Digital marketing is the current buzzword for business owners.
You’ve probably heard how important digital marketing is for every business, but what is it exactly? And how can you make the most of it?
What is Digital Marketing?
Digital marketing — or online marketing — is simply marketing your products and services on the internet. This could be through social media, search engines, emails, apps, or anything else that’s online.
The primary purpose of digital marketing is to make your brand get noticed through online channels – this visibility results in leads, and ideally, returning customers.
Digital Market Basics
There are some key components to digital marketing. Here they are in a nutshell:
Website
Investing in effective website design from the start is a must.
A whopping 94% of people reject a website based on poor design alone. You’re bound to regret it later if you push it to the side because you don’t think it’s a priority.
Your website is perhaps your most vital digital marketing asset. It’s the first port of call for potential customers looking for more information about your business.
It’s the face of your business, and you should see it as an extension of you. Your website should tell potential customers what you’re all about and give them a true sense of what you can offer them.
Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
Two different techniques can be used for SEM:
1. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Another current buzzword in marketing is SEO.
This is all about increasing your chances of ranking highly on search engines to reach your target audience.
Highly ranking pages = more clicks = more customers.
There are different practices that you can follow to do this, such as:
- Using keywords in your web copy
- Prioritising user experience in your UX design
- Creating SEO focused content
It’s no good investing in web design without also optimizing it for search engines. So make sure you include SEO services in your digital marketing strategy.
2. PPC (Pay-Per-Click) Advertising
PPC, or paid search ads, are online ads you pay for each time someone clicks on them.
This type of ad is effective as they only show up on search pages after visitors search for keywords of your choice. This means that you can target a specific audience, giving you quality traffic that’s more likely to result in leads.
SMM (Social Media Marketing)
Another excellent digital marketing method that allows you to choose your target audience is social media marketing.
Almost EVERYONE uses social media, and a typical user spends around 145 minutes per day on it. So it makes total sense to use social media as a way to market your business.
Email Marketing
Email marketing is still an effective way to reach your target audience directly.
It’s easy to get caught up with all of the new innovative marketing methods, but you can trust email marketing like an old friend.
It will help if you have a well-thought-out email campaign that delves deep into what your audience truly wants from you.
Don’t bombard them with hundreds of emails, but send a few carefully constructed ones that will have a significant effect.
Digital Marketing for your Business
Digital marketing is the bread and butter of a successful business. Invest some time and money in it, and you will see excellent results. You can also make this simple and stress-free by hiring a trusted digital marketing agency in South Africa. Your business is worth it.
