Are you a small business struggling to understand what is digital marketing and how to have a digital marketing strategy for your business?
What is Digital Marketing
Click to download my 53-page digital marketing planner
Well, it is really quite simple. Digital Marketing consists of the following:
- Search Engine Optimization
- Social Media Marketing
- Online Advertising
- Content Marketing
- Email Marketing
- Mobile Marketing
- Affiliate Marketing
In other words, all of the marketing your business does online as opposed to more traditional methods, such as print advertising, publicity, trade shows and so forth. I will review each strategy here, but I also recommend downloading my Digital Marketing Planner, which helps you easily plan and strategize each area.
Search Engine Optimization
Search Engine Optimization or SEO is all about ensuring that your small business is found when people search on Google and other search engines, which now includes AI (see my post, How to Optimize Your Business for AI Search). This likely involves your business website, so if you do not have a business website, you have to set one up. Think of it like an online business card, but it is the only way Google and other search engines will find you. From keywording your url to your site’s title tag, meta descriptions, individual pages, and images, it is very easy to optimize to drive more local and national traffic.
Social Media Marketing
There are many social media sites now, from Facebook and Twitter to Instagram and Tiktok. You do not to be on all of them, only the ones where the audience demographic is relevant to your business. For example, if your target buyer is in their early 20s, TikTok might be your best bet. If it is older, than Facebook could be a better option. But it is not simply about posting your products and services. Social media marketing is all about engaging by posting content your target buyer cares about. From there, they learn more about you and your business, but indirectly. You might want to read my post: Which Social Media Sites Are Right for Your Target Market
Online Advertising
Online advertising is exactly what it sounds. You place an ad for your business on a website or use a service like Google ads and when people click on it, you get charged. It can be expensive with rates varying from .20 cents a click to $5 a click, depending on the popularity of the keywords you are choosing.
Content Marketing
Content marketing is exactly what I am doing here. I am writing a blog post on a topic that my target market cares about hoping that, as a result, they learn more about my business services. Throughout this article you will see that I include links to my products, my services, as well as other posts I have written. The goal was to write a post based on a top search headline, again, focusing on what my target market is searching. Therefore, you do not need a standalone blog, simply add a blog component to your website and get the same results. For inspiration, read my post: Engaging Blog Post Ideas for January.
Email Marketing
On your website, you definitely have to have an “opt-in” email sign up. Typically you offer an incentive, such as “Get 20% off your first order when you sign up for our email list. But once you build this list of potential customers, you can email them once a month or once a week with special offers, new product announcements or additional blog posts. It is a great way to stay in contact and get future and repeat business. Here is a good example I wrote about for email marketing that any business can do: My Super Easy Email Marketing Idea
Mobile Marketing
Mobile marketing is very similar to email marketing in that you get people to sign up with their phone number as opposed to their email number. Then you text them, again once a month or once a week with special offers and new product announcements. However, unlike email marketing, these texts will cost you money.
Affiliate Marketing
The last part of any digital marketing strategy is affiliate marketing. This is where you give people an incentive to include links to your website on their websites, blogs, or social media pages. You pay them for these clicks. It is essential another form of digital advertising but on a one on one basis.
Why You Need a Digital Marketing Strategy
Now, I am definitely a traditional marketer, but I do believe your business will not be successful without also including a digital marketing strategy. You do not have to do all of these components. Affiliate marketing, for one, can be difficult to set up and manage. Social media also does not always have a great conversion rate. But if you could only do one, it would have to be search engine optimization. Online search is still the number one way people find small business products and services.
More Digital Marketing Resources
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