How does online marketing works and how will it help your business?
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Every time I do get this question if an individual happens to know I work in the digital marketing niche. Well, online marketing is also called digital marketing, only that the general term (digital marketing can be done both online and offline).
Online marketing is simply using digital means to reach your existing audience or new audience. It is a popular and effective way to promote you and brand using the internet in the 21st century. It’s like fishing, but instead of casting your line into a pond, you’re throwing it out into the vast ocean of the web!
There are a lot of benefits in using online marketing for your business. Let’s share some of them;
It being an effective and less costly way to market your business, there are more advantages to online/digital marketing you will gain if you get started;
- Return of investment (content marketing)
- Build business credibility and authority
- Measurable results
- Different means and channels to communicate your business value
- Wider reach both locally and internationally
- Low and expensive cost advertisement through personalized options
- Collaboration
- Knowledge acquisition made easy
Lots and lots more of advantages in using online marketing for your business. If you miss out on this opportunity, your growing business will be on a loss and outdated as it’s a trend in our season.
How does online marketing works in a nutshell?
A. Know your audience:
Just like you wouldn’t walk into any classroom that’s not your line of study, you wouldn’t launch an online marketing campaign without knowing who you’re trying to catch. Figure out your ideal customer’s demographics, interests, and online behavior. It’s always the first step to any value you have to offer, know who needs the product or service. Understand how to solve their problem and their desires.
B. Choose your channels:
There are many different online marketing channels, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Some popular ones include:
Search engine optimization (SEO):
This involves making sure your website ranks high in search engine results pages (SERPs) for relevant keywords. Think of it as scoring an A in class and being used as an example to other kids always. SEO remains one of the biggest online marketing strategies.
How to use SEO online marketing strategy for your business?
- You need to have a website (note; SEO works for all channel of online marketing, but in this aspect we are focused on traffic increase through organic search engine).
- Search keywords that your audiences are asking about. For example, you have a gadget product. In searching for keywords, consider these;
- What gadget is trending and people are looking for it
- Which problem does your technological gadget solves
- What is the demographic of your audience.
Let’s use this targeting keyword sample. (Which phone is the best for content creation, or How to update my Mac book and where to fix it)? Do you understand now?
Now, you should know that there are tools (software’s) that makes this keyword research easy such as; SEMrush, Google search (section; what people are searching for). Google trends, Answerthepublic, etc. These tools will help you with possible questions to solve and ideas of content for your audience.
6. Create the content using all content forms that are acceptable to every channel you are using.
Social media marketing:
This involves using social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to connect with your target audience and promote your brand. It’s like introducing yourself in a hangout session, where you can chat with potential customers and show off your products. I explained difference between digital marketing and social media marketing here.
Social media marketing is the most popular means of online marketing and a systematic one as that.
How to use social media marketing strategy in online marketing
- Create a social media account of your choice
- Create content after research of course
- Understand the policy of each social media platform
- Use relevant keywords, hashtags, content form to reach your audience (pro tip; videos does it more)
- Analyze and re-strategize
Some social media platforms to check out include; Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Pinterest, etc. These are the most ones used but there are others. DYOR!
Content marketing:
This involves creating and sharing valuable content, such as blog posts, infographics, and videos, to attract and educate your target audience. Think of it as your lifestyle and the type of friends that get attracted to you because of what you offer that way you get what you deserve from them too. It can be to educate, entertain, connect, and tell a story, etc. on any online marketing channel you are using.
Here, content marketing was explained and its importance for every business. If done the right way, yields massive results. You can ask the influencers that knows their onion.
Email marketing:
This involves sending targeted emails to your audience to promote your products or services, nurture leads, and build relationships. It’s like sending out personalized invitations to your friends for an event. Here, I stated why every business needs email marketing.
How to use email marketing as an online marketing strategy;
- Create an email list using email builder software such as; Mailchimp, Sendpulse, Convertkit, etc.
- Create form builders that will pop up on a landing page
- Use marketing automation software (to welcome new subscribers, etc.)
- Start sharing valuable tips around your product or service (make it a personalized email)
- Re-engage old subscribers and ask for feedbacks
- Promote your business deals and special offers
Tips to consider when using email marketing;
I. Use a good and captivating email subject line
II. Content should start with the receiver’s name
III. Body content should be interesting to read and scan able
IV. Add CTA strategically
If you need help in building an email list, do let me know in the comment section.
Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising:
This involves paying to have your ads displayed on search engine results pages, social media platforms, and other websites. It’s like paying for a billboard on the internet highway.
It’s an effective way too aside organic searches. It requires you to pay for advertisement on any platform you want to use. Some examples are; Google sponsored ads, Facebook ads, etc. If these ads are displayed strategically with the right keywords, that would boost your business awareness easily even if the leads don’t convert to sales.
C. Create compelling content:
Once you’ve chosen your channels, you need to create content that will resonate with your target audience. This content should be informative, engaging, and persuasive. Think of it as the irresistible hook that will make your audience bite.
D. Affiliate Marketing:
I’m sure this isn’t new you. The idea of some else marketing for you and you both agree on a commission. It can be for every product or service sales there’s a fixed pay, for any refer the affiliate gets a pay, for every re-purchase or renewal the affiliates gets a pay, etc. there are lots of agreement to be taken.
The main goal is your business earns through diverse marketing techniques using people and the people earn that as a passive income.
E. Track your results:
Online marketing is all about data. Track your results using analytics tools to see what’s working and what’s not. This will help you refine your strategy and make sure you’re getting the most out of your investment. It’s like having a tracker to track your movements. Analyze all online marketing strategies and know what to drop or improve on.
How to use online marketing for your business;
Now that you know how online marketing works, how can you use it to grow your business? Here are a few tips:
- Set your goals: What do you want to achieve with your online marketing? Do you want to increase brand awareness, generate leads, or boost sales? Once you know your goals, you can choose the right channels and tactics.
- Develop a budget: Online marketing can be expensive, so it’s important to set a budget and stick to it. There are many free and low-cost online marketing tools available, so you don’t have to break the bank to get started.
- Be patient:It takes time to see results from online marketing. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results overnight. Just keep creating great content, promoting your brand, and tracking your results.
By following these tips, you can use online marketing to reach a wider audience, grow your business, and achieve your marketing goals.
Remember, online marketing is a vast and ever-changing landscape. It’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices. But if you start with the basics and keep learning, you will have a successful online marketing campaign.
Consider seeking consultation from our agency for guidance, or register for our digital marketing class and learn the premium ways on how to grow your business using online marketing strategies.