Digital marketing is one of the most important aspects of running a successful business today. No matter what industry you’re in, if you want to stay competitive, you need to have a strong digital marketing strategy.
But what is digital marketing? And why is it so important?
In this article, we’re going to answer those questions and give you a quick guide in all things digital marketing. We’ll cover everything from the basics of it to the benefits of going digital. We’ll even touch on how to get started with digital marketing and what the most important components of a successful digital marketing strategy are.
So, What Is Digital Marketing?
Traditional marketing is a method of selling products and services to customers that were developed in the early 1900s. It involves using advertising, public relations, and direct mail to reach consumers. Digital marketing, on the other hand, is a newer form of marketing that uses technology to reach consumers.
Common Types of Digital Marketing
Search Engine Marketing (Pay-per-click)
This type of digital marketing usually being referred to as Paid Search Marketing or pay-per-click, in which businesses pay search engines to show their ads in search results. It is highly effective since it is only shown to users that search for keywords that the ads are targeting.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
This type of digital marketing usually being referred to as Search Engine Optimization (SEO). SEO is the process of improving the ranking of a website on search engines like Google, Bing or Yahoo! This can be done through things like keyword research, on-page optimization (including titles, meta descriptions, etc.), schemes, and link-building activities.
Social Media Marketing (Facebook, Twitter, Threads, TikTok, etc)
This type of digital marketing is used to build relationships with customers through social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Threads, TikTok, etc. These platforms allow businesses to create communities around their brands and connect with potential customers directly. Usually, social media platform also provides paid ad services to businesses.
Content Marketing (Blog)
Content marketing is the process of creating and distributing relevant and valuable content to attract, acquire, and engage a clearly defined and understood target audience – to drive profitable customer action. Being quite similar to Inbound Marketing, this type of online marketing allows generated content to be repurposed for multiple channels. The content marketing strategy is also prominently used for influencer marketing, and affiliate marketing and most digital marketer includes them in their marketing plan.
Email Marketing
An email marketing campaign is one of the oldest forms of digital marketing because it allows businesses to communicate with their customers through email addresses instead of phone numbers or websites. Email marketers can send out newsletters or engage with subscribers on a deeper level.
Digital marketing isn’t just for big companies anymore – small businesses need to be aware of these strategies too if they want to stay competitive! It is one of the best strategies for SMEs to reach their target audience.
The Benefits Of Digital Marketing
The internet is increasingly becoming the go-to source for consumers to find products and services. In fact, according to a study by GE Capital Retail Bank’s second annual Major Purchase Shopper Study, 81% of consumers will use the internet to research a product or service before making a purchase.
Additionally, digital marketing tactics can be more engaging than traditional ads, making capturing people’s attention easier.
For example, you could invest in digital ads (such as Google Ads), create a website, or build a social media presence. You can track and measure the results of your campaigns so that you know what’s working and what’s not. This is valuable information that can help you make informed decisions about future investments.
Finally, with the right tools and strategies, you can connect with potential customers from all corners of the globe. If you’re not online, you’re missing out on an incredible opportunity to reach new customers.
Why Your Business Needs Digital Marketing
With digital marketing, you can target specific demographics and reach them through various digital channels. This means that you don’t have to spend a large amount of money on advertising to get your message out there.
Additionally, digital marketing is more trackable than traditional marketing methods, so you know exactly where your messages are going and how they’re being received. This makes it easier to measure the success of your campaigns.
Use digital marketing to get quick results.
For example, if you are targeting potential customers who have shown an interest in your product or service, digital marketing can help to drive conversions from these customers significantly faster than traditional methods would.
In short, digital marketing is an important tool for businesses of all sizes – it just takes a little bit of effort to start using it effectively!
How To Get Started With Digital Marketing
Digital marketing encompasses a wide range of activities, including SEO, social media, PPC, email marketing, and more. While you may not need all of these activities for your business, getting started with even one or two can make a big difference in your online visibility and reach.
Here are 4 digital marketing efforts to get started with:
- Getting a website with your business domain name
- Setting up your business page on social media platforms
- Signup for Google Business Profile to be on Google Maps
- Collect emails with proper consent to email out newsletters or promotions
Why do we suggest these 4 things to start your digital marketing effort with?
They are being elaborated on and explained below, do have a look.
What Are The Most Important Components Of Digital Marketing?
A website is the most important component of digital marketing. Especially if it is with your company or brand domain name, then it will be very convincing and support the online presence that users can trust.
Additionally, if your website is with a country-level domain name that usually requires personal or business verification to register. That will boost your business online credibility more.
Without a website and brand domain name, you cannot do some of the other components of digital marketing. This includes SEO (search engine optimisation), Google Ads and email marketing.
SEO (search engine optimisation) is essential for making sure people can find your website. If your website isn’t well optimized, it will not show up in search results or ranked well.
To improve your SERP (Search Engine Results Pages) rankings, you need to have SEO-friendly content that is keyword rich and written engagingly. You also need to make sure that your WordPress site is updated regularly with new information with good looks and speed to rank high in search results and bring in more users from organic searches.
Making The Most Of Social Media Marketing For Your Business
Social media is an important part of marketing for any business, regardless of size. By using social media, you can reach a wider audience and build relationships with potential customers.
Additionally, social media can be used to promote your business in a more personalized way than traditional advertising.
Social media platforms are quite suitable for small businesses since they’re easier to use and manage. It is used widely, so anyone can easily start any digital marketing effort on social media. This also provides your businesses with a greater opportunity to connect with customers on a personal level. Which can lead to increased sales and a loyal customer base.
Businesses need to have a strong online presence. Not only does being active on social media make your business easier to find, but it also demonstrates that you take your online presence seriously. Make sure you always try to post some images, promotions, or just general relevant information about your business. You can also use social media platforms to share links to your website from other sites or posts on other social networks.
Using Google Business Profile To Reach Customers In Your Business Local Area
You need to be visible online as a small or medium business owner. One way to do this is to use Google Business Profile at Google Maps.
Google is the most popular search engine in the world, and as such, it’s a great way for customers to search for a business in their local area.
When you have your Google Business Profile properly set up, Google Search & Google Maps will show your business profile to customers nearby in that local area. It is very helpful also for letting customers check for your business information like address, phone number, website and opening hours.
Customers also can send a message to your business directly or call from their phone easily. Additionally, they can also directly set your business address as a destination and be on their way!
Therefore, it is very recommended that all business should have their business profile listed on Google. Especially if your business is in retail or foods and beverages.
Do Remember To Collect Emails For Marketing
Email may be around longer than we can remember, however it is still one of the core pillars of digital marketing efforts. We do recommend you put effort into collecting your website visitors, or customers’ email addresses with proper consent.
You can then load those emails into your CRM or Email Campaign software like MailChimp to send out newsletters, or any promotional offers. You can also send weekly, or monthly newsletters with information regarding your business. Even better if personalised emails like birthday promotions, special offers and giveaways drive more engagement to your website or even to your social media.
The more channel that your potential customer notices your business, the more likely they will check out what your business has to offer. They would even make your business as 1st choice to look for when they needed something.
To Conclude
Digital marketing is one of the most important aspects of running a successful business today. It’s essential to create a strong online presence and build relationships with your customers through effective digital marketing campaigns.
If you’re not already doing it, now is the time to get started. You can start by creating a website for your business. Make sure your website is optimized for search engines and includes all the key details potential customers need to know about your business.
Once your website is up and running, start implementing some of the other digital marketing strategies we’ve discussed in this post. Experiment with different tactics and see what works best for you. And don’t forget to measure the results of your campaigns so that you can adjust them as needed!
If you need help, contact us to help you get started on the right path.
