How to start a career in digital marketing

Digital marketing is essential for all types of businesses, so the demand for digital marketing professionals is skyrocketing.

Whether you browse freelance websites, job portals, offline networks, or Facebook groups, you will notice the growing demand for digital marketing skills and professionals.

Here are some facts and data collected while writing this post:

On Upwork.com, a search for the keyword “digital marketing” showed 10,075 jobs/projects, with 432 specifically for entry-level professionals. This indicates that the demand for skilled digital marketers is not just limited to freelance platforms but extends globally.

These projects come from companies, corporations, small business owners, home-based businesses, and digital marketing agencies. (See the image below.)

The keyword “digital marketer near me” is searched 10K – 100K times per month on Google Search (from Feb 2024 to Jan 2025), along with other related searches:

• Social media marketing agency near me – 1K – 10K searches/month
• Local digital marketing agencies – 100 – 1K searches/month
• Video marketing agency near me – 100 – 1K searches/month
• Google advertising agency near me – 100 – 1K searches/month
• Local marketing firms – 100 – 1K searches/month

These statistics prove the rising demand for digital marketers. Almost every city and state have businesses actively looking for digital marketing agencies and professionals.

As demand increases, more marketers are launching their agencies, while existing agencies are constantly hiring experts in lead generation, content creation, SEO, link building, social media management, and local SEO.

You can conduct your research by searching for different job roles such as SEO experts, SEO managers, PPC specialists, and content marketers. (See the Google search image below, in which you can see various types of digital marketing jobs.)

For further proof, check LinkedIn, Facebook groups, Naukri.com, Indeed.com, and other local job portals to see the growing demand for digital marketers.

Why Is Digital Marketing in High Demand?

Businesses are shifting online, requiring skilled experts to drive traffic, engagement, and sales. The rise of social media, e-commerce, content marketing, and data-driven strategies has made digital marketing essential for business growth.

Additionally, companies are prioritizing digital channels over traditional marketing, creating a continuous demand for professionals skilled in lead generation, SEO, content marketing, and paid advertising.

Why Digital Marketing is Best for Graduates / 10+2 Students?

Digital marketing is a creative field that does not require deep technical skills or a strong academic background. Anyone can learn it, making it accessible for graduates, 10+2 students, and freshers to start their careers in digital marketing. No prior experience is needed, and many companies actively hiring freshers.

Here’s why digital marketing is one of the best skills to learn for quick job opportunities:

⇒ Easy to Learn – No coding or advanced technical knowledge is required. You just have to use Search engines and social media websites, those are the things you already using, but as a digital marketer, your intent in this is different than the user’s.

⇒ High Demand for Freshers – Businesses and agencies prefer hiring entry-level marketers and training them.

⇒ Flexible Career Options – Work full-time, freelance, or start your agency. Yes, you can do a full-time job, and you can start your side hustle such as a YouTube channel, blog, and social media influencer. Even after 6 months to 1 year of experience, you can start your digital marketing agency.

⇒ Good Earning Potential – Entry-level salaries are competitive, with rapid growth opportunities. A fresher just after 4 to 5 months of learning can start getting jobs from 15000 with minimum and maximum also depending on interview performance.

⇒ Work from Anywhere – Many digital marketing jobs offer remote or freelance options. This is the best option for those who are housewives, raising kids or parenting can target such jobs and opportunities after learning digital marketing.

⇒ Promote your own business – Even if you don’t want to do a job, you can use digital marketing skills to promote and grow your family business.

⇒ Wide Variety of Learning Sources – You can learn digital marketing through multiple options, including YouTube tutorials, online courses, hybrid programs, certification courses, free resources, placement-based courses, and live classes. You can choose the best learning method that suits your budget and career goals.

This is why digital marketing is a perfect career choice for freshers who want to start quickly and grow fast! Most importantly, while having a certification is beneficial, a formal degree is not mandatory to begin a career in digital marketing.

Best Ways to Get a Digital Marketing Job as a Fresher

Now, let’s break down the step-by-step process to help you get your first digital marketing job. From learning essential digital marketing skills to building a portfolio and applying for jobs, we will explore each step in detail.

1. Understand the Basics of Digital Marketing

As a fresher, the first and most important step is to build a strong foundation in digital marketing concepts. This includes understanding what digital marketing is, how it differs from traditional marketing, its importance for small businesses, key digital platforms, and strategies for lead generation.

The essential skills you should focus on learning include:

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Google Ads & Facebook Ads
• Email Marketing & Content Marketing
• Social Media Marketing
• WordPress Website Creation/Maintenance and updates
• Guest Posting & Link Building
• Keyword Research & Content Creation
• Video Content Creation & Social Media Banner Design
• Google Analytics

Learning these basics will set you up for success and help you progress to more advanced strategies. To gain these skills, you can explore both free and paid digital marketing courses.

⇒ Free Courses with Certifications – Platforms like SEMrush and HubSpot offer high-quality free courses with certificates. YouTube is also a great resource, providing countless digital marketing tutorials and courses.

⇒ Paid Online & Live Classes – You can join live online classes or hybrid courses where you get direct interaction with experts and hands-on training.

⇒ Certificate & Placement-Based Courses – Many institutes and companies offer digital marketing courses with certification and 100% placement assistance, making it easier to get your first job.

⇒ There are different types of digital marketing course providers, including training institutes, NGOs, companies, influencers, YouTubers, and bloggers. If you’re looking for the best digital marketing course with certification and job placement, check out this course: Best Digital Marketing Course in Solan
Here is the complete guide on how you can learn digital marketing skills: How beginners can learn Digital Marketing

2. Develop In-Demand Digital Marketing Skills

Digital marketing is a broad field, and as a fresher, you may not get hired as a “Digital Marketer” right away. Instead, you will likely start with specialized roles such as:

• SEO Executive / Backlink Expert
• Content Writer / Content Creator
• PPC Advertiser / Google Ads Specialist
• Social Media Executive
• Copywriter

Once you gain practical experience in key areas like:

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
• Social Media Marketing
• Content Writing & Blogging
• Google Ads & PPC Advertising
• Analytics & Data Interpretation

You’ll be in a strong position to advance into higher roles like Digital Marketing Manager, Strategist, or Social Media Manager. With 2 to 3 years of experience, you can move into leadership positions with better pay and responsibilities.

Growth Requires Patience & Persistence

For example, if you start as a Content Writer earning ₹15,000/month, it doesn’t mean you’re stuck there. With consistent effort and excellent performance, you can grow into a Content Manager or Content Marketing Head over time. The key is to keep learning, improving, and adapting to new trends.

Digital Marketing is Constantly Evolving

Unlike traditional jobs, digital marketing is not a one-time learning process. Businesses, platforms, and digital marketers are constantly innovating—developing new SEO techniques, content strategies, ad campaigns, and lead generation methods.

To stay competitive, you must:

• Keep upgrading your skills based on industry trends
• Observe and analyze how top companies and marketers succeed
• Adapt and apply new strategies to improve results

Focusing not just on your work but also on how others achieve success will help you refine your approach and create even better marketing strategies and higher-salary jobs.

3. Build a Strong Portfolio

Having a personal blog or portfolio website is essential, especially for students and freshers in digital marketing and technology. It serves as a dynamic digital resume, allowing potential employers to see your work in action. Creating a simple one-page portfolio website is affordable and highly beneficial.

Think of it as a practical showcase of your skills:

⇒ SEO Expertise – Rank a few blog posts to demonstrate your ability to optimize content.
⇒ Technical SEO & UX – Improve website speed and user experience to highlight your skills.
⇒ Google Analytics – Integrate and analyze reports to showcase data-driven decision-making.
⇒ Content & Design – Display banner designs, written content, or video marketing projects.

Why a Portfolio Website Matters for Freshers?

As a fresher, you may not have much experience, but a real, hands-on example of your work demonstrates commitment and passion for digital marketing. It shows that you’re not just in this field to get a job—you’re building a reputation as a digital marketing expert that businesses can trust. You’re your website is the best and 1st example.

What to Include in Your Portfolio Website?
You can include the following things in your portfolio website to get a job or showcase your potential and strengths:
✔️ Skills & Certifications – Highlight your expertise, certifications, and completed courses.
✔️ Social Media Links – Showcase your YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other profiles.
✔️ Internships & Projects – Mention any real-world experience, social media campaigns, or freelance work. Read More: Know the ways to get work experience for job
✔️ Creative Work – Include logo designs, video tutorials, blog posts, or case studies to display versatility.

A portfolio website will be a game-changer for you. It not only strengthens your resume but also sets you apart from other candidates in job interviews.

You can create a portfolio website using WordPress, Wix, or Blogger, which offers easy website-building options. For free hosting, platforms like InfinityFree hosting, GitHub Pages, Netlify, and WordPress.com allow you to set up a basic site without cost.

If you prefer a no-code approach, website builders like Wix, Squarespace, or Canva Websites provide simple drag-and-drop tools to design your site effortlessly. Read more here: Different Ways to build any type of website

4. Get Certified in Digital Marketing

As I explained in the first point, you can easily get certifications in digital marketing. But the real question is—Are they necessary?

My simple answer: No—if you have strong knowledge, expertise, and real examples to showcase.

During an interview, employers need a solid reason to consider you for the job and justify your selection to their HR department. That is why having something tangible—whether it is a certificate, portfolio, or practical project—is essential.

Certifications help validate your skills and make your resume more appealing. They act as proof of expertise in WordPress, SEO, Google Ads, content marketing, and social media.
You can earn free certifications from platforms like Google, HubSpot, and SEMrush, which build your credibility and improve your chances of getting hired. You can also mention these certificates or add them to your LinkedIn profile.

Alternatively, if you want hands-on experience and job support, you can join a live interactive digital marketing course that offers certification, placement assistance, and at no cost.

5. Gain Hands-on Practical Experience

To build a strong portfolio and resume, gaining practical experience is important for you. As a fresher, it can be challenging for you to get freelance projects on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr without prior experience. But that does not mean it is impossible—you can still bid and get projects and deliver successfully and then use them as proof of your skills.

But you can also do the following things as a fresher:

⇒ Work on Local Projects: Reach out to small business owners in your family, friends, or local community and help them establish their online presence through Google Business Profile, social media, or website.

⇒ Start Your Projects: Launch a YouTube channel, create reels, or write blog content to practice content marketing and social media strategies.

⇒ Work as an Intern: Internships are one of the best ways for freshers to gain hands-on experience in digital marketing. Many companies, agencies, and startups offer internship opportunities, allowing you to work on real projects while learning from experienced professionals. Search on your local city for such programs and boot camps. Some are paid some are free. But even if you do not get any payouts that’s also ok, at least you’re learning.

Benefits of working as an intern:

• Practical Experience – You can learn to apply digital marketing concepts in real-world scenarios per the different industries and businesses.
• Skill Development – You will learn SEO, social media marketing, content creation, PPC, and analytics. This is important because in the course you learn fundamentals, and standard practices, but agencies and companies use their strategies to market and promote their client’s businesses online.
• Stronger Resume – Internship experience makes your profile stand out to employers.
• Networking Opportunities – You’ll have the opportunity to connect with professionals who can support your career growth. For instance, if you work in an environment where English communication is essential, and most team members converse in English, it will provide a great chance to enhance your English communication skills while gaining valuable industry experience.
• Chance for Full-Time Jobs – Many companies hire interns as full-time employees based on performance. If your performance as an intern is great, then can hire you as a full-time employee.
• Document Your Work – Every project you complete—big or small—adds value to your portfolio website, making you more credible to potential employers.

So, by actively applying your skills through all of this and more, you not only gain hands-on experience but also increase your confidence, and credibility and stand out in job interviews and job.

To find digital marketing internships, LinkedIn, Naukri.com, Internshala, and Indeed, where companies actively post internship openings. Check career pages of digital marketing agencies for internship opportunities. Reach out to startups and freelancing platforms that offer unpaid or stipend-based internships to gain hands-on experience.

Additionally, you can leverage networking and referrals by joining Facebook groups, WhatsApp communities, and LinkedIn connections, as many companies hire interns through recommendations.

6. Optimize Your Resume & LinkedIn Profile

Having a well-designed resume and other essential documents ready is important for you. You have to make sure that your resume highlights your strengths, skills, and relevant experience in the digital marketing field effectively.

Utilize the power of LinkedIn profile. Do not underestimate LinkedIn, even if you do not have a website, you can include your LinkedIn profile link in your resume. Many students even print their LinkedIn profiles to showcase their experience. Also creating multiple versions of your resume for different job roles—SEO, Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing, or Digital Marketing to match job descriptions effectively is also good.

Optimize your LinkedIn profile based on your target job role. For example, if you are applying for an SEO job, highlight SEO-related skills. If you want a Facebook Ads specialist role, optimize accordingly.

Many companies and HR professionals filter LinkedIn profiles while hiring, so keeping your profile updated increases your chances of getting noticed by recruiters.

7. Apply for Jobs Strategically

There are various types of jobs for freshers in digital marketing based on job roles, location, salary, and experience. Now as fresher, the best strategy that I suggest is the following:

⇒ If possible find out the job in which you’re good such as WordPress, SEO, Content Writing, or Advertising. Even not that good, but at least have a good understanding and concept clearance.

⇒ The 2nd thing look for a job where you will get a chance to learn and improve your skills. Where you will be challenged, and the job is result-oriented such as lead generation, link building, technical SEO, etc. No matter if the starting salary is low or around 12000 to 15000.

⇒ Remember, that starting with a low salary with a good profile is best in a good company. This is not your last or dream job.

⇒ Invest your 1st year at least only for learning. Make your mindset for growth and build your skills and expertise. After 1 year of experience, your salary will be double.

⇒ Many students often make the mistake that they think salary is low. But as fresher around 20 to 25 is a struggling period for everyone. In this phase, the goal should be for growth. Many professionals who are successful today either in jobs or business in digital marketing started with very low salaries. But they made up their mind that this is a learning phase not earning. Once you have the expertise, and experience in digital marketing then the sky is the limit if you are concerned about salary.

⇒ For example, make an earning goal to earn 50000 or 100000 per month after a year or two. Now how you will earn that money, this is the plan. You will earn through salary. Now another strategy is that you will earn from your salary + you will earn from your blog + your own YouTube channel. Now if you work hard even along with the job this is possible.

So, strategy is very important. Digital marketing skills allow you to build as many income sources or outsource. So not only apply for jobs strategically based on the job roles but also plan and manage your time and skills to monetize in other ways possible.

8. Network with Industry Experts, Digital Marketers, and Your Target Audience

Building a strong network comes with many advantages, whether you’re a job seeker or a business owner. A professional network takes time to establish, but it’s essential for showcasing your expertise and experience.

As a beginner, you might not have a large network, but you can start by reaching out to the people you already know. Share your skills and certifications with them so they can refer you for relevant opportunities. If you have connections working in companies, ask them for referrals and recommendations.

You can also expand your network through blogs and LinkedIn. Optimize your LinkedIn profile to attract small businesses, HR professionals, and corporate recruiters. Engage with others, stay active, and write blogs on LinkedIn to showcase your knowledge. Additionally, enable the “Open to Work” feature to increase your visibility.

Use every platform and resource available today to move forward. Don’t wait for perfection—just take the initiative, and improvement will come with time.

Remember, as a marketer your first duty is to market yourself and brand yourself. Once you know how to use marketing skills on your own you will be able to do it for the world as a job, freelancer, and business.

9. Prepare for Interviews

Don’t approach interviews half-heartedly. Be fully prepared. Being ready means investing time in understanding the digital marketing industry.

You should be preparing for interviews by studying common digital marketing interview questions and answers, watching relevant interviews on YouTube, and staying updated with industry trends.

It’s important to equip both your skills and mindset for the job. Don’t take interviews lightly—use each one as an opportunity to learn and improve for the next. Ultimately, choose the best fit for you.

10. Stay Active, Motivated, and Aware of job opportunities

Being aware of market trends, advertisements, and word of mouth is a crucial element of both professional and personal life. Staying informed about job and business opportunities is especially important.

For instance, if a new hotel is opening in your local area, it’s an opportunity to approach the hotel owner and team with marketing proposals—whether it’s a large hotel or a homestay.

Similarly, if you come across online job opportunities, even if you’re already employed, consider giving interviews to test and expand your knowledge, skills, and capabilities.
It’s also essential to stay up-to-date with search engine updates, new social media features, content strategies, and AI-powered digital tools.

By dedicating yourself to daily learning about the market, target audiences, and the best digital marketing practices and strategies, you’ll outperform 90% of other digital marketers, even those already in jobs.

These are the real practices. Knowing the industry inside and out will become your strength, and who knows—many of these businesses may offer you even more opportunities. There’s no doubt about that.

In the points above, I’ve shared some of the most important and practical digital marketing career development strategies to help you find jobs, build multiple income streams, and grow as a digital marketer.

If you need personalized consultancy, feel free to reach out to me.