In September 2015, I gained an Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing (IDM) Professional Diploma in Direct and Digital Marketing. The following year in 2016, I gained my Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Marketing, helping me develop critical strategic marketing ability.
After beginning the course in November 2014 with the first of two intensive three day sessions in Teddington, home of the IDM, I studied for this qualification during evenings and weekends, completing two pieces of coursework over the winter and two examinations during the summer.
I was excited to gain this qualification as a demonstration of my ability and commitment to marketing. Although I’m happy with this qualification, I know that the real hard work starts here and I need to build on this every day. That’s where the IDM’s continuing development programme will really help. Not only does the IDM help you to gain a world recognised qualification, they take care of you once you’ve graduated by ensuring that your skills remain relevant. They provide a programme and exclusive resources to ensure you make the best of your qualification.
Internationally Recognised Lecturers
Lecturers at the IDM are marketing professionals themselves. They are internationally recognised as industry leaders with vast experience gained across the globe working for the most recognised names and running their own agencies. My course tutor was Mike Berry Dip DM, F IDM who has experience with organisations such as Procter & Gamble, JP Morgan and Deloitte. As well as being a course leader and Adjunct Professor at Imperial College and Hult International Business School respectively. Mike gave instruction and debrief regarding examinations and assignments as well as giving in depth instruction on the modules What is Direct & Digital Marketing?, Planning, Forecasting and Measurement, Understanding Digital Media, Campaign Planning and Implementation and Understanding Digital Media (in part alongside Nick Watt).
Other lecturers and modules included:
- Martin Chilcott– Offline Aquisition and Integrated Marketing Communications & Customer Engagement, Activation and Retention
- Professor Merlin Stone– Gaining Customer Insight and Personalisation
- Nick Watt (alongside Mike Berry) – Understanding Digital Media
- Steve Harrison– Creative Strategy and On and Offline Implementation
- Jill Quick– Testing and Research
- Lesley Tadgell-Foster – Privacy
Marketing Degree
The Professional Diploma in Direct and Digital Marketing offers degree level qualification. The IDM’s marketing diploma offered a variety of study options for the course including afternoon/evening classes that run once a fortnight over the course of 15 weeks in Marble Arch, London, 6x single day release sessions and 2x three day intensive sessions.
Face-to-face Learning
I opted for two sets of three days studying intensively at the IDM’s Teddington head quarters because I felt it was important to have a personal, face-to-face relationship with lecturers and fellow students. Different people learn in different ways and for me, the day release sessions were impractical and I felt that an online option which I could have taken wouldn’t work well for me.
The IDM also offer a corporate training package which involves them delivering fully customised training to your organisation in-house.
Now, I can now use the honorific Dip IDM after his name and the IDM Graduate logo on my personal website, profile and stationery.
Professional Diploma Graduation Ceremony
I really looked forward to the graduation ceremony in November 2015. This impressive graduation ceremony held at London’s Royal Geographical Society was a great chance to enjoy the moment with fellow marketing professionals and celebrate with them afterwards.
To attain an Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing (IDM) qualification is “an achievement that can never be overstated and one of which [graduates] should be justifiably proud” states the IDM website. Marketing practitioners who attain the Professional Diploma in Direct and Digital Marketing qualification have gained recognition for their ability to execute, control and measure marketing campaigns.
Keynote speakers were Nick Hutton, marketing consultant and chair of the IDM examination board and James Elder, who founded Student Beans aged 22 with his brother. After ten successful years, James is now a frequent international speaker at conferences, schools and universities. Following the awards presentation, the IDM student response was provided by Tony Regan, PG Dip DigM, a strategic planning consultant.
Amid generous applause, graduates collected their certificates on stage from Nick Hutton where they could pose for a picture which was available at the end of the ceremony. It was a wonderful occasion in which marketing practitioners were awarded not only professional diplomas, but also IDM awards, professional certificates, and postgraduate diplomas. All walked proudly upon stage before their peers to celebrate their achievement. The main event was followed by an opportunity to network with other graduates which proved to be very popular. Marketers from the UK and beyond shared experiences and made contacts for the future.
I know that the real hard work starts here and I need to build on this every day. That’s where the IDM’s continuing development programme will really help. Not only do they help you to gain a world recognised qualification, they take care of you once you’ve graduated by ensuring that you remain relevant. They provide a programme and exclusive resources to ensure you make the best of your qualification.
Lecturers at the IDM are marketing professionals themselves. They are internationally recognised as industry leaders with vast experience gained across the globe working for the most recognised names and running their own agencies. My course tutor was Mike Berry Dip DM, F IDM who has experience with organisations such as Procter & Gamble, JP Morgan and Deloitte. As well as being a course leader and Adjunct Professor at Imperial College and Hult International Business School respectively. Mike gave instruction and debrief regarding examinations and assignments as well as giving in depth instruction on the modules What is Direct & Digital Marketing?, Planning, Forecasting and Measurement, Understanding Digital Media, Campaign Planning and Implementation and Understanding Digital Media (in part alongside Nick Watt).
Other lecturers and modules included:
- Martin Chilcott – Offline Aquisition and Integrated Marketing Communications & Customer Engagement, Activation and Retention
- Professor Merlin Stone – Gaining Customer Insight and Personalisation
- Nick Watt (alongside Mike Berry) – Understanding Digital Media
- Steve Harrison – Creative Strategy and On and Offline Implementation
- Jill Quick – Testing and Research
- Lesley Tadgell-Foster – Privacy
The Professional Diploma in Direct and Digital Marketing is equivalent to a degree level qualification and opens up a variety of career opportunities and study options for the course include afternoon/evening classes that run once a fortnight over the course of 15 weeks in Marble Arch, London, 6x single day release sessions and 2x three day intensive sessions.
I opted for two sets of three days studying intensively at the IDM’s Teddington head quarters because I felt it was important to have a personal, face-to-face relationship with lecturers and fellow students. Different people learn in different ways and for me, the day release sessions were impractical and I felt that an online option which I could have taken wouldn’t work well for me.
The IDM also offer a corporate training package which involves them delivering fully customised training to your organisation in-house.
Now, I can now use the honorific Dip IDM after his name and the IDM Graduate logo on my personal website, profile and stationery.
I’m now really looking forward to the graduation ceremony in November. It will be a great chance to enjoy the moment with fellow marketing professionals and celebrate with them afterwards.
Many graduates openly shared strong praise for the IDM and its qualifications. This year’s Postgraduate Diploma in Direct and Digital Marketing’s Top Student was Rachael Tout, PG Dip IDM. The founder of Brandbalm Marketing said “the course has been invaluable in guiding me to find new resources and networks, and stands me in good stead to grow my business.”
Improving Marketing Knowledge
For me, the graduation ceremony brings to a close a year of hard work and dedication which expanded my marketing knowledge immensely. Although most marketing practitioners are sent to the IDM by their employers who will allow them to gain the qualification as part of their employment, I was one of the exceptions. I was aware that there were gaps in my knowledge and wanted to improve, so I funded the course myself.
Following my graduation from the IDM, I was was a standout marketing manager candidate for IMI Plc, who hired me to work at their specialist valve manufacturer IMI Truflo Marine.
Like most other people who take this qualification will tell you, I learned a lot during my studies that I was able to apply to my job. The course taught both skills and a marketing mindset which really changed the way I think. I can now provide even better analysis of marketing strategies and am able to weigh up the benefits and drawbacks in relation to the desired outcomes more concisely than before.
Armed with proven knowledge of how to run campaigns from the beginning, setting targets and evaluating their progress, I will continue learning marketing techniques and working towards an IDM Continuing Development award. Using my knowledge to move into a consulting role, I help individuals and organisations plan and implement successful marketing campaigns.
Postgraduate Marketing Diploma
To level up even more, I decided to enrol in the postgraduate marketing diploma also run by the IDM and qualified in 2016. the depth of knowledge was much greater, expanding on mere tactics into marketing strategy.
Demonstrating a clear ability to design and implement marketing strategies that work, tracking and recording progress for reporting purposes.