Digital Marketing Training for Veterans

As a veteran or military family member, you have options for starting fresh and beginning a new job. You could be well on your way to a career in digital marketing, a creative, flexible, and rewarding path that offers numerous benefits when transitioning back into civilian life. It is the perfect way to rebuild your life while learning about an ever-changing and exciting field. Digital marketing allows you to tap into your creativity, which may be new to you, especially as a veteran. However, it also affords you with transferable technical skills. All in all, digital marketing leads to a stable career. It does not matter whether you have some previous experience or none whatsoever -- if you are eligible, now is the time to take the first step toward a career in digital marketing.

For example, Noble Desktop offers several programs approved for veterans and other eligible individuals. With the help of the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), Veteran Readiness and Employment Program (Chapter 31), and Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35), you can gain hands-on experience in digital marketing that will have you job-ready in no time. By enrolling in one of these programs, you are learning technical skills that allow you to invest in your future and grow as a professional living civilian life.

What is Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing is the art of reaching and engaging people through a range of different online channels. This includes social media, email, search engines, websites, and even mobile applications. It’s how brands get their message out to the world and has become essential across every industry. Whether you are shopping online, researching consumer information, or exploring career options in fields like healthcare, finance, education, or retail, you will find something to suit your digital marketing career goals. In the military world, digital marketing plays a role in recruiting new enlistees, promoting veteran services, and building awareness for defense-related initiatives. Digital marketing is the bridge that connects organizations to their audiences, using everything from social media and email to advertisements and search engines to connect with people in a digitized world.

In addition, digital marketing offers a world where you will use technical, analytical, and creative skills. As a Digital Marketer, you will likely build a social media campaign that gets your brand noticed. In addition, you could dive into website optimization and ensure more people click on the page while searching the internet. Likewise, you could send out newsletters that inform consumers and potential clients about services, goods, and products. You can expect something new every day working as a digital marketing professional, which means the field hardly gets boring, is constantly shifting, and is professionally rewarding.

The dawn of digital marketing started in the 1990s but quickly escalated in the 2000s with the rise in social media. Digital marketing has been a game of constant evolution and innovation, going from search engines and blogs to Instagram and pay-per-click advertisements. With the emergence of analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning, digital marketing will likely become even more personalized, data-driven, and effective. In the future, digital marketing will be even smarter, quicker, and more intuitive, using real-time data and automation to predict consumer needs and stay on top of trends. If you can keep up with the adaptations and feel like this is the right field for you, consider pursuing an education in digital marketing.

What Can You Do with Digital Marketing Skills?

With digital marketing skills, the world opens up to you. You can land all sorts of interesting and varied job roles like running social media accounts for brands, becoming a web optimization expert, or interpreting campaign analytics. You could even dive into paid ads, helping businesses connect directly with consumers in various digital spaces like search engines, social media, blogs, and websites. If you are interested in digital marketing as a veteran, know that you have myriad options for professional development. With these highly transferable and in-demand skills, you could work in technology, healthcare, finance, entertainment, education, retail, tourism, and virtually any other field.

However, digital marketing skills can benefit you in personal ways as well. As a veteran, you will likely find yourself with more free time than ever before. As such, you may have picked up new hobbies. You may enjoy knitting and cooking or candle making and pottery. Regardless, if you feel comfortable showcasing them, or even selling what you have created, you could turn your hobby into a side hustle with the help of your digital marketing skills. You could also get involved in volunteer work or community service to help out other veterans like yourself. With your digital marketing knowledge, you could spread the word, run funding campaigns, and increase awareness for your cause. All in all, digital marketing skills are worthwhile in more ways than one.

What Will I Learn in a Digital Marketing Class?

Each digital marketing class differs based on the provider, length, depth, focus, and purpose; however, most cover some essential skills. Without social media, Adobe, email, and other forms of advertising, digital marketing would not be what it is today. You will also learn how to optimize websites and track your progress to learn what could be improved upon in the next campaign. No matter what you intend to do with your digital marketing education, these are the standard skills you will likely learn in a digital marketing class.

Social Media Platforms

In a digital marketing class, you will practice using several social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. These platforms allow businesses to engage with their audiences through comments, polls, stories, and direct messages while promoting products in an easy one-stop place. Veterans may already possess certain social media skills through personal experience or experience working in public relations or team coordination roles.

Adobe Creative Cloud

You will likely use Adobe Creative Cloud applications to create effective and visually stunning digital marketing content. Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and InDesign are among some of the few applications that would be worth learning as they are widely used for video and photo editing or other forms of multimedia production. This creative outlet is often highly regarded by veterans. Overall, learning these applications gives digital marketing professionals the ability to produce high-quality, professional content.

Search Engine Optimization

Certain marketing strategies make it easier for users to find your website. By learning search engine optimization (SEO) techniques, you will help drive traffic and visibility to your website through keyword research, on-page optimization, and link-building practices. Veterans who have experience with analytical thinking will enjoy learning SEO since it requires attention to detail, strategic planning, and an understanding of human behavior. The ability to analyze complex information and follow processes can assist in creating a well-optimized website.

Email Campaigns

To this day, one of the most effective forms of digital marketing is through email. Sending targeted messages to potential, existing, or previous customers helps make connections, nurture relationships, and promote materials. It also informs the consumer about new products, services, and initiatives. Skills like communication and the ability to converse with different kinds of people are essential for email communications just as they are in the military. Veterans with this kind of experience could quickly learn how to craft a successful email campaign filled with text, imagery, and other important content relevant to the purpose of the message.

Analytics and Conversion Rate Optimization

Many marketing professionals learn analytics and conversion rate optimization (CRO) through digital marketing classes as a way to make data-driven changes that improve future marketing campaigns and increase the likelihood of user actions, such as purchases or signing up for services. This is vital for digital marketing and heavily determines campaign effectiveness. Veterans with experience in operations, analytics, reporting, following metrics, and improving certain systems will understand digital analytics platforms to an extent and feel more confident learning them. 

Pay-Per-Click Advertising

Many digital marketing classes also teach pay-per-click advertising techniques. This is where advertisers pay a fee each time their advertisement is clicked on. This is typically used on search engine results or social media pages. It involves using keyword bidding, advertisement creation, and performance tracking. Veterans with experience managing a budget or executing a particular campaign or project may have an easier time understanding pay-per-click advertising techniques and subsequently executing a pay-per-click ad.

Support for Veterans

As a veteran ready to take the next step, you may wonder where you should start. You’re not alone and there are plenty of fantastic options out there. Thanks to the GI Bill, which was originally introduced in 1944, you can access numerous educational benefits that could be the missing puzzle piece in your transition from active duty to civilian life. From college programs to certifications and online courses to entrepreneurial endeavors, the GI Bill is designed to make the transition less stressful.

If you are unsure whether you qualify for these benefits, the Forever GI Bill is a nice safety net. It doesn’t matter when you were discharged under the Forever GI Bill -- it ensures that you will receive educational benefits if you served at least 90 days of active duty after September 10, 2001, were honorably discharged, or got a service-related disability, you are eligible. In the end, this bill is all about giving you the educational opportunities you have earned and deserve, whenever you are ready to use them.

What’s better is that both the GI Bill and the Forever GI Bill cover everything you may need while enrolled in studies. This includes tuition, books, supplies, and other fees, as well as housing if you opt for traditional full-time, in-person education. If you have considered taking a course, you may want to start with a reputable training center like Noble Desktop. Here, you can explore several programs that are approved for veterans. Plus, Noble Desktop offers additional benefits beyond those already offered. You have worked hard for these benefits -- now is the time to use them!

Why Learn Digital Marketing?

As a veteran, you may wonder why you should pursue digital marketing as a career. You may worry that you’re unable to perform well in this field or that you aren’t well-suited for the job. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Many veterans thrive in a field like digital marketing and benefit from the numerous advantages, such as job security, transferable skills, competitive salaries, healthy work-life balance, and variety within the field. If you are a veteran curious about digital marketing, look no further. Read below to learn more about why digital marketing is a great transition for the average veteran.

Job Availability

The digital marketing field is booming and shows no signs of slowing since most companies today predominately market and sell products on the Internet. For veterans, this means plenty of job opportunities across virtually every industry. From tech and healthcare to entertainment and finance, you can find digital marketing jobs nearly everywhere. Someone with a military background will already be familiar with the need to adapt to new environments and tackle challenges, so the range of opportunities (as well as the fast-paced field) is perfect for the average veteran.

Employability

One of the most advantageous reasons to learn digital marketing, especially as a veteran, is that the skills you learn are transferable, highly sought after, and make you highly employable. As a veteran, you already bring an array of skills and perspectives that the average person would not: discipline, problem-solving, leadership, resourcefulness, and the ability to operate under pressure. These qualities make you stand out among the rest, but paired with the core digital marketing skills you will acquire through a professional training program, you will be ready to transition fully into civilian life as a digital marketing professional. Your education paired with your military experience makes you a highly employable person. 

Salary Expectations

When it comes to salary expectations, everyone hopes for a livable wage. With digital marketing positions, you can expect competitive pay. Indeed shares that the average expected salary for a Digital Marketer is nearly $61,000 but there is a rather large salary range, with reported salaries as high as roughly $102,000. However, salary is largely determined by location, company, and years of experience. For instance, Those living in Denver and Atlanta earn average salaries closer to $68,000. Some senior-level positions earn roughly $80,000 while Vice President of Digital Marketing positions earn an average of $181,000 across the country. Salary is something to consider regardless of whether you are a civilian or a veteran, but it may be worthwhile to weigh your options and consider the cost of living in your area.

Flexible Work-Life Balance

Digital marketing offers a wonderful work-life balance thanks to the increasing prevalence of remote, hybrid, and freelance opportunities. As a veteran, you likely value the ability to balance your professional life with your personal life since military service often takes that ability away. Whether it’s having time to spend with family and friends or to pursue hobbies and community service projects, many digital marketing jobs give you the flexibility that you need. You can work from home and set your schedule as a freelance professional or find a traditional nine-to-five job at a marketing firm. This flexibility can be a major factor in deciding what your future career may be.

Both a Technical and Creative Field

If you are someone who enjoys variety and challenges, digital marketing offers both. It is a career that blends creativity with technical know-how and involves developing creative campaigns as well as analyzing campaign data. You will engage in various tasks that keep the workday interesting and feel like you are always learning something new. Veterans may feel bogged down in a monotonous position, but with digital marketing, you can learn new skills, grow as the field grows, and advance in your career with time and effort.

Why Choose a Digital Marketing Bootcamp or Certificate?

There are numerous reasons to opt for a digital marketing bootcamp or certificate course rather than other training options. First, this method lasts far less than the average university program while still teaching you practical, career-building skills. Second, while you already have numerous benefits at your disposal as a veteran, most training centers offer additional resources and benefits to help make the learning process even more effective and less stressful. Lastly, you will feel accomplished, supported, and confident once the course ends thanks to the realistic projects and scenarios you will encounter in the classroom. Overall, if you want a sustainable career without spending a crazy amount of time and money, a bootcamp or certificate may be the best option for you.

Hands-On, Practical Experience

Digital marketing design bootcamps and certificate programs focus on learning by doing so you will acquire skills through realistic projects that require direct interaction with the material and tools. You will have time to reflect on what you would actually be doing as a digital marketing professional, use the same tools and materials the professionals use, and dive right into the more complex tasks, such as coding and building websites, implementing SEO techniques, or analyzing campaign data. This hands-on approach is perfect for veterans who are used to action-oriented learning and are driven by seeing progress in real-time.

Career-Readiness in Less Time

One of the best things about digital marketing bootcamps and certificate programs is that they prepare you for the workforce as quickly as possible. Many courses such as these prepare students in just a few months as opposed to years and cut out all the fluff that you will not necessarily need to perform the job functions. This efficient, streamlined approach makes the career change feel smooth and manageable rather than scary and hectic.

Job Assistance and Other Benefits

Many digital marketing bootcamps and certificate programs go beyond teaching you technical skills and often focus on skills that will get you noticed in the field. This means many course providers offer resume assistance, interview preparation, and portfolio development. As a veteran, this can make a huge difference if you want to succeed. These programs are designed to make your transition easier, ensuring you are not doing it solo. You will leave feeling more confident in your abilities and your chances of landing a job will increase substantially.

Learn Digital Marketing at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop is a top training center that offers courses in digital marketing, digital design, graphic design, and other related subjects. These certificate courses are approved for veterans and other eligible individuals using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Veteran Readiness and Employment Program, and the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance benefits. In addition to those benefits, Noble Desktop offers extra perks like flexible payment plans, one-on-one mentoring outside of class, and helpful resources. Plus, you can retake the course for any reason within a year, at no additional cost. You will earn a certificate of completion and have a well-developed portfolio once the course ends as well. If you are a veteran looking to get into digital marketing, this is a great way to kick things off in your new career.

For a comprehensive digital marketing education, consider the 120-hour Digital Marketing Certificate course from Noble Desktop. This program gives you hands-on, practical skills in online marketing while also helping you sharpen related skills in areas like social media, graphic design, analytics, communication, and other online tools. Throughout the course, you will dive into real-world projects focused on things like creating engaging social media content and mastering SEO techniques. Plus, you will get direct experience with tools like WordPress and Google Analytics, giving you a well-rounded digital marketing education. By the end of the course, you will have the skills to drive traffic to websites, boost ROI, and enhance your prospects as a professional Digital Marketer.

Likewise, there is a Video Editing and Motion Graphics Certificate that lasts 126 total hours and covers Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, and other essential design tools provided by Adobe. You will dive deep into video editing with various tools in Premiere Pro as well as 3D model design with Cinema 4D in After Effects. You will also learn how to clean audio with Audition and use design principles to make your projects stand out among the rest. If you are looking to expand your expertise, this is a great course to start with, especially since you can enroll in a bonus course focused on either Photoshop or AI in video editing.

You could also explore Noble Desktop’s Graphic Design Certificate which spans 84 hours and dives into essential tools like Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. In this course, you will learn how to refine and enhance photos for various online uses. In addition, you’ll practice using InDesign for website layouts and Illustrator for vector graphics. With all these applications, you will develop a well-rounded and robust set of graphic design skills that will spark your creativity in future projects while giving you the structure to apply design principles accordingly. If you are looking into the world of graphic design, this is a great starting point.

The 138-hour Digital Design Certificate program gives students insight into the most in-demand tools in the industry, including Figma and Adobe Creative Cloud applications like Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. You will get direct experience retouching photos, designing sleek website layouts, and creating engaging graphics for various platforms. These diverse skills will help you build a portfolio that stands out and help give you skills fit for a professional Digital Designer. 

If you are looking to dive into a complete understanding of how to create designs that appeal to users in every way possible, Noble Desktop’s UX and UI Design Certificate lasts 144 hours and covers such information. You will learn how to conduct user research, build interactive prototypes, and include design recommendations for branding purposes. In addition, you will leave with a solid understanding of visual design and what makes the user feel comfortable while navigating the website.

The Web Design Certificate at Noble Desktop spans 162 hours, providing students with skills to create stunning websites. You will work with popular web design tools like WordPress, Visual Studio Code, Git, and Figma. In addition, you will learn essential HTML and CSS, which serve as the bones behind a website and the visual appeal, respectively. You will also get hands-on experience with JavaScript, which is key for front end development. By the end of the course, you will have the skills to design functional and visually appealing websites as well as the confidence to enter the field.