Digital marketing is hardly a new concept, but for many business owners it still looms in their imaginations as a daunting task. Maybe the unfamiliar terminology feels overwhelming, or the idea of “putting yourself out there” online seems scary. Sound familiar?
We get it. Any time we change or try something new, a bit of anxiety will accompany the endeavor, but digital marketing really isn’t something to fear. In fact, it’s an essential component of business success these days.
So, as with any fear, let’s figure out what specifically has you spooked and then talk about how to remedy those feelings.
Fear #1: Unfamiliar Terminology
What is “digital marketing”, anyway? It sounds technologically complicated, but digital marketing can be boiled down to this definition: It’s any form of marketing (products or services) which involves electronic devices.
Really, that’s it! It’s the same concepts you already know, but now we translate them for online use. You went from reading articles in magazines to reading them online, and you can transition your marketing efforts to digital form as well.
Plus, digital marketing is an even better way to reach your audience. With more than 4.4 mobile phone users connected worldwide, you can be certain your target demographic will find you online. When is the last time you went anywhere, and didn’t witness a large number of people using a device of some sort?
Fear #2: Understanding the Different Methods of Digital Marketing
Now that we have that basic definition out of the way, let’s talk about a few different types of digital marketing:
- Social Media marketing
- Email marketing
- Content marketing
- Pay-per-click advertising
As you might suspect, the definitions of these words are not overly complicated.
Social media marketing is performed on social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.
Email marketing allows you to send targeted emails directly to your audience.
Content marketing requires a bit more explanation. This will involve generating content which you then use to connect with your target demographic. It’s a broader category and involves website text, blog articles, images, white papers, infographics, videos, and much more. Simply put, you create content that your target audience will find interesting and informative, then use multiple methods of distributing that content to them.
Pay-per-click advertising allows you to create ads that specifically target your ideal clientele, place them in strategic locations, and use them to drive traffic to your website or social media profile.
Now that you have a basic understanding of digital marketing definitions, what else is spooking you? If it’s the strategy or process, we can help with those questions.
Fear #3: Developing the Right Strategy
Yes, digital marketing requires a strategy, and you must spend some time analyzing your target demographic. That will determine which of the above methods you will ultimately utilize (we usually find that a combination of several methods works best).
And yes, learning to generate the right type of content, measure audience reactions, and decide how to best reach your followers will require some expertise. But don’t be afraid to test the waters with a few blogs or social media posts.
You also need to create a schedule for your marketing activities, and dedicate yourself to regularly publishing content or emailing contacts.
Digital marketing does require a lot of work, but it’s not an overly mysterious process, nor is it something to fear! Contact us to share your thoughts, and we will be happy to elaborate on any of the above concepts.
