Tips for Building Your Marketing Career

You’ve read the books, watched the videos, and are ready to dive into marketing. But landing your first role? That’s another story.

I can see why you might be struggling. There’s fierce competition, and it’s hard to get noticed.

The number of digital marketing jobs for advertising, promotions, and marketing managers is on course to increase by 8 percent from 2023 to 2033, and it has a faster growth rate than most other job sectors

On top of that, the sector is constantly evolving, with trends such as increased remote work, data-driven decision-making, and AI.

Luckily, there are a few tricks you can use to get the edge on your competition.

If you’re looking for actionable marketing career tips to boost your job prospects, you’re in the right place.

Key Takeaways

• Approximately 77.1 percent of employers look for employees with strong written communication skills, and 69.3 percent search for workers who have strong verbal skills.
• Learn marketing fundamentals, including branding, analytics, and consumer behavior, to establish a strong knowledge base.
• To stay competitive in the digital-first landscape, master tools like Google Analytics (GA), social media platforms, and email marketing.
• Marketing evolves rapidly—be open to learning new strategies and adapting to industry trends.
• Attend industry events, connect on LinkedIn, and seek mentorship to build relationships that can open doors and guide your career.

Table of Contents

• Key Takeaways
• 1. Improve Your Communication
• 2. Specialize and Socialize
  • Omnichannel Marketing
• 3. Grow Your Portfolio
• 4. Jumpstart Your Network
• 5. Go Big With Data
• 6. Build Your Branding
• 7. Learn to Use AI and Automation Tools
• 8. Stay Updated on Trends and Tech
• 9. Develop Cross-Functional Skills
• 10. Prioritize Mental Health and Work-Life Balance
• FAQs
• Conclusion

1. Improve Your Communication

No matter what new technology rolls out tomorrow, your basic communication skills are always in demand.

For proof, take a look at the top skills employers want when hiring fresh graduates for entry-level positions:

Around 77.1 percent of employers seek employees with strong written communication skills, and 69.3 percent want workers with good verbal skills.

You know why? Because communication is the backbone of marketing; It’s how you talk, connect, and build relationships with your audience. If you’re eager to learn how to begin a career in marketing, the first step is honing your verbal and written communication skills. 

Whether you’re a fresh graduate or making a career transition, you can develop communication skills on your own time.

You can do this without spending money, with a free communications course, or with only a small financial investment. 

You can also use a few tools to enhance your writing, but don’t over-rely on them. Remember that they should complement your skills, not replace them. 

Here are a few to start with:

Grammarly

Grammarly is a go-to tool for many writers.

Grammarly is part proofreader and part personal writing assistant. It also tracks your progress and shows how your skills stack up against other Grammarly users so you can see the trends.

Hemingway 

The web version of Hemingway Editor is another free resource for improving your writing. It tracks passive voice, adverbs, and readability, impacting how your audience perceives your writing.

You can also use generative AI to help build your written communication skills. 

Writer.com

Writer.com is an excellent starting point; you can try it for free. The platform gives you a suite of AI tools, including templates for blogs, case studies, and FAQs.

Jasper

Then, there’s Jasper.ai. It’s another AI-powered writing tool that helps you generate different content like blogs, ads, and social media posts. You can try it for free for five days with a 10,000-word limit. 

Here’s the bottom line time:

Generative AI tools are valuable support/scalability tools when used correctly. But before you go all in with AI, there are some ethical considerations when using AI tools in marketing to consider:

• Check and double-check: AI sometimes hallucinates and creates false information and stats. Fact-checking before publishing is a must, so use original sources for stats and check for outdated information.
• Avoid plagiarism: Use tools like Grammarly to check for plagiarized content, and link to sources.
• Review: Don’t publish AI content as it is. Edit for tone, brand voice, style, and context, add customer stories and unique data, and make it your own.

2. Specialize and Socialize

As the introduction highlights, marketing opportunities are expanding due to significant job growth and support, but so is competition.

And competing with other marketing hopefuls means going up against a field chock-full of communication experts.

It’s a lot to stack up against on paper. If you want to separate yourself from the pack, you have to specialize your toolkit.

According to Indeed.com, the most in-demand skills in marketing careers include data analysis, UX/UI writing, email and content marketing, and automation. 

That gives you plenty of areas to pick from, and sure, you could be a jack of all trades. But your best bet to get ahead? Specialize. 

Become the go-to person for a specific skill or two rather than stretching yourself too thin.

Then, the next step is to get your name out there. You can take advantage of platforms like Medium, Substack, and LinkedIn. And you can’t go wrong with guest blogging. When you get published on well-known blogs/sites and build social proof around specialized aspects of your marketing skills, it:

• Reinforces your credibility and the value you offer.
• Gives you a chance to highlight your results.
• Helps you stand out from other candidates.

And the best part? Getting into high-profile blogs building a portfolio isn’t hard.

One of the easiest (and one of my favorite) ways is to get started through Medium. Meanwhile, here are some more tips to get featured on niche blogs:

• Identify target publications or do a Google search for guest posts in your niche.
• Craft pitches tailored to their audience. Look at the content they usually publish and pay close attention to any trending pieces.
• Read the pitching guidelines and craft a pitch.
• If you get the go-ahead, provide unique, high-value content.

Ultimately, no matter how you hone your communication skills, adding authoritative pieces to your name will not just make you sound like a better marketer. It’ll make you look like one, too. 

And that brings me to the next topic: Your portfolio.

Omnichannel Marketing

If you’re serious about your career in marketing, you need to learn how to be everywhere at once rather than just relying on old favorites like SEO and content marketing, That means learning how to create a cohesive marketing strategy across different platforms like email, social media, and paid media.

Creating campaigns and journeys with various touchpoints shows your ability to reach audiences at different stages of the customer lifecycle, whether that’s brand awareness, lead nurturing, or customer retention.

These types of omnichannel marketing shows you clearly understand how each platform can complement each other and guides customers through their journey. For example, you might create an email campaign that leads customers to a tailored landing page ready to secure more conversions. 

3. Grow Your Portfolio

You’re all geared up for your career in marketing, but here’s the thing: your skills won’t flourish without the opportunity to refine them.

It’s a classic Catch-22. In reality, you often need to showcase some existing skills to land those opportunities in the first place.

Without experience, though, you struggle to secure roles, and your skills don’t develop, leaving you without a portfolio to impress potential clients or employers. 

Many marketers face this dilemma, so how do you break this cycle?

Start by seeking volunteer projects, internships, or freelance gigs to build confidence, showcase your skills, and help your interview skills.

Research from the University Alliance shows that 85 percent of employers believe graduates with relevant work experience perform better in interviews.

It makes sense, doesn’t it? The more experience you have to talk about, the better you’ll likely do during an interview.

If you’re considering volunteer work, look for a nonprofit. I wouldn’t usually suggest working for free, but if you want to learn how to run a social media campaign or create a newsletter, it can provide valuable experience. 

LinkedIn and Indeed have a ton of leads for volunteer work, but you can also find smaller, local groups. A shout-out on social media should also secure some potential opportunities. Or try VolunteerMatch.

Once you’ve got some examples (and permission), create a portfolio in Canva or Behance to showcase your work. Make sure you show off your metrics, too, so others can see the results you’re capable of delivering.

With ample opportunities to grow your portfolio and get some serious Good Samaritan street cred, what are you waiting for?

Get out there and start making a difference for others to see a difference in your career.

4. Jumpstart Your Network

In some industries, it’s more about who you know than what you do. But in digital marketing, it’s about both.

How do you meet the right people if you don’t already know the right people to set up introductions?

With employee referrals.

According to Jobvite, employee referrals reduce hiring times by 40 percent, and they stay with the company longer.

It’s the same kind of defeating cycle as the “experience without experience” conundrum I described in the above section.

You can’t grow your network because you need a network first to look reputable and gain people’s trust.

Fortunately, the solution to ending this cycle is just as simple: it’s time to start networking, and I don’t just mean in person. There are Discord communities, LinkedIn, and Slack groups for marketing professionals. Facebook groups are full of networking opportunities, too.

Here are a few to get you started in your marketing career: 

• Discord Groups: MarketingKingz, The SEO Boardroom, and the Organic Marketing Academy.
• LinkedIn: Social Media Today or Search Engine Land.
• Slack Groups: Growmance or Online Geniuses.
• Facebook: Marketing Solved or Google SEM Mastermind.

Also, check out conferences like Content Marketing World. This event attracts content marketers worldwide, and numerous agencies have booths there. If you can’t attend in person, you can purchase digital passes.

Another example is HubSpot’s three-day conference, INBOUND. It’s been running for years and is an excellent opportunity for new marketers to forge valuable connections in the industry. The talks are available on demand if you want to watch remotely.

You can check out my talk about the new approach to content marketing on YouTube.

Even if you can’t attend a major convention, you could host or participate in an event through a service like Meetup.

This reduces travel costs, helps you build a local network, and allows you to find or organize events to fit around your schedule.

5. Go Big With Data

If you’re thinking about how to begin a career in marketing, look at developing strong data analysis skills. Data scientists are in high demand, and the sector is on course to grow by a whopping 36 percent by 2033. Even if you don’t dream of being a data scientist, the ability to analyze and gather data is a valuable skill differentiator.

You can specialize in many areas, too, like data management and visualization, machine learning, and project management.

If you’re interested in data analysis, here are a few key marketing tools you should familiarize yourself with: 

• Google Analytics (GA) helps businesses track and analyze user interactions on websites and apps.
• Tableau is a visual analytics platform.
• Microsoft Power BI is a suite of tools, including software services, apps, and connectors for turning data into clear, interactive, and immersive, 

Data-driven marketing techniques help professionals make better decisions and attract new customers, so let’s look at how you could use them in marketing:

• GA4 allows businesses to group users based on behavior, demographics, and device type. For example, an e-commerce site might identify a segment of users who frequently add items to their cart but don’t complete purchases. The business can then create a retargeting ad campaign for this group, offering free shipping to encourage conversions.
• Tableau dashboards allow marketing teams to monitor real-time campaign performance for various channels. For example, a fashion retailer can track email, social media, and PPC campaign data. If a specific email campaign is underperforming, the team can adjust messaging.
• Power BI visualizes the sales funnel, helping sales managers identify where leads drop off. For example, a B2B company might discover that most prospects are lost during the demo stage. The company could redesign its demo script and follow-up process, improving conversion rates. 

These tools also give you the ability to collect and analyze data and build more effective content around your findings.

If you’re worried about learning data analysis marketing skills, don’t fret! You can quickly get started by enrolling in free courses on platforms like Coursera, Udemy, or SkillShop.

You’ll also find free courses on Google:

In summary, no matter what platform you choose, adding data analytics to your skill set is a great way to make yourself more attractive to future employers and outshine the competition.

6. Build Your Branding

If you want to step outside of your competition’s shadow when you’re building your marketing career, you have to develop your branding and do it well.

No matter what channels you’re using, consistency is key.

By creating an identifiable brand that you can use across social media, Medium, YouTube, and any of your other online profiles, you’re well on your way to building brand recognition, and that’s always a good thing.

Feeling overwhelmed yet? Then let me help you out. Start your branding by creating a logo. Time taken: about five minutes. 

If you are not confident with design, use platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or 99designs.

No matter where you get your designs, consistent branding colors are key for seamlessly integrating older and newer designs.

One easy way to do that is by using Adobe’s color system. 

By the way, don’t forget to check out Adobe Color CC’s “Explore” option for inspiration 

7. Learn to Use AI and Automation Tools

Like it or not, AI is here to stay. But instead of worrying about whether AI will replace marketing jobs, learn to use it for your career in marketing. 

Why? 

Because 56 percent of marketers say their employers already use AI and you can’t afford to get left behind.

Here are three tools to get to grips with and help you get ahead:

ChatGPT

In case you are unaware, ChatGPT is a free tool with multiple functions.

Should you be using it for all your content? Only if you want to sound like every other generic marketer out there. Rather than using it for entire pieces, use AI for:

• Researching niches.
• Brainstorming topics.
• Outlining articles and blog posts.
• Editing and proofreading.
• Keyword optimization.
• Summarizing and repurposing content.

Jasper

Before ChatGPT became a thing, many people talked about Jasper, an AI content writer. Like other AI tools, Jasper is multifunctional and generates content such as blog posts, video scripts, landing pages, and more. 

It has over 80 tools, all designed with content marketers in mind. Like other AI tools, Jasper has expanded to offer design features and integrates with tools such as Zapier.

HubSpot

Have you noticed that some employers are looking for candidates who are well-versed in HubSpot?  This tool streamlines your daily operations, enabling you to automate essential tasks such as email nurturing, social media post scheduling, and customer onboarding. 

By incorporating HubSpot into your skill set, you’ll become more efficient and productive, so consider adding it to your digital marketing toolbox.

Just remember the tips I gave earlier about using AI ethically.

You can also use the online resources we’ve covered in this guide to find courses about the ethical use of AI, but here are a couple more to start you off. The first is from the University of Helsinki.

 And then some courses from the Sorbonne University Alliance and the OpenClassrooms:

8. Stay Updated on Trends and Tech

A successful marketing career requires adapting to new trends and knowing how to use them; many sites offer free marketing certifications if you have a limited budget.

While you don’t need to be great at everything, some growing trends worth keeping up with are: 

Augmented and virtual reality: These technologies offer consumers an immersive experience, making shopping more engaging. Using AR and VR in marketing makes it memorable, develops an emotional connection, and allows people to interact with products.

For instance, with augmented reality, shoppers can try on clothes in virtual dressing rooms before they buy, and beauty brand Sephora lets shoppers test different shades before purchasing.

Voice search optimization: Smart speakers and voice assistants remain popular, so you’ll want to learn how to optimize content for voice queries. As a marketer, that means including:

• FAQs and creating question-based content.
• Auditing content for optimization opportunities.
• Optimizing for local search and featured snippets
• Using long-tail and conversational keywords.

Web3: Finally, let’s mention Web3. Basically,  blockchain technology powers Web 3. It allows for decentralized systems, meaning no single company or organization owns or controls everything. Some potential ways to use it are:

• Personalized marketing by using blockchain data for targeted offers.
• Community building for direct peer-to-peer marketing through Discord.
• Making the most of the Metaverse and establishing virtual storefronts or immersive experiences.

One more tip: for further learning, use the platforms I mentioned, like Google Skillshop, LinkedIn Learning, and HubSpot Academy. Whitepapers are also great resources, too. 

9. Develop Cross-Functional Skills

A T-shaped marketer is a marketing professional with deep expertise in one specific area and an understanding with a broad understanding of marketing overall.. This combination allows them to excel in their specialist area while making contributions to other parts of a business. 

These marketing generalists are valuable to employers. For example, a T-shaped marketer specializing in SEO might also understand social media strategy, paid advertising, and data analytics, enabling them to design campaigns that integrate multiple channels.

Not surprisingly, demand is growing for these types of generalists, so you’ll want to show your flexibility by learning skills that bridge marketing and other disciplines, like:

Coding skills: Learning HTML and CSS allows marketers to become more familiar with website functionality and optimize sites for better functionality. 

UX Design: By applying basic UX design principles like usability, accessibility, and findability, marketers enhance the customer experience. The Interactive Design Foundation has a guide to download to learn the basics.

Behavioral psychology: A basic grasp of this allows marketers to understand what makes consumers tick. This understanding enables the creation of targeted messaging that drives engagement and loyalty.

10. Prioritize Mental Health and Work-Life Balance

I’ve laid out how to begin a career in marketing, but what happens when you succeed? Well, you need to adapt to an always-on, high-pressure sector while still maintaining a work-life balance. That might sound impossible, but it’s not. 

Using productivity tools can help you get the best of both worlds. Here are a few to try:

Trello

Trello is a popular tool that uses boards to organize tasks, keeps deadlines on track, and lets you create an editorial calendar.

Notion

Notion is an all-in-one productivity tool that allows you to organize and manage your work and personal projects in a single space. It’s customizable and versatile, so it’s a favorite among marketers.

You can use it to plan campaigns, create content calendars, and create a brainstorming space. It also helps with collaboration and communication, as you can assign tasks and share updates. 

Slack

Uber, Nasa, and Etsy use Slack, so it must be good, right? Slack allows you to connect with your team via real-time messaging, eliminating email communication delays. You can also prioritize tasks, collaborate on centralized projects, share ideas and files, and meet via audio and video. 

According to Slack, it saves users an average of 97 minutes a week, which might be why almost 88 percent of FTSE 100 companies use it as their digital HQ.

And when you’re ready for some downtime, why not turn to some meditation apps? After all, you’re spoilt for choice. Headspace seems to lead the pack, but also check out Ten Percent Happier and Breathwrk.

FAQs

 

How to begin a career in marketing?

You can begin your career in marketing by learning the basics with free courses, building your brand online, and building a portfolio. Consider volunteering if you need some experience with newsletters, email marketing campaigns, etc.

How can I further my career in marketing?

 Build your credibility by earning relevant certifications and gaining hands-on experience. Stay ahead of industry trends to remain adaptable and informed. Actively pursue leadership roles to sharpen your skills and demonstrate expertise. Engage in networking by attending job fairs, industry events, and leveraging social media to expand your connections and discover new opportunities.

How to improve your marketing skills?

Seek a mentor who can provide guidance and insights. Stay ahead of the curve by keeping up-to-date with the latest trends, developments, and technologies in the industry. Invest in continuous learning through certifications, online courses, and workshops to enhance your skills and expertise.

Conclusion

A marketing career can be challenging to start, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Follow the above tips to give your career a boost and at the top of the trendline.

Stay ahead of the marketing pack by tuning up your fundamental communication skills and separate yourself from the competition by specializing in areas like SEO, analytics, or PPC advertising.

Create content for other industry blogs or use publications on Medium to give your name authority, volunteer, and network.

Focus on your data skills, too. Candidates with data skills are some of the most in-demand hires in any industry, including marketing. Build your analytics skills to elevate your career potential and build a brand that gets you noticed.