WHAT IS DIGITAL MARKETING? A COMPLETE BEGINNERS GUIDE
What is Digital Marketing? A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Digital Marketing.
Hello and welcome! Are you interested in digital marketing? Maybe you have a business and want to reach people online or maybe you’re just now dipping your toes into the internet marketing field. Regardless, you’re in the right place! This beginner’s guide will discuss what digital marketing is, the different types of digital marketing, and even more importantly, help you with an easy step-by-step guide to get started.
So, what is digital marketing?
Digital marketing is the activity of promoting a brand, product, or service from digital platforms and channels like social media, websites, e-mail, and search engines. It is the use of digital media and marketing strategies to create, communicate, and deliver value to customers. Digital marketing is simply word-of-mouth marketing in the 21st century. Instead of saying something to our neighbour in a whispered voice, we are now shouting it to our online “neighbours” (our target customers) all over the world!
Types of Digital Marketing;
Let’s dive into the different types of digital marketing. Don’t worry, we’ll keep it simple and fun!
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO):Think of it like this You have a lemonade booth but you’re not on a street corner, you’re on the internet. SEO is like advertising your lemonade booth with a giant billboard to internet users that are seeking lemonade. It is important to maximize SEO of your website content, so your website’s SEO ranking is improved on the search engine results pages (SERPs) and organic traffic increases.
- Pay-Per-Click (PPC):Advertising PPC is like renting a billboard on a busy highway. You get to create an ad and then pay a fee every time someone clicks the ad. This is way to get a ton of traffic to your site very quickly and in just one click reach your target audience.
- Social Media Marketing :Social media marketing is: It’s like throwing a party and inviting your friends and their friends to the party. You post content that they need to interact, you respond to their comments or questions, and all those people have created a community around your lemonade brand. Another way to engage with your target audience, and build brand awareness.
- Content Marketing :Content marketing can be compared to giving a recipe for your famous chocolate cake. You provide valuable, relevant and consistent content in order to get them to not only attract them and keep them coming back from a clearly defined target audience. It is all about providing value and building trust with your target audience.
- Email Marketing: Email marketing can also be compared to sending a letter to your best friend. You write the message and send it to your email subscribers, you then nurture them throughout the sales funnel. It is such an effective way to build relationships with them along with converting them.
- Influencer Marketing: Influencer marketing can be compared to working with a celebrity chef to help you sell your new kitchen gadget. You are working with an influencer that has a large following on social media or blogs to promote your products or services.
- Affiliate Marketing: Affiliate marketing can be compared to having an army of sales people who promote your products and earn a commission. You find affiliates who will promote your products and services in exchange for a commission.
Advantages of Digital Marketing:
So, you’re wondering why you should take any interest in digital marketing? Consider the following benefits that will leave you slapping your thigh for joy.
– Global Reach: Digital marketing allows you to reach a global audience as it is all about internet marketing. Just imagine the feeling, you go online and customers all over the globe want to knock down your front door!
– Results: Digital marketing allows you to measure the effectiveness of your campaigns and strategies with metrics that tell you exactly how they are performing and your ROI. You can also pivot and adjust in real-time.
– Cost: Digital marketing is probably cheaper than traditional marketing techniques. You will be able to eliminate an audience for little to no cost.
– Flexibility: Digital marketing allows you the flexibility to change, pivot and adjust your campaigns or strategies almost immediately.
– Personalization: Digital marketing allows you to personalize your message and offer based on specific audiences. You will get the audience connected directly to their needs and preferences.
Beginning Digital Marketing , as you know the basics, it’s time to dive in!
- Identify your goals: What do you want to accomplish? Is it more traffic to your website? Getting leads? Increasing sales? The process usually begins with goal-setting and any good goals should be clear, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (otherwise known as SMART goals).
- Identify your audience: Who is your ideal customer? What are their pain points, interests, and behaviours? Do you even know your audience? Understanding your audience is key to developing content that is suited to them. It makes easier to plan marketing strategies.
- Identify your platforms: What digital marketing platforms are appropriate for your goals and your audience? Don’t be concerned about trying to be everything to everyone, that can get overwhelming pretty fast! I would recommend choosing a few platforms and doing them well.
- Create value-based content: You need to create content that is valuable to your target audience. It may be blog posts, video, social posts, or email newsletters, but you just want to ensure that wherever you share your value is quality, relevant, engaging and valuable.
- Measure and Optimize: Track your results and adjust your strategies accordingly. Use analytics tools to measure your performance and make data-driven decisions.
Digital marketing is now required, not optional. It does not matter whether you are a business owner, freelancer, or someone looking to learn about the online world; digital marketing will help you reach more people globally, develop your business increase your audience, or even help you build your online presence and which makes you a digital marketing expert.
You do not have to embark on the digital marketing journey at an advanced level. Start simple, find your feet and build your consistency and choose your growth strategies. Anyone, even absolute beginners, can learn to do digital marketing. The best part is that possibilities are endless for you.