What is Digital Marketing?
Imagine people walking on streets with a mike in hand and a poster stuck on their back, screaming with all their might into the mike, “Get underwear worth rupees 200 for rupees 150 only at Chandan and Sons.” Funny, right? Now imagine people being given daily wages, standing in the middle of the street, holding banners in the scorching heat; sad, isn’t it? This was marketing in all its glory in the 80s and the 90s.
Fast forward to 2024, you’re sitting in the comfort of your home, watching content that is easy on the eyes and fun to watch. At the same time being introduced to products and services that are useful. You can also imagine reading your favorite blogger or influencer post on a product that has actually, been of use in their life. This is how we like being enlightened by knowledge in the 2000’s, and this is what ‘digital marketing’ is all about.
Digital marketing, or online marketing, is how businesses or people advertise their brands, products, or services. It involves using the internet to connect with a target audience through different channels, such as blogs, engaging videos, a post on your favorite influencers’ Instagram handles, or even a relative’s post on Facebook about how a cream changed their skin overnight.
The means through which all of the above are achieved are electronic devices such as mobile phones, computers, tablets, or televisions.
Digital marketing also encompasses a variety of ways and channels of marketing that comprise strategies like SEO, SEM, social media marketing, affiliate marketing, mail marketing, and many others.
Types of Digital Marketing
Digital marketing comprises a range of ways to draw in a particular target audience on a large scale, some of which are.
- SEO – Search engine optimization is a technique to increase organic traffic on any site. It is also low cost that’s why people use it to increase their business.
- Content marketing – Targeting audiences through posts, blogs, videos, or articles is known as content marketing. This forms a personal connection with people, thus attracting traffic to handles or websites.
- Collaborating with Influencers – Every other person you meet today has one or more favorite influencers. They like to buy their favorite influencers’ favorite brand rights, especially when it is presented to be purchased by them. Brands usually collaborate with influencers to promote their products, which is done through engaging videos or blogs.
- Affiliate marketing – What affiliate marketing is all about is collaborating with other businesses to promote your product or services and get a commission or return on each sale generated from your leads. Affiliate marketing is one of the most talked about marketing methods today.
- Social Media Marketing – Social Media Marketing is another talked about means of marketing; social media marketing is a way to use social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat to promote products and services and to build brand awareness.
- Pay–Per–Click – PPC is another budget-friendly way of digital marketing in which, despite spending money on getting your ads to play on websites, you only pay for ads individuals react to and interact with by paying a fee only when someone clicks on the advertisement.
Traditional Marketing VS Digital
Digital marketing is often confused or compared to traditional marketing. The significant difference between the two lies in the name of the former itself, “digital” marketing. Traditional marketing targets a more generic audience through primary, generic and quite old-fashioned means such as television, hoardings, posters, radio billboards and email. In contrast, on the other hand, digital marketing uses a better and more modern approach that is also effective in attracting the target audience.
We were talking about which approach is cost-friendly among the two. Traditional marketing uses costly methods and provides late returns on investments. On the other hand, digital marketing offers comparatively faster returns on investment while also being cost-efficient.
Benefits of Online Marketing
- Increased Reach
Online marketing enables businesses to reach a wider audience than traditional marketing methods. With digital marketing, businesses can target their ideal customers using various methods, such as search engine optimization, social media advertising, and email marketing. These methods allow businesses to reach customers where they spend most of their time – on the internet.
- Cost-Effective
Online marketing is a cost-effective method of marketing. Traditional marketing methods such as print advertising, TV, and radio advertising can be expensive, especially for small businesses. Small businesses can take advantage of digital marketing methods such as social media advertising and email marketing to promote their products and services without breaking the bank.
- Measurable Results
One of the advantages of online marketing is the ability to track and measure results. Unlike traditional marketing methods, digital marketing allows businesses to track the performance of their campaigns in real-time.
This means businesses can see which methods are working and which ones need improvement. Digital marketing metrics such as website traffic, conversion rates, and engagement rates can provide insights into how customers are interacting with a business.
Increased Engagement
Online marketing enables businesses to engage with their customers in real time. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram provide businesses with a platform to interact with their customers and build relationships.
Email marketing is another digital marketing method that can be used to engage with customers. With email marketing, businesses can send personalized messages to their customers, which can increase engagement and lead to more sales.
- Increased Brand Awareness
It can help businesses increase their brand awareness. By using various digital marketing channels, businesses can reach a wider audience and create brand awareness. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are great platforms for businesses to build their brand and reach a wider audience.
- Improved Customer Targeting
Online marketing enables businesses to target their ideal customers more effectively. Using various digital marketing methods such as search engine optimization, social media advertising, and email marketing, businesses can target customers based on their interests, demographics, and behaviors. This means businesses can deliver their message to the right people at the right time, increasing the chances of converting them into customers.
- Greater Flexibility
Online marketing offers businesses greater flexibility in terms of how they promote their products and services. Unlike traditional marketing methods, digital marketing allows businesses to make changes to their campaigns in real time. This means businesses can quickly respond to changes in the market and adjust their campaigns accordingly.
Conclusion
There are 5.30 billion internet users on the globe today. In today’s world, an individual can go without food and water for a day but not without their phone. The digital economy is an economy that will only grow in the years to come. And as a marketer, making the most of digital marketing should be of utmost priority in an age like ours.
Digital marketing connects your brand to a targeted audience with opportunities vital for business growth. Over 66% of marketers have said that digital marketing has benefitted their business growth over time.
It is a much more effective way of marketing; hence if you want growth and potential in your business both at the same time. This is your cue to start using the most efficient means of marketing in today’s time, ‘digital marketing’. For more information, you can visit our website YMA Pro-Tech.