Digital marketing is one of the few professional careers you can genuinely enter without a specific degree or prior experience. Employers care far more about what you can demonstrably do - run a campaign, write copy that converts, read an analytics dashboard - than where you studied. That is good news, but it also means the burden of proof sits with you.
Step 1: Learn the fundamentals properly
Before touching tools, understand the landscape: how search engines rank pages, how paid ads are bought, how email lists are built, and how social platforms reward content. If you are wondering which course is best for digital marketing beginners, prioritise practical, portfolio-producing training: a structured short course such as Digital Marketing in Practice - taught in London and live online - compresses months of scattered self-study into a coherent foundation, and gives you a credential to point to. If you prefer to self-teach first, start with our guide to the best free resources for learning digital marketing.
Step 2: Practise on something real
Theory alone will not get you hired. Create a small project you control:
- Start a blog, newsletter or niche social account and grow it deliberately
- Offer to run social media or Google Business profiles for a local business or charity
- Spend a small budget (even £50) on a real ad campaign and document the results
The goal is evidence. Screenshots of dashboards, before-and-after numbers and honest write-ups of what worked become the backbone of your portfolio - see how to build a digital marketing portfolio from scratch.
Step 3: Pick an entry point
"Digital marketing" is a family of specialisms: SEO, paid media, content, email, social, analytics. Entry-level generalist roles (marketing assistant, marketing executive) exist, but you will stand out faster if you can show depth in one area. Choose the one that fits your strengths - analytical minds often suit paid media and SEO; strong writers suit content and email.
Step 4: Apply strategically
Target junior roles at agencies (fast learning, varied clients), in-house teams at small companies (broad responsibility early) or freelance projects. Tailor every application around outcomes you have produced, however small. A candidate who says "I grew a page to 2,000 followers and can show you how" beats a candidate with a certificate and nothing else.
How long will it take?
With focused effort - a course, three to six months of consistent practice and a small portfolio - most career changers can credibly apply for junior roles within six months. We break the timeline down in how long it takes to break into digital marketing.
Get a structured head start
The Digital Marketing in Practice course at London School of Business UK is built for exactly this situation: no assumed background, hands-on work across the main channels, and a focus on campaigns you can put in front of an employer. Enquire today to find out when the next intake starts.