Have you ever considered starting a digital marketing business in Nigeria, or do you want to become a digital marketer in Nigeria? Here is a free guide to launch you on your journey to becoming an in-demand digital marketer in Nigeria in 10 steps.
There are various ways you can begin to make lots of money through digital marketing, such as blogging, freelancing, and more.
Follow me in this guide, and you will learn how you can become a digital marketer in Nigeria, how lucrative digital marketing is in Nigeria, how digital marketers make money in Nigeria, and more.
Let’s get started!
How lucrative is digital marketing in Nigeria?
Digital marketing is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Nigeria right now. We asked several digital marketing professionals, and they said they could make an average of ₦500,000 per month. Here are five (5) reasons to show you how lucrative digital marketing is in Nigeria;
Digital marketing is applicable in every industry;
Digital marketing applies to engineering, technology, medicine, finance, and more. Therefore, digital marketers are sought after in all industries in Nigeria.
Job security
Due to the pandemic that led to the lockdown of companies, several companies decided to go digital. Digital marketing has continued to increase and expand after the pandemic.
Diversity in roles
There are diverse digital marketing roles that anyone can choose from. Whether you are a beginner or a professional in digital marketing, you can work as an SEO, social media manager, or content writer.
High-Paying jobs
The demand for digital marketers in Nigeria has increased significantly over the years despite low supply. Hence, companies and individuals are willing to pay digital marketers handsomely.
Digital marketers in Nigeria earn between ₦40,000 and ₦2,000,000 monthly, depending on your experience.
No specific educational degree requirement
There’s no specific degree requirement for becoming a digital marketer in Nigeria or globally. Core professionals such as medical practitioners, lawyers, and more have gone ahead to become successful digital marketers.
Likewise, anyone with as little as an SSCE certificate can take free courses in digital marketing and make cool money from them.
Is Digital Marketing in Demand in Nigeria?
The short answer to this is, “Yes, it is.”
The long answer is that digital marketing skills are in high demand in Nigeria, especially those related to search engine marketing (SEM) and pay-per-click (PPC) marketing.
Search engine marketing involves paying a search engine to advertise marketing messages and show a link in a prominent position when visitors search certain keywords.
Pay-per-click (PPC) marketing is marketing that involves paying each time a visitor clicks on a marketing link.
On average, a digital marketing manager earns up to N180,000. Meanwhile, an experienced, proven manager can earn up to N400,000 in Nigeria today.
Other in-demand digital marketing skills in Nigeria are:
- Social media marketing
- Content marketing
- Facebook Advertising.
How Digital Marketers Make Money in Nigeria
Digital marketers in Nigeria make money through various means. In this guide, I will outline five (5) popular ways digital marketers make money in Nigeria.
1. Freelancing
With freelancing, a client pays per task, per job, or per project. A freelancer is an independent contractor who earns money per task or job completed.
Digital marketers making money as freelancers make sure to arm themselves with the following skills;
- Content Marketing
- Pay Per Click Marketing
- Affiliate Marketing
- Social media marketing, and more.
Upwork and Fiverr are platforms where freelance digital marketers get jobs and make money.
2. Starting a Blog
With the immense traffic on Google per day, starting a blog is a lucrative way for digital marketers in Nigeria to make money.
Digital marketers monetize their blogs using the following methods;
- Affiliate marketing
- Consultations
- Selling digital products
- Sponsorship deals
- Google Adsense.
3. Selling digital marketing courses
Digital marketers in Nigeria make money by selling courses on the Udemy and Skillshare websites. These websites are free course marketplaces where lots of visitors look to learn new skills.
4. Grow a Start-Up Business
With the rise of the internet, digital marketers in Nigeria can virtually set up profitable businesses online.
All that is required are digital marketing skills, a good internet connection, and a laptop or phone.
There are several online business ideas that a digital marketer can choose from and grow into lucrative businesses.
5. Get a job as a Digital Marketer
Digital marketers in Nigeria with well-proven skills and experience can apply for and get jobs in large companies as digital marketing managers. Companies pay digital marketing managers handsomely, depending on their level of experience.
How to Become a Digital Marketer in Nigeria in 10 Steps
Here’s a practical step-by-step procedure to become a digital marketer in Nigeria:
Step 1: Understand the Basics
You need to familiarize yourself with the fundamentals before you delve into digital marketing in Nigeria. These include:
- What is digital marketing, and how it’s different from traditional marketing
- Different types of digital marketing (SEO, SEM, content marketing, email marketing, social media marketing, influencer marketing, etc.)
- Why businesses need digital marketers and how you can help them grow
Step 2: Online Learning
The internet is a gold mine for knowledge. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, Google Digital Garage, and LinkedIn Learning offer courses tailored to digital marketing. We’ve taken time to select the best digital marketing courses you can take to get started.
Step 3: Find Your Niche
Digital marketing is broad, so you need to figure out what you love. Is it SEO? Content marketing? Social Media? Influencer Marketing?
As a digital marketer in Nigeria, consider focusing on one or two areas within the broad field of digital marketing. Pick your favorite areas and learn all you can about them.
Step 4: Practise What You Preach
Now it’s time to put theory into practice. You can’t be a digital marketer in Nigeria without a solid portfolio showing your skills.
Consider starting a blog about something you love or creating a social media campaign for a local event. You can also help a family business optimize its website for SEO. The aim here is to learn by doing.
Step 5: Grab Some Certifications
Getting certified adds weight to your profile. Platforms like Google, HubSpot, and Facebook offer certifications that are recognized globally. They would give your profile a boost.
Step 6: Network
Join local digital marketing or tech communities, and attend events and meetups. They’re great places to learn from others, share ideas, and maybe even find a mentor. Also, there are numerous Nigerian and African tech groups on platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn.
Step 7: Work on Projects
Start small. Begin by taking on small projects you can find on Nairaland or LinkedIn, maybe for a local business or non-profit. This will allow you to apply your digital marketing skills in real life. It’s also a great way to build your portfolio.
Step 8: Stay Current
Digital marketing trends change quickly, and in Nigeria, the landscape is dynamic. Follow Nigerian digital marketing blogs, join webinars, and keep learning to stay ahead. One freelance group that offers tons of opportunities for digital marketers in Nigeria is the Freelance Coalition for Developing Countries.
Step 9: Start Your Career
Once you’re confident, consider looking for a job or freelancing. Websites like Jobberman, Hot Nigerian Jobs, LinkedIn, and even local Facebook groups can be helpful in finding opportunities in Nigeria.
Fiverr is also a great place to start if you want to take the freelancing route. Other freelancing sites include Upwork and Freelancer.
You can read our guide on how to start freelancing in Nigeria. It contains real-life experiences from people who started out like you.
Step 10: Build Your Personal Brand
Finally, stand out. Create a professional LinkedIn profile, build a portfolio website, or share your thoughts on Twitter. You can even start a YouTube channel where you share digital marketing tips. Make yourself known in the Nigerian digital marketing community.
Just remember, becoming a great digital marketer in Nigeria is a journey, not a destination. So keep exploring, learning, and, most importantly, enjoying the process.
How Much Digital Marketers Earn in Nigeria
Digital Marketers in Nigeria earn as low as ₦40,000 and as much as ₦2,000,000 monthly. The amount of money earned depends on the level of experience and the digital marketing sector the digital marketer specializes in.
Other Online Skills to learn besides Digital Marketing
In addition, I know for some people, digital marketing may not be your forte. So, before I conclude this guide, I want to show you other online skills you can learn besides digital marketing.
Graphic Design Skills
Suitable for: students and anyone who loves to design materials.
Graphic design skills description: Many small-and medium-scale businesses in Nigeria are looking for graphic designers to create logos and promotional materials for them. Hence, the need to learn graphic design skills.
Where to learn graphic design skills: You can learn graphic design skills by watching free tutorial videos on Youtube and Udemy. You can take Graphic Design Workshop for Beginners tutorial on Udemy to get started.
Computer Programming Skills
Suitable for: students especially with a computer science background and anyone with sound computer skills.
Computer programming skills Description: Computer programming is the act of writing code to enable a specific action in a computer, software program, or application. It also instructs computers to perform the functions.
There are various aspects of computer programming you can learn in Nigeria. They include,
- Robotics
- Stem
- Java
- CSS
- HTML
Where to learn Computer Programming skills: Learn computer programming skills on Udemy, Alison, and Youtube platforms. Udemy offers a beginners’ course in Computer programming, titled, Learn Computer Programming from Absolute Zero.
Video Editing Skills
Suitable for: those who like creating audiovisuals and editing them.
Video Editing Skills Description: Video editing is the act of rearranging and piecing together video shots, images, and sounds for audiovisual purposes.
You can make money from editing large projects such as wedding videos, music videos, and birthday or anniversary videos.
Where to learn video editing skills: You can learn video editing skills by taking free tutorials on Udemy and Youtube platforms. Video Editing for Beginners on Udemy is a free tutorial you can start right away.
Web Development Skills
Suitable for: anyone with experience using the computer and internet.
Web development skills description: Web development involves building websites and applications for the Internet. It could also be creating an application for a private network known as an intranet.
This is a high-paying online skill because many youths and students are going into blogging. There is a need for the professional services of a web developer to build websites.
Where to learn Web development skills: Platforms where you can learn web development skills are Udemy and Youtube. Beginner Full Stack Web Development: HTML, CSS, React, and Mode is a paid course on Udemy you can begin right away.
Online Tutoring Skills
Suitable for: teachers, NYSC members, and anyone who loves to teach others.
Online Tutoring Skills Description: Online tutoring involves a teacher or tutor imparting knowledge to students via the Internet. Varieties of lessons can be taught, including subjects, languages, cooking lessons, and more.
Where to learn online tutoring skills: Platforms where you can learn tutoring skills include Udemy, Alison, and Youtube. The Ultimate Guide to Tutoring on Udemy is a 1.5-hour course that can take you from a beginner to a pro in online tutoring.
Conclusion
Digital marketing is a very lucrative business in Nigeria today. The business gives you freedom of time because you can work from the comfort of your home.
Digital marketing in Nigeria does not require an investment to start. What is required is your knowledge of digital marketing skills, a PC, or a phone.
You can make money on the other online skills outlined in this guide by finding jobs on platforms such as,
- Upwork
- Fiverr
- Indeed
- LinkedIn.
A PC or phone and a good internet connection are the only investments you have to make to start making money from other online skills.
