subject: Choosing the right online marketing education option [print this page] Choosing the right online marketing education option
Internet marketing is becoming an officially recognized career choice, as evidenced by the fact that accredited universities are now offering Internet marketing certification programs. This means that you now have more options for how you want to gain your online marketing education. Choosing the right option for you is going to be nearly as important as the skills you learn. This article will address the pros and cons of four options available to you in getting an online marketing education.
Option #1: The free for all
Many people have learned the ropes of Internet marketing by studying content that's freely available on the Internet. If you were to break down a complete online marketing education into each of its components, you could learn everything you need to know, including the most advanced techniques, without ever paying a dime for an ebook, a membership site, or college tuition. There is literally a gold mine of information just on the forums dedicated to online marketing, not to mention the countless free reports and content offered on thousands of websites and blogs dedicated to Internet marketing.
The challenge with the free online marketing education option is that you will need to organize the information yourself. Internet marketing is a complex skill set and there is a logical progression of skills within that set. But you will encounter the information as a rather disorganized mass. One day you will read about some high level technical black hat search engine optimization trick and another day you will read about creating backlinks to your site by commenting on other people's blogs. But you won't really start to put the big picture together until you have invested a lot of time into gathering the information and actually trying to implement it. You will learn a lot by trial and error.
Option #2: Buying an ebook or training series of DVDs
The main thing you pay for is not so much the information itself--that's freely available. You pay for someone to take the time and effort to organize the information into a logical progression of facts and skills to learn and actions to take. Do you build a website first, choose a topic first, or find an affiliate product to market first? You will undoubtedly encounter different answers to that question, but the important thing is that you are presented with a logical order in which to learn and do things. This is what you will get when you purchase a high quality ebook or training series of DVDs. You can read the book or watch the DVDs as often as you like, pause them at given points to implement what you're learning, and work at your own pace. This is an affordable option that's great if you work well by yourself and can stay motivated to continue working on it.
The challenge with this option lies in choosing the right product. These days thousands of people have a miracle product to sell online. You will need to get a bit of an online marketing education just to help you sort out the good online marketing education products from the scams! You also want to have a minimal understanding of marketing techniques in general so you can sift through the hype and get to the actual information about the product. The other challenge is that you are basically on your own once you buy the product. It's up to you to study the material and take action with it. Unfortunately, even the high quality products for sale tend to have little or no customer support once you have made your purchase.
Option #3: Joining an online marketing education membership site
There are various membership programs that offer ongoing online marketing education along with various platforms for the members to interact with each other. As an example, the membership site I am part of recently began offering article marketing clubs. The quality of the educational materials offered to members varies, so you want to do your homework. Research each site, read reviews, compare what's offered and pay attention to what successful Internet marketers are saying about it.
The community you can get from a membership site can be invaluable in the field of Internet marketing. Most Internet marketers work alone out of their homes, and while it's great to not have to deal with the commute or the 9 to 5 grind, you can also feel isolated. Membership sites give you the opportunity to interact with other professionals in the industry in profitable or merely social ways. You can often get quick help with a problem or valuable feedback on your website or article from other members, and as you learn more, you can offer that help and feedback as well. The other advantage is that you can better keep up with the rapid changes in the online marketing industry.
The disadvantages of membership sites are that like forums, you can waste a lot of time in nonproductive activities, and that since they have ongoing membership fees, you have an ongoing business expense. Because of that you have a certain level of pressure to buckle down and learn what you need to learn so you can start generating income. That pressure can either be a positive motivator or a major source of stress depending on how you handle it. You need to be willing to devote significant and consistent time to your online marketing education to make the most of your membership site.
Option #4: Internet marketing certification from an accredited university
This is by far the most expensive option. College tuition runs in the thousands of dollars. However this may be a good option if you thrive in a more structured environment. While you will get out of a membership site what you put into it, you will actually be attending classes, taking exams and getting grades by going the college route. Some people need this level of accountability and at this point you won't get it anywhere else. The other interesting benefit is that at a university, the online marketing education will be geared towards people seeking to build a career or get a job. Universities are offering Internet marketing certification programs because companies are starting to hire Internet marketers to help them improve their online presence. Not everyone is cut out to be a business owner and now you can pursue a career in Internet marketing without having to own your own business. This opens up the field to a wider variety of people.
An online marketing education can come in many forms. Choosing the right online marketing education option for you will depend on your learning and working style, the amount of money you are willing to invest, and your ultimate career goals. Making the best decision for you will go a long way towards getting your online marketing education off to a great start.
