How to Become a Digital Marketer?

Blog written by Indu R Eswarappa, Career Coach & Education Change-Maker

Introduction: From Billboards to Browsers – The Shift That Changed Everything

I still remember the time when marketing meant giant hoardings on highways, TV jingles, and newspaper ads. But today? It’s all about clicks, conversions, and content.

Let me take you into the world of digital marketing—a field that’s become one of the most in-demand, fast-paced, and creatively fulfilling careers today. Whether you’re a student wondering if this path is right for you or a career switcher ready to jump industries, this guide will walk you through every step, based on what we’ve seen with hundreds of students we’ve mentored.

What is Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing is the art and science of promoting products, services, or personal brands through online platforms like search engines, social media, email, and websites. Think of it as the bridge between business and consumers in today’s screen-first world.

With over 5.35 billion internet users globally (DataReportal, 2024), companies across all industries are racing to capture digital attention—and they need smart, skilled marketers to do that.

Why Is It a Booming Career?

Every brand—from a mom-and-pop bakery to a billion-dollar unicorn—is shifting budgets from traditional to digital. Why?

AI-powered platforms have made marketing more data-driven and efficient, but they still need creative, human brains to make the message stick.
Content marketing remains a significant focus for marketers (HubSpot, 2024).
63% of CMOs planned to boost their digital marketing spending (Statista Report)

This means endless opportunities—whether you’re working with fashion brands, finance firms, fitness apps, or food delivery startups.

Key Responsibilities & Work Environment

As a digital marketer, no two days are ever the same—from crafting compelling content to decoding analytics, your role sits at the intersection of creativity, strategy, and technology.

So, what does a digital marketer actually do?

Core Responsibilities:

SEO & SEM: Getting your site to rank on Google. Example: Writing a blog that shows up when someone types “best budget phones 2025.”
Content Marketing: Creating blogs, videos, reels, podcasts, and more.
Social Media Management: Planning, posting, and engaging on platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
Email Marketing: Sending targeted email campaigns to drive traffic or sales.
Analytics: Using tools like Google Analytics to track what’s working.
Paid Ads: Running Facebook, Instagram, or Google ads to generate leads or conversions.

Work Environment:

Whether you’re hustling at a buzzing agency, thriving in a corporate team, or freelancing from a café, digital marketing offers flexible, fast-paced work settings tailored to your lifestyle.

Agencies: Working at a digital marketing agency means juggling campaigns for multiple brands across industries. It’s high-energy, deadline-driven, and packed with opportunities to learn diverse strategies quickly.

In-house Teams: If you prefer depth over variety, in-house roles are ideal. You’ll work on one brand’s digital presence, which allows for long-term strategy planning, consistency, and a more structured work pace.

Freelancing: Freelancing gives you full control—choose your clients, set your hours, and work from anywhere. It’s perfect for side hustlers, students, or those looking to turn passion into profit without a 9-to-5.

Remote Jobs: With a strong portfolio and digital presence, you can land remote marketing jobs with companies around the world. These roles offer global exposure, flexibility, and work-life balance—especially valuable post-pandemic.

Educational Pathways & Qualifications

No, you don’t need a computer science degree to become a digital marketer! What you do need is a good grasp of marketing fundamentals, creativity, and the right certifications to boost your credibility.

Degree Options:

BBA/BMS with Marketing:
A great foundation if you’re aiming for a structured marketing career with business context.
BA in Mass Communication/Media:
Ideal for creative thinkers interested in content, branding, and digital storytelling.
B.Com or BA (with internships):
Even if you come from a general background, real-world experience through internships can help you break into digital marketing.

Must-Have Certifications:

Google Digital Garage (Free):
A beginner-friendly introduction to online marketing basics—great for building foundational knowledge.
HubSpot Academy:
Offers in-demand skills like inbound marketing, SEO, and content strategy—recognized widely by employers.
Meta Blueprint:
Perfect if you want to master Facebook and Instagram Ads. Great for performance marketers and freelancers.
Coursera – Digital Marketing Specialization (UoI):
A structured, university-backed learning path with real projects and case studies.
UpGrad / Great Learning:
Paid programs designed with industry leaders—helpful if you’re seeking mentorship, career support, or placement help.

Pro Tip: Start early with internships or your own passion project. We’ve seen students run Instagram pages for small businesses or launch their own YouTube channels—that’s real-world experience that recruiters love.

Entrance Exams (Only if You Want a Formal Degree)

If you’re aiming for a structured academic route like a BBA, Mass Communication, or MBA in Marketing, entrance exams will be your gateway to top colleges. But remember—plenty of successful digital marketers skip this route entirely!

Popular Entrance Exams for Marketing-Related Degrees:

Exam Name	For Admission Into	Key Subjects Tested	Frequency
CUET (UG/PG)	Central Universities (for BA/BBA/B.Com)	English, General Test, Domain-Specific	Once a year
IPMAT	IIM Indore & IIM Rohtak (5-year BBA+MBA)	Quant, Verbal Ability, Logical Reasoning	Once a year
DUET	Delhi University UG/PG Courses	English, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning	Once a year
NMIMS-NPAT	BBA/B.Com/B.Sc at NMIMS	Quant, Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability	Once a year
SET	Symbiosis colleges (BBA/Mass Comm)	General English, Quant, Reasoning	Once a year
CAT/XAT/MAT	MBA/PGDM Programs	Quant, Verbal, DI, GK (varies by exam)	1–4 times a year

Note: But if you’re going the certification + internship route, no exam is needed.

Skills You’ll Need to Succeed

Digital marketing is a perfect blend of tech-savviness and creativity. To thrive, you’ll need a strong grip on digital tools and the human touch of communication, adaptability, and teamwork.

Technical Tools:

Google Analytics, SEMrush, Ahrefs – Help track website performance, keyword rankings, and SEO health.
Mailchimp, ConvertKit – Automate and manage email campaigns with user-friendly dashboards.
Facebook Ads Manager, Google Ads – Run and monitor paid ad campaigns across social and search platforms.
Canva, Corel draw, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Spark – Design creative visuals for posts, ads, and presentations—no pro design skills needed.
WordPress, Shopify – Build, update, and manage websites and e-commerce stores with ease.

Soft Skills:

Creativity – To craft engaging content and out-of-the-box campaigns that stand out.
Analytical Thinking – To interpret data, track ROI, and optimize strategy.
Communication – Crucial for writing copy, pitching ideas, and collaborating with teams.
Trend Awareness – The digital world shifts fast—stay updated to stay relevant.
Collaboration – You’ll often work with designers, developers, clients, and cross-functional teams.

Example: A student we coached used Canva and ChatGPT to create a 10-part Instagram series for a local salon—and grew their audience by 4x in 3 months!

Career Growth: Where Can This Take You?

What I love most about digital marketing? It’s not a one-size-fits-all career. You can start small and scale big, or carve your own niche—there’s something for every kind of thinker, doer, and dreamer.

Entry-Level Roles

Start here to get hands-on with campaigns and tools:

Digital Marketing Executive – Executes campaigns, manages content calendars, and reports results.
SEO Analyst – Optimizes websites to rank higher on Google.
Content Creator – Crafts blog posts, videos, or social media content.

Salaries range from ₹3–6 LPA

Mid-Level Roles

Ready to lead projects and manage platforms:

Social Media Manager – Builds brand presence and community across platforms.
Performance Marketer – Runs ads with ROI-focused strategies.
Campaign Strategist – Plans and optimizes multi-channel marketing campaigns.
Salaries range from ₹6–12 LPA

Senior Roles

Now you’re steering the ship:

Digital Marketing Manager – Oversees teams, budgets, and overall strategy.
Growth Hacker – Uses data and creativity to drive rapid business growth.
Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) – Heads the entire marketing function of an organization.
Salaries range from ₹25 LPA to ₹1 Cr+

Other Routes

Not into the 9–5? You’ve got options:

Freelancing – Flexible work with diverse clients around the world.
Entrepreneurship – Start your own digital agency, build a product, or become a personal brand.
Specializations – Deep-dive into niches like product marketing, digital strategy, or UX writing.

Salaries & ROI (Return on Time)

You don’t need to spend lakhs on a fancy degree to make this career work for you. Many start with free or affordable certifications, pick up internships, and grow their skills hands-on. That’s the real ROI—low entry cost, high growth potential.

Entry-level roles like Digital Marketing Executive or Content Creator earn around ₹3–6 LPA, and within 2–3 years, many jump to ₹6–12 LPA roles like Social Media Manager or Campaign Strategist.
If you climb up to roles like Digital Marketing Manager or CMO, you could earn ₹25 LPA to ₹1 Cr+, especially with agency or startup experience.
Freelancers and solopreneurs can scale based on their brand, niche, and client base—some even make USD income from global clients.

The best part? You can grow fast, pivot often, and build a strong portfolio that keeps opening new doors.

Experience	Role	Avg. Salary (India)
0–2 years	Digital Marketing Executive	₹3–6 LPA
2–5 years	SEO/PPC Specialist	₹6–12 LPA
5–10 years	Marketing Manager	₹12–25 LPA
10+ years	CMO/Director	₹25 LPA – ₹1 Cr+

Low Investment, High Return: Why This Career Makes Financial Sense

Unlike careers that demand years of expensive education, digital marketing lets you start lean and grow smart. Most in-demand tools and certifications are either free or affordable, and you can start earning while you’re still learning.

Whether you freelance, join an agency, or build your own brand—your earning potential grows with your skills, not just your degrees. The return on effort is clear: smart marketers often 3x their income within 3–5 years, and many hit 6-figure salaries (in INR or USD!) by building niche expertise or managing growth campaigns.

Think of it as a career with compounding returns—your time, skills, and experiments all add up to bigger opportunities.

Is Digital Marketing Right for You?

Wondering if digital marketing is your vibe? If you enjoy solving problems creatively, spotting trends, and experimenting with tech tools—this could be your sweet spot. Let’s see if your interests and strengths align with the digital marketing world.

You enjoy creating, writing, or storytelling.
You like experimenting with tools and trends.
You want remote work, global roles, or freelancing freedom.
You come from a non-tech background but want to enter the IT world.
You’re a career switcher from sales, education, or media.

If you nodded to any of these, this might be your path.

Final Thoughts

Digital marketing is one of the most empowering careers today because it rewards curiosity, creativity, and consistency—not just degrees. I’ve seen students with zero background go on to lead campaigns for global brands within 3 years.

So, are you ready to launch your journey?

Let us help you design your first steps. Drop us a message or explore our Digital Marketing Career Pathway program today!