How to Get Your First Digital Marketing Job in India – 15 Tips to Thrive
Digital marketing is a booming industry in India and around the world! Wait, hold on. I bet you’ve heard this loads of times! But what about the digital marketing job opportunities we have in the country? How can you get your first digital marketing job in India? That’s something we are going to talk about in detail in this post.
Exploring career opportunities in any new field can be an uphill task. While it’s undeniable that digital marketing opportunities are growing like wildfire worldwide, the competition is also pretty steep.
During these trying times, where digital presence is more or less dictating companies’ existence on the business front, venturing into this arena as a jobseeker is perhaps the best decision one can make.
So, here in this post, I will be trying to give you some career tips to get into the arena of digital marketing and make the most out of its limitless possibilities.
However, before we start, let’s have a closer look at a few interesting facts about digital marketing as a career in India.
How is Digital Marketing Career in India?
To make the discussion much more convincing, let us add some statistics!
Shall we?
There was a time when taking your business online was just an option to consider. But now, it’s more of a necessity rather than just an option. Hence, almost 85 percent of companies globally are working daily to expand their digital reach and cement their place on the internet. This is bound to make a huge impact. Isn’t it?
Well, in fact, the effect is quite extensive as it has created over 2.2 lakh entry-level job opportunities alone in India. By the end of 2021, Indian industries are expected to release around 20 lakhs of new job vacancies in various fields of digital marketing. Plus, the digital advertising industry in India is growing at a speed of 33.5 percent year-on-year.
According to the current surveys, India currently has around 350 million active Facebook users. This figure alone shows that a large percentage of its entire population is somehow connected to the internet and goes online frequently. But believe it or not, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Entry-Level Positions and Digital Marketing Job Roles in India
Some of the most common digital marketing positions and job roles in India are:
- Digital Marketing Specialists
- Digital Marketing Analysts
- Content Strategists
- SEO Specialists
- Google Ads Specialists
- PPC Managers
- Social Media Specialists
- Paid Social Media Specialists
- Social Media Account Managers
- Email Marketing Specialists
Although many of them might fall under the category of entry-level digital marketing opportunities, you must possess a certain skill set to perform the duties aptly.
Digital Marketing Salary Ranges in India
This factor largely varies depending on the companies, their policies, job roles, experience bands, and even job locations. However, to give you a rough idea, a digital marketing aspirant in India joining as a fresher can get in an average of 15K to 25K per month. But with a bit of experience and specialized skillsets, the average salary of one such individual can be about Rs 4.0 Lacs to 7.0 Lacs per annum. But bear in mind that it can always vary based on the organization, city, and persons’ skill level.
Digital Marketing Growth Opportunities and Future Prospects in India
Since the digital marketing field is always in flux, growth opportunities and future prospects are always there. With more and more Indian companies investing in their digital presence, the scope for growth is almost inexhaustible.
But to ensure your digital marketing career growth, you need to develop your skills constantly and be at par with new and advanced methods introduced in the industry. Being updated can definitely change the game and make it easier for you to climb the ladder of success.
15 Tips to Land Your First Entry-Level Digital Marketing Job in India
Learn the Entire Digital Marketing and Build Skills in SEO, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Other Social Media Marketing Channels, Email Marketing, etc.
There’s nothing more useful than learning, period. And when it comes to digital marketing, it’s all about the knowledge you acquire. Therefore, before you try your hand out in the digital marketing field as a professional, make sure you learn all its nitty-gritty to be ready to take on any challenge.
It’s indeed true that digital marketing is an ever-changing field, and one must keep a tab on the new updates and revised methods. However, that must not discourage you from getting your basics in place.
An ideal digital marketing aspirant must have a firm grasp and sound understandings of the various components that make the foundation of digital marketing.
For instance:
- Search Engine: Primarily consists of two types – search engine optimization (deals with organic SEO techniques) and search engine marketing (deals with paid search advertising campaigns).
- Content Marketing: It primarily focuses on producing relevant and credible content to boost brands’ marketing campaigns.
- Email Marketing: Using email communication to promote products and services and also acquire new leads.
- Social Media Marketing: This mainly emphasizes leveraging various social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest, etc. to create better visibility using paid and organic campaigns.
- Mobile Marketing: Using various messenger apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Snapchat to promote companies’ services and products.
- Video Marketing: This deals with producing videos and streaming them on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and others to procure a better reach and customer acquisition.
- Web Analytics: This technique allows digital marketers to analyze the performance of websites and campaigns to attain better marketing results.
Once you have a clear understanding of all the different marketing strategies used in SEO, SEM, social media, analytics, etc., working for a digital marketing agency and performing your designated duties will be a lot easier.
Do a Few Certifications Like Google Ads, Google Analytics, HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification, etc.
Preparing yourself for the impending digital marketing job role is crucial. But for that, you need to stock your arsenal. Now, what could be a better way to do it than enrolling yourself for a few digital marketing certifications!
They not only increase your hiring potential but also look very professional in your digital marketing résumé.
Where can you get them?
Thankfully, there are thousands of introductory digital marketing courses available on various platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and LinkedIn. Besides the basic courses, you may enroll in a comprehensive digital marketing course in India in-classroom or online.
Here I have listed some of the certifications that I often recommend to my digital marketing students before starting their career:
- Google Academy for Ads (free certification): This is one of the best digital marketing certification courses you can opt for. It will help you develop a clear understanding of Pay-Per-Click advertising on Google Ads’ Search, Display, Video, and Shopping networks. At the end of the course, you’ll receive a certificate – a hundred percent legit, which you can add to your digital marketing résumé or LinkedIn profile.
- Google Analytics Academy (free certification): Being proficient in Google Analytics is one of the primary requirements for an entry-level digital marketer. If you are not much confident about your knowledge in Google Analytics, this course is a MUST for you. The Google Analytics Individual Qualification (GAIQ) is a very important certification for all beginners and experienced digital marketing candidates.
- HubSpot Inbound Marketing (free certification): Next, we have HubSpot’s Inbound Marketing Certification that teaches you all the rudimentary techniques you need to learn about inbound marketing. Here you can learn how to reel in new customers, attract leads, even how to create great landing pages to improve sales conversions, etc. Again, it is essential for every digital marketing aspirant.
- Hootsuite Academy (paid certification): With this course from Hootsuite, you can earn an industry-recognized social media certification. This will be immensely beneficial for your digital marketing CV, especially if you wish to apply for the Social Media Specialist positions. This course will train you to create engaging social media campaigns, automated posts, boost social selling, increase social media ROI, and many others.
However, this is not the entire list of digital marketing certifications you can try but merely a few of the popular ones. Feel free to explore more courses that suit the digital marketing discipline you wish to embark on.
Start Your Own Blog or Website
Now you know the basics, and you have a few legitimate digital marketing certifications under your belt to vouch for you.
So, what’s next?
Well, you need to apply this new knowledge and start practicing digital marketing.
But how?
Start your blog or website – that is indeed the best way!
Whatever you have learned about digital marketing is not just mere theories; they have practical implementations as well. And that’s where your website will help you.
It’s like the blank canvas to an artist, giving you an opportunity to test-run everything you’ve learned or that crosses your mind. From SEO methods to social media marketing growth hacks, anything can be practiced here.
Remember, it will not only give you the opportunities to apply everything that you have learned so far but also prove your efficiency in executing them. Believe it or not, your own website will be the most powerful statement you can make before an interview board, exhibiting your real caliber as a true digital marketer.
Actions speak louder than words.
Needless to say, your future employer might ask you to work on various campaigns for their brands. All of it may include SEO, PPC, or creating engaging social media campaigns, etc. With your own website, you can try them on it and see your level of adeptness.
Thanks to this first-hand experience, dealing with your digital marketing career challenges will be much easier.
Publish Videos on Youtube and Facebook and Also Host Podcasts
On the face of it, your job-role as a digital marketer is to improve your client’s online presence and his/her brand. But how would you know what works best and what doesn’t?
While trial and error is a great way to learn and discover new potentials, you might not get so much time after getting your first job. Hence, much like your website or a personal blog, you can try this on your own and gather comprehensive experience before implementing them for your clients’ business. Plus, you can showcase the forte on your digital marketing résumé.
Just like you might do for your future clients, create your own Youtube channel, Facebook page, and even podcasting channels. All of these should bear a connection with your website and work as integral content marketing outlets.
Now, just let your imagination run wild and start creating content for Youtube, Facebook, and podcasting channels. It will give you more scope to apply your optimization skills and see if you can increase the reach and visibility there. This hands-on experience will prove that you can manage your client’s social media entities just as effectively as this!
Start Writing Contents and Publish Them on Your Blog, Others’ Blogs (Guest Posting), Medium, Linkedin Pulse, etc.
Much like getting started with YouTubing and podcasting, maintaining your blog and even engaging in guest blogging is equally effective for you as a digital marketing aspirant.
At the outset, select the niche and discover the content ideas you want to share with the world. Once this is done, it’s just the execution that’s left.
Publish content on your blog and also start collaborating with others. Guest posting is not only good for upscaling your reach but also to hone your efficiency as a content creator and marketing specialist.
Besides blogging and guest posting, you should also produce and publish content on Medium and Linkedin Pulse. This is something that the interview board would surely reward.
Start Actively Showcasing Your Content and Expertise on Social Media Platforms and Various Groups and Communities (Don’t Spam)
To flourish in the digital marketing arena, you need to be confident about yourself and the knowledge you possess. Instead of shying away from publishing your work, you must start showcasing them on social media platforms and other communities to have a better reach.
Unquestionably spamming here should be utterly disregarded. Instead, you should see it as an opportunity to gauge the degree of impact your content has on your targeted audience. How well you connect with them will convince the interview board to recognize your potentials as a digital marketer and give you the necessary platform to hone your skills to the next level.
Start Working on a Few Projects on SEO, Social Media, Google Ads, etc.
How does it feel about working with clients closely and offering them your digital marketing services?
Well, it’s hard to know until you work with a couple of brands or clients. Right?
So why don’t you try it on your own?
Before you appear on your first digital marketing job interview as an aspirant, you can try your hand on providing services to a few clients as a freelancer. It can be anyone in need, maybe a friend of yours, or you can head to any freelancing platform and get the clients there.
Once you bag a few freelancing jobs on digital marketing, start working on them diligently yet provide the services free of charge or for a very low cost. The idea here is not to make a profit but gain the experience of working as a professional service provider.
All of this can go to your digital marketing CV and create a positive impression of you as a befitting candidate.
Focus on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is an essential platform for every working individual. It attaches a ton of professional benefits and allows you to create better contacts. So before you start your digital marketing job-hunting episode, setting up your LinkedIn profile appropriately is crucial.
You can take some help if required but make sure the profile looks convincing and strong, showcasing all the information that might interest a digital marketing recruiter or employer.
Besides, if you have a few digital marketing clients from your freelancing projects, you can indeed request them to write testimonials to your advantage. This will dramatically improve the impression of your Linkedin profile and attract hiring managers frequently.
Attend Various In-Person and Online Seminars and Webinars
To get your first dream digital marketing job, only having the domain expertise is not enough! Without the right contacts, you might not reach the threshold of opportunities.
For that, you need to meet people and build some excellent connections. And what could be a better way to do it than attending various digital marketing seminars or webinars. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, attending in-person seminars might not be possible. However, to bridge the gap, you can surely participate in several internet marketing webinars from your home sitting on your couch.
Most of them are free these days, and they give you fantastic opportunities to meet new people, marketing heads, CEOs, top employers, and entrepreneurs. Do not hesitate to discuss your views and build a strong rapport with them.
Join a Digital Marketing Company as an Intern
The best part about doing an internship is getting a chance to earn hands-on experience by engaging your skill-set before you finally start your career in digital marketing. The same goes for entry-level digital marketing jobs as well.
Doing an internship will play a significant role in your digital marketing profession as you would have first-hand experience with the company work environment. Plus, an internship will help you understand various digital marketing job roles and implement some of the skills you have developed after completing your digital marketing course.
Observing the environment closely and learning from it will make you comfortable around your colleagues and managers in the years to come.
Prepare the Perfect Digital Marketing Résumé as a Fresher
Your CV or résumé is the first point of communication between you and the employer. Without even uttering a single word, your CV can speak for you and establish an impression about you as a digital marketing candidate.
Hence, your entry-level digital marketing CV must stand out from the rest. An employer might only see it at a glance – that’s all the time you have to persuade him/her up. Ergo, it must present all must-know information about you that might interest the recruiters and hiring managers.
From your objective, as a digital marketer – the certifications you completed – digital marketing skill-sets you possess – the blog/website you run – freelance jobs you delivered – the internship experience you earned – everything must be there in the most coherent manner possible.
For more details about how to go about your entry-level digital marketing résumé, feel free to check out the full guide here.
Actively Apply for Digital Marketing Jobs in India
Spotting the right digital marketing job is the tricky part. However, fresher digital marketers shouldn’t be too choosy about the first job. Think of it more as a launch-pad to this field rather than a permanent harbor.
In this period, your ultimate goal should be to learn as much as you can and gain more professional experience quickly.
Upload your résumé on all the digital marketing job sites in India. These portals can help you discover hundreds of digital marketing companies in your city to get your first digital marketing job.
Besides, remember to update your information and CV periodically on these job portals to help recruiters and companies find yours on top when they search.
Research about the Companies, Their Culture and Clients, Types of Services They Offer, etc.
Before you appear for your interview in a digital marketing company, it is always prudent to do certain research on your own. You can gather some information about their line of work, modus operandi, clientele, core team members, and even workplace culture.
All of this will give you a heads-up before you start your professional life with the organization. Also, this way, you can realize the credibility of the company. Plus, the details of their clientele will help you assume your potential job role easily.
Remember, the more you know about the employer, the better points you’ll have to raise during the interview.
Do Not Hesitate to Attend Multiple Interviews
Don’t stick to your dream digital marketing companies only.
This is very important if you want to get your first digital marketing job without waiting for a long time.
There are tens of thousands of digital marketing agencies in India. Even in your state/city, you may find hundreds of them. While it’s fine to aim a few big digital marketing brands and startups in India, sticking only to them might not take you anywhere.
Instead, exploring multiple options will help you understand different companies, their work process, the industry in general, etc. Moreover, you will get to know the most common digital marketing questions being asked in entry-level interviews.
Get a Job Quickly but Consider It as the First Step
Getting the first job is a wonderful feeling, indeed! However, bear in mind it is just a stepping-stone to the long career that is yet to come.
Thus, think of it as a great opportunity to develop new digital marketing skills, polish the existing ones, and never stop learning ever.
Digital marketing is an evolving field, and it’ll never cease to evolve. Hence, make sure you adapt yourself to the impending changes and always keep the learning curve high.
Also, as you move forward along the way, ensure to build new and strong relationships. This will surely put you in the right place at the right time.
Lastly, the Don’ts
Now, let’s look at a few things you should always restrain from doing:
- Never send a digital marketing cover letter or résumé that’s tedious and cliché! The point is quite simple – you need to stand out and be creative!
- You should never publish anything you haven’t proofread. Even a single typing or grammar error can cost you dearly.
- Never fake your intention by saying you love the job-role you have no idea about. Lying about your professional expertise and qualifications is another big NO-NO!
- You are a digital marketer, but that doesn’t mean that you will stalk the recruiters or over-pursue them online. You can keep a tab on the latest developments and news, but over-insisting will only diminish your initial impression.
Wrapping Up
So, there you have it, my 15 fifteen tips to get your first digital marketing job in India. Always remember to use this experience to up your game and climb the ladder of success.
So what are your tips about getting the first digital marketing job in India?
Did I miss anything important?
How was your experience on your first digital marketing job interview as a fresher?
Let us know in the comment section below, and we’ll keep this discussion going. Your first-hand experience will surely benefit all the entry-level digital marketing job aspirants out there!
An advanced All-in-One Digital Marketing Course.
Mentored by Mr. Soumya Roy, the Founder, CEO of PromozSEO Web Marketing Academy.
Being an entrepreneur and digital marketer, he loves to share his knowledge and experience in topics related to internet marketing, SEO, SEM, social media, content marketing, branding, entrepreneurship, and many more.
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