We need to learn most things in life to be any good at them, and internet marketing is no different. While it is possible to study the subject at school, this isn’t always practical – or affordable – for everyone. Luckily, there are far more ways to learn internet marketing.

Practicing and learning as you go

One of the most effective ways to learn internet marketing is to simply do it. How did you learn to ride a bike? Chances are, you didn’t spend too long pouring over how-to guides before you got on the saddle and gave it your best shot. It works the same with internet marketing.

If you want to understand the technical, website-building side of internet marketing, set up your own free WordPress site and get to grips with the layout, learning how to customize it. If social media is more your thing, create your own private business accounts and familiarize yourself with the handy tools and features available.

Staying up-to-date with blogs

If you’re rolling your eyes and muttering “waste of time” at the idea of reading internet marketing blogs, you haven’t found the right ones. There’s an endless amount of free, invaluable advice and information to be found in the best internet marketing blogs, produced by leading experts in the industry.

A quick Google search will bring up some of the biggest internet marketing blogs, and it’s worth email subscribing to as many of them as you can. Internet marketing blogs won’t only teach you tips and tricks of the trade; they’ll also make you keen and excited to be a part of the industry. They’re the motivator you’ll need if you’re just starting out and know you have a long way to go to reach professional level.

Join a course

Online courses are a fast and easy way to learn the basics of internet marketing. They are being offered by almost every SEO or marketing site right now, but don’t jump to purchase the first one you come across. Make sure you find a course that is relevant to you, your current situation, and the skills you hope to learn. A highly-reviewed course is also better worth your money than one with little or poor reviews.

In comparison to university fees, the price to join an internet marketing course tends to be a lot lower. You should also find that information is more compacted and relevant, allowing you to learn the most in the least amount of time. If you’re learning part-time, you can fit your studies around your other commitments.

Attend networking events

… and talk to professionals in your chosen field of marketing. Rather than overload yourself with formally-presented information from an internet marketing booklet, networking events allow you to hear what the professionals do, from the professionals themselves.

If you’re after a more honest insight into the internet marketing industry, you’ll more than likely find it at networking events. Your peers may also be able to give you pointers into how to improve your study, share how they started out and offer you some much-needed encouragement while they’re at it. You can ask for first-hand recommendations on courses to take or blogs to read, and you may also be able to get your foot in the door for a future career.

Work for free

There’s very little appeal in working for free for most people, but if you want to secure an internet marketing career at some point in the future, real experience is a must. If not a qualification, many digital marketing jobs ask that you have at least a year of digital marketing experience behind you – which is hard to get when you’re just starting out, hence working for free.

How you choose to work is up to you. You could approach a local business and offer up some of your time to work on a marketing strategy for them. You could also search for internships in your local area on job sites – there are always plenty going, and even though many don’t pay, they will offer up alternative benefits for your hard work. Both of these means will give you invaluable insight into how the internet marketing industry works.