills to the next level. You can access LinkedIn Learning’s expansive education material on SEO in the form of standalone online courses, or pre-defined learning paths.

While the courses cover specific topics, the learning paths give you a complete and structured learning experience on becoming an SEO expert or a master of Digital Marketing. From essential SEO techniques to marketing tools, the learning paths on SEO cover everything you require to achieve maximum visibility on search engines.

You can even access exercise files to apply your new SEO skills and on completion of each course, you’d stand the chance of earning a certificate or badge.

Leveraging the fundamentals of SEO is a skill, and LinkedIn Learning helps you master that skill. You can learn how to conduct keyword research, build internal and external links, plan a long-term strategy, implement foundational optimization strategies and techniques, and do much more.

4. Wordtracker Academy

Wordtracker Academy is best known for its keyword tool that boosts search engine rankings while helping online marketers discover profitable new market niches. Trusted by SEO professionals, Wordtracker gives you an edge and helps you generate more targeted traffic.

However, that’s not all Wordtracker is known for. Wordtracker Academy has specialist guides on seven categories, namely, keyword research, SEO, website, marketing, Google, social media marketing, and content.

With Wordtracker Academy, you can get started with fundamental analytics such as site optimization and page optimization, or learn advanced techniques to improve your online presence.

No matter where your interest lies, you need no prior experience to get started, and Wordtracker’s 28 specialist guides can help you upgrade your SEO skills in no time.

5. Moz

Being a dedicated SEO platform known for its SEO marketing software and the largest community of SEO experts, Moz Academy’s courses are popular and trusted globally. It has a wide range of training courses available, and you can find them in the Course Catalog.

To search for a suitable course, you can start by choosing your level of difficulty, preferred SEO topic, and type of course. Moz Academy has three types of courses for you to choose from.

While a Series covers multiple courses and is similar to a learning path elsewhere, Certifications are learning paths with valid certifications. If that wasn’t enough, the site has another type where you can level up in 90 minutes or less.

Moreover, the Moz Blog is a useful resource on search engine optimization, its best practices, and the latest trends. It helps you keep up with the ever-evolving trends of the SEO industry so that you’re always ahead of the curve.

6. Semrush

Trusted by the world’s leading brands, Semrush is known for its award-winning toolkits and SEO suite that helps industry professionals check website traffic, improve rankings, and perfect their digital marketing game. That’s not all.

What makes Semrush special is its incredibly useful resources on SEO. From downloadable guides and Ebooks to educational webinars and case-based podcasts, Semrush has all you need to improve your SEO skills and broaden your scope. Besides, Semrush’s Academy lets you acquire vital skills with top-notch experts from the field.

Watch the lessons, explore additional reading material, get practical tips, and take quizzes to complete a course and get certified. The best part is all these resources, courses, and certification exams are completely free as long as you’re a registered Semrush user.

Up Your SEO Game at Your Own Pace

The best thing about all these sites is you can learn SEO and improve your digital marketing skills at your own pace. Most of the courses on these sites are 100 percent free and can be accessed whenever, wherever. Moreover, you don’t need to have any prior experience to start your journey and become an SEO specialist.

While courses, video lectures, and certifications train specific skillsets and bring you acclaim in your field, the blogs, podcasts, and webinars keep you up to date with the latest industry trends and SEO best practices.

By Gargi Ghosal

Sourced from MUO

 

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How To Become A Digital Marketer: What Is the Best Digital Marketing Career Path?

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By Shalom Kamau

The increase in social media and digital technologies has led digital marketing to become the most in-demand form of advertising. It is easier to reach a larger audience and have a higher return on investment (ROI) within a short period in the digital marketing field.

For this reason, more people are interested in becoming digital marketers. This guide covers all the necessary steps you need to launch a career in digital marketing as well as similar jobs you can pursue. Read on to discover more and learn how to become a digital marketer in 2021.

What Is a Digital Marketer?

A digital marketer is a marketing expert in charge of using digital technologies to reach customers online. Their primary role is to ensure clients receive widespread recognition on digital channels, which in turn generates higher sales. Digital marketers must be conversant with most, if not all, of the digital marketing tools currently available.

Some of these tools include social media, email marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing, and mobile marketing. It is essential to understand these powerful tools as you begin your career path to becoming a digital marketer.

Digital Marketer Job Description

In short, your primary role is to act as a bridge between a company and its customers. Digital marketers perform several duties, from creating and uploading content to strategizing ways of enhancing search engine rankings. You will be in charge of the client’s online platforms, such as the company website, Instagram page, or blog content.

You will plan and strategize ways to engage with customers and keep them interested in your client’s brand or product. You will also likely manage Google Analytics and other SEO tools, enhancing the company’s online presence through posting images, videos, and written content.

Digital Marketer Salary and Job Outlook

The Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) indicates a six percent job growth for advertising and marketing jobs between 2019 and 2029, which is faster than average. The fast job growth can also be attributed to the lucrative annual salary. The BLS also reports that marketing management professionals earn $141,490 per year.

PayScale offers a more specific salary outlook. According to its official report, digital marketing specialists earn an average salary of $50,380. However, this can go up to $62,767 for experienced digital marketers. If you enter a digital marketing management position, your salary can double. This means you should enter the field as soon as possible.

Top Reasons to Become a Digital Marketer in 2021

Besides the job security and high salaries, there are many different reasons to become a digital marketer. This field is both fulfilling and full of variety. Below are more reasons why pursuing a digital marketing career in 2021 is worth it.

  • Job outlook. Digital marketers have a great projected job outlook for the rest of the decade. The six percent growth rate projected by BLS emphasizes job security in the industry for an extended period.
  • Flexibility. Apart from extensive job opportunities, you also have the freedom to work in any industry. Digital marketing professionals can work in retail, fashion, entertainment, education, technology, or sports.
  •  Lucrative salaries. The digital marketing industry pays its workers well. You can receive a median salary of $50,000 and above, depending on your skill level. In addition, most digital marketers have the freedom to work as freelancers, which is a great way to make extra income.
  • Creative outlet. If you’re a creative person, working as a digital marketer is a dream come true. There are always opportunities for you to think outside the box and develop ways to make a marketing campaign stand out.

Digital Marketer Job Requirements

Although penetrating the digital marketing industry isn’t as challenging, you still need to meet specific criteria as a digital marketer. Employers are open to employing individuals who meet the following requirements.

  • A bachelor’s degree. Employers look for candidates with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing or a related field. However, an Associate Degree in Marketing is still enough to get you a job as a digital marketer.
  • Digital marketing tools. You must be familiar with several digital marketing tools. Tools like social media, email marketing, and search engines play a significant role in the success of digital marketing campaigns. In addition, you need to understand how Google Ads works, perform numbers analysis, and keep up with the current trends.
  • Experience. On average, employers look for candidates who have worked for two or more years in the digital marketing industry. However, this doesn’t mean beginners are out of luck. You can launch your career by applying for entry-level digital marketing jobs to gain more experience.
  • Problem-solving skills. Like every other industry, problems and emergencies occur in digital marketing. Therefore, you need to be a fast thinker and always come up with suitable solutions for any problem.

Types of Digital Marketing Careers

As mentioned above, digital marketers can work in any industry. You can also branch into different career paths under digital marketing. Whether you want to become an SEO expert or a digital marketing manager, your roles contribute to the business’s success. Below are some of the most popular digital marketing careers.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialist

An SEO specialist ensures a website ranks highly on several search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. You will delve into keyword research to ensure each article aligns with current common search terms. Your primary role is to increase website traffic by making sure your website activity generates leads.

Social Media Manager

A social media manager oversees a client’s social media platforms. You will be responsible for creating and posting content, responding to customer comments and queries, and monitoring engagement data. Moreover, you need to be up-to-date with current trends to ensure your client’s products align with contemporary markets.

Marketing Coordinator

A marketing coordinator is in charge of content marketing strategy for all marketing channels. You will also lead the marketing team in the day-to-day activities of the marketing department. These activities include tracking product performance, monitoring customer engagement, or drafting performance reports for clients.

Digital Marketer Meaning: What Does a Digital Marketer Do?

As mentioned earlier, a digital marketer acts as a bridge between the company and its customers on all digital platforms. Digital marketers wear many hats and therefore need to have many different skills. Read below to learn more about the responsibilities that digital marketers have.

Conducts Inbound Marketing

Inbound marketing is one of the best ways to enhance a company’s website traffic. It involves marketing strategies that redirect user attention to your site. You will create and distribute content through link building, content marketing, and search engine optimization.

Tracks Social Media

As a digital marketer, you will manage one or more social media pages. Your role is to enhance the client’s social media presence by posting regular content and engaging with the customers. You will also gather analytics, conduct pay-per-click (PPC) marketing, and write performance reports.

Communicates with Customers

Digital marketers are in charge of developing and maintaining relationships between the company and customers while increasing brand awareness. Digital marketers need to ensure that all content being produced and published online is in line with the brand’s image.

Essential Digital Marketer Skills

Digital marketing can be applied to any industry, meaning professionals need a variety of unique skills. Almost all businesses in 2021 have a digital marketing presence, and there are many jobs out there that require different skills and tools. Most employers look for the following skills in all potential employees.

SEO and SEM

Search engine optimization and management skills help you bring traffic to your client’s website. Therefore, you must know how to research keywords, analyze performances, and keep up with the analytics. This is arguably the most important part of digital marketing because it helps clients or customers find your business or organization.

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) and Social Media marketing

You should learn how pay-per-click marketing works and use marketing channels like Google Ads and sponsored posts. Understanding trends will help a brand’s social media stay relevant. You should be familiar with Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and any other relevant platforms to the industry.

Storytelling

Whether visual or written, your posts, blogs, and images must tell a story. You should have the ability to make ideas flow in a way that any reader can understand and that adheres to your company’s brand. Communication is a vital part of digital marketing.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Digital Marketer?

It takes anywhere between six months to four years to become a digital marketer. You have the freedom to pursue various learning paths, including community college, bootcamp, university, or online courses. Therefore, depending on your learning path, the time frame will differ.

Can a Coding Bootcamp Help Me Become a Digital Marketer?

Yes, coding bootcamps offer short-term digital marketing courses for beginners and experienced professionals. You can learn various digital marketing fundamentals, such as advertising, PPC marketing, content strategies, email marketing, SEO, and marketing budgets at one of the best digital marketing bootcamps in 2021.

Can I Become a Digital Marketer from Home?

Yes, thanks to modern technology, it is possible to become a digital marketer from home. You can register for an online course, pursue an online degree, or join an online coding bootcamp remotely. All you need is a reliable Internet connection and a working computer.

How to Become a Digital Marketer: A Step-by-Step Guide

Becoming a digital marketer involves a straightforward process of getting an education, gaining experience, and finding a job in the industry. Below is an overview of how to become a digital marketer in 2021.

Step 1: Get an Education

Like all other careers, it is essential to get an education before launching your career. You can join a digital marketing bootcamp or any other educational institution. If you can, take this time to find a specialty within the industry.

Step 2: Gain Experience

You can gain experience by finding an internship or an entry-level job. You will gain hands-on experience in the field and develop the skills to flourish as a digital marketer. You can also take the initiative to create a personal portfolio of mock marketing or social media campaigns.

Step 3: Find a Job

After you gain enough work experience, find a career in the industry. For example, you can work as an SEO specialist, digital marketing manager, or email marketing manager. There are many different specialties within this field, so find one that works for you and your career goals.

Best Schools and Education for a Digital Marketer Career

There are several learning paths for a digital marketer. Some are long-term, while others only take a few months to complete. Below are the best schools for anyone pursuing a digital marketing career.

Digital Marketing Bootcamps

Digital marketing boot camps are short-term programs with a curriculum that focuses on the fundamentals of the industry. Most boot camps provide career services like resume reviews and mock interviews, and many boot camps partner with companies to ensure you receive job placement upon graduation.

Vocational Schools

Vocational schools focus on the technical aspects of digital marketing. You will receive hands-on training on using analytics tools like Google Adwords, social media networks, affiliate marketing, and other digital marketing concepts.

Community College

You can pursue a two-year associate degree at a community college. The education path is not equivalent to a bachelor’s degree, but most associate degree holders are eligible for entry-level positions. You can also transfer your credits over to a bachelor’s degree if you want.

Digital Marketing Degrees

A bachelor’s degree is enough for you to launch a lucrative career in the industry. However, after the four-year degree program, you have the opportunity to pursue a master’s degree or even a PhD. You should research the best online degrees before you decide which one to pursue.

The Most Important Digital Marketing Certifications

Certifications are essential for any career path. You solidify your authenticity as a digital marketer and gain the upper hand when it comes to attracting clients. Below are three of the best professional certifications for digital marketers.

Google Ads Certification

This is a free certification program that tests your knowledge of Google Ads. You will explore basic and advanced knowledge before completing a Google Ads Fundamentals assessment. You can choose from a few different Google Ads certifications depending on your career goals and where you are in your journey.

Hubspot Inbound Marketing Certification

This program focuses on the fundamentals of inbound marketing. It is a free four-hour Hubspot Academy course that teaches you everything you need to know to become a digital marketer. If you want to learn inbound marketing techniques, this certification program is the perfect choice for you.

Copyblogger Certified Content Marketer

The Copyblogger program is one of the best content marketing certifications courses. It is self-paced coursework that costs $495 on Copyblogger. Once done, you become listed in the Certified Content Marketer directory and have a certification for your resume and LinkedIn profile.

How to Prepare for Your Digital Marketer Job Interview

A job interview is a significant part of the job search process. You should research the company, find out about their products, prepare your cover letter, and practice mock interviews more than once. Remember to stay positive and always exude confidence when responding to questions. Practicing questions is the best way to prepare for your job interview.

Digital Marketer Job Interview Practice Questions

  • Why do you want to pursue a digital marketing career?
  • Which digital marketing tools do you use?
  • How will you enhance our company’s online presence?
  • What strategies would you implement to raise awareness for our company?

Should I Become a Digital Marketer in 2021?

Yes, digital marketing is a fast-growing industry with many opportunities. You get to explore your creativity, work in a fun environment, and network with a diverse team. Furthermore, you can earn a lucrative salary with many opportunities to move up in the field. If you want to work with digital content, social media, and SEO, you should become a digital marketer.

Digital Marketer FAQ

Can You Become a Digital Marketer Without a Degree?

Yes, you can enrol in a digital marketing boot camp or pursue any digital marketing online course on massive open online course (MOOC) platforms.

Is It Hard to Become a Digital Marketer?

No. Digital marketing is a flexible field and accommodates people with little to no experience. However, you need to be motivated and ready to work hard.

Is Digital Marketing Worth It?

Yes, digital marketing is worth it. The industry has an impressive job growth rate of six percent, according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, which guarantees job security. Even better, it can be an exciting career where no day is the same.

How Many Years Does It Take to Become a Digital Marketer?

A digital marketing career takes a few months to four years to start, depending on your learning path. You can attend a digital marketing boot camp for two to six months, a community college program for two years, or a university degree program for four years.

By Shalom Kamau

Sourced from Career Karma

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3 Reasons to Reconsider the Branding Power of TikTok, From a Gen-X Skeptic

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Sourced from Inc.

It’s not “if” TikTok has potential as a business platform; it’s when your company will decide to leverage it.

Roger Patterson is an EO Vancouver member and the founder and CEO of visual marketing platform Later, and co-founder of accelerator Launch Academy. We asked him about the business case for TikTok. Here’s what he shared.

My first impression of TikTok was typical for a Gen Xer: The platform seemed like a hub for tweens to flaunt dance moves and indulge in pre-adolescent narcissism. But after participating in a company hack week where the mission was to build an integration with TikTok, my eyes opened to its possibilities as a serious business tool.

With more than a billion monthly active users globally, TikTok has become the fastest-growing social media platform of the decade–but with 63 percent of its users under the age of 30, executives are quick to disregard it.

And while increased screen time among the under-15 demographic during the pandemic contributed to its growth, the platform is more than short-form dance videos–it’s the next generation of content creation.

With its suggestive algorithm, musical navigation and brilliant editing tools, TikTok has mastered compelling, short-form video as a service in a way legacy platforms like YouTube and Instagram have not. The latter may have secured more placement in marketing budgets for now, but TikTok as a legitimate new content channel is forcing brands to re-evaluate how they engage consumers.

If you’re a Gen Xer, Boomer or traditionalist doubting TikTok;s business ROI, here are three reasons you should reconsider:

Branded Entertainment Has Become a Must-Have

First and foremost, TikTok is about entertaining its users. Entertainment has become a new form of brand currency, and it’s a must-have. Social media influences 71 percent of consumer buying decisions–and that funnel starts with interest and awareness. Millennials and Gen Z in the US alone have a combined $350 billion of buying power, and they’re also turning to mobile video as a primary source of entertainment.

Brands need to start thinking of entertainment as a service–a way to add value to consumers first and establish a relationship before moving to transaction.

Importantly, entertaining content doesn’t need to exclusively be a frivolous distraction. Done right, TikTok videos can be a gateway to brand education, tying to a brand’s mission or higher purpose in more creative and authentic ways.

Early Adopters are Rewarded with Influence 

Just as Snapchat graduated from the exchange of ephemeral photos to include video, stories and chat–a formula brands quickly acclimatized to–TikTok is showing signs of breaking out of its Gen-Z niche. The platform just launched a TikTok Resumes pilot program and a new Shopify partnership to support social commerce. Recently, Vimeo integrated with TikTok Business: The first video creation platform to do so.

While the platform’s expansion into more mature markets is inevitable, research shows those who get in early have a distinct advantage–higher social status, increased customer loyalty and influence–over competitors who are left playing catch up. Not to mention, building an authentic community on any social platform takes time.

Retail giants including Walmart and Amazon are already diving in head first, securing their position on the platform, as other brands figure out how to embrace the new kid on the social media block. The Washington Post, for example, may not seem a likely brand for TikTok success. However, the legacy publication was an early adopter, turning its news into funny, bite-sized videos that appeal to an entirely different audience than its print or web presence. The reward for its efforts: 40.9 million likes.

Connectivity is the New Word of Mouth

In January, TikTok star Barbara Kristoffersen posted a video of herself wearing a vintage Gap hoodie in brown, a colour the retail giant hadn’t produced since the 2000s. The post went viral, garnering more than 6 million views. By February, retro Gap hoodies were a common sight on style influencers across all platforms. Just a few months later, Gap was taking preorders for a reissue of the iconic pullover sweatshirt.

The fact is, social connectivity is the new word of mouth. And Gen Z’s status as the most socially connected generation of all time can’t be ignored. These are the consumers most likely to be talking, sharing and posting about your brand.

Hesitations some have about social media in general, and TikTok in particular, are legitimate. Between privacy issues, concerns about spyware and misinformation bubbles that just can’t seem to be popped, the internet can feel like a scary place. But ultimately, at its best, social media allows people to connect around shared interests and businesses to relate to their customers in a more direct way–through conversation, not broadcast.

TikTok may be whimsical and fast-changing, but it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Much like the social media platforms that came before (Facebook started for university students, and is now a key player in the $48 billion social commerce market) TikTok will eventually grow up, expand its demographics and monetize in new ways.

It isn’t a question of if TikTok has business potential; it’s whether Gen X wants to lead the way in harnessing it, or follow.

Feature Image Credit: Alamy. Illustration: Inc. Magazine

Sourced from Inc.

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Social media influencer/model created from artificial intelligence lands 100 sponsorships

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Sourced from allkpop

With the advancement of technology, AI influencers and virtual human models are becoming the new trend. It has recently emerged as a blue-chip in the advertising industry because there are no privacy scandals and there are no time-space restrictions with these virtual humans. In particular, the use of virtual humans seems to be gaining more momentum in the COVID-19 pandemic, where there are many restrictions on travel and limitations on the number of people gathering.

On September 10, Baek Seung Yeop, CEO of Sidus Studio X that created ‘Rozy,’ the newly rising blue-chip in the advertisement industry, explained, “These days, celebrities are sometimes withdrawn from dramas that they have been filming because of school violence scandals or bullying controversies. However, virtual humans have zero scandals to worry about.” 

‘Rozy’ is a virtual human that was created Sidus Studio X last year in August. Her age will forever be 22, and she has been keeping an active presence online as a real human since December of last year. In particular, this virtual human began gaining much attention as she appeared in an advertisement for Shinhan Life in July.

According to CEO Baek Seung Yeop, Rozy currently has advertising contracts with companies and a significant amount of sponsorships. CEO Baek said, “We have advertised twice already this week alone and now we have eight exclusive contracts,” and continued to explain, “She has landed more than 100 sponsorships now, but we have not been able to process them yet.”

He then added, “We have achieved our goal profit now, and I think Rozy will be able to make more than 1 billion KRW (~$854,007) by the end of this year.”

In regards to Rozy’s visual, CEO Baek explained, “We didn’t use a specific person as the model to her look. The MZ generation does not like to hide their flaws nor reveal their flaws. We didn’t take western beauty as the beauty standard either.”

CEO Baek Seung Yeop also shared Rozy’s future plans. He explained that the company plans to expand Rozy’s scope of activities, moving on to movies, dramas, and entertainment shows.

As CEO Baek said, the reason for the popularity of virtual humans is that there is no fear that advertisements will be suspended due to unsavoury privacy scandals after the AI model is selected as the advertising model. In addition, the location and scene can be created through computer graphics, so the virtual model is not limited in time and space, and unlike real people. The other advantage is that period in which the model can be active is very long or eternal because the virtual human doesn’t get sick or grow old.

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