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How do I Become an Internet Marketing Consultant?

Jill Gonzalez
Jill Gonzalez

To become an Internet marketing consultant, you will generally need to have a college education. The majority of employers prefer that candidates to have a bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, or advertising. In some cases, businesses may also be willing to accept candidates who have a degree in another type of discipline. This practice is most commonly accepted when applicants already have some work experience in the field of Internet marketing. Some high-level positions may require applicants to have an advanced degree, such as a master's, but this is usually only seen in jobs that are at the executive level.

For anyone to be seriously considered for one of these jobs, it is normally essential to already have a fair amount of experience in this general career field. If you want to become an Internet marketing consultant, you should plan to acquire knowledge and a complete understanding of search engine marketing (SEM), search engine optimization (SEO), and complex marketing concepts. If you do not already have this knowledge, you might want to consider taking some courses to enhance your marketability.

Woman doing a handstand with a computer
Woman doing a handstand with a computer

Many companies who specialize in Internet marketing deal with small to medium-sized companies, so offers of extra help are often appreciated. If you plan to become an Internet marketing consultant, you might want to try to find a position as an intern or part-time associate, in order to gain some practical experience. To find a job as a consultant, you will probably need to have a working knowledge of web design concepts that are search engine-friendly. You will also likely need to provide some verifiable proof that you have worked successfully in this field before.

In all likelihood, you will need to have excellent interpersonal skills. You should feel at ease speaking with a variety of different people, as a large part of this job typically involves discussing concepts and ideas with coworkers, clients, or customers. To become an Internet marketing consultant, you will probably need to be quite skilled at organizing and conducting presentations. In addition to having excellent speaking skills, you will also need to have exceptional writing capabilities, in order to convey your ideas adequately.

Many positions will require you to be very organized with a well-developed sense of how to prioritize assignments. Employers will often require you to juggle multiple projects and clients at any given time, so the ability to remain cool under pressure is another highly desirable trait. In addition, you should do quite well if you have the ability to work well with tight deadlines.

Discussion Comments

ZsaZsa56

If I wanted to go into internet marketing consulting down the road, what would be the best degree for me to get at school? Would it be marketing, internet programming or something else? Is there anyone out there who has done this kind of stuff or knows about it? What did you study?

vigilant

My company worked with an internet marketing consultant last year. He had worked for a large marketing firm that got big when the first wave of the internet hit.

He mostly specialized in email marketing, both the technical and the creative side. It ended up being a great investment for our company. We have seen a 15% boost in sales from email traffic since then.

backdraft

The key to getting into any kind of consultancy business is to have proven experience in the field you want to consult for. And not just experience, you need to have a record of success. Who wants to take advice from someone that failed at what they did?

Luckily, internet marketing is an area that is very accessible to self starters. Anyone can think up and carry out an internet marketing plan on a laptop in their bedroom. If it works, and you develop a reputation, you can leverage that into a consultancy job elsewhere.

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      Woman doing a handstand with a computer