You Want to Work in a Marketing Agency? Here’s What You Should Know

This is a pretty niche subject for my typical blog, so if you’re reading this, chances are you’re thinking about a career in digital marketing. Maybe you’re fresh out of a course, maybe you’re self-taught, or maybe you just have a knack for social media and want to turn it into something bigger. Whatever the case, let me say: marketing agency life is not what you expect.

Marketing has some many different specialties it can be hard to focus on one thing - which isn't the worst problem to have, but it's something I'm struggling with right now. I jumped at the chance to earn experience in agency role, after 2 years of completing a Level 3 and Level 4 in Digital Marketing. While those courses gave me a good foundation, nothing prepared for me the real thing. Despite it being a smaller agency, it's still incredible fast-paced, unpredictable, and mildly chaotic at times. But that's what makes it so fun.

It's hard to tell if you're going to love it or hate it at first, and it can always change. No day has been the same for me so far. There are jobs I love doing, such as shooting in studios, creative copywriting, working with designers to create beautiful artwork. And there's the more mundane stuff, such as Google Ads, report writing and organisation.

Organisation is probably my best bet, though, as without my many spreadsheets and checklists, I think I'd be struggling to stay on top of it all.

What does a marketing agency do?

If you’re imagining an office full of people brainstorming with fancy lattes in hand, you’re only partially right. Marketing agencies exist to help businesses grow. That can mean anything from social media management to SEO, email marketing, PPC advertising, content creation, and more. Something that my courses didn't even begin to cover.

Essentially, businesses hire agencies to do the stuff they either don’t have time for, don’t understand, or don’t want to deal with. But you've got to think out of the box as well, and have plenty of creativity beans.

The reality is that everyone in marketing wears multiple hats, especially when you're just starting out and haven't really found your niche. In a smaller agency, you won’t just be doing one of these things, you’ll be dabbling in all of them because you might not have the staff numbers to take on one thing. That's been the best way to learn for me!

How Do I Start Digital Marketing?

I'm sure you've heard it before, but you don’t need a marketing degree to get into digital marketing! My own degree was in the creative writing field, which isn't worlds apart, but it's not really relevant to the majority of tasks in hindsight.

What you do need is experience, curiosity, and a willingness to learn fast.

Here’s what I’d recommend:

1. Get Hands-On Experience

It’s one thing to know marketing theoretically, it's another to have the experience. Start your own blog (just like this one). Run a social media account. Offer to do someone's marketing for free and put together a portfolio. Do some freelance work. If you’re applying for jobs with zero hands-on experience, you’ll be competing with people who already have proof they can do the work.

2. Learn SEO & Analytics (Even Just the Basics)

SEO is one of the most valuable marketing skills, and having even a basic understanding of it will set you apart. Google Analytics and Google Search Console are free to use, so start there. The only thing is, SEO is a lot deeper than just keywords and websites. It's a can of worms, that once you open, it never really seems to run out.

3. Take Free Courses

There are so many free resources available. Google’s Digital Garage, HubSpot Academy, and Meta’s Blueprint courses are a great place to start. The key is to apply what you learn, don’t just watch a course and call it a day.

4. Network, Even If It Feels Weird

Marketing can also be about who you know. LinkedIn is your best friend. Follow industry professionals, engage with their content, and don’t be afraid to reach out for advice.

5. Apply for Junior Roles, Even If You Don’t Feel Ready

Spoiler: No one ever feels ready. Apply anyway. Agencies know they’re hiring juniors to train them up, so don’t worry about not knowing everything yet. If you’re willing to learn, that’s what matters.

Final Thoughts: Is Agency Life for You?

Marketing agencies are fast-paced, deadline-driven, and unpredictable. You’ll go from writing a blog in the morning to sitting in a strategy meeting, then researching keywords, and by the afternoon, you’re suddenly editing ad copy while drinking a coffee that went cold three hours ago. (I've been there, but replace coffee with a can of coke.)

It’s demanding, but rewarding. It's my favourite job I've ever had.

So, if you’re thinking about jumping into digital marketing, go for it. Start learning, get hands-on, and don’t be afraid to apply for that first agency job. You’ll learn more in a few months on the job than in any course. And who knows? Maybe one day you’ll be the one writing about what it’s like to work in marketing. After all, I'm still a novice myself!