Starting a career in digital marketing can be as exciting as it is daunting. For many young professionals like myself, the transition from academic learning to industry application is a massive black hole. This article shares my journey over the first six months in digital marketing, highlighting the challenges, learnings, and best practices that have shaped my early career.

My Introduction to the Marketing Industry

My interest in marketing began somewhat by chance, thanks to studying business during my GCSEs and A-levels. The real pivot came during a leadership shadowing scheme at Sixth Form, leading to a week-long work placement with Indulge. That experience eventually turned into a holiday job and paved the way for my career in marketing.

The transition from school to full-time work 

The theoretical knowledge from school gave me a strong foundation, but there's a big gap between understanding a concept and applying it. My transition to full-time work was gradual, beginning with holiday work, then moving to a part-time contract after my A-levels. By the time I switched to full-time in September 2023, I was already comfortable with the team, understood the company's operations, and had some experience in digital marketing, making many concepts familiar.

Moving to a full-time role in September introduced me to a flexible working approach that encouraged creativity and learning. I have task flexibility, allowing me to switch activities if motivation drops, and return refreshed and with a new perspective. Time flexibility also lets me take breaks to re-energise and refocus. This approach helps maintain my well-being and enthusiasm for work, ensuring that I can tackle challenges effectively and contribute fresh ideas to the team.

Joining the Digital Marketing Team

Joining the Digital Marketing Team as a 'Digital Marketing Intern,' I handled tasks from content creation to keyword research and search optimisation. Starting out, this experience really built up my basic skills in digital marketing.

The Indulge marketing team, based in the UK while I am in Guernsey, welcomed me warmly. The distance surprisingly helped my skill development; relying on online communication, I learned through trial and error. Despite its time-consuming nature, this method helped me find efficient processes and share my findings with the team.

The Value of Fresh Perspectives

Being the youngest within an organisation can be daunting, as the imposter of inexperience can take over. When, in reality, I quickly learned that fresh ideas and perspectives are not just welcomed but are crucial for innovation in digital marketing. 

My youth, far from being a drawback, equipped me with a different viewpoint, helping me to approach problems with new solutions and contribute to the creative process in ways that had not been previously considered.

Challenges and Learning

Initial Hurdles

When entering a new industry, everyone will face different challenges. Here are some of the main challenges I faced as a beginner in digital marketing:

• Client Communication - Initially, I spent too much time drafting and revising emails, often asking my colleagues for the best responses. Despite my efforts to perfect each email, mistakes were inevitable. The truth is that clients understand and will support and encourage you along the way.
• Allocated times - Each task comes with a rough completion timeline. Given my tasks involve trial and error, these time frames sometimes felt restrictive, rushing me through tasks. In reality, some tasks naturally require more time than planned, and I learnt to trust my judgement on when to extend the time on a particular task, or when to call it a day.
• Content writing - Writing long-form content didn't come naturally to me. The breakthrough came when I began writing about topics that interested me, using my personal experiences to find a natural flow and voice in my writing.
• General technology - Despite digital marketing's online nature, I am no tech wizard. While navigating Google Ads accounts or a company's LinkedIn profile is within my comfort zone, basic technology concepts and systems were initially a challenge.

Continuous Learning

In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, continuous learning is crucial, whether one chooses to specialise in a specific area or adopt a generalist approach. For beginners in digital marketing, starting with a generalist approach, which involves learning about various aspects of digital marketing without focusing deeply on one area, can be more beneficial. This approach provides a broad understanding of different channels, making it easier for beginners to understand the big picture.

Do You Need Experience?

Experience can offer a head start, but passion, curiosity, and willingness to learn are equally as valuable. Numerous successful digital marketers began with no formal experience, relying on online courses, internships, and personal projects to develop skills.

A good (and free!) online course that will give you a solid foundation is the Google Fundamentals of Digital Marketing course. The course covers everything from online advertising, social media, mobile marketing, email, analytics and more.

Why does learning Digital Marketing take time?

In our roles, we find ourselves wearing numerous hats – from social media management, content creation, SEO mastery, website development, and graphic design. It's natural to feel like we're expected to be experts in everything, and that can be a lot to handle. This is why newbies in the industry should start by taking a generalism learning approach, and then can choose to specialise once foundation skills have been developed. This is because there is a lot of crossover between the different sectors of marketing, so having a basic understanding of each sector will aid overall performance.

Learning digital marketing takes time because the industry is constantly changing at a rapid pace. With new technologies, platforms, and consumer behaviours emerging regularly, it's challenging to keep up. To stay relevant, marketers need to continuously learn and adapt to these changes. This ongoing process of education and adaptation requires time and effort, as staying updated with the latest trends and strategies is essential for success in digital marketing.

Digital marketing concepts take time to learn, as it's not just about knowing theories; it's also about using them in real situations. While understanding concepts is crucial, it's through real-world practice that you truly understand them. This hands-on experience helps you learn from mistakes and gain confidence in digital marketing challenges.

Factors Influencing Learning

• Training - Your leaders serve as invaluable sources of direct training, offering guidance, mentorship, and practical knowledge gained from their own experiences in the field. Additionally, access to quality educational programs and courses greatly influences learning outcomes.
• Resources Availability - The availability of tools, materials, and online resources can impact the depth and efficiency of learning.
• Practical Experience - Hands-on practice and real-world application are essential for reinforcing theoretical knowledge.
• Community and Networking - Engaging with peers, mentors, and industry professionals fosters collaboration, support, and valuable insights for learning and growth.

Best Practices for Beginners in Digital Marketing

• Leverage continuous learning - Always be open to learning new things about digital marketing. Whether it's through online courses, blogs, or podcasts, staying curious and seeking out knowledge will help you grow.
• Trial and error - Don't be afraid to try new strategies or techniques. Experimentation is key to finding what works best for you.
• Ask silly questions - Don't hesitate to ask questions, even if you think they might sound silly. Everyone starts somewhere, and asking questions is one of the best ways to learn and clarify your understanding.
• Keep up to date with news and trends - Stay informed about the latest news and trends in the digital marketing industry. Follow relevant blogs, subscribe to newsletters, and participate in online communities to stay ahead of the curve

Where am I now?

Just over six months later, I have taken on a new role as Junior Digital Marketing Executive, and am continuing my professional development through Indulge, thanks to their support.  I now confidently manage my own processes and continue my studies through the Digital Marketing Institute, working towards my first professional qualification. Though I've come a long way, my career journey is just beginning, and I look forward to the opportunities and growth that lie ahead.

If you're an aspiring digital marketer, or new to the industry and seeking advice or guidance, feel free to connect with me via LinkedIn.