HTML: Everyone Should Learn Basic Coding

Author: Evan Cloutier

After taking notes and spending four hours out of the estimated nine hours (it takes to complete) on Codecademy's Learn HTML course, I realize now that coding is such a beneficial skill for a plethora of individuals to understand and have a at least minimal understanding and appreciation of. Below is a screenshot of my progress in the HTML course so far:

This blog will dive into and explain why it's beneficial for digital marketers to have some knowledge of how to code and the benefits of having the said skill.

Why Should Digital Marketers Know How to Code?

Before working on and exploring the subject of coding through codecademy I didn't quite understand how coding can be beneficial to me in the framework of digital marketing. First and foremost, if you're an expert in coding, website, and content creation, what you can do to brand, position, and gain awareness for yourself as a hardworking professional in your desired field of interest within marketing or what ever your passion you're pursuing is only as limited as your desire to make your self succeed. With an expert ability in the three related abilities mentioned above, you can create the ability to get attention by businesses in the field you desire through creating a website branding yourself, your expertise, and other past pieces (such as blogs, videos, screenshots of you coding and creating your website) which business can then see and think "How do I get this person working for me?" Then BOOM! you're working and doing what you love. However, you might be saying "I have no knowledge of coding at all." That's nothing to worry about though, That was the case for me too before working on some of Codecademy's HTML coding introduction course. If you can demonstrate as a marketer, that you have a novice proficiency in coding, it can signal to potential hiring companies that you're willing to learn and increase the said proficiency level and be an asset to you and your company. While I still have a ways to go in completing Codecademy's introduction course and improving my knowledge revolving coding, the one thing I do know, is that it's a tool and skill that can create many opportunities for yourself if you're seeking to create a structured website with content to professionally brand yourself to future businesses you wish to work with or at. Additionally, possessing some knowledge of coding can allow you to weave code into your content you create to structure and optimize it for your target audience's viewing experience.

The coding language I got introduced to via Codecademy's intro to HTML course was... you guessed it, HTML or Hyper Text Markup Language. It is the coding language that structures and serves as the foundation of all webpages we as individuals interact with. HTML allows for individuals and businesses to configure and structure their website for the various forms of content they wish to place on the said website. In HTML, the code is comprised of elements which, the best way I can describe them are as individual pieces of code and text that construct the element which signals an action to be taken to structure your website in the desired fashion you choose. Below are some screenshots from the time I spent in the introduction to HTML course from Codecademy.

HTML, WordPress, and Squarespace

After my time learning some fundamentals of HTML, I went to Squarespace and WordPress. Both of the two linked sites are website creation and editing software. I previously had no background in using either of the website creation software but am interested in creating and optimizing a website for myself in the future. Where these are similar are in the fact that HTML, Squarespace, and WordPress allow for you to create a website and structure your content in your desired manner to optimize the user experience for your target audience. With all three you can upload images, links, videos, informative text, and more to structure and create your website. However, where HTML, Squarespace, and WordPress differ, are in how you use them.

What I mean by that is, with HTML, you're manually entering elements comprised of your respective opening tag, your content, and then a closing tag. You add elements until you have your website structured to how you desired. By doing so, your website will have it's needed content and can be used to attract individuals to gain awareness, impressions, and exposure to your site. Where as with Squarespace and WordPress, they're a subscription based service that allows you to select templates to create a webpage with images, text, videos, links to your social media, past projects, and other webpage elements. Additionally, Squarespace and WordPress are more easy to navigate as to constructing a website through HTML. I say this because, the template allows you to modify the existing structure of the template and shape it to meet your website needs faster than you would have to if you were to code and structure your site via HTML. Below are some screenshots of Squarespace and Word Press:

WordPress allows you to select needed features for your website such as places for video content, image content, as well as plugins for integrating your other social media platforms and accounts with your website

Squarespace takes into account your business's or your website's goals to offer the best templates to give users a confident start in their website creation process.

Coding is no easy subject to just dive into, but it is interesting and very useful for creating opportunities for yourself in the future whether its for personal creation or for an organization and optimizing their site. Regardless, through having a baseline knowledge of coding languages such as HTML, you can position yourself as an asset to any future employer.