What exactly is digital marketing, and why is it so important for your small business or nonprofit? Our goal with this blog post is to help you better understand digital marketing and shed light on its pivotal role in business strategies.
Can you relate to Tom?
Meet Tom the owner of a home service-based business located in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. Tom’s business is doing well but he wants to expand into a new market. His business has a Facebook page where he sporadically posts before-and-after renovation photos and seasonal maintenance tips that maybe 10 people like. He has heard the term SEO before and knows it has to do with your website but he has no idea if his business is doing SEO. He knows he has a Google Business Profile and an email list but is he supposed to do something with them? Tom is feeling overwhelmed because he doesn’t know how to tell this new market how awesome his business is.
What can Tom do?
What a great question! Tom needs to create a digital marketing strategy to boost his online presence so he can begin to reach people in this new market.
What is Digital Marketing?
Digital marketing, also known as online marketing, is the use of digital channels to promote brands and connect with potential customers. It encompasses various strategies, including SEO (Search Engine Optimization), PPC (Pay-Per-Click advertising, think Google Ads), social media marketing, content marketing, email marketing, SMS, and mobile marketing.
Digital marketing has been around since the beginning of the internet but has evolved significantly over the years. It has gone from having a simple website and email list to complex strategies that include intricate data analytics and targeted advertising.
The Importance of Digital Marketing
Digital marketing allows businesses and nonprofits to reach a global audience while targeting specific demographics, interests, and behaviors. This precision helps companies like Tom’s to focus their efforts on the most promising prospects.
Surprisingly, compared to traditional marketing methods, digital marketing is remarkably cost-effective and it offers a higher return on investment. Small businesses, in particular, can benefit significantly from the lower costs of digital channels. One way you see this play out is in social media ads, email marketing, and text messages.
The biggest advantage to digital marketing is the ability to track and measure results in real-time. This allows businesses and nonprofits to adjust their strategies for maximum effectiveness.
Let’s Break It Down, What Are Digital Marketing Strategies For Businesses
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
SEO enhances a website’s visibility on search engines, making it more likely for potential customers to find your business online. Of course, it is a bit more involved than that as you can write an amazing blog post that doesn’t rank well on Google because it lacks the correct keywords, the words people use when they search for something online, or the content it too broad and not specific enough causing the Wikipedia article to show on page 1 and your blog post is on page 10. SEO also involves all of your digital channels including your Google Business Profile, your Bing Business Listing, your Facebook or other social channels, etc. If you are mentioned online, it is SEO so you should invest in what you want people to see.
Content Marketing
Content marketing is high-quality, helpful content that engages and retains an audience. It also establishes your brand as an authority in your field. In other words, it is the content you post online. Content marketing can include blog posts, social media posts, email newsletters, videos, case studies, or you can be an export source. Some benefits of content marketing are that it builds trust, improves brand awareness, helps your SEO, generates leads, increases your conversions, and untimely delivers an ROI. If you take nothing else from this post, your content needs to be thoughtful and planned so that you post that seasonal tip when people are searching for that tip. Content marketing really drives the digital marketing bus because it supports everything else.
Social Media Marketing
Different social platforms offer unique ways to connect with your customers, build brand awareness, and promote your services but you have to use the correct platform. You could have the best Facebook page in the world but if your customers are on LinkedIn and not Facebook, you are wasting your time.
Email Marketing
Email marketing provides a direct line to your customers, allowing for personalized communication and nurturing to build that customer relationship. A well-designed and thought-out email campaign can keep your customers engaged with your business so you remain top of mind when they are ready to engage with the services that you offer. Unlike social media, when an email is opened that means the customer is choosing to engage with your brand so make sure your content doesn’t let them down. On average 21.5% of emails sent by businesses are opened.
Text Message Marketing
98% of text messages are read! You read that right and if that stat wasn’t awesome enough, 45% of people reply to SMS marketing allowing brands to start a real-time conversation with their customers. 50% of customers are more likely to make a purchase if they receive an SMS message that includes an ad, discount coupon, or QR code and a whopping 33% of consumers say they don’t mind the nature of the SMS as long as the content is relevant to them. Basically what we are trying to say is text messaging is the future and if you aren’t in the text messaging game you need to be. We offer a service that will allow you to engage with your customers via text messaging so if you would like help with this, text us at 770-765-3767.
Why Should Your Business Invest in Digital Marketing
By leveraging digital marketing, businesses can position themselves for sustained growth and adaptability in a constantly evolving market. Not only that but your business will significantly build your brand’s reputation, creating trust and loyalty among your customers.
If you think back to why you purchased something online or hired that contractor it’s because of trust. You knew that when you spent those hard-earned dollars the product or service was going to deliver. It is the same for your customers. They need to know that you are trustworthy and the way to tell them that is through digital marketing.
Digital marketing is no longer just an option it is critical for your business strategy. We know it can feel overwhelming and you could be sitting here thinking where do I start? The good news is we can help you. We have created what we call a Digital Strategy Session which is a half-day meeting where we do a deep dive into your business and at the end of the meeting, we create a custom 12-month marketing roadmap. You can choose to have us implement the plan or you can take the plan and implement it yourself. At the end of the day, we want to help you navigate the digital marketing world.
