Creative individuals interested in digital advertising careers can choose from a variety of job paths.
Jobs in digital advertising continue to increase as social media and other directed online marketing tools continue to develop. If you're considering a career in social media, you'll find a wide range of opportunities, depending on your specific interests, years of experience and level of education.
Digital Ad Sales
A career in digital advertising sales puts you on the front line of the online media market and can be a good entry point into digital advertising. Working directly with clients to sell online advertising space, you'll be expected to flourish in a results-driven environment. New graduates can slide into such roles, as well as those migrating from more conventional publishing firms. Earnings potential can vary wildly depending on success, with top earners bringing in double a typical base salary.
Online Marketing
Online marketing positions with well-known brands can be tough to land because there are so many applicants for each position. Such positions seek to define strategic and creative material around online marketing campaigns with the possible help of outside agencies. If you are a student, talk to your career services department about internships with established companies to accrue some valuable experience prior to graduating. If you're already in the workforce, consider taking a position with a smaller organization and focus on skills such as search engine marketing to make your resume more attractive. One year of experience in the right area can make you an sought-after candidate.
Education
If you are having a hard getting your foot in the digital advertising door, consider some specialized continuing education. Many prestigious universities are offering coursework with a focus in online marketing that can give you tangible skills for future career moves. Rutgers, for example, offers graduate-level courses in social media marketing that teach students to analyze social media opportunities and discover and deploy new social media technologies. Such formal training can prepare you for managerial positions in the digital workforce.
Salaries
While salaries in digital media and advertising can vary depending on experience and education, recent studies have shown that salaries have increased from 2009 to 2011 despite a sluggish economy. In a survey conducted by leading talent recruitment agency 24 Seven, digital and interactive marketers saw an average annual income gain of 14 percent, rising from $81,930 in 2009 to $93,147 in 2011. The same survey found that, on the whole, job satisfaction in advertising has increased over the same time period.
