Digital marketing is a good career because of:
According to Upwork, digital marketing is one of the most in-demand skills in 2024 and beyond. This includes SEO, social media marketing, lead generation, and search engine marketing. Many professional marketers advance to establishing their own digital marketing agencies.
Andrew John is a digital marketing expert with over 10 years of experience. After working for top Australian advertising companies, he built his own agency. He learned copywriting and PPC management, focusing on Facebook Ads and Google Ads. Today, Andrew earns a 6-figure income from his digital marketing business.
Workswit IT Solution reports that 58% of small businesses use digital marketing to boost sales and brand awareness. Meanwhile, a quick LinkedIn search shows over 93,000 open digital marketing jobs in the U.S. alone.
Digital marketing is a growing industry that provides opportunities for skilled professionals. However, it also comes with several challenges. For example, staying updated with algorithm changes and new tech trends is a must. Moreover, building a digital marketing business from scratch also requires time and effort. Competing against established brands is difficult for most newcomers.
One Reddit commenter shared about the challenges of being a digital marketing director. According to the post, clients “only call to complain” and are “always looking for an excuse to not pay.” They also mention that while the salary is great, the work is often stressful.
Another Redditor describes digital marketing as “incredibly draining.” “I do NOT recommend anyone getting into digital marketing,” his post reads. “Unless you are going to push yourself to continually learn.” Despite being underpaid, he still strives to upskill by joining courses.
I've been an internet entrepreneur since 2014. Digital marketing has been a huge factor as I built 6-figure online businesses. For this feature, I dive into the viability of digital marketing as a career option. We check out first-hand testimonials from popular platforms such as Reddit and Quora. Plus, we'll feature a more profitable career and business model at the end.
Is Digital Marketing a Good Career? Top Reddit Comments
Digital marketing is a good career, according to top comments on Reddit. Users DigitalMediaGeek and DefenderNeverender both suggest focusing on a specific niche or specialty.
The former adds about receiving competitive pay. Meanwhile, the latter recommends digital marketing to others. They, however, warn that it's not “the most lucrative industry” out there.
Grazewithdblaze points out the availability of 11,000 different marketing software/SaaS products. This signifies there will be “strong digital marketing opportunities for a long time.”
Achreddit2023 says digital marketers will be continually in demand as they learn to:
Is Digital Marketing a Good Career? Top Quora Comments
Digital marketing is a good career, according to top comments on Quora. Business developer Stella Mcqeen says “digital marketing skills are in serious demand” today. She also points out that brands “are putting more of a focus on digital marketing than ever before.”
A career in digital marketing doesn't require a degree, says consultant Megha Agarwal. “The demand for digital marketers are getting higher by the day,” she adds. “But the supply is still not up to the mark.
It’s a great career to pursue, but not everyone succeeds. In fact, digital marketers need to have “perseverance, strong analytical skills, and hardcore dedication,” according to Digital Scholar co-founder Rishi Jain.
Meanwhile, Steve Hughes shares about how artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing digital marketing. He says the technology is transforming “how businesses reach out to customers.” According to him, AI is “making marketing not just smart, but ultra-smart.” As such, it's important for digital marketers to upskill and keep up with modern trends.
Is Digital Marketing a Good Career in the US?
Digital marketing is a good career in the US because of its growing industry. The United States leads the global digital advertising market. The country spent over $271.2 billion in 2023 alone. Moreover, projections say the country will spend over $450 billion by 2028.
According to Indeed, US-based digital marketers earn an average of $65,975 per year. Top companies offer an annual salary of $113,000 to over $170,000 for digital marketers.
Is Digital Marketing a Good Career in Canada?
Digital marketing is a good career in Canada with its increasing opportunities. A KPMG survey reveals that 70% of Canadian businesses struggle to find skilled digital marketers. A quick digital marketing job search on Indeed yields over 2,000 results in the country. Meanwhile, LinkedIn shows over 7,000 results.
That said, Statista reports that digital marketing in Canada has a compound annual growth rate of 4.2%. Experts also project its market value will reach $12.95 billion by 2027. Indeed shares that digital marketers in Canada earn an average salary of $59,179 per year.
Is Digital Marketing a Good Career in India?
Digital marketing is a good career in India because of its attractive pay and high demand. In addition, TalentEdge mentions diverse career opportunities and growth potential. According to Mint, only 12% of India's workforce has digital skills. As such, the country needs to see a ninefold increase by 2025 to meet the growing demands.
Today, a quick search on LinkedIn shows over 34,000 available digital marketing jobs in India. Statista says India's digital advertising market spend is expected to hit $5.3 billion in 2024. Furthermore, the site sees a 55% increase in the share of digital marketing spends by 2025.
Is Digital Marketing a Good Career in Australia?
Digital marketing is a good career in Australia because it's an in-demand skill. RMIT Online and Deloitte Access Economics say 87% of Australian jobs require digital skills. The National Skills Commission reports the country expects to have 90,000 marketing roles by 2026. The country's average digital marketing salary per year is $92,442, according to Talent.
Meanwhile, a Quora user claims “digital marketing recruitment is booming.” There are, however, “fewer skilled digital marketers in the country.” Besides, 30% of these professionals are foreigners. This presents plenty of work opportunities for both locals and non-locals in Australia.
Is Digital Marketing a Good Career in the UK?
Digital marketing is a good career in the UK with many businesses relying on online platforms. SearchHog says digital marketing is the advertising industry's fastest-growing segment in the UK. This mainly stems from the increasing popularity of online shopping in the country. Statista likewise reports that digital ad market spend in 2024 will reach $44.4 billion.
One Reddit user shares how she made £18,500 per year as a digital marketing newbie. Today, she earns around £25,000 yearly. The Redditor also suggests enhancing specific skill sets for more lucrative offers. “Likelihood is you won't be making big bucks right away,” the post reads. “But the money is really in the niches.”
Is Digital Marketing a Good Career for Introverts?
Digital marketing is a good career for introverts because of their strategic planning and research skills. This makes them ideal for analytical tasks and various digital marketing jobs. Digital marketing expert Shalea Brown tells CampaignAsia that introverts “excel in crafting campaigns that tap into deeper market sentiments.” In fact, they often succeed in “capturing nuances that louder voices might miss.”
One Reddit user says some aspects of digital marketing “cater towards introverted personalities.” According to the post, their introverted team members mostly function as data analysts. “You can be successful in any role with the right attitude and training,” the Redditor points out. “But I do think some roles are easier to pick up based on your personality.”
“70 to 90% of your time is going to be spent on the computer analyzing data,” says YouTuber Seth Jared. Besides, digital marketing requires limited direct interaction with colleagues and clients.
“Good digital marketers can be introverted but still talk directly to customers,” writes Richard Liu on Quora. He continues that a successful leader often steps outside their comfort zone. “It's a skill that comes over time and you just have to keep doing it,” he adds.
What are the Upsides of a Digital Marketing Career?
The upsides of a digital marketing career are:
With digital marketing, you may work in-house with a company or as a home-based freelancer. Some professionals start their own agencies, like Melanie G Adcock of Adcock Creative Group and Bet Hannon of AccessiCart.
It's also possible to venture into different tasks, such as:
What are the Downsides of a Digital Marketing Career?
The downsides of a digital marketing career are:
As an industry, digital marketing is challenging for new professionals and agency owners. In a CareerFoundry YouTube video, Ed Wood says it can be taxing to meet short and long-term targets while achieving significant ROI. Agency owners also need to dominate search engine results and social media platforms. Maintaining a strong online presence requires constant effort and adaptability.
Can You Make Money With a Digital Marketing Career?
You can make money with a digital marketing career if you venture into profitable roles. On YouTube, Shane Hummus says entry-level digital marketers earn $35,000 to $50,000 per year. This could increase to $60,000 to $80,000 with 1 to 4 years of industry experience. Meanwhile, ZipRecruiter shares that some of the top positions in digital marketing are:
Can You Start a Digital Marketing Career With No Experience?
You can start a digital marketing career with no experience. Redditor RonDkode says having a “at least few certificates” can be an advantage. The post further reads that agencies today are willing to hire fresh graduates and newbies as they show “potential, willingness to learn, and positive attitude.”
Also, numerous paid and free online courses are available for industry newcomers. Reputable courses teach students to learn and master digital marketing skills.
Can Digital Marketing Courses Help You Build a Stable Career?
Digital marketing courses can help you build a stable career as you gain knowledge, skills, and network resources. Also, a digital marketing certificate opens up multiple job opportunities and competitive salary.
Some popular online digital marketing programs are:
Other options include Grow with Google's Digital Marketing & E-Commerce Certificate, a program hosted via Coursera.
Alternatively, Udemy has over 10,000 paid courses and over 6,000 free courses focusing on digital marketing. Beginners may check out these resources to gain foundational knowledge and marketing skills.
Is Digital Marketing in High Demand for the Future?
Digital marketing is in high demand for the future because of its continuous rise. Forbes reports that digital marketing has a projected 6% growth by 2032. It outpaces average job growth in other industries. Emerging technologies like AI-powered tools are further driving this trend. The site also says that the industry will to reach a value of $1.5 trillion by 2030.
Why Local Lead Generation Is the Best Career in 2024
Local lead generation is the best career in 2024 because of market stability and income scalability. The digital marketing industry is getting more saturated and competitive over the years. Focusing into a specialization requires technical skills and in-depth knowledge. It likewise boosts your reputation as an industry expert. Most importantly, you may earn higher ROI as a result.
Local lead generation is a more realistic model, even for beginners. Besides, you only need to create websites focusing on a specific service niche and location. For example, this towing San Francisco site that I built years ago.
Next, you'll have to work on ranking the site on search engine results using proven SEO techniques. Once your site reaches top Google results, it will begin attracting organic leads. You can sell these leads to local business owners and make up to 90% profit margins.
I've been providing local lead generation services since 2014. I make $500 to $3,000 from each of my sites. In total, I earn up to $52,000 per month. My clients happily pay me month after month as I consistently deliver leads for their businesses.
