How to Learn Digital Marketing

So you want to learn digital marketing — but everything feels overwhelming?

I get it.
If you’re just starting out, you’ve probably been consuming tons of blogs, videos, courses… and at some point, you feel more confused than informed.

Let’s simplify everything.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the core mindset, skills, and tools you need to learn digital marketing — on your own, at your own pace.

1. The Trio You Need: Mindset – Skills – Tools

Before diving into any field, I always ask myself: “How can I absorb this in a way that sticks?”

That’s where this trio comes in.
You don’t just need tactics. You need the right way of thinking, a solid skillset, and the right tools to execute.

Let’s break them down.

🧠 Mindset: How You See and Think

Your mindset is the invisible engine behind how you act, learn, and grow.
It shapes your:

• Perspective

• Decisions

• Response to challenges

In marketing, having the right mindset means understanding the why behind strategies — not just the surface-level how-tos.

Here are some foundational topics that shape a marketer’s mindset:

• The essence of marketing

• Market research & information systems

• The macro & micro environment

• Segmentation – Targeting – Positioning

• Consumer behavior

• The Marketing Mix (4Ps)

• Marketing planning & strategy

Yes, these sound theoretical. But they’re the compass behind every real marketing decision. Skipping this layer? You’ll always feel like you’re guessing.

🛠 Skills: What You Can Actually Do

Your skillset is your ability to apply what you know.
The sharper your skills, the more value you bring — to employers, clients, or your own business.

Here’s a breakdown of must-have marketing skills:

Soft Skills (essential at work):

• Creative thinking

• Research & analysis

• Active listening

• Clear communication

• Critical thinking

• Team collaboration

Technical Skills (craft you’ll use daily):

• Content writing

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

• Paid Advertising (Google/Facebook Ads)

• Email Marketing

• Social Media Marketing

You don’t need to master all of these at once. But the sooner you start practicing, the faster you grow.

🧰 Tools: Your Digital Weapon Kit

Tools help you apply your skills at scale.

They’re not just apps — they’re force multipliers. Think of them as a mix of:

• Platforms

• Software

• Frameworks

• Automation techniques

Here are a few common tools marketers use:

• Facebook Ads Manager

• Google Ads

• Ahrefs / SEMrush (SEO tools)

• Mailchimp / ConvertKit (Email marketing)

• HubSpot / Notion (CRM & productivity)

One key truth?

The deeper you go, the less the tool matters.
Because tools change. Skills and mindset evolve with you.

That’s why this framework is ordered like this:

Mindset → Skills → Tools

The bottom (tools) changes fast — Facebook’s ad interface updates, Google Analytics policies shift, platform algorithms get messy.

If you only chase tools, you’ll constantly play catch-up. But if you build your thinking, everything else becomes easier to adapt.

2. The Environments and Resources for Learning Digital Marketing

Knowing the essential elements — mindset, skills, and tools — is just the beginning.
To truly learn digital marketing on your own, you need to know where to start.

There are two main environments for self-learning:

• Offline (books, real-life events, observations)

• Online (courses, blogs, videos, communities — we’ll cover this in the next part)

Let’s start with the offline world.

2.1 Offline Learning: Classic, But Still Powerful

📚 Books

This is the most familiar channel for most of us.

Books may not give you the latest platform tricks or walkthroughs — but they provide something deeper: Foundational thinking and timeless marketing principles.

That said, not all books are created equal.

There’s a flood of marketing books out there — some gold, some… not so much.
If you’re not careful, you might end up learning outdated or misinformed concepts.

✅ Best practice? Ask people with experience to recommend what’s actually worth your time.

Here are a few classic marketing books to begin with:

• Principles of Marketing – by Philip Kotler & Gary Armstrong

• 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing – by Al Ries & Jack Trout

• Marketing 4.0 – by Philip Kotler

• Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind – by Al Ries & Jack Trout

• Buyology – by Martin Lindstrom

These books will sharpen your mindset and help you think like a real marketer.

🎤 Events & Meetups

Events offer two major benefits:

1. You get to learn from real experts — and hear perspectives you won’t find in books or online.

2. You can build relationships with fellow marketers, creators, and potential mentors.

Here are different types of offline events you might encounter:

➡️ Pro Tip: In Vietnam, check out UAN Vietnam — one of the most active communities for marketing professionals and students.

👀 Real-World Observation

Sometimes, the best marketing lessons are right in front of you — not in a book or video.

Pay attention to:

• Why you clicked a certain ad

• Why a brand’s packaging caught your eye

• How a coffee shop positioned their offer

• What copy made you sign up for that newsletter

Ask yourself:

“Why did this work?”
“How would I do it differently?”

By training your curiosity muscle, you start building a personal library of insights.
And the more mental data you collect, the faster and smarter you’ll work later on.

2.2 Online Learning: Where Most Self-Taught Marketers Start

The internet is your best friend when learning digital marketing.

And the best part?
You can start completely free.

Let’s break down the top learning channels and recommended resources based on your goals — whether you’re looking to read, watch, or take a course.

📚 Blogs: Your Free Marketing Library

When people want to share knowledge, they usually write it down — not film or record it.
That’s why blogs are everywhere — and why they’re still the fastest way to learn online.

In addition to personal blogs, many marketing companies run blogs full of insights and tutorials.

Here are some top blogs — grouped by topic — that I personally follow:

📰 Marketing News & Industry Insights

• AdWeek — Trends, case studies, and insights for marketers, advertisers, and creatives.

• AdAge — Daily news and updates for advertising professionals.

• Campaign Asia — Media, marketing, and advertising news in Asia-Pacific.

• Brands Vietnam — The go-to portal for marketing trends and brand stories in Vietnam.

• Advertising Vietnam — Community-driven news site for young marketers, especially those in agencies.

🔍 SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

• Google Search Central — Official guides to understanding how search works and SEO best practices.

• Search Engine Journal — Regular updates and deep-dives from top SEO experts.

• Ahrefs Blog — One of the best places to learn SEO in a practical, hands-on way.

• Semrush Blog — A broad mix of SEO, PPC, and content strategy articles.

• Yoast Blog — Great for learning content SEO, WordPress SEO, and technical basics.

• Backlinko — Long-form guides and strategies, especially good for SEO beginners.

📱 ASO (App Store Optimization)

• AppTweak Blog — Expert guides to help you rank higher and convert better in the App Store.

✍️ Content Marketing & Copywriting

• Content Marketing Institute — Deep resources for planning, writing, and distributing content.

• Copyblogger — Long-time favorite blog for copywriters and bloggers.

📣 Social Media Marketing

• Social Media Today — News and updates on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.

• Social Media Examiner — Strategy and tools to grow your brand using social.

• Hootsuite Blog — Actionable tips and insights for managing your social media presence.

• Buffer Blog — Thoughtful, well-researched posts on the latest social trends and tools.

💰 Paid Advertising (Google Ads, Facebook Ads)

• KlientBoost — In-depth tutorials on improving your ad performance and conversions.

• AdEspresso — Tactical guides to running better Facebook and Google Ads.

• Google Ads Blog — Official updates on products and tips from the Google team.

• Meta for Developers Blog — News and updates on Facebook’s advertising tools.

• Jon Loomer Blog — Advanced Facebook Ads strategies from one of the best in the game.

📩 Email Marketing

• SendGrid Blog — Everything you need to build better email campaigns.

• Litmus — Testing, design, and strategy guides for email pros.

• Campaign Monitor Blog — Tactics to improve open rates, deliverability, and engagement.

📊 Analytics & Conversion Optimization

• Supermetrics — Great tutorials on marketing data and analytics.

• Hotjar Blog — Learn how to improve user experience and boost conversions.

• Analytics Mania — Tutorials on Google Tag Manager, Google Analytics, and event tracking.

• CXL Blog — Top-tier content on A/B testing, CRO, and growth strategy.

🎥 Video: Learn by Watching

Some people learn best by watching and listening.
If that’s you, video is the perfect format — it’s fast, visual, and easy to absorb.

Here are some YouTube channels and video platforms I highly recommend:

• Marketing by Vijay — Simplifies marketing theory in an easy-to-understand way.

• HubSpot Marketing — HubSpot’s official channel, full of practical tutorials.

• Think with Google — Insightful talks and data from Google’s global marketing team.

• Ahrefs YouTube — Learn SEO and YouTube growth from real practitioners.

• Google Search Central YouTube — Updates and walkthroughs for SEO and site visibility.

💻 Online Courses: Learn from Structured Curriculums

If you prefer step-by-step lessons with video, quizzes, and certifications —
online courses are your best bet.

Here are some trusted platforms to explore:

• BrandCamp.vn — Offers free and paid courses on marketing and creativity (Vietnam-based, high-quality).

• Google Skillshop — Free training directly from Google on Ads, Analytics, and more.

• (Optional: Add platforms like Coursera, Udemy, or HubSpot Academy depending on your region)

3. Learn by Doing: Start Small, Build Real Skills

So, you’ve found trusted learning resources.
Now what?

What should you learn first?
Which skill should you start with?

Honestly — there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
And that’s okay.

You’ll have to face that uncertainty and make a personal decision based on your interests, strengths, and goals.

How to Choose What to Learn First

To make things easier, I recommend dividing digital marketing skills into two big stages of the customer journey:

📌 Stage 1: Acquisition (Attracting People)

These are skills to help you get traffic, clicks, or attention:

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

• Paid Ads (Facebook, Google, TikTok)

• Landing Page Design

• Copywriting

• Content Marketing

• Social Media Marketing

• Affiliate Marketing

• …and more.

📌 Stage 2: Retention (Keeping People Around)

These help you turn visitors into long-term fans or customers:

• Email Marketing

• Push Notifications

• Community Building

• …and more.

You can pick one from each group. Or just start with the one that excites you the most.
There’s no wrong answer — only your answer.

⚠️ But Here’s the Trap to Avoid…

A lot of beginners get stuck in the “learning loop.”
They read blogs, watch videos, take notes…

But they never actually do anything with it.

No action = no progress.
No experiments = no real learning.

💡 So, What Can You Do to Start Practicing?

Here are a few great ways to take action, even if you’re just starting out:

• Start a blog and write about what you’re learning

• Build a social media channel and share useful tips

• Join or start a small online community

• Try running a real Facebook or Google ad (with a small budget)

Each action teaches you something — much faster than just reading about it.

Take small, steady steps.
Don’t try to master everything at once — you’ll burn out fast.

If you want a free, low-risk way to learn, start a blog.
It’s a perfect playground to test content, SEO, email, and traffic strategies — all in one place.

🎯 Final Words

If you keep learning and testing, and don’t let yourself stay passive,
you will become a digital marketer — not just a reader of digital marketing blogs.

And who knows?

You might even become the kind of person companies trust to lead their marketing.