As of 2018, there are about 3.3 billion social media users all over the world, making it the new marketing frontier. For young college graduates, this field presents unparalleled opportunity for growth, and may be one of the only industries that young people can completely control right at the start of their career. Since the internet and social media are so new to society, it makes sense that young adults are the most savvy users. There isn’t much of an established hierarchy in the field, and entrepreneurial marketing students can make an immediate impact. Understanding the power that social media influencers have is one of the first steps to developing effective marketing campaigns online. Utilizing social media for marketing purposes can jumpstart a career in this budding and promising field.
A Big Piece of the Pie
Since the potential of social media marketing is still being realized, there is plenty of opportunity and money to go around for any graduate who’s looking to make a career in the field. Major companies are putting more focus into online marketing each year, as digital spending is expected to reach $120 billion by 2021. And as the internet continues to become more relevant in our day-to-day lives, so will online marketing.
This is especially good news for young people trying to find high-paying, entry-level jobs in the field. Many big companies are willing to pay upwards of a $50,000 salary to social media marketers, plus benefits – making it one of the more stable fields for young grads to get involved in. For former students who required funding during their years of education, a salary like this can put them well on their way to paying back student loans in no time. Considering that earning a stable wage like this is possible at an entry level, the cream of the crop of marketers have the potential to make a fortune off of their social media skills.
Rise Above the Competition
While the concept of online marketing is still relatively new, it’s no secret that this field has the potential to be a digital gold rush. Smart and motivated people are joining the industry every day, which means that only the best will find true success in due time. While getting a good education is the first step to competing in the marketing world, there are tangible actions young grads can take to give them a leg up on their peers.
When looking for ways to get ahead in your field, it’s important to notice certain trends in the industry. One such trend in online marketing is the continued efficiency of Search Engine Optimization, or SEO. A recent study found that 61% of marketers set improving their SEO as a top priority. With so many people focusing on this aspect of marketing, graduates can raise their value by learning and mastering SEO. Knowing the proper keywords and how to generate clicks is an incredibly valuable skill, as it directs more eyeballs to your marketing content. Employers love to see high click rates and efficient writing from their marketing teams.
Getting Started is the Hardest Part
Graduates looking for a way into this business may find it difficult to land that initial first job. Like so many industries today, experience – even for recent grads – is king. That’s why it’s usually necessary to do something no one likes to do: work for free. Internships and apprenticeships are still effective ways to learn the ins and outs of the online marketing world, but the best experience comes from hands on learning. Try starting a blog, and manage personal social media accounts in a mature and professional manner. Of course, plenty of creativity is required to stand out from the pack, so use the freedom that working for free can provide. And don’t be afraid to take some risks with your marketing in the hopes that it will be noticed by someone who can end up paying good money for your services.
Network, Network, and Network Some More
In addition to working on personal projects or internships – it’s just as important to physically meet people in the social media marketing industry in order to get your name out there. While this is true for just about any career field, sometimes the difference of being unemployed and having your dream job is a respected industry insider who can vouch for you. But finding this person and building trust can take a bit of work.
Networking as a young graduate can be a daunting task, and the nature of online marketing makes it all too easy to simply reach out via text/social media. However, making the effort to meet industry players in person can be what makes or breaks your career. Plenty of social media networking events exist, and allow just about anyone to attend. This is great news for people trying to get a start in this field who need more opportunities. Graduates will have the ability to showcase some of their work, share ideas, and converse with many of the industry leaders in online marketing. Anyone who is serious about making a name for themselves in the marketing world should attend as many of these events as possible.
Be Flexible and Ready to Adapt to Change
If one thing is certain about online careers is that they are bound to change, and oftentimes they change fast. This requires successful marketers to stay on top of the latest social media trends, influencers, and technologies that will have an affect on how people consume online media. For instance, new technology like artificial intelligence can analyze data with staggering speed and accuracy – and looks to be an invaluable tool for the online marketing field. Being one of the first adopters to new trends like this can be a catalyst in growing your career – especially as a young graduate.
Getting started in a social media marketing career is both exciting and intimidating. The promising outlook of finding success and financial stability are huge factors to why the field is attracting so many young people. In order to stand out from other graduates, it’s vital to do the hard work of creating your own content and finding the right people to network with. Having patience in this fast-paced field is most certainly a virtue as well, as it will likely lead to long-term, sustainable success in the future.
