From advanced search engine optimization to video advertising, the digital marketing landscape is growing and reaching more potential customers online. Potential employers are now looking for applicants who are up to date with the latest industry trends, digital skills, and tools. To meet these new requirements, you should invest in the best digital marketing certifications.
The best online marketing techniques can be achieved through the completion of professional certificates for digital marketing. These programs will help you advance or kickstart your digital marketing career. Continue reading to find the highest-paying certifications and their prerequisites, as well as the job outlook in this field.
What Is a Professional Certification?
A professional certification is a credential that ensures you are qualified to undertake a job or task. It is a third-party validation of your degree of knowledge or competency in a specific industry or profession by a professional association, university, or private certificate-granting agency.
What’s the Difference Between a Certification and a Certificate?
The difference between a certification and a certificate is that a certification is proof of passing a relevant exam or achieving industry training requirements, whereas a certificate is an educational document that serves as proof of successful completion of a particular program, degree, or learning period.
Additionally, certificates are usually undertaken by people seeking to gain experience, and a certificate of completion is granted at the end of the structured learning program. On the other hand, professional certifications spotlight an individual’s mastery of a core concept with hands-on experience, as specified by industry standards or a regulatory body.
Why Is a Certification in Digital Marketing Important?
A certification in digital marketing is very important because it demonstrates your broad knowledge base and desire to enhance your skills. Most employers will prefer someone with proven expertise beyond a standard digital marketing degree, and having a certification shows that your skills are in line with those of industry experts.
Best Digital Marketing Certifications by Salary
| Certification | Provider | Average Salary | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube Music Certification | YouTube Music and Google | $73,000 | Free |
| Meta Blueprint Certified Marketing Science Professional | Meta | $68,000 | $150 per exam |
| PCM Digital Marketing Certification | American Marketing Association (AMA) and Digital Marketing Institute | $61,000 | $249 (members) $349 (non-members) |
| Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing (DMI Pro) | The Digital Marketing Institute | $60,000 | $1955 |
| Google Ads Marketing Certification | Google Skillshop | $60,000 | Free |
| Google Analytics Individual Qualification | Google Skillshop | $58,000 | Free |
| HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification | Hubspot Academy | $54,000 | Free |
| HubSpot Content Marketing Certification | Hubspot Academy | $53,000 | Free |
| Hootsuite Social Marketing Certification | Hootsuite | $52,000 | $199 |
| OMCP Digital Marketing Certification | Online Marketing Certified Professional Organization | $51,073 | $395 |
Best Digital Marketing Certifications to Further Your Career
How to Choose the Best Digital Marketing Certification for Your Career
If you want to know how to become a digital marketer in 2022, choosing an adequate certification program is crucial. This process can be quite challenging. However, with the right evaluation criteria, you will easily find the best digital marketing certifications for your needs. Below are some of the most important factors to consider:
Define Your Career Goals
Before you start looking for a digital marketing certification program, you should make a list of reasons as to why you want to master it and how it ties into your long-term goals. This will give you insight into what you want to learn and help you decide which course is best for you. A range of certifications may be the best way to gain a wide-range of real hands-on experience and impress future employers.
Learning Format
Learning format can either be a self-taught or mentor-led structure. A self-paced online learning platform allows you to study at your own pace, while a mentor-led course allows collaborative learning with like-minded people. With a deeper understanding of your preferred learning format, you can figure out your time commitment and which format works best for you.
If you are unsure what learning format suits you best, try enrolling in a free digital marketing bootcamp. You’ll discover if self-paced learning is for you without having to shell out hundreds of dollars.
Available Networking Opportunities
You should look for a digital marketing program that provides professional counseling, essential soft skills, and job prospects. These often come from ample networking opportunities, where you can connect with experts in the digital marketing industry. You can also consider some of the best digital marketing bootcamps to get hands-on experience.
Which Digital Marketing Certifications Pay the Most?
The digital marketing certifications that pay the most are PCM Digital Marketing certification, YouTube Music certification, and Meta/Facebook Blueprint certification. These online certifications teach in-demand skills like channel optimization and advanced search engine optimization that are relevant to the field of marketing and are directly connected to world-leading organizations in the digital marketing industry.
Highest-Paying Digital Marketing Certifications
- YouTube Music Certification: $73,000
- Meta Blueprint Certification: $68,000
- PCM Digital Marketing Certification: $61,000
- Digital Marketing Pro Certification: $60,000
- Google Ads Marketing Certification: $60,000
Which Digital Marketing Certifications Are the Best for Beginners?
The digital marketing certifications that are best for beginners are the PCM Digital Marketing Certification and the Google Analytics Individual Qualification Certification. These certifications provide the right mix of beginner-friendliness and in-depth marketing knowledge.
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Best College Certificate Programs
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How to Prepare for Your Digital Marketing Certification Exam
When considering digital marketing exam prep, the task can appear quite daunting. However, knowing the best resources that you can utilize will set you on the path to exam success for beginner and advanced certifications. The following section will cover the best courses to prepare you for your digital marketing certification exams.
Best Courses to Prepare for Digital Marketing Certification Exams
For a field as vast and diverse as digital marketing, you must consider an even wider range of topics if you want to grasp the full scope of the field. Luckily, the next section goes over some of the best digital marketing advanced courses that will ensure you achieve a passing score on your certification exams.
Other Resources to Prepare for Your Digital Marketing Certification Exams
When considering digital marketing certification exam prep, there are endless resources that can help your learning experience in marketing and solidify your path to success. These resources can be in the form of books, websites, blog posts, podcasts, or events that will keep you up-to-date on the latest digital marketing trends.
The Ultimate Guide To Digital Marketing
The Ultimate Guide to Digital Marketing is a fantastic quick-start guide for anyone looking to improve their marketing skills by getting up to date with the latest digital trends. The book contains a slew of effective marketing strategies for entry-level marketers, business owners, and students.
The Ultimate Guide To Digital Marketing Overview
- Type of Resource: Book/PDF
- Cost: Free
- Ideal For: People who want a definitive guide to the digital marketing field
Search Engine Land
Search Engine Land’s regular newsletter gives marketers up-to-date search engine marketing news, analysis, and practical knowledge on a wide range of topics. Every workday, the email is sent out to customers, informing them of crucial business materials and updates. It focuses on search engine optimization, advanced Google analytics, and content marketing strategies.
Search Engine Land Overview
- Type of Resource: Newsletter
- Cost: Free
- Ideal For: People who want to learn about advanced search engine optimization and how it can be applied to digital marketing
Digital Marketing for Dummies
- This book by Ryan Deiss provides you with the tools you need to enter the digital world and modernize your experience in marketing. The book shows you how online tools can help you grow your brand’s reach and attract potential customers. It also includes methods for channel optimization, social selling, and mobile marketing to effectively engage customers.
Digital Marketing for Dummies Overview
- Type of Resource: Book
- Cost: $20
- Ideal For: People who want to learn the ins and outs of digital marketing trends
Marketing O’Clock
Marketing O’Clock is a weekly podcast by digital marketing experts aimed at teaching SEO practices and spotlighting advanced social media marketing subjects and online marketing campaigns. They also host Marketing O’Talk panels with other digital marketing experts to discuss new digital marketing trends and tactics you can use to get actual results.
Marketing O’Clock Overview
- Type of Resource: Podcast
- Cost: Free
- Ideal For: Business owners who want to say up-to-date on digital marketing trends and updates
Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World
Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook, by Gary Vaynerchuk, is a learning plan for effective social media marketing methods. It aids professionals in determining the best ‘hook’ for their next sale or campaign, allowing them to outperform the competition. It also provides the appropriate tools for dealing with clients to establish relationships for successful marketing campaigns.
Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World Overview
- Type of Resource: Book
- Cost: $25 (Hardcover), $18 (Kindle)
- Ideal For: Marketing team members or business owners looking to sell their products and increase their brand’s visibility
Best Online Courses
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Digital Marketing Job Outlook and Average Salary
Digital marketing is a fast-growing industry that encompasses several specializations with a wide range of occupations. As such, the field’s job outlook is quite encouraging. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of marketing has a job outlook of 10 percent from 2020 to 2030.
Furthermore, digital marketers are respectable earners in their own right. PayScale reports that the average salary of a skilled digital marketer is $72,000 per year. This figure is subject to change based on skill level, experience, location, and the company you work for.
Best Digital Marketing Jobs After Certification
As a rapidly growing industry, digital marketing has a wide range of jobs in line with online marketing plans and ecommerce marketing. As such, one of the most significant benefits of a digital marketing certification is that it can assist you in preparing for a career across multiple industries. The next section will go over some of the best digital marketing jobs available with a certification.
Best Digital Marketing Associations
The digital marketing industry is always advancing. Therefore, digital marketing professionals should consider joining relevant associations to keep up with the top new trends in digital marketing. These digital marketing associations also give you access to the pooled knowledge of other industry experts, as well as opportunities to expand your career.
American Marketing Association
The American Marketing Association hosts intensive conversations on marketing excellence, making it a valuable community for marketing professionals. They also publish marketing research publications, public policy and marketing journals, and worldwide marketing news.
Digital Marketing Association
This global marketing association aims to educate both entry-level marketers and experienced professionals in the digital marketing sphere. The Digital Marketing Association also provides a forum for multi-faceted industry collaboration, while encouraging education and research.
Sales and Marketing Executives International
This is one of the few international marketing professional organizations that host conferences for its members, such as the Sales & Marketing Leadership Conference. Additionally, members gain access to educational video lectures. They also offer a variety of online marketing courses with discount options.
Are Digital Marketing Certifications Worth It?
Yes, digital marketing certifications are worth it because they indicate a high level of knowledge and marketing skills. In addition, a certification indicates your level of advancement and experience in marketing, making you more attractive to potential employers.
Additional Reading About Digital Marketing
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Digital Marketing Certifications FAQ
The biggest mistake digital marketers make is focusing too much on brand recognition. Although the basic purpose of marketing is to generate leads as you engage customers, a brand-centric sales strategy deflects interest from your firm. It is best to make your online marketing strategy engage customers with a consistent stream of relevant and engaging content to the channels you use.
To create a digital marketing strategy that meets your business goals, you need to improve or build digital marketing plans, which can be achieved by learning how to write SMART goals. Your web or mobile marketing team should examine data from current and previous digital marketing campaigns and conduct channel optimization with the results.
The most effective social media platform for digital advertising depends on your company’s target audience. You may not need to be on a social media platform if your target consumer isn’t. You need an effective social media strategy after analyzing the demographic data provided by the platform. This makes it easier to determine which channels your target audience prefers.
You can choose a good digital marketing agency for your business by analyzing the vital factors that the company needs. This involves identifying your demands and budget, goals and objectives, and service offers. Using these parameters, you can evaluate the service provider’s technical abilities to decide whether they are the right fit for your target audience.
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