Does digital marketing require coding? (39% say NO)

I did a poll on LinkedIn asking “Is coding skill required to be a successful digital marketer?”

39% of digital markets believe that you do not need any coding skills and only 14% believe that having only a basic coding understanding is enough for you to become a top digital marketer in 2024.

Only 11% believe that you will require some advanced understanding of coding knowledge.

Now, let’s talk about other data points to prove that to get a job in digital marketing, building your own agency, you don’t need coding skills.

Do I need coding skills for digital marketing?

No, coding skills are not necessary in digital marketing. Most of the responsibilities for digital marketing, including content creation, social media management, advertising triggers, or email campaigns, do not require any knowledge of programming. 

In any case, general knowledge of the basics of Python, Java, or HTML can help in some niches. 

For example, Python can help automate certain tasks related to data analysis. Java might be necessary for integrating web applications across websites, and HTML will give you more ability when optimizing on-site elements for better SEO. 

However, while these will make some tasks easier, they are far from required for success in digital marketing.

Here’s proof that you can get a high-paying digital marketing job without coding knowledge?

You do not need to be a coder to make good money in digital marketing. To show just that, let’s take a look at what some major companies hiring digital marketers are actually posting for jobs. 

Many of these jobs offers very desirable salaries and mention skills such as content creation, SEO, social media management, and paid advertising without referring to the prerequisite of coding skills.

Here are some description example that demand no coding knowledge and experience: 

Here’s a digital marketing job description from SportsKeeda that requires no coding skills at all:

These job postings show that with a good understanding of the core basics of digital marketing, there are many lucrative opportunities available without having to have any form of coding skills.

Can I learn digital marketing without knowing coding?

Of course, yes! Many successful digital marketers enjoy lucrative careers with absolutely no knowledge of coding. 

At the core of it all, digital marketing is truly about understanding consumer behavior and creating stimulating content in the search for just the right tools and strategy that will engage and convert people. 

In fact, many popular digital marketers have openly shared that they didn’t start with any coding knowledge and still achieved great success. For example:

• Neil Patel: He is one of the most highlighted names in digital marketing. The one thing he always made sure to mention since the beginning of his journey was that he never knew how to code. He scaled his brand and others using SEO, content marketing, and analytics.

• Ann Handley: Being one of the pioneers in the digital marketing field, Ann Handley has said on more than a handful of numerous platforms, including LinkedIn, that her core competencies revolve around creating content and strategy, not coding. She made her name No. 1 in the content industry based on that.

• Rand Fishkin: The founder of Moz and one of the thought leaders in SEO, Fishkin started with a deep learning of SEO and content and never coded. His goal has always been to understand search algorithms and user intent rather than learning a programming language.

These examples illustrate that a lack of coding knowledge did not stop digital marketers from becoming industry leaders.

Yet another myth is that the digital marketing space is full of tools for various different activities, and to make the most of these tools, knowing how to code is a must. 

On the contrary, most digital marketing tools are user-friendly, so marketers need not worry about learning the nuts and bolts of coding. Here are some popular tools that don’t require coding:

• SEMrush: All-in-one SEO and online visibility management platform. From keyword research to competitor analysis, tracking your website performance, and much more, with no need to write a line of code.

• HubSpot: One of the leading tools within marketing automation, HubSpot offers all the basic functionality: email marketing, social media management, and lead generation. Being user-oriented, HubSpot allows marketers to easily automate workflows, manage customer relationships, and amplify content marketing without requiring any coding.

• ActiveCampaign: With its powerful tools, making email marketing and customer experience automation go great, it provides a drag-and-drop interface for creating automated campaigns, which up until now was possible without a technical background for marketers.

• Google Analytics: This tool allows businesses to track website performance and better understand user behaviour. Tracking codes need to be set up, but the marketer does not need to spend hours coding since this can be done through simple copying and pasting or plugins.

Which coding language is used in digital marketing? (not necessary but useful)

While coding may not be necessary for a digital marketer, understanding certain programming languages can greatly enhance the ability to do certain tasks with more efficiency and effectiveness. We have outlined about 5 of the most popular languages that could help tie up your performance as a digital marketer.

1. HTML (HyperText Markup Language)

HTML is the standard language used to present web pages; it structures the content on the web. It provides a means to define elements such as headings, paragraphs, images, hyperlinks, and a variety of other structures, giving you the backbone for all web pages.

The Use of HTML In Digital Marketing

HTML is the backbone of on-page SEO and content formatting. Through HTML, digital marketers do optimization of a webpage’s meta tags-title and description, headers-H1, H2, etc.-alt texts of images. All these things serve as elements necessary for search engines to know exactly what lies on a page, which then immediately affects the ranking of the page itself.

It also helps design and edit email templates. Emails with clean HTML code will ensure that there are no problems with broken layouts and unreadable content when viewed across different email clients. Knowing a little HTML allows the digital marketer to easily make minor adjustments in their content to optimize it for search engines, thus enhancing user experience. 

• Example: Promotions shown in the blog section of a website can be formatted using HTML; the marketer can format the heading and subheadings and the rest of the points by using bullet points. This makes the content more scannable for both users and search engines and thus does the work of improving SEO.

2. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)

CSS is a stylesheet language that is used to describe the look and presentation of the structure written in HTML, then defines how elements are shown on the page, including colors, fonts, layouts, and spacing.

The Use of CSS In Digital Marketing

CSS is the reason designers create fabulous, responsive web designs. It is also highly common for digital marketers to use CSS to personalize the look and feel of landing pages so they comply with branding guidelines and user experience best practices.

For example, a landing page may need manipulation to yield better conversions. A marketer might want to change the colour of the call-to-action button using CSS or modify the padding of other elements to draw user attention to a form or a key call-to-action. In regard to email marketing, CSS is used to make the actual functional emails look nice.

• Example: A digital marketer managing a series of email campaigns can use CSS to design mobile-responsive emails that look great on both desktops and smartphones, enhancing the click-through rate (CTR) and conversion rate.

3. Python

Python is a high-level, general-purpose language that features simplicity and readability. It is one of the most well-known programming languages used in data science, machine learning, web development, and automation.

The Use of Python In Digital Marketing

Python has become more relevant, particularly for the data-driven marketer. It automates repetitive, mundane tasks of gathering, extracting, and analyzing data so the marketer can devote his energies to making strategic decisions. Examples include scraping data from websites or social media sites, conducting sentiment analysis of customer feedback, or auto-reporting from tools such as Google Analytics. 

Python is also being used to a great extent in developing predictive models for the forecasting of trends, optimisation of pay-per-click campaigns, and personalisation of marketing messages according to user behavioural patterns.

• Example: The digital marketer can use Python to automate gathering social media mentions of a brand, doing sentiment analysis on the mentions, and then generating a report around those findings. That helps the marketer understand brand perception and make data-driven adjustments to their strategy.

4. JavaScript

JavaScript is a general-purpose programming language and the most popular web development language, usually used to make the web page much more interactive, for example, form validation, sliders, popup windows, and so on.

The Use of JavaScript In Digital Marketing

JavaScript provides the functionality on your website that makes it more dynamic and allows for a much greater degree of personalisation. It’s also frequently used in things like A/B testing, where digital marketers might test different elements of a webpage to see which optimizes conversions best. 

For example, it can be applied to dynamically change content based on user behaviour, perhaps based on the browsing history of the user to suggest products or by changing how a web page is laid out according to user preferences. Also, some JavaScript will be required to implement and manage tracking scripts, which are quite important in monitoring user interactions and evaluating the effectiveness of campaigns.

• Example: A digital marketer could use JavaScript to implement a pop-up when one is about to leave a site, offering a special discount or maybe asking to subscribe to a newsletter. This will reduce bounce rates and make lead generation better.

Here’s what IT expert and trainer, Sairam Uppugundla has to say about the use of the Java language for digital marketers:

Learning Java can benefit digital marketers by enabling them to understand web applications, automate marketing tasks, and analyze data more effectively. With Java skills, marketers can customize tracking scripts, create simple tools for data collection, and better communicate with development teams.

It also helps in understanding how backend systems work, which is valuable when managing content management systems (CMS) or marketing automation platforms.

Additionally, Java knowledge can be useful for creating and maintaining marketing tools, parsing large datasets, and implementing custom analytics solutions to track campaign performance.

Sairam Uppugundla (founder of Codegnan, a full-stack Java training institute in Bangalore)

5. SQL (Structured Query Language)

SQL is a domain-specific language used in programming to manage and manipulate relational databases. It also finds broad applicability in querying data, report generation, and analysis of big datasets.

The Use of SQL In Digital Marketing

SQL is indispensable to a marketer who requires access to big data, such as customer information, sales data, and website analytics and needs to analyze it. It thus helps marketers query any particular data, segment it based on that, and draw out any trend therein to build a case for marketing strategy.

For instance, a digital marketer might use SQL to list all customers who have bought a certain product in the last six months. This could be useful for running email campaigns targeting those customers. SQL is also very useful in measuring the return of various marketing channels to allocate budgets better.

• Example: An e-marketing professional might utilize SQL to analyze CRM customer behaviour data to identify the highest value customer segments for a loyalty program or use their targeted advertising campaign.

What are the skills required for digital marketing?

The right set of skills can help you be at your best in digital marketing. Backed by an in-depth analysis of more than 32,000 job postings in digital marketing, we bring to you an exhaustive list of the most sought-after job skills that the employer wants. 

These are not just mere job requirements but what different companies are actually looking for, and this will give you a good idea of which kind of skills will bring you success. The top skills one needs include:

1. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

SEO is all about optimizing websites to top the search lists of the leading search engines like Google. It comprises the right keyword usage, optimization of on-page elements like meta tags and headers, and even link building for better visibility. 

Understanding SEO enables a digital marketer to attract more organic flow towards websites by properly understanding how search engines work and people search online.

2. Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a tool that highlights how people come across a website, how long they stick, which pages they go to, and what they do there. By setting up and understanding Google Analytics, one can gain insight into what works and what doesn’t, and where the efforts should be put in.

3. Web Analytics

Web analytics involves more than just Google Analytics; other tools in this category include Adobe Analytics and Hotjar. It is the collection and analysis of data in terms of understanding user behavior on websites, website performance, and conversion rates. It emphasizes better decision-making that marketers make for improvements on the website and strategies of campaigns.

4. Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing involves brand and product promotions on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok. Usage of this skill involves creating engaging content, setting up and managing social media profiles, running paid advertisements, and analyzing engagements. Great social media marketers know exactly what to do during audience building, engagement ramp-up, and driving traffic from social platforms.

5. SEM (Search Engine Marketing)

SEM is the placing of advertisements on search engines, such as Google and Bing. This is everything from skill in keyword research through to economical bidding to proper ad copywriting and testing what ad will work. SEM helps businesses achieve their customers promptly who are actually searching out a related product or service.

6. Google Ads

A big part of SEM, Google Ads, was previously called Google AdWords. It deals with ad creation and management that appears on the result pages of Google, together with its network of partner websites. The skills included in Google Ads include creating a campaign, managing budgets, selecting the appropriate keywords, and optimizations of ads for better performance and cost efficiency.

7. Campaign Management

Campaign management is the planning, execution, and control of a marketing campaign over social media, email, and search engines, among other channels. It involves clear goal setting, budget management, team coordination, and result measurement to ensure that campaigns are running effectively in accordance with generally set marketing objectives.

8. Display Advertising

Display advertising refers to a form of visual advertisement that is delivered on the web, mobile apps, and social media. This can involve designing eye-catching banners, considering targeting options to reach the right audience, and optimization for better performance of the ad. Knowledge of display advertisements helps build brand awareness because of pictorial content exposed to users and helps in relevant traffic generation.

9. Email Marketing

It is about sending targeted messages to your audience in order to build relationships, nurture leads, and drive effective conversions. Some of the key skills here are writing compelling emails, segmenting your audiences, setting up automated flows of emails, and analyzing results. Common tools for managing the email campaign include Mailchimp, HubSpot, and ActiveCampaign.

10. Consulting

This would mean that the consulting skills related to the understanding of the client’s needs in digital marketing involve the analysis of strategy and recommendations. It requires highly developed communication, presentation, and problem-solving skills, all of which depend on one’s capabilities to interface with businesses in a provision of ways to strengthen marketing efforts and achieve their goals.

These skills are highly valued in digital marketing, with the power to make all the difference in running successful campaigns and eliciting business results. The development of expertise in these areas will open more opportunities and give you an advantage in the job market.

Is Python needed for digital marketing?

Python is not essential for digital marketing, but it can be beneficial in specific instances. For example:

• Automation: Python can automate repetitive tasks like email campaigns and social media posting, saving time and effort.
• Data Analysis: It helps analyze customer data to improve targeting and campaign performance.
• SEO Optimization: Python scripts can identify SEO issues, like broken links or missing meta tags, enhancing website visibility

How we trained thousands of digital marketers with our courses (and they don’t needed coding knowledge)

At GrowthAcad, we have successfully trained over 10,120 digital marketers through its comprehensive courses, which do not require coding knowledge. 

The curriculum includes practical digital marketing projects, hands-on training, and modules on SEO, content marketing, and social media strategies. 

Students receive globally recognized certifications and placement assistance, with many securing internships and jobs at top companies like Accenture and Disney Hotstar.

Here’s some of our modules from the digital marketing course syllabus:

Module Number	Module Title
Module 1	Introduction to Digital Marketing
Module 2	Generative AI in Digital Marketing (New)
Module 3	AI-driven Search Engine Optimization (SEO) (Updated)
Module 4	Search Engine Marketing
Module 5	Social Media Marketing
Module 6	Web Analytics
Module 7	Google Tag Manager (GTM)
Module 8	Introduction to Google Display Network
Module 9	Video Advertising
Module 10	E-Commerce Marketing
Module 11	Mobile Marketing
Module 12	App Store Optimization (ASO)
Module 13	Content Marketing & Blogging
Module 14	Online Reputation Management (ORM)
Module 15	Affiliate Marketing
Module 16	Email Marketing
Module 17	Influencer Marketing
Module 18	Marketing & Sales Automation
Module 19	Growth Hacking
Module 20	Fundamentals of AI for Marketing
Module 21	Fundamentals of Data Science
Module 22	Fundamentals of Data Analytics
Module 23	WordPress
Module 24	LinkedIn Optimization
Module 25	Resume/CV Building
Module 26	Interview Preparation

👉 Join our classroom digital marketing program in Pune and Nagpur.

Bottom line: You don’t have to code to be great at digital marketing

Skills like SEO, social media strategy, data analysis, and creating engaging content matter most. 

Focus on mastering these, and you’ll be well on your way to driving impactful results and advancing your digital marketing career.