Have you ever wondered, “Why do those ads show up after I leave a website?” It might seem a bit creepy at first, but somewhere a smart digital marketer is using a strategy called Facebook ad retargeting. 

So you are online trying to buy some new shoes and you get an Instagram DM notification and get distracted? A few days later, you are minding your business scrolling through Instagram or Facebook and you start seeing ads for those exact sneakers on Facebook. That’s retargeting.

The purpose of this post is to walk you through creating a compelling digital marketing portfolio for students that will help you stand out from the competition. View your portfolio as a visual resume that shows your skills with actual examples and projects.

Whether you’re aiming for an internship, freelance gigs, or an entry-level job in digital marketing, this guide will help you organize your best work and present it in a way that resonates with hiring managers and potential clients.

Why is this so important? In today’s competitive job market, employers are not just looking for a list of qualifications, they want to see your creativity, problem-solving skills, and the tangible results of your efforts.

A well-crafted portfolio does just that. It allows you to share your experiences, from school projects to real internships, and showcase your personal style in solving digital marketing problems.

Are you trying to become a content marketer? Let’s cut to the chase: If you’re entering the workforce in the next five years, your university degree is just the starting line. The real game-changer? Becoming a knowledge sponge in a world where AI tools evolve faster than TikTok trends.  

Picture this: By 2025, 30% of enterprise content will be AI-generated (Gartner), and marketers using AI tools report 3x faster content production (HubSpot). The good news is that I don’t think AI will replace you. However, if you aren’t willing you embrace AI, you will be in trouble. A marketer who masters AI will replace those who don’t. Let’s unpack how you’ll stay ahead.

Let’s face it, digital marketing isn’t getting any simpler. Managing your website, engaging on social media, creating content, analyzing data, and running ads, digital marketing can be overwhelming. And people tell us that marketing is easy.

That’s where artificial intelligence (AI) swoops in to save the day. Designers create AI tools to help marketers work smarter, not harder. They streamline processes, improve results, and give you more time to focus on overarching strategic goals. If you don't use AI tools today, you will fall behind.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through some of the best AI tools for digital marketers. I’ll break down what each tool does, why it’s useful, and how you can use it in your day-to-day work. By the end, you’ll have a list of game-changing tools to help you up your content creation and digital marketing game.

Introduction

It's important to understand your customers and what they need, but it's also important to make sure that you're providing them with the best possible experience. One way to prove that you're doing a great job is by having positive customer testimonials. These are often written by customers who've had good experiences with your company or service. They can be used in marketing materials and serve as evidence of how awesome your business is. Here are some tips on how to get these valuable pieces of content:

Identify audience personas

Personas are fictional characters that represent your target audience, and can help you define your product or service, marketing message and more. They're also a great way to get inside the mind of your potential customers.

Identifying personas is one of the most important steps when starting any content marketing campaign. In this post, I'll show you how to create personas based on your existing customers' behavior patterns by using data from email marketing campaigns and surveys.

The digital marketing funnel is the heart of any successful marketing campaign.

Digital marketing is about using online channels to promote your business and connect with your audience. It helps you reach new customers and keep your current ones engaged. With so many options available, from content marketing, SEO, paid ads, social media, mobile marketing, and email marketing; a clear plan is essential.

A solid digital marketing strategy saves time, cuts costs, and focuses your efforts where they count.

In this guide, you'll learn:

• What digital marketing is and why it matters.

• How to research your market and understand your audience.

• How to set clear objectives and track your progress.

• How to create a detailed digital marketing plan that works.

• Real-world examples and tips for overcoming common challenges.

If you want to build an audience persona and target effectively, then you need to know who you’re trying to reach.

As a marketing leader, part of your responsibility is to create marketing goals and objectives for your team. Sometimes this is easier said than done, especially when you are juggling a million issues at once and the “corn song” keeps playing in your head. We often get so busy that we forget to set out clear objectives, and then we get frustrated when the end result isn’t what we wanted.

Another common issue is that the marketing team is seen as a service department in many organizations. What this means is that people within organizations send marketing requests and often jump too far ahead in their demands. For example, if someone is organizing an event, they might request that you “tweet about it,” when what they really want is 400 people to attend the event, which could be more easily solved with better digital marketing strategies.

It is finally here, my favorite time of year. The smell of freshly cut pine trees, shiny holiday decorations, and the all to excited consumers (myself included) who will spend their hard earned cash on the to-good-to-be-true deals.