There is no question that digital marketing is one of the key components of a successful business. Not only are there many benefits, including lower costs, a global reach, and measurable results, but it’s a marketing universe that is constantly changing and growing. That allows you and your business to stay fresh and create content that consumers actually want.
We could go on about the benefits of digital marketing, because there are plenty more. And, because it breaks down into so many different categories (social media, newsletters, video marketing, etc.), there are endless opportunities to grow your digital marketing efforts.
But, we’ve already talked before about how digital marketing can transform your business. Instead, today we’re focusing on some of the most important aspects of your digital marketing strategy.
Maybe you’re not a marketing guru, and that’s okay! Chances are, you started your business because you were passionate about something or you had a great idea that would fulfill a need or want for a variety of consumers. Marketing may not have been your forte, and it still doesn’t necessarily have to be.
However, if you can focus on some of the biggest components of digital marketing, you can take your strategy to the next level. As a result, your business will continue to grow, and so will your potential audience.
So, let’s take a look at some of the most important aspects of digital marketing, and where you should really be focusing your efforts.
Stick with Social Media
If you’ve been putting social media on the back burner, now is the time to ignite your strategy!
Social media is truly one of the biggest components of digital marketing because it allows you to get personal. There is really no other platform for marketing that allows you direct interaction with your audience.
When it comes to social media, content is hugely important. Your goal should be to engage your audience as much as possible while showing them the more humanistic side of your business. So, don’t be afraid to post questions or conversation starters on Facebook. On Instagram, share behind-the-scenes photos or videos. On Twitter, link to your website with snappy, short tidbits of information.
Make your brand presence known as much as possible on social media by staying consistent. Let people know who you are through photos, videos, and live-streamed events, and don’t be afraid to keep things relatively casual. Consumers are hit with thousands of advertisements every day. Most people have learned to tune them out. If you can connect with your audience, rather than advertising “at” them, they’re more likely to trust you.
SEO
If you’ve done any kind of Digital Marketing, you’ve heard of SEO. While you might understand that it’s important, do you really know why?
Utilizing SEO helps your website to reach the top of the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages). Why is that important? Think about when you’re searching for something online, and the first page comes up. Chances are, you end up clicking on the website in the first or second spot. That’s normal behavior. Those first few spots are often considered the most trustworthy, or people think they have the most information.
In order to get your business’ website to the top, you need to be using Search Engine Optimization
SEO covers a variety of different factors, from the quality of the content on your website (and its relevance) to the keywords you’re using that will allow people to find you.
If you’re not familiar with SEO but you know it needs to be used, hiring a digital marketing company can make a big difference. One of the great things about SEO is that you’ll be able to see real results and analytics, so you will know what’s working and what’s not, and you can make adjustments as necessary.
Content Is King
Every marketing professional has heard the phrase “content is king” more than once in their career. If you’ve never heard it, now is the time to make sure it sticks with you!
Content is more important than ever when it comes to digital marketing. Again, people are used to advertisements and are quick to “tune out” content that feels too sales-oriented or untrustworthy.
So, the content on your website, your blog, and even social media needs to be relatable and relevant to your business. If you’ve ever been to a website that just didn’t seem to have content that flowed, chances are they were just trying to stuff their site with keywords to rank
Now, thanks to changing algorithms, that’s no longer the case. Search engines like Google are taking relevant content into consideration when they rank different websites. So, make sure your content makes sense for your business, and don’t include a lot of “fluff” just to include certain keywords.
Mobile Marketing
Finally, consider the fact that millions of people across the globe only access the Internet through their phones. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile devices, you’re missing out on a huge audience. If someone is browsing on their phone and comes across your site, you only have a few seconds to make a positive impression. If it loads slowly or the layout doesn’t work on a mobile device, they will move on.
Again, if you aren’t sure how to optimize your site for mobile devices, your best bet is to contact a professional who specializes in site design. This isn’t an area where you want to cut corners!
As you can see, the most important aspects of digital marketing don’t need to be overly complicated. In fact, getting back to basics is really what it’s all about. Digital marketing provides you with the unique opportunity to connect with your audience while growing your business. It also allows you to let your creativity shine and try new things on a regular basis.
If your business has been lacking in the digital marketing department, let this be your year to put more focus on it. You might be surprised at just how much these tactics can help your business to grow and reach brand new audiences either locally, or across the globe.
