What is digital marketing?

Digital marketing refers to any form of marketing products or services that involves electronic devices.

Nowadays computers, phones, tablets, and other electronic devices are rampant – with consumers spending on average over 10 ours a day on electronic devices like smartphones, computers, video games, radios, tablets and TVs.

Digital advertising can be delivered through digital channels such as search engines, websites, social media, email, and mobile apps.

While this term covers a wide range of marketing activities, all of which are not universally agreed upon, we’ll focus on the most common types below including

• Web Sites
• Search Engines
• Social Media
• Email

Website Design

Arguably the most important pillar of digital marketing is website design. Website design is the process of planning, conceptualizing and arranging content to be shared with potential clients to solve a problem. Whether they’re looking for information, services or products, a beautifully and strategically designed website can help reach and convert customers. Every element of your website plays a part in how your users feel and think about your brand including the:

• Fonts
• Layout
• Colors
• Shapes
• Spacing
• Images
• Videos
• Navigation
• Site speed
• Site structure
• and how it work on different devices

Search Engines

Search Engine Marketing uses common search engines that people use in their everyday lives, like Google, Bing, and Yahoo, to increase traffic to your website or your business.

Search engine marketing actually includes two major categories including SEO (Search Engine Optimization) which helps you earn traffic through unpaid or free searches, while SEM (Search Engine Marketing) requires you to buy more traffic through paid search listings. 

Search Engine Optimization is a way of tailoring your website and other digital resources to help search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo to find your business. In essence, we make sure your website can be read and understood by a robot so they know which customers you may be able to help. In addition, Search Engine Optimization is strengthening the ties between all of your digital assets so search engines know they are all connected to you and your business. These digital assets may include your:

• Website
• Google My Business
• Search engine advertisements
• Digital business listings (like Yelp, Yellowpages, Mapquest, etc)
• Social media accounts (like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pintrest, YouTube, etc)

If you’re interested in Search Engine Marketing, also referred to as PPC (Pay-Per-Click), your digital marketing team will develop an advertising campaign for you focused on search terms that people are looking for in your area. When people search for these terms your business will show up in the search engine as an Ad, helping your new customers find you. With Price-Per-Click advertising, you only get charged when people searching actually click on your ad. 

Social Media

The average person spends over two hours a day on social media. Social media includes websites and applications that focus on communication, interaction, content sharing and collaboration. Common social media channels include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Wikipedia, LinkedIn, Reddit, and more. Because people spend so much time on social media it provides an excellent channel to find people that may need your services. Whether you are posting advertisements in social media, providing content that your potential clients are interested in, or simply establishing your brand, social media marketing is a popular way to find more customers. 

Email Marketing

Email marketing is using email to promote your information, products and services. This type of marketing is tricky because it can either help build your relationships with clients or it can drive them away. Common emails that businesses send out include newsletters, announcements about sales, valuable information, special offers like discounts on their birthday, and more. Email marketing starts with the process of collecting client emails and then strategically sending emails to them that will improve your relationship with them, remind them of your services, and keep them coming back. 

Digital Marketing and Your Goals

What are your business goals? If you’re looking to increase traffic and conversion to your business, consider all the options in your digital marketing strategy.