Web design or social media skills? Why you might need both

In today’s digital world, businesses live and die by their online presence. But when you’re looking to upskill, you might be wondering: should I focus on a social media marketing course or a web design course?

The truth is that these skills work best together. Combining both disciplines can help you build a powerful digital toolkit.

Why social media skills are in demand

If you’ve ever searched for a social media course online, you’ll know how popular these programmes are. Businesses rely on social media platforms for everything from customer engagement to direct sales and that’s why employers value these skills.

A social media strategy course or will typically teach you to:

• Create and schedule content across multiple platforms
• Develop campaigns that match business goals
• Track engagement and measure ROI with analytics tools

But while social media brings people to a brand, you still need a central hub to convert interest into action – and that’s where web design comes in.

Why web design skills matter

Websites remain the backbone of digital marketing. Even if your TikTok or Instagram posts reach thousands of people, your website is where sales, sign-ups and serious brand interaction typically happen.

Web design courses give you the ability to:

• Build professional, responsive websites
• Ensure brand consistency across platforms
• Optimise pages for conversions and SEO

For learners already considering a course in social media marketing, adding web design to your training can make you more versatile and employable.

Social media vs web design: which should you choose?

So, should you put your time into a social media course or a web design course? Here’s a quick comparison:

• Social media skills are perfect if you love trends, communication and creativity.
• Web design skills are ideal if you enjoy building, coding and design.

But the truth is, modern businesses rarely separate the two. A strong campaign often starts with a social media strategy course and ends with a landing page that converts, designed by someone who knows web design.

That’s why hybrid training, like Netcom’s Social Media & Web Design course, offers the best of both worlds.

Why combining social media and web design is the smart move

Employers don’t just want specialists anymore, they want adaptable, multi-skilled professionals. By combining social media and web design, you’ll be able to:

• Run complete digital campaigns from start to finish.
• Create social posts that drive traffic to websites you’ve designed yourself.
• Maintain consistency across platforms, giving brands a stronger identity.

For example, completing a social media course might teach you how to generate leads, while web design skills ensure that the pages you send those leads to are professional, persuasive and functional.

Career paths that open up with both skills

If you master both social media and web design, you’ll be ready for a wide range of digital roles. These could include:

• Social Media Manager – planning and running campaigns
• Web Designer – building branded websites
• Digital Marketing Executive – combining content, ads and design
• Freelance Creative – offering clients a full package of services

The demand for professionals who understand both platforms is rising, especially for small businesses who need one person to handle multiple aspects of their digital presence.

Final thoughts

Choosing between social media marketing courses and web design courses doesn’t have to be an either/or decision. In fact, the most successful digital marketing professionals are those who can bridge both worlds.

That’s why Netcom Training created the Social Media & Web Design course – a programme designed to give you the full skillset you need to thrive in today’s digital world.

Alternatively, if you’re looking to earn while you learn, check out the range of marketing apprenticeships available at our sister brands: Apprentify and The Juice Academy.