Building a successful business and brand requires more than the ability to provide desirable products and services that are well-received by consumers. Today, the expansion of the internet, social media, and mobile devices have drastically shifted the marketing landscape along with the methods and tools utilized to reach prospective customers. Digital marketing is often a key element involved in building a brand from the ground-up while honing in on a specific audience or subset of demographics. Whether you are building a local brand or launching an international t-shirt business, understanding the most common forms of digital marketing is essential before you launch ad campaigns that are not optimized for your business and the audience you want to reach. Using digital marketing has become commonplace for startup brands to existing corporations, providing you with plenty of flexibility regardless of the market or industry you represent.
1 – Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing has become more popular than ever with platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and Pinterest. Using social media marketing is not only ideal to showcase ads and sponsored posts, but it is also a great way to build a good rapport among your followers and a sense of community among those who genuinely want to learn more about your business. Platforms such as Facebook and Instagram currently include a marketing manager to better craft, publish, and monitor the results of each individual campaign you intend to launch using social media. Use solutions such as Facebook Ads or Instagram Ads to hone in on the demographics you want to reach based on gender, age, location, and even specific hobbies or interests your prospective customers have in common.
2 – Search Engine PPC (Pay Per Click) Marketing
PPC (Pay Per Click) marketing has been around since the dawn of the internet. PPC ad campaigns allow you to work with just about any budget whether you are launching multiple campaigns simultaneously or if you intend to tackle one major campaign strategy. PPC marketing is often done using traditional search engines such as Google, Yahoo!, and Bing along with third-party websites that are currently offering ad space. Using PPC marketing can be effective with the proper keyword and phrase research along with choosing the best destination for your advertisements. With PPC marketing, you may find yourself more limited compared to a solution such as content or social media marketing, depending on the industry and niche you are targeting.
3 – PPS (Pay Per Sale) Marketing
PPS (Pay Per Sale) marketing is quite similar to traditional PPC solutions. However, PPS marketing is ideal when you are working with a limited budget and if you currently sell products or services directly online or with the use of your official website and eCommerce store. PPS marketing campaigns only require you to pay for the cost of placing your advertisement online in the event of a completed purchase. Once the sale has been purchased and you have received your profit, you then pay for the PPS marketing campaign you launched. PPS marketing is an optimal solution for business owners and entrepreneurs who are new to digital marketing and those who simply want to learn more about what works with their prospective shoppers and loyal customers.
4 – Email Marketing
Email marketing is extremely effective and one of the most popular methods used to reach prospective customers for businesses of any size. Using email marketing is a way to communicate with potential shoppers on a more personal and intimate level. Share coupon codes, exclusive discounts, and secret promotions along with valuable information that motivates and engages your readers and current subscribers. Use email marketing to develop additional funnels used to contact first-time shoppers, loyal shoppers, or even individuals who have items in their virtual shopping cart but have yet to complete their purchase. Using email marketing is one way to learn more about the wants and needs of your audience without sacrificing your advertising and marketing budget.
5 – Digital Content Marketing
As the saying goes, content is still king. Developing in-depth, engaging, and informative content that is relevant to your audience is a way to drastically increase the traffic your website receives while building a professional reputation for your brand and business. Devising a trendy, relevant, and successful digital content marketing strategy is key to creating a sense of community among your followers, especially when you are building a new business or brand that is unfamiliar to the majority of your intended audience. With the right content, broaden your appeal and maximize your online reach without a massive marketing budget.
