8 Essential Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Digital Marketing Career

SEO Youtube SEO iNthacity Network June 13, 2025 0 Comments

Starting a career in digital marketing feels like being thrown into the deep end of a pool—while blindfolded. You’re expected to know how to swim, but no one taught you the strokes. Nico from Nico | AI Ranking recently dropped a truth bomb of a video titled "8 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting Digital Marketing," and let me tell you, it’s the career compass I wish I had 20 years ago. But since we’re here, let’s expand on Nico’s wisdom with some hard-earned scars, unfiltered opinions, and a few shortcuts to avoid drowning in jargon-filled meetings.

1. Your First Job Will Suck (And That’s Okay)

Nico nailed it: assistant roles (social media, marketing, content) are the backdoor into the industry. But here’s the cold truth—you’ll be underpaid, overworked, and treated like a glorified GIF-maker. Do it anyway. Why? Because:

You’ll learn how businesses actually operate (spoiler: chaos).
You’ll get hands-on with tools like Facebook Ads and Google Ads (yes, take those free certs—they’re golden).
You’ll build a portfolio of real-world disasters turned into wins (e.g., "How I Saved a Client’s Campaign After Their Cat Walked on the Keyboard").

2. LinkedIn Isn’t Optional—It’s Your Digital Suit

Nico’s right: most LinkedIn profiles look like they were designed by a sleep-deprived intern. Here’s how to fix yours in 10 minutes:

Photo: No selfies. No beer pong shots. Just you, a neutral background, and a smile that says, "I can increase your CTR by 200%."
Headline: Ditch "Digital Marketing Enthusiast." Try "Conversion Wizard | Paid Ads Alchemist | ROI Obsessive."
Activity: Post once a week. Share a case study, rant about algorithm changes, or dissect a viral campaign. Be the person recruiters stalk.

Pro Tip: LinkedIn’s own blog showcases stellar profiles—copy shamelessly.

3. Scheduling Tools: Your Time-Travel Machines

Nico mentions Hootsuite, but let’s get real: if you’re not scheduling posts, you’re wasting 3 hours a day. Free alternatives:

Tool	Best For	Hack
Later	Instagram	Visual planners who love drag-and-drop
Buffer	Small budgets	Clean analytics for beginners
Metricool	All-in-one nerds	Free competitor analysis

4. Speak the Lingo or Get Left Behind

Nico’s horror story about acronyms (CTR, CPL, KPI) is universal. Here’s your cheat sheet:

CTR (Click-Through Rate): How many people clicked your ad vs. scrolled past like it’s their ex.
CPL (Cost Per Lead): What you pay to get someone’s email (hopefully not their spam account).
ROAS (Return on Ad Spend): Did your campaign make money or just look pretty?

Bookmark HubSpot’s glossary—it’s the industry Rosetta Stone.

5. Reports: How to Look Like a Genius Without Trying

Nico’s Databox tip is gold. But here’s the secret: bosses don’t read reports—they skim for green arrows. Make yours foolproof:

Use red for bad numbers (with a tiny "external factors" excuse).
Use green for wins (bold and centered).
Add a dog photo in the footer ("for emotional engagement").

6. Design Skills: You Don’t Need to Be Picasso

Canva is your lifeline. But if you want to level up:

Steal templates from Behance (credit the designer).
Use Inkscape for vector art (free and powerful).
Buy "Steal Like an Artist"—because originality is overrated.

7. Data: The Scary Truth Behind the Charts

Google Analytics courses are essential, but here’s what no one tells you:

90% of data is noise. Focus on the 10% that affects revenue.
If a metric can’t be tied to profit, it’s vanity (looking at you, "impressions").
Learn to say, "Let’s A/B test that" when you have no clue.

8. Imposter Syndrome: Your Secret Weapon

Nico’s final point is the most important. Imposter syndrome never fully disappears—it just mutates. Here’s how to weaponize it:

Every expert was once a clueless newbie (even the guy who invented SEO).
Fake confidence until your results make it real.
When in doubt, blame "algorithm updates."

Watch Nico’s Full Video Here:

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8 Things I wish I knew Before Starting My Digital Marketing Career

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Final Thoughts: The Unspoken Rule of Digital Marketing

This career isn’t about being the smartest—it’s about adapting the fastest. The tools change. The platforms evolve. The only constant? Your ability to learn, pivot, and occasionally BS your way through a client call.

Questions to Ponder:

What’s the dumbest marketing jargon you’ve heard (and pretended to understand)?
If you had to start over today, what’s the one skill you’d master first?
How do you silence your imposter syndrome gremlins?

Drop your war stories in the comments. And if you’re ready to join a community of marketers who’ve survived the trenches, apply to become a permanent resident of iNthacity: the "Shining City on the Web". Share this article, debate fiercely, and remember—every expert was once a beginner who Googled "What is a pixel?" at 3 AM.

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