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Sales & Marketing

How to become a Digital Marketing Specialist

From no experience: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there
6–18 months
Typical pay
$52k–$75k
Starting from
No experience

Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from no experience and includes any licence or programme legally required, not just course length.

See digital marketing specialist jobs open now

The route

  1. Learn the channels

    Paid search, paid social, email and analytics. Breadth first here, unusually.

    Course that covers thisDIGITAL MARKETING: Complete Digital Marketing CourseUdemy · around $19.99
  2. Get certified where it is free

    Google Ads and GA4 certifications cost nothing and are widely asked for.

    Google Ads / GA4 certification

  3. Learn SEO fundamentals

    The channel that compounds, and the one most specialists are weakest at.

    Course that covers thisSEO for Absolute Beginners - Learn SEO Basics QuicklyUdemy · around $19.99
  4. Run real campaigns

    Spend a real budget, even a small one, and report on what it returned.

    Course that covers thisComplete Social Media Marketing CourseUdemy · around $19.99
  5. Destination

    Digital Marketing Specialist

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