Digital marketing is a rapidly growing industry with endless possibilities. As more and more businesses are moving their operations online, the demand for digital marketing professionals is higher than ever. If you’re considering a career in digital marketing, it’s important to understand the different types of digital marketing and the pros and cons of each specialization.

In this article, we’ll explore nine different types of digital marketing, the unique benefits and drawbacks of each, and the average marketing salaries for professionals in each specialization. By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of which specialization might be the best fit for your skills and interests

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing a website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). SEO helps increase the visibility of a website in search results, leading to more organic traffic and potential customers. The primary goal of SEO is to rank high on search engines for relevant keywords.

Pros of building a career in SEO:

  • High demand for SEO specialists
  • Chance to work with a variety of clients
  • Constantly evolving field, which can be exciting for those who enjoy learning

Cons of building a career in SEO:

  • Can be highly competitive
  • Takes time to see the results
  • Requires continuous learning to stay up-to-date

Average salary of an SEO Specialist: $50,000 – $75,000

Also read: How to Become an SEO Specialist

2. Search Engine Marketing (SEM)

Search engine marketing (SEM) is a type of paid digital marketing that involves using paid search engine ads to reach potential customers. SEM can be highly targeted and can help businesses reach customers who are actively searching for products or services.

Pros of building a career in SEM:

  • Fast results
  • High demand for SEM specialists
  • Chance to work with a variety of clients

Cons of building a career in SEM:

  • Can be expensive for businesses to maintain
  • Highly competitive field
  • Requires ongoing optimization to stay effective

Average salary of an SEM Specialist: $50,000 – $80,000

3. Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing is the process of using social media platforms to promote products or services. Social media marketing involves creating engaging content, building a following, and using targeted ads to reach potential customers. Social media marketing can help businesses connect with customers on a more personal level.

Pros of building a career in social media marketing:

  • Highly engaging and creative field
  • Large and growing demand for social media marketing specialists
  • Chance to work with a variety of clients

Cons of building a career in social media marketing:

  • Requires constant innovation to stay effective
  • Can be time-consuming
  • Can be challenging to measure ROI

Average salary of a Social Media Specialist: $45,000 – $70,000

Also read: How to Jumpstart Your Social Media Career

4. Content Marketing

Content marketing involves creating and sharing valuable content to attract and retain customers. Content can come in many forms, such as blog posts, videos, and infographics. Content marketing can help businesses build a strong brand identity and establish themselves as thought leaders in their industry.

Pros of building a career in content marketing:

  • Chance to work on creative projects
  • High demand for content marketing specialists
  • Large variety of clients to work with

Cons of building a career in content marketing:

  • Takes time to see results
  • Requires extensive research and writing skills
  • Constantly evolving field, which requires continuous learning

Average salary of a Content Marketing Specialist: $50,000 – $75,000

Also read: What is Content Writing? 5 Steps to Becoming a Pro Content Writer

5. Email Marketing

Email marketing is a form of digital marketing that involves sending promotional messages to a target audience via email. Email marketing can help businesses reach potential customers in a more personalized way and can be highly targeted.

Pros of building a career in email marketing:

  • High demand for email marketing specialists
  • Can be highly targeted
  • Chance to work on a variety of projects

Cons of building a career in email marketing:

  • Can be challenging to stand out in a crowded inbox
  • Requires strong writing skills
  • Can be challenging to measure ROI

Average salary of an Email Marketing Specialist: $45,000 – $65,000

Also read: So You Want to Become an Email Marketing Expert

6. Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing involves partnering with influential individuals on social media to promote a product or service. Influencer marketing can help businesses reach a new audience and can be highly effective for certain products or services.

Pros of building a career in influencer marketing:

  • Chance to work on creative campaigns
  • Can be highly effective for certain products or services
  • High demand for influencer marketing specialists

Cons of building a career in influencer marketing:

  • Can be challenging to find the right influencers for a campaign
  • Can be expensive for businesses to maintain
  • Can be challenging to measure ROI

Average Salary of an Influencer Marketing Specialist: $45,000 – $75,000

7. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a type of performance-based marketing where businesses pay affiliates a commission for promoting their products or services. Affiliate marketing can be an effective way for businesses to reach new customers without upfront costs.

Pros of building a career in affiliate marketing:

  • Can be highly effective for certain products or services
  • No upfront costs for businesses
  • Chance to work with a variety of clients

Cons of building a career in affiliate marketing:

  • Can be challenging to find the right affiliates for a campaign
  • Can be difficult to measure ROI
  • Requires continuous optimization to stay effective

Average salary of an Affiliate Marketing Specialist: $40,000 – $65,000

Also read: Your Guide to Starting Affiliate Marketing with No Money

8. Video Marketing

Video marketing is the process of creating and sharing videos to promote a product or service. Video marketing can be highly engaging and can help businesses connect with potential customers on a more emotional level.

Pros of building a career in video marketing:

  • Highly creative and engaging field
  • Large and growing demand for video marketing specialists
  • Chance to work on a variety of projects

Cons of building a career in video marketing:

  • Can be expensive for businesses to produce high-quality videos
  • Requires technical skills to produce videos
  • Can be challenging to measure ROI

Average salary of a Video Marketing Specialist: $50,000 – $80,000

9. Mobile Marketing

Mobile marketing involves targeting potential customers on their mobile devices. Mobile marketing can include SMS messaging, in-app ads, and mobile search ads. Mobile marketing can be highly targeted and can help businesses reach customers on the go.

Pros of building a career in Mobile Marketing:

  • Highly targeted field
  • Large and growing demand for mobile marketing specialists
  • Chance to work with a variety of clients

Cons of building a career in Mobile Marketing:

  • Requires knowledge of mobile technologies and trends
  • Can be challenging to create mobile-friendly content
  • Can be difficult to measure ROI

Average salary of a Mobile Marketing Specialist: $50,000 – $75,000

Conclusion

Digital marketing is a diverse and exciting field with many different types of specializations to choose from. Each type of digital marketing has its own unique benefits and drawbacks, and it’s important to consider your skills and interests before deciding on a specialization. With the growing demand for digital marketing professionals, there are plenty of opportunities to build a successful career in this field.