Education doesn’t come cheap and investing in it can be a big decision. It’s not only the money, it's also the conflict it can have with your professional and personal life and the demands that it makes on your time. Nevertheless, if you want to stay ahead of your game, especially in eMarketing, making sure you have the necessary skills is critical to your career success.

1. Choose the best course available to you

There are a lot of training providers out there, all promising to lead you on the path to eMarketing enlightenment. I can’t tell you which course to choose (and if I could, I would shamelessly punt ours!) but I can tell you that there are a number of things you should look for from your training provider.

Cost can often be a factor in your decision and while the most expensive course is not necessarily the best one, you need to regard your education as an investment. As far as possible, try to avoid making a decision based on cost alone.

It’s important that you do some research into the courses you are considering, the organisations offering them and the content that will be covered. Ensure that you complete the course with a reputable company – this is not only for your own security but to ensure that your qualification is worth something in the industry. I would also recommend hunting down some past students and fishing for some honest reviews of their experience.

Finally, I would have a look through the content that the training organisation produces. Is it used in other courses or institutions? Did they originally write it? All of these factors can help you choose a course run by the people who will not only give you a great learning experience, but will ensure that you get what you came for – a holistic eMarketing education.

2. Manage your stress better

Choosing a great course is all very well and while you’re probably excited about dipping your feet into the learning pool again, corporate education will be different to university. For one thing, there will (hopefully) be far fewer illegal substances and you’re likely to have shed the perpetual hangover. More importantly, it’s probable that you’re more committed to other aspects of your life, making your time that much more stretched. If you want to come out of this without having a nervous breakdown, it’s important to keep things in perspective and even more important to manage your stress. Take up yoga, go for a walk on the beach once a week or do whatever it is that helps you relax. It’ll make you more focused and ensure that you get more out of what you’re learning while keeping your boss, your partner and your dog happy.

3. Get the most out of your assignments

The crucial differences between self-study and taking a formal course are two-fold. Firstly, you have access to experts who for the most part, are there to support you in your journey of learning and will willingly answer your questions, even if they are stupid (the question, that is). The other thing is that you have the opportunity to put your learning into practice in a safe environment where you will get feedback on what you’ve done. This practical application will make all the difference to your level of confidence, as well as to ensure that you know what areas you need to focus on a little more and which you have aced. 

4. Make sure your work is your own

On the website, Plaigerism.org, I read about surveys that showed that “54% of students admitted to plagiarizing from the internet; 74% of students admitted that at least once during the past school year they had engaged in "serious" cheating; and 47% of students believe their teachers sometimes choose to ignore students who are cheating.” In my experience, adult education is no different and plagiarism is always a concern. The fact is, you’re cheating yourself. (Yes, it’s a cliché for a good reason). Dishonesty is an indication either that you are unable to do the work yourself or that you are too lazy to do it. If the former is true, knuckling down or asking your convener for some extra tuition, reading or additional assignments will ensure that you get up to speed. If the latter is true, ask yourself why you are bothering in the first place. Paying money to waste the opportunity to educate yourself seems marginally insane. So, don’t copy off the Internet, cite your sources and make sure that your work is your own.

5. Stay up to date

The thing about eMarketing is that while many of the basics stay the same, things change pretty quickly. A course can give you the tools to become an eMarketing professional and can equip you with a significant amount of knowledge. That said, once the course is over, you will need to make an effort to stay current and to ensure that you know about the latest trends and developments in your business area. This will ensure that whether you’re marketing your own business, marketing someone else’s business or working in an agency, that you are doing the job well – something which inevitably pays off.

Good luck with your learning!

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