Digital marketing is the modern way to get your business in front of your target audience. And, fortunately for small businesses, it is both affordable and relatively easy to implement (as long as you have the right digital marketing agency to help).
However, digital marketing can feel like a broad term. What exactly does it mean to improve one's online presence? And what are the best strategies to use?
There are actually lots of different ways to get your business in front of your target audiences online. Here are a few of the most important.
Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing is one of the newest forms of digital marketing, in part because social media itself is relatively young. Social media marketing (SMM) consists of strategically using social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to promote your company.
For example, consider taking Facebook beyond a friendly method of keeping up with acquaintances and set up a business page where you interact with clients and prospective clients. Promote your website content; announce new products and promotions; address customer concerns, and share your expertise.
Why is SMM such a good idea? Because it gives you access to large networks of individuals who can then spread word about your business to their networks. It is the ultimate in organic, word-of-mouth advertising. And, it's mostly free. That is hard to beat.
Email Marketing
The flip side of social media marketing is email marketing. This oldest form of digital marketing involves, as its name implies, communicating with prospective and current customers through email.
For example, many businesses may use email to follow up with leads after an event, promote content like blogs or white papers, offer special discounts, and more.
Email marketing is valuable because it delivers results. With high conversion rates and ROIs, it is ideal for getting responses from your target audience, and doing so in a way that is perceived as professional and reliable.
Content Marketing
At the heart of any successful digital marketing campaign is content. Content drives every other strategy. For example, content can be pushed on social media or email marketing. It forms the backbone of SEO and gives customers something to interact with on your website.
Content marketing is simply the process of being strategic about what content you produce, when you produce it, and what you do with it. For example, it looks like choosing topics for your blog for the month, selecting a video over a written piece for Facebook, and deciding to promote a certain product this month over your other amazing offerings.
An effective content marketing strategy will allow you to maximize interest in your brand, connect with your target audiences, and stand out in your other digital marketing efforts. No matter what other digital marketing you do, you need content marketing.
Search Engine Optimization
Search engine optimization is a digital marketing strategy that many people have heard about but not many know how to use effectively. In part, this fact is due to the complexities involved in SEO. A digital marketing agency with expertise in this field is necessary for a business to successfully implement it.
SEO, however, has a lot of potential for businesses looking to improve their online visibility. This process involves using a number of related strategies to improve where your website shows up in the search results for certain search terms, also known as keywords. A successful SEO campaign will get a website in front of your target audience by positioning it early on in the search results.
Search Marketing
Search marketing is another digital marketing strategy that deserves attention from small businesses. While a little more expensive than SEO, social media marketing, content marketing, etc., it still provides a relatively low cost option for getting attention from your target audiences.
Also known as pay-per-click, or PPC, advertising, this form of marketing involves using Google AdWords to get your website in front of your target audience. You purchase ads that appear at the top or sides of the search results for certain keywords. You typically pay for these ads when someone clicks on them to access your website.
To take advantage of search marketing, you should enlist the help of a Google Partner. This professional can help you navigate all the ins and outs of Google AdWords successfully and affordably.
Website
Finally, no digital marketing strategy is complete without a website. This online presence is where all your other digital marketing strategies will be directed. It is where prospective clients will learn the most about your brand. As a result, a website is where your digital marketing efforts must begin.
In order to build an effective website, and pursue other digital marketing strategies, however, you will need the help of a digital marketing agency. Here at Distinct Web Design, we offer comprehensive web design and digital marketing services to help you create an online presence that is compelling and that gets the word out about your business to your target audience. Do not hesitate to reach out today.
