Tips & Tricks for Starting Your New Job in Digital Marketing

When I started my first digital marketing role, it felt daunting as I had little experience in the industry. It was slightly overwhelming being introduced to new tools and applications whilst also being in a fast-paced environment where everything seemed to be moving at once. However, once I got to grips with the basics, my confidence built quickly.

Whether you’re a graduate, changing careers or about to start your first marketing role, this blog shares the practical tips that helped me find my feet.

If you’re a business owner, it’s also a behind-the-scenes look at how our team learns and keeps up with an industry that rarely stands still.

Understand the big picture before diving in  

The first thing I focused on was understanding the client’s goals, as this is the foundation that shapes my marketing work. Having a clear understanding of the brand voice, target audience and KPIs (key performance indicators, the measures used to judge whether a campaign is working) is essential for any marketing role, as these are the basics needed for any campaign or content creation.

Once I understood the “why” behind the work, my day-to-day tasks felt more purposeful, and I felt more confident in my decisions. I have also been able to bring my own suggestions, such as new ideas for testing and ways to improve campaigns, to help get better results for my clients.

Understanding the client’s goals also helps you focus on what they really care about. A click-through rate or a ranking is useful, but most business owners want to know what it means for their sales or enquiries. Learning to explain results in those terms, in plain English, is a skill worth working on from day one.

Get comfortable with the core digital marketing channels

Digital marketing spans a wide range of channels, and understanding the fundamentals made my transition much smoother. I took time to learn the basics of search engine optimisation (SEO), paid advertising, social media marketing and content marketing. It also helped to see how these channels work together rather than viewing them in isolation. For example, content supports SEO, while email marketing helps nurture leads generated by other channels. Grasping these basics has helped me collaborate more effectively with my teammates and contribute more strategically from the start.

Keep a Jargon List

Digital marketing loves an acronym, and in your first few weeks you’ll hear CTR, CPC, ROAS and plenty more in almost every conversation. Keeping a running list of new terms, with a one-line explanation of each in your own words, makes them much easier to remember. Below are just a few that got me started on Google Ads:

• CTR (click-through rate): the percentage of people who see an ad or search result and click on it
• CPC (cost per click): the amount you pay each time someone clicks on your ad
• ROAS (return on ad spend): the revenue generated for every £1 spent on advertising

It’s also good practice for talking to clients. Most would rather hear “cost per click” than “CPC”, and being able to explain a term simply is a good sign you really understand it.

Learn the Tools

Digital marketing relies heavily on tools and platforms, from analytics software to ad managers and SEO tools. As well as learning how to use them, I wanted to understand why we use each one and what insights it provides. Hands-on learning was key. I asked for walkthroughs and took part in group training sessions to help build my knowledge in these areas. Before I started in this role, I had no idea what Google Analytics or Semrush were, but through familiarising myself with the platforms and having specific training tasks centred around them, I now feel confident using these tools daily for my client work.

If you want a head start, Google Skillshop offers free training and certifications for Google Ads and Google Analytics, and Semrush Academy has free courses on SEO and wider digital marketing. Both let you learn at your own pace, and they’re a good way to show employers you’re serious about the role.

Put Knowledge into Practice

At TSD we do a weekly WAT (Weekly Analysis Task), which covers different areas of digital marketing and the platforms we use. These weekly tasks have helped build my confidence and knowledge in areas I was previously struggling with. They’ve also been a quick way for the team to see where I need more support, so they can focus their help where it’s needed most.

Ask Questions and Embrace Feedback Early

It is normal to not know everything at the start, however embracing feedback and implementing this within my work has helped me progress faster within my role. Having open discussions and communicating with my managers and colleagues has made it easier for them to support me with my training and development. I have a dedicated training plan document which goes through all areas of digital marketing and the different disciplines so my managers can see what areas I feel confident in and what areas I need support in. This has helped ensure that any gaps in my knowledge are addressed.

Recently, when I was completing analysis tasks for one of our clients looking at the past six months’ performance, I struggled with using Excel pivot tables to create graphs that showed my data in a clear way. With help from Beth and by looking at other similar graph setups, I was able to turn this into a useful training session, and now I feel more confident creating these graphs and presenting data clearly.

Stay Organised Across Clients

Working across several clients means juggling different deadlines, priorities and ways of working. Keeping a daily to-do list and blocking out time in your calendar for bigger tasks both make it easier to stay on top of things. If you’re unsure which task should come first, ask. Your manager would much rather help you prioritise than find out a deadline has been missed.

Check Your Work Before It Goes Live

Small mistakes can be costly in digital marketing. A misplaced decimal point in a budget, a broken link in an email or a missing tracking code can cost a client money or leave gaps in their data. Getting into the habit of double-checking your work and asking a colleague to take a second look before anything goes live saves time and protects the client.

Keep Learning

Digital marketing moves quickly, with platforms changing their features and guidance all the time, so it pays to stay curious. Reading industry blogs, joining webinars and completing training courses have all helped me keep my knowledge current. Every campaign or client has been an opportunity to learn something new and sharpen my skills.

Sharing Knowledge and Expertise

At TSD, we host monthly roundtable meetings for each discipline where we talk about new updates to platforms and client successes. I have found these super helpful for keeping my industry knowledge up to date and helping me stay in the loop with what other team members are trying in their client accounts. It also means that when one of us spots a platform change or a new idea that works, the whole team, and every client we work with, can benefit from it.

Build Relationships and Communicate Clearly

Marketing is a team effort; I have worked closely with designers and account managers across different areas of marketing where strong communication has been essential to make sure everyone’s goals are met. By building relationships early with my team and clients, projects have run more smoothly. Being reliable and easy to work with matters just as much as technical skills.

Stay Curious, Adaptable & Confident

Starting a new job in marketing can be intimidating, but being keen to learn and asking questions has helped me make steady progress. With continued curiosity, adaptability and all the amazing support I have had from my team members, I’m looking forward to seeing where the role takes me.

Thinking about a career in digital marketing, or want to find out more about working at TSD? Get in touch with our team. For more digital marketing insights, explore our blogs.

And if you’re a business owner wondering what our team could do for you, our free digital audit is a good place to start.