Just starting out and want to learn the basics of digital marketing for beginners? This step-by-step guide will give you practical knowledge you can start using today.
It seems that brands and individuals everywhere are positioning themselves as “digital marketing experts” Perhaps these advanced gurus are good for businesses that have been investing in digital marketing for years. But what if you are just learning the ropes of digital marketing?
This comprehensive guide gives you the guidance you need to get on the path to success – whether your business is online or you sell locally. Digital marketing does not have to be unnecessarily complicated. Once you have mastered the basics, you can venture into the really fancy tech tools and techniques that can take your business to the next level.
What are the basics of digital marketing?
Do not worry, no one expects you to know how to code a website, how to properly run ads on social media and how to fully optimise your Google ads when you are just diving into the world of digital marketing.
There are some basic tools you can use to get started that will give your business a solid foundation for future digital marketing efforts.
Digital marketing is the art and science of using digital resources to drive engagement and sales for your brand. Here are some of the key strategies you will learn on your digital marketing journey:
- Creating a website
- Building an email marketing list
- Optimising your website content for search
- Running Google or Bing display ads
- Reaching new audiences on social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat and more)
- Location-based targeting to attract the attention of local audiences
- This list is far from exhaustive, but it will give you an idea of the breadth of possibilities you have when you start digital marketing for your brand.
Is digital marketing easy?
It sounds like a trick question, but the answer is yes – and definitely not – at the same time. At its core, digital marketing is about connecting people with brands in a meaningful way. In theory, it should be quite simple. You create a website, add compelling content and maybe sell some products.
Your ideal customer finds your website, is wowed by your product images and descriptions, makes a purchase and becomes a lifelong customer.
Digital marketing is often a complex behind-the-scenes dance between marketers and tech gurus who create software and services that facilitate these connections and reduce friction along the customer journey.
While almost anyone can create a quick WordPress website and publish it with a little work, it takes a lot of time and finesse to optimise the content on the site, make sure the images catch the eye, the value proposition is compelling – and that you can attract visitors to your site.
All these activities together make up digital marketing.
What are the 6 types of digital marketing?
Purists may argue that there are many more types of digital marketing, but these four key components form the basis of any modern digital marketing strategy.
1. Content marketing
Search engines LOVE Content. They want content that is engaging, relevant to the searcher, frequently updated and enriching. Content marketing involves researching keywords, writing articles, improving the description of products and services on your website and creating educational content that makes your audience engage more deeply with your brand.
2. SEO (search engine optimisation)
There are tactics for onsite and offsite search engine optimisation, and good digital marketers work with both sides of the equation. On-site SEO is about making sure your website is developed correctly and provides the right framework for the search engines. Off-site SEO refers to any actions you take for your brand that take place outside of your main digital properties.
To know more about SEO read here
3. SMM (Social Media Marketing)
There are two main forms of social media marketing: paid and organic. Paid social media marketing includes the ads we all know and love, but also paid options to bring new fans to your page or brand.
Organic social media marketing is a little more elusive, but that’s also why it’s more fun to implement. You achieve organic reach when your brand educates or informs your audience and provides value to readers so they use and share the content you create.
This can be in the form of a purchase on your website after seeing a post, or the reader posts information about your brand either privately or publicly on their social profiles.
4. SEM (Search Engine Marketing) (Search Engine Marketing)
Last but not least, search engine marketing is what many consider conventional digital marketing. The Google or Bing search engines have advertisements, so when a person is looking for an answer to a specific inquiry, your sponsored ad pops up at the top of the search engine results page (SERP).
5. Paid Ads
Sponsored advertisements are a great method to reach a larger audience and increase traffic to your website. You may advertise across many platforms for less money than traditional advertising by employing strategies like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and other social media ad options.
Whatever ad type you select, you should employ captivating images or videos to grab viewers’ attention.
6. Email Marketing
Nowadays, email marketing is still very much alive and well, and it is still a very effective strategy for your digital marketing initiatives. The secret is to use your existing internet initiatives to produce more high-quality leads.
From there, send them personalised emails with high-quality material that appeals to their interests, desires, or requirements. This will encourage them to visit your website. Email lists are a marketing campaign’s most valuable asset. For better outcomes, make the most of them by tailoring your material to them. To read more on Digital marketing and use of CRM read here
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