Let me tell you this for free. If you will stay relevant in the market as a business person or marketer, you have to be willing to change with the trends.
If you are in agreement with that, then you are on your way to a better conversion rate and an even bigger sales potential.
So, when I talk about trends, what do I mean? One of such is the invent of social media marketing which has changed the way which businesses see social media. Another contender, which is often mentioned instead of this, is digital marketing.
If you are one of those that pick one of these forms of marketing over the other, you’re harming your business. However, that is a discussion for another day. Today we are going to explore digital marketing, and how it can be instrumental in the growth of your business.
What is Digital Marketing?
Every measure of marketing that you put in place for your business, brand or products, which involves you using a media that connects you to the online world, is digital marketing.
I am explaining it to you this way so you don’t see it as a fancy word that you would need a certification to define.
Putting all of the above in concise words, digital marketing is the big canopy that encompasses all your efforts towards the advancement of a business or brand, which involves the leveraging of online tools to make that happen.
What Digital Channels are there?
If it is useful for the promotion of your business, and it is online, then it is a digital marketing channel. No one marketer will be able to boast about knowing all because some small (but efficient) tools come up on the daily.
However, some of the most common in the line of digital marketing is email marketing, social media marketing, website and blogs.
Social Media Marketing vs Digital Marketing
This is a long-standing debate that we will still find time to discuss in length. However, for today, know that they are not the same.
While you can do digital marketing and not consider social media marketing, doing social media marketing means you are involved in digital marketing. The inclusive package is social media marketing, while the exclusive one is digital marketing.
What prompted Digital Marketing?
Some fifteen to twenty years ago, people would rather go to stores to buy whatever they wanted. Some twelve years ago, people would still go to a library for all the information they want.
About eight to ten years ago, people started to change the way they looked at the internet and its services. Today, everyone does almost everything online. They prefer to ‘Google’ information rather than go to a library, look for something they want to buy online and book a service/ appointment online there too.
With this transition from the offline to the online world, businesses that want to stay relevant will need to step up their online game. That, I believe, was the first block in building the beautiful edifice that is now digital marketing
Does my business need it?
Rather than answering that, let me ask you a series of simpler questions. Are any of your customers users of the internet? Does your business have a product or service it wishes to sell? Is it the aim of your business to reach even more customers and touch more lives? Would your business like to stay relevant?
If you answered yes to any one of the questions above, digital marketing is for you. I believe no business should exist today without thoughts geared towards a digital marketing campaign.
How Can I Get Started?
I will not complete this piece without giving you something to take away. If you want to get your business to start enjoying from digital marketing, you should hire someone in the field already. Small and medium scale business might not have the resources to hire someone, but I have you covered there.
If you have the time, you can take either of the Google or HubSpot digital marketing certification courses and be on your way. The best part is, both programs are highly recognised, and they don’t charge a dime for the knowledge you are going to receive.
Again, if your business is yet to tap into the endless possibilities that come with digital marketing, you are not living up to the standard of a 21st-century business person yet.
