Digital marketing is a complex topic that, as a result, has become incredibly difficult to master for any business owner or entrepreneur without proper guidance and planning. The reality is that while many people don’t know all the ins and outs of digital marketing, there are some things that they are aware of, but they aren’t sure how to incorporate into their overall strategy. As such, this article will provide tips on what you need to consider when creating your online presence to grow your brand while also improving your bottom line. If you’re starting up small, be sure to check out these 10 easy steps to get started!
1. Use SEO in Your Online Content Strategy
In 2018 alone, Google announced it would penalize websites with poor search engine optimization (SEO) because it was more likely that the company had been using content from third party sources rather than its own. This means that if any website is able to rank for high-quality keywords related to yours, then it is more likely to actually see traffic from users that do make it to its page rather than clicking away from your site. That said, this should not be an issue to worry about. Instead, start by working on SEO yourself so your sites can begin to receive traffic on a regular basis from those searches, which would lead to higher income and more sales. Also, it goes without saying that social media should also be considered when utilizing all forms of digital marketing, particularly since there has never been a better time to use platforms like Facebook as well as Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Twitter, et al. However, just like any other form of digital marketing, it’s important to establish the right balance between traditional ways of promoting your products, services and/or brands that are effective and still keep clients engaged.
2. Optimize Your Website For Mobile Users
The good news is that today’s consumers are very adept at using mobile devices and have become increasingly familiar with them. In fact, 60% of smartphone owners spend 7 hours per day consuming media on our smartphones, which is just one reason why we need to optimize our digital marketing strategies for mobile users. According to Business Insider, “Mobile web browsing is now over half of total digital activity, which was only 50% 2 years ago.” While desktop users are always present on our computers (thanks, Chrome!), many are spending too much time scrolling through their phones every day, so it makes sense that most people will eventually try out a brand new device if they have access to a phone/tablet. You should know that your customers are busy, so they want to take care of tasks like finding information; shopping; and downloading apps. Plus, people often forget to leave off important items at home, making them want to check that product off their list. So, once you gain traction with optimizing your website for mobile, you can move onto other areas of digital marketing and expand your reach and reach of potential clients.
3. Find Ways To Leverage Social Media Networks
Like smartphones, the internet is becoming increasingly popular in the world at large thanks to smartphones and tablets. Whether they’re smartphones, laptops, tablet PCs or even something else entirely, everyone has a favorite platform to stay connected and entertained. One way to find innovative ways to promote your brand on multiple platforms is to create an engaging and original account on each network. Remember, most networks are public, meaning anyone who is interested can view everything your account does. Therefore, think carefully before starting a post, considering the overall purpose on each network and what type of post you might want to be sharing. Once you create accounts, create posts, engage with followers and friends using the app and share valuable content. These types of interactions are key to building relationships and trust within your audience and ensuring your brand is seen and heard. Additionally, social media marketing gives businesses the opportunity to grow their audiences on sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and LinkedIn. Here are three examples of ways to leverage different kinds of social media:
Social Networking Sites / Social Engagement Platforms : Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Linked In, etc.
:,,,, Snapchat, Linked In, etc. Video Streaming Websites : Youtube, Twitch, Vimeo, IGTV, Twitch, Dailymotion (Dm).
:,, Twitch,, Dm). News Websites: Vox, Mashable, Rolling Stone, WIRED, Time Out.
4. Create High-Quality Videos With Audio Effects And Visual Design
While videos are great at capturing attention and keeping viewers engaged, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t invest in some visual content as well. It’s estimated that 72% of U.S. adults say they prefer visuals when looking for entertainment, and that number is expected to increase. On top of that, videos contain 25% of visual data compared to text-only blog posts, and according to HubSpot, nearly 50% of marketers found video marketing to be especially helpful to boost their results.
Here are a few simple tips to improve the quality of your visual content:
Make your pictures clear – Don’t make your viewer wonder what the heck you’re trying to convey with a blurry picture. Focus on drawing the eyes and focusing on what’s being shown with clear lighting, angle and composition. Keep your background light low for contrast, colors, and contrast between objects. Avoid overly bright or overdrawn subjects and use soft shadows to blur out background details or overexposure. Get perspective – People often see a bigger image when they zoom in. Make sure your camera lens is positioned so that it provides a wider field of vision when viewing your photo. Be careful when editing images, as filters make photos look pixelated and distorted. If possible, use an alternative filter program on your machine because it can help to remove unwanted elements of the final image. Know where the highlights are – Look closely at your photo and see where the highlights are. Is it the face? A specific part of your body? There may also be parts of your image that you wish you got more detail about. Add depth with an eye level filter or use HDR to bring in added color. Take advantage of layers to enhance clarity of your image. Reduce noise – Images often include backgrounds, text and lines of text around the subject. When removing distracting elements, reduce how much noise occurs within your photo. Turn off pop-ups of images to ensure that no unnecessary clutter or buttons are displayed behind your content.
5. Write Unique Blog Posts with Valuable Information
People love reading blogs. They also like reading written content, so one of the best things you can do is to write a blog post that’ll be extremely beneficial to existing readers. Just be careful around plagiarism and false advertising because that could cause problems down the road. The longer your content lasts, the more engagement it will reap for both you and the reader. Creating interesting blog posts with original information will help your readers learn more, and also engage with your content. Here are some ideas to inspire your next blog post:
Start a series of short articles that give general advice to current customers and prospects
Create guides for users, offering resources relevant to the topics you’re covering
Review software tools used to assist customers
Share industry insights about your industry – Examples could include statistics that show why certain solutions work for your target market, or where you’ve struggled.
Use quotes from past posts – When writing a blog post, add your own quotes to offer context into the idea and encourage your readers to read further.
6. Host Giveaways and Offer Freebies
One of the biggest benefits of running your own blog is the exposure and increased visibility you would acquire across various channels. Since blogging requires additional effort out of your time, it may make sense to host giveaways and offers where you can highlight special deals that your readers can earn. Consider doing live events, sending email coupons and inviting guests to participate in sessions through webinars. You can utilize the power of social media networks if you decide to do giveaways and promotions via Facebook groups and Instagram stories. Another great option for giving away freebies is hosting contests or challenges. Some of the most successful brands host contests via influencer-based pages. By partnering with companies, bloggers can build communities and drive traffic to their sites.
7. Promote Yourself Through Influencers
Influencers are individuals who have a dedicated following on social media networks. Many use the platform to share thoughts, advice and ideas. Having a larger follower base allows you to push your message beyond the confines of your own personal reach. They can provide valuable insight and experience, which could be invaluable to developing your brand. What’s more, they tend to be willing to promote brands and products in exchange for monetary gains. Because they already have a loyal fan base, you can get ahead of the curve by asking them for assistance in creating content. You can also request permission to repurpose their content in lieu of credit in order to make money alongside your efforts. Brands pay influencers to produce content, while entrepreneurs provide expertise. Either way, the end result is a win-win for both parties involved. If you’re interested in getting in touch with someone who creates content in return for affiliate commissions, click here to contact us.
8. Include Calls to Action Alongside Each Post
Creating compelling headlines can be tricky if you aren’t experienced with crafting them. That’s why it’s important to be strategic in your call-to-action (CTA). Think about your customer journey, and determine where you want to direct them within it – whether with a follow-up email, a newsletter, a coupon or some other action or promotion. How do you accomplish that with minimal effort? Check out this example to see what I mean:
When
