Do you need a degree to be a digital marketer? The short answer is no. While some job listings might list a degree as a preference, many are more focused on the skills, certifications, and hands-on experience you bring to the table.
A college degree is the traditional way to gain that expertise, but it’s far from the only path. Employers today also value other methods for developing and showcasing your skills. For instance, you can:
- Complete specialized digital marketing courses and earn a relevant certification.
- Build a portfolio of real-world projects.
These two steps show employers that you’re ready to dive into a digital marketing career and deliver results, degree or not.
In this article, we’ll provide a clear path to help you achieve your goals, land your first digital marketing job, and start earning a digital marketer’s salary within a year.
At Climb Hire, we help low-income working adults break into tech with free, specialized digital marketing and tech training programs. Earn industry-standard certifications that make your resume stand out, along with dedicated job search support to land your first role.
As a nonprofit, we’re committed to providing accessible tech education to disadvantaged adults ready to learn and pursue a career change.
Before diving into Climb Hire’s digital marketing program, let’s first cover the steps you can take to kickstart your career in digital marketing.
How to Build Digital Marketing Skills Without a Degree
With the right skills and experience, you can break into the digital marketing field without a degree. The best way to build these credentials involves two steps:
- Enroll in a digital marketing training program and get certified.
- Build a portfolio and gain real-world experience.
Before we explore these, it’s worth understanding that many programs and learning opportunities focus on specific areas of digital marketing. For example, you’ll find training programs dedicated to things like Google Ads, SEO (search engine optimization), paid search marketing, data analytics, email marketing, or social media marketing, rather than covering the entire field.
Take some time to explore the different niches within digital marketing to see what interests you most, as you’ll need to choose a focus before you can begin building your skills. For more details on these specializations, check out this guide.
Ultimately, what matters most is your willingness to learn the technical skills and apply them to gain hands-on experience.
1. Enroll in a Digital Marketing Training Program & Get Certified
Taking a digital marketing course is a great way to build the skills you need to get started in the industry. Typically these courses last a few months, giving you time to develop a comprehensive understanding of marketing fundamentals without the lengthy commitment of a digital marketing degree program.
The best digital marketing courses will:
- Cover all foundational principles and technical skills needed to begin a digital marketing career.
- Offer a structured class setting led by an expert instructor. This is especially useful when covering complex topics, ensuring you grasp key concepts and avoid common beginner mistakes.
- Include hands-on experience through projects and the use of popular marketing tools. Practicing with real scenarios helps you apply what you learn, making the transition from learning to doing much smoother and more effective.
- Prepare you for industry-recognized certifications. Earning digital marketing certifications from globally respected organizations boosts your credibility and shows employers that you have proven skills to do the job well.
- Offer support with general career skills, job searching, and networking. Many courses go beyond teaching technical skills. They also include extras like soft skills training, help in crafting your resume, and even job placement support. This gives you the best chance to land a lucrative job quickly.
Climb Hire’s Paid Search Marketing program includes all of these elements and more. To learn more about the course, check out the details below.
2. Build a Portfolio and Gain Real-World Experience
In digital marketing, a solid portfolio can be just as powerful as a bachelor’s degree. Even without professional experience, you can create a portfolio that demonstrates your abilities and results.
Here are some ways to do it:
#1. Create your own website or blog.
Build a personal website or blog where you can apply your new digital marketing skills. For instance, if your niche is content marketing or SEO, you can write engaging blog posts, optimize them for search engines, and keep records of your results.
Or, to illustrate your skills in paid search marketing, you can use your website as a platform to run small Google Ad campaigns, run Google Analytics on their performance, and refine your PPC techniques. Your strategies, the results, and any improvements you made will need to be documented, as they’re an essential part of your portfolio.
You can do this alongside Climb Hire’s digital marketing program, where your mentors and classmates can help guide you and give you constructive feedback.
#2. Grow a social media page.
Create and use social media channels as a testing ground for digital marketing strategies. Whether it’s on Instagram, LinkedIn, or TikTok, managing a social media account demonstrates your ability to create engaging content and ad campaigns and measure the impact on audience growth.
Make sure to document your growth and success, showcasing metrics like engagement rates, follower growth, and campaign performance. And if you’re a Climb Hire student, our community can come in handy in case you have questions or simply want expert input on what you’re doing.
#3. Volunteer your digital marketing services or find an internship.
To gain real-world experience, consider an internship or volunteering your online marketing skills for a local business, nonprofit, or even a friend’s startup. This not only gives you bona fide work experience to showcase in your portfolio, but can also help you expand your professional network.
As part of Climb Hire’s digital marketing training program, you’ll gain hands-on experience through interactive and assisted work and receive feedback from mentors and classmates to enhance your portfolio, making sure you’re job-ready when you graduate.
How Climb Hire Will Help You Launch Your Digital Marketing Career
Climb Hire’s Paid Search Marketing program is a 4-month course in paid search marketing designed to help you land a job in the field. Instead of spending years on a degree, this program delivers targeted skills training and hands-on experience, preparing you for digital marketing roles in a fraction of the time.
More than 80% of Climb Hire alumni land roles within 12 months of graduating, frequently earning salaries of $50k or higher right from the start.
Here’s why Climb Hire is a standout choice for aspiring digital marketers:
- 100% tuition-free: Thanks to our team’s efforts in securing grants and donations, you won’t pay a dime for training. Our programs are designed to equip you with the skills needed to land a job.
- Targeted PPC marketing training: Gain essential skills for paid search marketing and prepare for Google Ads Search, Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate, and HubSpot Inbound Marketing Optimization certifications—industry-recognized credentials that will set you apart in digital marketing.
- Live, expert-led instruction: You’ll learn from experienced industry experts who provide real-time guidance, answer your questions, and ensure you master all the foundational concepts. The interactive format makes learning more dynamic and effective.
- Fully remote classes: Classes are scheduled live but offered completely online, which gives you the flexibility to study from the comfort of your own home.
- Real-world experience: You’ll manage actual Google and Meta Ads campaigns, learn how to develop effective keyword strategies to reach potential customers, and analyze what’s working and what’s not in your marketing campaigns. This hands-on experience will build your confidence and give you a competitive edge when applying for entry-level jobs.
- Training in soft skills: In addition to technical training, Climb Hire helps you master the soft skills essential for job success, including things like professional communication, teamwork, time management, personal branding, resume building, and interview prep.
- Strong community of peers: You’ll be part of a small cohort of like-minded peers, allowing you to share insights, support each other, and build connections that could lead to job opportunities down the road.
- One-on-one job placement support: A dedicated Career Development Advisor will work with you throughout your job search, providing the guidance and support you need to secure a role in digital marketing upon graduation.
- Alumni network access: As a Climb Hire alumnus, you’ll gain access to our extensive professional network, a valuable resource that can open doors to job opportunities in the industry.
Climb Hire alumni highlight how successful our tech training programs are:
Dominick was working a variety of jobs, from an employee at In-N-Out to security, before he found Climb Hire.
“I just wanted a job that would allow me to learn and develop skills that would benefit me in the future,” he explains. “I didn’t have a professional network to help guide me and mentor me toward success. Climb Hire really helped keep me motivated and also helped me build the confidence I needed to land that awesome dream job.”
Check out the details of Climb Hire’s Paid Search Marketing program and apply today.
3 Alternatives for Learning Digital Marketing (Other Than Getting a College Degree)
While Climb Hire’s program is an excellent option for many, we know it’s not the best fit for everyone. Whether you prefer in-person learning, self-paced online courses, or using resources to gain the skills completely on your own, there are a variety of ways to learn digital marketing without having to go to college.
1. In-person digital marketing courses
If you prefer learning in a classroom setting, you might look into local programs that offer in-person digital marketing courses. You can often find options through your library or by searching online for courses at nearby educational institutions.
While these courses can sometimes be more expensive than online options, they provide the benefit of direct interaction with instructors and hands-on experience. Community organizations in some areas may offer affordable or even free courses in digital marketing, which can be another option to consider.
Find an opportunity here: Free Job Training Programs: 90+ Remote and Local Options
2. Self-guided online courses
If you’re a person who thrives with independent learning, self-guided digital marketing courses and bootcamps are usually not hard to find online. These pre-made courses, which vary in length and cost, allow you to study at your own pace and focus on the topics that interest you most.
However, be prepared to stay disciplined as self-motivation is the only way to learn. Also, self-guided courses require you to learn independently, meaning if you encounter challenges with a concept, you’ll need to figure it out on your own.
3. Free online resources
The internet is full of information, including a wealth of free resources to help you learn digital marketing. You can find articles, tutorials, and video lessons covering everything from the basics of SEO to Google Ads to content marketing and more. If you’re the kind of person who finds it easy to learn without built-in structure or guidance of any kind, this could be a good option for you.
Keep in mind that choosing one of these alternatives for learning digital marketing will likely only teach you the technical skills and leave out all the extras that come with a guided program.
That means that you won’t benefit from things like soft skills training, a supportive community, job placement assistance, and an established professional network. These elements can make a huge difference when it comes to standing out in the digital marketing field and securing a job.
You Don’t Need a Degree for Digital Marketing. Kickstart Your Career with Climb Hire.
If you’re still wondering, “Do I need a degree for digital marketing?”, the answer is clear. You really don’t.
Climb Hire’s Paid Search Marketing program offers a straightforward career path into digital marketing. Our four-month course will equip you with the skills and industry-standard certifications necessary to get going in the industry.
What else makes Climb Hire a great choice?
- No tuition fees: The program is completely free.
- Practical experience: You’ll gain hands-on skills by working with digital marketing tools that are widely used in the industry.
- Job placement support: A dedicated Career Advisor will support you through every step of your job search process.
- Proven success: Over 80% of graduates secure jobs within 12 months, often earning starting salaries of $50k or more.
Ready to start your digital marketing career? Apply to our digital marketing course today.