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| Discover ways to acquire one of the 8 well-regarded digital marketing certificates in the industry. |
As businesses ramp up their online marketing efforts, a digital marketing certificate can be a valuable tool to have. According to Gartner's 2022 State of Marketing Budget and Strategy Report, companies in financial services, travel and hospitality, and tech products are putting more money into their marketing budgets. In fact, digital marketing now makes up more than half of all marketing spending. Digital marketing covers a wide range of tactics, including SEO, email, social media, content marketing, and paid advertising. To keep up with the ever-changing demands of the industry, it's important to stay current with your skills.
Benefits of digital marketing certification.
Enrolling in a digital marketing certificate program can bring numerous advantages to your career. One of these advantages is the opportunity to acquire job-ready skills that are highly sought-after in the field of digital marketing. These skills include various social media platform navigation, use of CRM tools, and marketing data analysis.
A digital marketing certificate program can also help you expand your creativity and strategy expertise, and enable you to learn about new technologies. Such programs provide a structured learning environment that allows you to network with other digital marketing professionals, which can be helpful for your career growth.
Moreover, holding a digital marketing certificate could increase your chances of finding employment in the digital marketing industry. Graduates of certificate programs from the Digital Marketing Institute have secured jobs at major firms such as Google, Facebook, Hubspot, Coca-Cola, Twitter, and IBM.
Roles you may qualify for include:
As of October 2022, Payscale reports that individuals holding a digital media certificate earn an average of $59,000 annually in the United States [2]. In the ensuing section, we will be showcasing eight digital marketing certification programs, which are both offered by reputable organizations and industry leaders, available online, take registrants through a comprehensive digital marketing journey, and offer a credential upon completion that can be displayed online. Our certification list is arranged based on what you'll learn, the cost of registration and completion, the prerequisites you'll need, and the time it takes to finish.
For just $99, you can learn how to manage campaigns and understand reporting as an Online Marketing Certified Professional with OMCA™ Certification for Digital Marketers. The 75-minute exam tests your knowledge of digital analytics, social media marketing, SEO, content marketing, digital ads, conversion optimization, email marketing, and mobile marketing.
If you don't have 2 years of marketing experience, don't worry! You can still take the exam with a high school diploma and 600 hours of experience, or by passing an approved course.
For a more in-depth certification, check out the Professional Certification in Digital Marketing from the Digital Marketing Institute and American Marketing Association. This course costs $1,368 and teaches you how to reach audiences on different channels, increase website visibility, create digital ads, measure campaign success, and build a marketing strategy.
BrainStation also offers a Professional Certification Digital Marketing Course for $3,250. In this 35-hour course, you'll learn how to craft effective marketing content, reach customers on search engines, social media, and email, and analyze marketing data.
Finally, the Kellogg Executive Education Professional Certificate in Digital Marketing costs $6,185 and takes 6 months to complete. In this course, you'll learn how to use SEO, SEM, email marketing, social media, and display ads to reach customers, as well as how to automate tasks.
Related certifications.
In addition to the comprehensive digital marketing certificates and certifications above, you might consider programs that focus on specific skill sets. These can be great ways to build upon foundational skills or qualify for a job that requires more specialized knowledge of digital marketing.
Here are some certifications in different focus areas:
- Search engine marketing certificates
- Analytics certificates
- Marketing software certificates
- Customer relationship management (CRM) certificates
- Social media marketing certificates
- Read more: 7 Industry-Recognized Social Media Marketing Certifications + How to Get One
Follow the steps below to begin your certification journey:
1. Identify your digital marketing goals.
Get clear on what you want to achieve as a digital marketer, from skills you want to master to a career path you want to follow. That way you can select a certification to help you reach those goals. Here are some examples of goals you can draw from to articulate your own:
- * Master digital marketing techniques and launch your own business.
- * Build upon foundational digital marketing skills with specialized or advanced knowledge in a particular topic area, such as SEO, email marketing, or analytics.
- * Pursue a career in digital marketing or advance into a leadership position in this field.
2. Select the best digital marketing certificate program for you.
Using the table above as a starting point and research different digital marketing certificate and certification programs to select the one that aligns with your goals. Ask yourself these questions as you review programs:
- * What is the cost?
- * How long does it take to prepare for and take the exam?
- * Does the certificate program offer coursework leading up to the exam?
- * What skills and areas of knowledge does the program cover?
- * How do the program outcomes correspond to skills employers are looking for?
3. Register for and complete the training material.
After selecting a program, your subsequent task is to finish the coursework or training material. Remember to reserve sufficient time in your timetable to grasp the abilities that your certification or certificate program gauges, and keep an eye on any time limits for taking a qualifying test.
4. Share your credentials.
After finishing a program or passing a certification exam, consider showcasing your credential on your social media accounts, website, or portfolio. By doing so, you can visually demonstrate your expertise and possibly catch the eye of prospective employers. Including your credential in your email signature is also a good idea.
5. Update your skills periodically.
To stay competitive in the job market, it's crucial to update your digital marketing skills periodically as the field evolves. Completing a certificate or certification program may require you to recertify regularly, which ensures you've mastered the latest techniques and technologies. You can also enhance your foundational knowledge base by taking additional courses in specific focus areas. Explore available options to learn job-ready digital marketing skills, including social media outreach, email marketing, search engine optimization, and marketing analytics for informed decision-making.
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