Internet Marketing and Advertising Consultants

High School

If you are considering a career as an Internet marketing and advertising consultant, you should pursue a general high school curriculum that is college preparatory. Make sure you enroll in advertising, business, computer science, and marketing courses. You should also take courses that develop your analytical and problem-solving skills such as mathematics (including algebra and geometry) and sciences (including chemistry and physics). Take English courses to develop the research and communication skills you'll need for this profession. Keyboarding is often offered at most high schools, and so are technology courses that teach basic computer skills.

Postsecondary Training

Some people enter the field with computer- or e-commerce-related degrees; others have traditional liberal arts, advertising, business, or marketing backgrounds that include computer studies. No matter what your major, take plenty of computer classes and spend a lot of time on the Web. Many universities and colleges offer Internet marketing classes, minors, or other programs. Do your research to make sure that the university you choose to attend will provide you with the classes that are pertinent to the type of work you want to do.

Because consultants are usually responsible for marketing themselves, you should have good business skills and knowledge of marketing and sales, as well as computer knowledge. Therefore, take business and management classes, as well as economics and marketing. The consultant with a broad educational background may have the inside edge in certain situations.

There are also programs available to workers who wish to earn a master's degree in Internet marketing. Some are part of business administration degrees, while others are separate degree programs. While you won't need to earn a master's degree to get a job or succeed in the industry, it may provide some value when it comes to advancement or if you wish to start your own consulting company.

Certification

Many colleges and universities offer certificates in advertising and marketing, and some offer ones that focus on search engine marketing and optimization and related topics. For example, the University of California at San Diego offers a specialized certificate in search engine optimization that provides students with training in SEO strategy, keyword research, Web site metrics, SEO tools, and SEO best practices. Contact schools in your area to learn more about available programs.

Other Education or Training

Many professional associations provide continuing-education (CE) opportunities to Internet advertising and marketing consultants including the American Marketing Association, eMarketing Association, and the Internet Marketing Association. Contact these organizations for more information.