Following the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, you may have found yourself looking for new ways to market your business. During this search, you may have come across digital marketing.
But what’s all the fuss about? Is digital marketing a realistic option for your business? Why is it important?
With these questions in mind, I’ve decided to put together a ‘Beginner’s Guide to Digital Marketing’ in order to help clear things up for you.
First off, what is Digital Marketing exactly?
In a nutshell, digital marketing involves using online methods to promote the benefits of working with your business or using your products and services.
The internet has become an integral part of everyday life, from conducting searches and checking social media, to purchasing products online, and if your business doesn’t have some sort of an online presence, you could be missing out financially.
Have a look at my guide to getting your local business online by clicking here.
Traditional Marketing or Digital Marketing – What’s best for your business?
In contrast to more traditional marketing techniques such as direct advertising on television, radio, or in newspapers, digital marketing allows remote – but completely authentic – real time connections that help to build loyalty with your target audience or customer online.
The sending of email newsletters, website blogging, as well as connecting on social media networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter, all fall into this broad online marketing space.
One of the most important differences between digital marketing and other forms of more traditional marketing and advertising, is that you’re also able to offer targeted advertising (Google Ads, Facebook Ads, etc.) directly to your potential customers, exactly where they already are – online.
Have a look at my guide to the ‘Future of your Business’ by clicking here.
What do Digital Marketing companies do?
Digital marketing companies can help you with a range of online services including:
- Website design
- Website search engine (SEO)
- Content creation and optimisation
- Content curation
- Search engine marketing (SEM)
- Social media profile creation and management
- Social media marketing (SMM)
- Creation and targeted placement of ‘Pay-per-click’ (PPC) online ads
- Cross-platform marketing
- Email marketing
- Online branding and brand awareness campaigns
- Reporting the return on investment (ROI) of digital strategies and tactics through detailed analytics
Still not convinced?
Here are just a few direct benefits of working with a Digital Marketing company:
- Focus On Running Your Business
If you run a busy business, you may not have the time to focus on creating social media content, develop online advertisements, or improve your Google search rankings. As experts in the field, digital marketers can provide as little, or as much social media and digital marketing support as you need, allowing you to focus on what you’re already good at – running your business.
- Cost savings
Digital marketing is considerably less expensive than traditional advertising – think YouTube instead of TV, blogs instead of magazines, social media instead of printed leaflets, and podcasts instead of radio.
Digital marketing is cost-effective for business because you can continually evaluate both how and if it’s actually working as you need it to. Constant measuring of the ROI of your campaigns helps you to re-work strategies and focus resources on the right projects – the ones that achieve your business goals.
- Brand recognition
Brand awareness and recognition is important because it is the very first step in the marketing funnel – the so-called ‘buyer’s journey’ – and a crucial foundation to eventually obtain customers. Results have shown that consistent branding across multiple channels online can directly increase your revenue by up to 23%.
Brand recognition and awareness campaigns through a dedicated social media strategy is an important part of online digital marketing. It is also one of the top marketing goals of businesses today, as consumers want to buy or work with brands they can easily recognise.
Would you like to know more?
As a profession digital marketer, I have supported countless SMEs in growing their businesses online, helping them to improve their online and social media profiles, and enhancing their digital brand awareness.
My clients come from a variety of industries including tourism, retail, construction, photography, property management, professional services, interior design, office supplies, security and the trades.
So, if you’d like to know more about how digital marketing can increase your business revenue, simply get in touch with me now by clicking on this link and sending me a quick message.