A Comprehensive Overview Of Digital Marketing
Digital marketing is any form of marketing that is done online. It includes PPC advertising, email campaigns, SEO, online reputation management, social media, lead generation, and more. These could all be considered tactics underneath the very broad umbrella of “digital marketing”.
There are many ways to use digital marketing to reach a target audience. You can run an integrated marketing campaign; i.e. a campaign that spreads the exact same message using a variety of online marketing strategies. Alternatively, you can use different channels to reach different target audiences. For instance, a company selling children’s clothes may use Pinterest to reach mothers who are interested in brand name clothing while using Groupon to reach out to parents who are looking for bargain prices.
Unfortunately, the majority of companies are not using digital marketing to its fullest potential. If you want more from your inbound marketing campaign, consider the following options.
SEO
Search engine optimization means creating a site that will earn a good rank in Google. It includes multiple strategies such as keyword selection, link building and mobile optimization and content marketing.
Content marketing is one of the most important parts of SEO. Creating high quality content regularly gives Google more pages to search for on your site. This increases the odds of getting a good rank for one or more pages. Furthermore, good content has the potential to go viral on social media. Creating content that others will like and share increases the number of inbound links to your site. It also tells Google that you are an authority in your field. Modern day SEO is a bit like PR.
Social Media Marketing
The first step in successful social media marketing is to set up official social media channels for your company. There are many social networks you can use but the most important ones are YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Google +. Companies that want a highly visual presence should have an Instagram and/or Pinterest account. LinkedIn is one of the best social media platforms for B2B companies and self-employed professionals.
There are many free marketing tactics you can use on social media. Creating viral content, hosting competitions and offering discount coupons and freebies are all good ways to promote your business. You can also use social media to interact with your clients. Tapping into others’ ideas and suggestions can boost your business both online and offline.
Another option is pay for ad space on social media to target your potential customers. Facebook ads are perhaps the best-known form of paid advertising on social media, but companies can also buy ad space on Pinterest and Instagram.
Video Marketing
Making videos is one of the best ways for any business to acquire new customers. There is no doubt in this statement. For most people, watching videos is easier than reading articles. In a quick marketing video, you can fit a lot of data. If you are doing everything right, your website visitors will enjoy their stay.
The second largest search engine in the world is YouTube. People from different countries are using it every day. Creating a professional YouTube channel is a great way to develop a brand.
Your videos can cover many different things. You can have demo videos which showcase specific products. Or you can focus on advertising the brand. The videos can also cover different events, interviews, guides, or live streams. Adding animations is a great way to impress your clients.
Online Presence Management
It is wise to keep track of what people are saying about your company online. You need to address negative reviews in a timely manner by either refusing false information or apologizing for your mistakes. You also need to make sure your company information is up to date at all times (to read more visit our online presence mgmt. service page).
However, online presence management isn’t just about defending yourself from negative or false remarks. It is also about keeping tabs on what your customers want and need. Online presence management can help you see what people like best about your business, products and/or services. It also helps you to see who is interested in what you have to offer.
PPC Advertising
PPC advertising can be well worth the cost but only if you do it right. You will need to choose keywords that are not only closely related to your business but are also not too competitive. You will need to target your campaign so that it reaches your audience at the time when they are most likely to be online. You will also need to keep track of your PPC marketing progress as time go on. If you do careful research before and during your marketing campaign, the odds are your advertising will be well worth the expense.
PPC advertising is particularly ideal if you are starting a new business. It gets your company name on the first page of search engine results so people can find you easily. It generates traffic and sales which, in turn generate links, social media mentions and positive reviews. Once your business is off to a successful start, you don’t necessarily need to keep using PPC ads. However, you may want to consider them if you are launching a new product or service.
In Summary
While not all digital marketing tactics will achieve the same result, they will work in any industry (including niche specific industries such as marketing for cosmetic surgeons) it just depends on what your business target is. Using the internet to market your business is not only cheaper but far more effective than using offline advertising tactics. You can tailor your online marketing campaigns to reach certain groups of people. Additionally, the content (to read more content on marketing visit our marketing blog) you publish online never goes away. Even old content can generate traffic and sales both now and in the future.
It will take time and a lot of hard work to successfully market a business online. The job is never done because company owners need to keep an eye on trends and business stats and adjust the company’s internet marketing strategy accordingly. However, the benefits of online marketing make the time and effort worth it. What is more, it is never too late to start. Any business in any industry can benefit from using both free and paid forms of digital marketing to reach their target audiences.