Marketing is a dynamic field that changes constantly to adapt to people’s lifestyle. In fact, it is an interesting looking glass that reflects how people live in a certain time. The internet, however, ushered in a whole new level of marketing.
Now, it’s hard to pinpoint which channel is stronger than the other, because this argument relies heavily on one’s industry and target market. Social media, Google, email, and blogs – there appears to be a specific audience for each platform. This tangle of marketing channels can make internet marketing confusing at times.
What is internet marketing?
Internet marketing, or online marketing, is the process of promoting a brand, service, or product through channels powered and accessed online. Today, the most popular components of internet marketing are the following:
1. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Today, people use their phones to do many things. They use their mobile phones to look for a product, select the best provider, pay for the product, and finally review or complain about the product.
The buyer’s journey can be improved by SEO. This branch of internet marketing which aims to boost one’s business site’s ranking in the search engines can definitely help the audience out.
2. Content Marketing
Working closely with SEO, content marketing is another essential part of online marketing. For one thing, it analyzes which keywords, format, and content can increase one’s search engine ranking. For another, it requires creativity to fashion articles, emails, eBooks, videos, or guides that entertain, educate, and encourage people to take action.
Content marketing illustrates a brand’s authority in its industry, through the publications it sends out in the company’s official site, blog, and social channels.
3. Social Media Marketing
As if web marketing isn’t dynamic enough, social media has made marketing even more forceful. Through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, businesses can reach their target customers anytime. Approximately 45% of the global population is on social media, with an average usage time of 2 hours and 23 minutes per day.
What’s more, marketing in social media is significantly cheaper, targeted, and user-friendly than traditional marketing. These attributes, combined with its popularity among consumers, made social channels integral in promoting one’s business.
4. Email Marketing
Email has been around almost as long as the internet has been. It’s not surprising that it’s one of the most basic and vital branches of internet marketing.
In fact, promoting one’s business through email is ideal for companies whose target market are millennials and professionals. After all, both types of consumers prefer to conduct business communications through email according to a WordStreamreport.
Tips for Beginners: The Dos and Don’ts of Internet Marketing
Identifying the popular components of internet marketing is the initial step to understanding it. Round this up by knowing what you can and can’t do to leverage this important business tool.
Here’s some points to remember:
The DOs
- Create a clearly defined buyer persona. A buyer persona is a very specific description of your target customer. This customer is formed when you combine the collected data from real customers and from market research
It’s important to have a clearly defined buyer persona at the initial stage of your marketing plan. It determines which channels to prioritize, what kinds of campaigns to create, and when or how to publish them.
- Invest in a mobile-friendly and user-friendly website. It’s not enough to have a website – you need to make sure that it is as functional and easy to use. According to Statista, the last quarter of 2019 saw mobile devices (without counting tablets) comprising 48.91% of website traffic around the world.
- Use visuals strategically. Switching from one app to another takes a toll on people’s attention span and memory. You need to make sure that whatever information you put out gets the best reception and visuals to aid this process. According to digital marketing agency QuiBus, 40% of people respond more favorably when visuals are used.
TIP: Use visuals to complement content rather than disrupt it. Use photos, infographics, videos, or memes sparingly and with impeccable timing.
Optimize local SEO. It comes as no surprise that business owners consider the international community when writing content for their digital properties. However, you must also take the time to invest in local search – especially when 78% of it led to offline sales.
The DON’Ts
- Do everything yourself. Many entrepreneurs take on the responsibility of doing everything themselves because of budgeting constraints. Fortunately, virtual assistance provides an ideal solution.
You can hire experts in SEO, content, graphics, and social media and start building your digital marketing team without breaking the bank.
- Disregard paid advertising. While organic search is both workable and commendable, you must not ignore paid advertising. Paid ads for online marketing are still more affordable than broadcast and print advertising. Plus, it goes hand in hand with your organic campaigns to increase your brand visibility.
- Fail to test and track campaigns. It takes constant practice and analysis to come up with an internet marketing strategy that works for your business. Make sure to test campaigns in different channels, for different metrics, and with different consumer groups. Also, monitor the results of your campaigns so you can understand your audience and improve your products.
Website marketing may be complex, but it need not be perplexing. Use this simplified internet marketing guide to harness its power.
