How To Become a Digital Marketer in 2025: A Complete Guide

Digital Marketing is now a major part of most brands’ overall marketing activities to boost brand awareness, engage prospects and customers, drive traffic, and generate quality leads. This has resulted in a surge in the demand for skilled marketing professionals. In th US – Marketing jobs are expected to grow by 8% by 2033 (faster than the average job growth rate). 

According to Statista, global digital ad spending was $521.02 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $876.1 billion by 2026 – with digital marketers currently earning an average of $75/hr. If you’ve been considering starting a career as a digital Marketer, this is a good time to start. This post outlines the necessary steps on how to become a digital Marketer.

Six Steps to Becoming a Digital Marketer

To begin your journey as a digital marketer, there are six important steps you would need to take and they are;

1. Understand Digital Marketer Responsibilities
2. Identify Required Essential Skills
3. Gain Essential Digital Marketing Knowledge
4. Create a “Standout” Digital Marketing Portfolio
5. Practice Presenting Campaign Results
6. Get an Entry-Level Digital Marketing Job

Step 1: Understand Digital Marketer Responsibilities

It is important you understand the responsibilities of a digital marketer. Digital marketers develop communication strategies, plan, execute, and analyze digital campaigns across various channels. Your job would also include creating content and working with external collaborators.

As a digital marketer, your tasks would often include;

• Planning and executing marketing campaigns to achieve business objectives
• Developing and implementing effective Search Engine Optimization(SEO) and content strategies
• Managing social media platforms to engage and grow your target audience
• Creating and executing targeted email marketing campaigns
• Analyzing market data to measure performance and refine strategies
• Collaborating with sales, product, and creative teams to align efforts and maximize results

Remember, your primary goal is to achieve business objectives through various subsets of digital marketing such as social media marketing, search engine marketing, e-mail marketing, and content marketing. Understanding the role of a digital marketer enables you to tailor your journey to meet your employer’s expectations and makes your entry into the digital marketing field seamless.

Step 2:  Identify Required Essential Skills

To become successful as a digital marketer, it’s necessary to build a strong foundation of both technical and non-technical skills.

Technical Digital Marketer Skill Requirement

• Search Engine Optimization(SEO) and Search Engine Marketing(SEM) skills: Learn to improve an organization’s visibility on search engines to drive traffic and enhance business awareness.
• Content creation and management skills: Become adept at producing valuable content that can create awareness and drive action consistently across platforms.
• Proficient skills in Analytics tools: Learn to use tools like Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics to help you track and measure a website’s performance to provide insights into user engagement.
• Social media advertising skills: Learn how to use platforms like Meta Ads Manager, Linkedin Ads Manager, etc. to create targeted ad campaigns to to reach a determined target audience effectively at minimal ad costs.
• Email marketing skills: Learn to create and automate email campaigns to nurture leads and maintain customer relationships using email software like Mailchimp, active campaigns, etc.

Non-Technical Digital Marketer Skill Requirement

• Creative Thinking: Improve your creative thinking abilities to help you craft unique marketing strategies and campaigns. 
• Communication: Refine your communication skills to pass clear messages to consumers and members of your team.
• Analytical Thinking: Enhance your analytical thinking skills to interpret metrics, optimize strategies, and find what works and doesn’t. 
• Project Management: You would need this to coordinate resources, and teams to ensure tasks are delivered on time within budget.

A combination of both technical and non-technical skills is important to become a well-rounded digital marketer. If you are switching to digital marketing from another related or unrelated role, you could identify relevant skills you have from your past roles and use those as a starting point.

Step 3: Gain Essential Digital Marketing Knowledge

After identifying the required skills, building a strong knowledge base is necessary to establish your credibility as a digital marketer. To achieve this draw up a learning plan that contains what you want to learn and how you would learn it. Various options to learn include:

• Entry-Level Training/Workshops: These are often short-term programs focused on specific topics in digital marketing targeted at beginners. A worthy example is the EvolveWithTech program, which provides participatory, beginner-friendly digital marketing training with interactive live lessons from industry experts, career tapestry, and micro-internship opportunities, ensuring you gain the practical skills needed to kickstart your career as a digital marketer.
• Online Courses: These courses are widely accessible and affordable, but they tend to be more theoretical. While online courses offer great flexibility and allow you to learn at your own pace they demand a high level of discipline. Most people start but fail to complete online courses and they lack personalized guidance as all lessons are uploaded before the learner begins taking them.
• Bootcamps: These are highly intensive programs focused on teaching essential skills within a short timeframe. Many bootcamps provide career support, including resume reviews and interview preparation but they are quite expensive and the rapid pace can be challenging for beginners.
• University Degrees: If you would prefer a more structured environment with a formal degree, most universities offer marketing programs. Bear in mind that they might focus more on theoretical knowledge and less on practical application to gain real marketing skills. Acquiring a University degree typically requires 3 to 4 years and involves significant costs to cover tuition and other expenses.

It is worth noting that certifications prove your expertise to employers, while practical projects demonstrate how effectively you can apply your knowledge in real-world contexts. When choosing a learning path,  you should consider one tailored towards beginners, which awards a completion certificate and requires you to complete a project to add to your portfolio, like the Evolve With Tech Digital Marketing Program.

Step 4: Create a “Standout” Digital Marketing Portfolio

A portfolio is where you show potential employers your expertise, it should be impressive and stand out. Your portfolio should contain projects that demonstrate your technical and problem-solving capacity. Here are a few tips to create a digital marketing portfolio that grabs attention:

• Real-life campaigns: Create a mock campaign for an actual or fictional niche business with details of the process, tools you used, and measurable outcomes.
• Engaging content: Include content you have produced such as blog posts, social media captions, and email campaigns. Use tools like Google Drive or Medium to house your writing samples and include links or screenshots of the actual content in your portfolio.
• Analytics Reports: Include summaries of analytics reports you have interpreted and applied. This is to highlight your ability to track performance and suggest improvements. Don’t forget to present this information in a visually appealing format.  
• Showcase Technical Skills: Highlight your proficiency in digital marketing tools like HubSpot or SEMrush. Share how you optimized keyword rankings and include any certifications you’ve earned to further validate your skills.
• Make Portfolio Easily Accessible: Create an online portfolio that’s simple to navigate with platforms like Behance or LinkedIn or create a personal website to showcase your work. If you decide to create a portfolio website, choose clear, and user-friendly layouts. Your portfolio website should include;
  • A homepage that contains summary sections of all the other pages on the website.
  • Portfolio section with specific projects that have clear visuals and concise descriptions
  • An about me page with a summary of your skills, certifications, and passion for digital marketing
  • A contact section to include links to your social media profiles and email

A strong portfolio will set you apart so present your skills confidently and clearly. 

Step 5: Practice Preparing Campaign Results

As a digital marketer, your ability to effectively communicate campaign findings is crucial because increasing brand awareness—one of your primary goals—depends on mastering storytelling and presentation skills.

• Storytelling with Data:  A key to presenting campaign data is to frame it as a compelling story that captivates your audience. The goal of data storytelling in digital marketing is to make your campaign results more accessible and understandable to stakeholders. To craft a compelling story, here are a few tips to help;
  • Explain the campaign goals and give context to your story
  • Use clear visuals like charts to show results and highlight key insights with tools like Canva
  • Connect insights to actions by showing how they will inform future strategies
  • Include your learnings, recommendations, and areas that need improvement.
• Presentation skills: Using charts and graphs with captivating visuals would leave a lasting impression on stakeholders. Use clear and concise language to avoid overwhelming your audience. Structure your presentation with a logical flow using Google Slides or Powerpoint to create professional-looking slides. Always ensure your reports can easily be understood, even in your absence. 

Step 6: Get an Entry-Level Digital Marketing Job

Breaking into the digital marketing space would begin officially by finding a role that aligns with your goals and interests,  Focus on a niche within the industry and hone the skills recruiters are looking for. Listed below are a few niches within  the digital marketing space;

• Content Marketer: Focuses on creating blogs, articles, infographics, and videos to engage and educate audiences.
• SEO Specialist: Optimizes websites to improve rankings on search engines like Google, involving keyword research, on-page optimization, and link building.
• Social Media Manager: Manages social media accounts, plans campaigns, engages with followers, and tracks performance across platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter.
• Email Marketing Specialist: Designs and sends newsletters, builds subscriber lists, and tracks open rates to drive engagement.
• PPC Specialist: Manages paid ad campaigns on platforms like Google Ads or Facebook Ads to drive traffic and generate leads.

Take time to explore each of these areas before selecting one that would be a good fit. You could also begin as a general digital marketer before you decide to choose a niche.

Skills Most Required by Recruiters

There are specific skills recruiters request ranging from technical to soft skills. As a beginner, focus on the following skills to stand out.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in Marketing Automation Tools: Familiarity with tools like HubSpot, Mailchimp, or Marketo is a big plus since they streamline tasks like email campaigns, lead tracking, and reporting.
• Experience with Content Management Systems (CMS): Platforms like WordPress, Wix, or Shopify are commonly used for creating and managing websites. Learning the basics of these systems can give you a competitive edge.
• Analyzing Marketing Metrics and Key Performance Indicators(KPIs): Learn how to track and interpret data like website traffic, and conversion rates with tools like Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity to help with this.

Soft Skills

• Adaptability: Digital marketing trends evolve quickly, so be open to learning and adjusting your strategies.
• Teamwork: Collaboration is a key part of working in marketing as you’ll often partner with designers, writers, and analysts to bring campaigns to life.
• Communication: Whether you’re creating content or presenting results, you must be able to convey ideas.

Breaking into digital marketing takes time, but with persistence and the right foundation, you’ll land your first role and set yourself up for success in this ever-evolving industry.

Additional Steps for Career Preparation

Build an Impressive Resume

To achieve this, you would need to focus on showing your skills, experience, and results clearly, following these tips:

• Use a clean, clear, and concise format to convey information. 
• Highlight campaigns you’ve worked on including mock campaigns and relevant marketing campaigns.
• Specify tools you have utilized, results you’ve achieved, and your ability to deliver.
• Include relevant certifications you have earned to back up your skills.
• Use keywords from the job description to tailor your resume and increase your chances of being hired

Create a Strong Online Presence

A strong online presence can set you apart, so maintain an updated profile on professional platforms like LinkedIn and social media. It is estimated that 70% of employers use social media to screen potential hires.  

• Optimize your LinkedIn profile with relevant digital marketing keywords that make your profile visible to recruiters. A few of these keywords include;
  • Marketing strategist
  • Brand development
  • PR management
  • Client management
  • Business promotions
  • Social collaboration, etc
• Engage and join digital marketing communities: Be active on platforms like Reddit or Twitter to network and stay up to date with digital marketing trends. Join discussions, share valuable insights, and ask questions to connect with other professionals in the digital marketing field. By being active in these communities, you can expand your network and learn directly from experienced professionals.

Apply for Internships or Graduate Trainee Programs

This step is vital for you to gain practical knowledge by working on real-life campaigns in the digital marketing field. You will get the chance to apply your theoretical knowledge to actual projects giving you the confidence necessary to make it in the industry.

It is one thing to know the fundamentals of digital marketing and another to understand how they apply in real-life scenarios. internships help you get experience and front seat view to the day-to-day responsibilities of a digital marketer.

Network with Industry Stakeholders and Peers

As a beginner seeking success in the industry, effective networking fosters valuable connections with peers and experts in the digital marketing industry. Some of the ways you can network effectively are;

• By attending digital marketing conferences or webinars to learn directly from experts.
• Joining digital marketing groups on platforms like LinkedIn or Slack to engage with a community of like-minded individuals. 
• Use social media platforms and invest in personal branding. 
• Collaborate with other professionals on projects and content creation.

Prepare Adequately for Interviews

It is important to prepare for interviews because it gives you a better sense of being in control and the confidence needed to face the recruiters. Be ready to discuss your past experiences like strategies you use, how you solve problems, and what you have to offer. Practice Statement of results like:

• “I improved website traffic by optimizing SEO, leading to a 30% increase in organic traffic over 3 months”.
• “I managed a social media campaign that boosted the company’s engagement by 50% through creative posts and a consistent schedule.”

Next would be to practice commonly asked interview questions to test your understanding of key digital marketing concepts. Ensure your answers are thought out and structured to demonstrate your expertise. Practice questions like:

• “How would you improve a poorly performing campaign?”
• “What’s the difference between on-page and off-page SEO, and how would you prioritize them?”

During the interview, answer questions with confidence to position yourself as a capable candidate for the job. Also, ask insightful questions during the interview.

Strategies for Digital Marketing Job Search

Knowing where to look and how to position yourself is required to break into digital marketing. Here are a few strategies to help you get started;

• Utilize job boards: LinkedIn Jobs and Indeed are platforms you could use to find digital marketing roles. Opportunities are usually listed here and you get to filter them by entry roles, location, and industry. 
• Career pages: Bookmark digital marketing agencies career pages, visit their websites regularly to check for vacancies and you could even send thoughtful emails to express your interest in being part of the team.
• Network with recruiters: Attend industry events to network and build connections with recruiters on LinkedIn. These interactions could translate into mentorship and you could also gain insider tips about upcoming roles.

By remaining consistent in your search and employing these strategies, you’ll build momentum and increase your chances of being hired.

Becoming a Digital Marketer with Evolve With Tech

EvolveWithTech offers flexible, beginner-friendly programs that provide career roadmaps, expert instruction, and real-world internships to help you thrive in tech.

Our digital marketing program typically lasts six to eight weeks and focuses on transforming you into a digital marketing powerhouse. We deliver practical tools and support so you can confidently begin your journey as a data analyst.

Our Career Tapestry Snapshot software analyzes your strengths and interests using SWOT insights to create a personalized career roadmap for your tech journey. Learn from industry experts with interactive one-on-one lessons, hands-on projects, and quizzes to solidify your skills. 

At EvolveWithTech, you will gain real-world experiences to enhance your portfolio and join a supportive community of tech learners to accelerate your growth.

Getting started with our digital marketing program at EvolveWithTech is straightforward. The process begins by:

• Registering your interest by completing the form to confirm your commitment.
• Join our live introduction webinar, where we’ll explain the program, address your questions, and guide you through the process.
• After the webinar, we’ll pair you with a personal advisor to help craft your tailored career roadmap based on a personalized assessment called the Career Tapestry Snapshot, available for just $25.
• Secure your spot in the next cohort by registering for the Evolve Pod for $475, which confirms your enrollment.

After payment is finalized, your advisor will provide class schedules, log-in details, and everything you need to start your exciting tech journey. Our program is designed to accommodate working professionals, and we offer multiple schedule options.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion and Next Steps

In this article, we have explored the steps required to become a digital marketer with no prior experience: Recognizing digital marketer’s responsibilities, Identifying and honing the essential skills, Acquiring necessary knowledge, Creating a portfolio to showcase your skills, Presenting the findings of your campaign and Getting and entry-level Digital Marketing role.

Are you ready to begin your career as a Digital Marketer? Evolve With Tech’s digital marketing & e-commerce evolution track is the best place to start. Visit evolvewith.tech/digital-marketing to get started.