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There are a million things a newbie entrepreneur has to do from service design to bookkeeping to getting started with digital marketing. I’ve had the luxury of growing up in my business as social media grew up, so I’ve been able to add things slowly, but if you’re launching a new business today and you’re a beginner in digital marketing, you might feel like you need to do all the things right now! Thankfully that’s not the case. It’s much better to start slowly, with a plan, and grow from there…as hard as it may be to not run after the next shiny thing.
I’ve been blogging about social media marketing for over 12 years now. This week I realized all the new followers and new entrepreneurs I’ve been talking to over the last year probably haven’t gone through my blog to find all the “Digital Marketing for Beginners” articles I’ve written, so I’m compiling them in a listicle for you this week.
I asked ChatGPT to tell me the top 10 questions a digital marketing beginner might ask and I’m going to answer them below.
Where Do I Even Start with Digital Marketing?
Starting digital marketing begins with understanding your digital marketing goals. What do you wish to achieve? Is it brand awareness, thought leadership, or customer engagement? Your objectives should dictate your strategy.
Choosing the Right Social Media Platforms for Your Business
Navigating the smorgasbord of social media platforms is daunting. Choosing the right platforms is like choosing the perfect outfit for a first date. Research where your target audience spends their time and focus your efforts there. For a business targeting HR professionals, CEOs and startup founders, LinkedIn might be your go-to, while Instagram or TikTok could be ideal for young parents or fashionistas.
Creating Content That Resonates with Your Audience
The secret sauce to creating content that resonates lies in understanding your audience’s needs and preferences. If you don’t understand what your ideal audience wants, it’s going to be difficult to create it. This is going to take some research as well as experimentation.
How Often Should I Post on Social Media?
To be blunt, there is no one right frequency for posting on social media. It is going to be different for each business. The key is consistency. Start with a manageable schedule and adjust based on engagement levels and audience feedback. Quality always trumps quantity. I’d love to get you to the point where you’re posting daily, but if that’s overwhelming for you, developing a good social media strategy that you can implement three days a week consistently is better than never posting, procrastinating on your schedule, and hating on yourself because you aren’t doing what you think you should do.
Engaging with Your Audience Authentically
Engaging with your audience without sounding salesy or robotic involves showing genuine interest in their thoughts and feelings. Respond to comments, ask questions, and create interactive content like polls or quizzes. Authentic engagement fosters a loyal community. No post and ghost here… you have to be around for the engagement part of things to make social media work for you.
Measuring the Success of Your Digital Marketing Efforts
To measure the success of your digital marketing, focus on metrics that align with your goals, such as engagement rates, website traffic, and conversion rates. Tools like Google Analytics can help collect and report on this data, as well as your social media platforms and your social media scheduler if you use one.
Doing Digital Marketing on a Shoestring Budget
Yes, you can perform digital marketing on a shoestring budget. Focus on organic growth strategies, such as SEO, content marketing, and leveraging free social media tools. Creativity and resourcefulness can compensate for financial constraints. And while we love to say social media is “Pay to Play” now (and it is to a large extent), creativity can overcome any obstacle.
Making Your Brand Stand Out in a Saturated Market
To stand out in the saturated online market, offer something unique. Highlight your brand’s unique value proposition and personality. Don’t be afraid to show your brand’s human side. Wear red leather and flaunt your quirks. It’s your uniqueness people will flock to.
Avoiding Common Digital Marketing Pitfalls
Navigating the minefield of digital marketing pitfalls requires awareness and adaptability. Common mistakes include neglecting social media altogether, underestimating the power of email marketing, and focusing on vanity metrics like the number of followers you have. Nothing changes like social media and digital marketing. You have to be agile, adaptive and flexible, willing to change your strategy and posting plans on a dime.
Staying Up-to-Date with Digital Marketing Trends
With all the constant changes to digital marketing, you may be wondering “how the heck do I keep up with it all?” To stay up-to-date with digital marketing trends commit to being a work in progress and continual learning. Keep in mind you do not need to act on every trend coming your way; learn to filter out which ones are good for you and your business, and which ones are distractions and busy work. Find the one or two experts you trust and follow them on social media or sign up for their newsletters. If I’m not your person here are a few good resources to check out:
- Matt Navarra – great if you want to know EVERY little thing that is happening or changing on every platform.
- Hey Orca (Newsletter) – great for those who want something a bit more selective, with the biggest news and trends.
- Jenn’s Trends – for those who are more interested in Instagram’s updates
- Social Media for Anti-Heroes – obviously I’m going to plug my own email newsletter!
If you’re still overwhelmed by the thought of tackling your social media marketing on your own, let’s chat about a VIP Social Media Strategy Day to get you started quickly.
FAQ’s for the Infinitely Curious
How Can Beginners Analyze and Understand Their Competition in Digital Marketing?
When venturing into digital marketing, understanding your competition is pivotal to distinguishing your brand and identifying market gaps. Start with identifying your direct competitors and examining their digital presence across various channels. Pay close attention to their content themes, engagement strategies, and how they position their brand. Tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs can provide insights into their SEO strategies and keywords they’re ranking for, which can inform your content creation efforts.
Analyzing your competition also means observing their customer interactions on social media and reviews on platforms like Google Business. This deep dive will not only reveal what customers appreciate about your competitors but also their pain points, which you can address in your marketing strategy. Such an analysis helps in refining your unique selling proposition (USP), ensuring you offer something your competitors don’t, which is critical in a crowded market.
What Are Some Practical Steps to Improve SEO for Beginners?
Improving Search Engine Optimization (SEO) as a beginner can seem like a daunting task, but understanding the basics can set a strong foundation. SEO success begins with thorough keyword research to understand what potential customers are searching for. Then, incorporating these keywords NATURALLY into high-quality, valuable content is key. This content must not only resonate with your audience but also adhere to SEO best practices, such as using the keywords in titles, meta descriptions, and header tags. Additionally, ensuring your website offers an excellent user experience, including fast loading times and mobile optimization, is crucial for retaining visitors. Incorporating internal links within your website and earning backlinks from reputable external sites will also signal to search engines that your content is valuable, boosting your rankings. Remember, SEO is a long-term strategy, so patience and consistency in optimizing your content and website are paramount.
How Can Beginners Effectively Use Email Marketing in Their Digital Marketing Strategy?
Email marketing is arguably one of the most effective digital marketing channels. Start by building an email list – offer your website visitors something valuable in exchange for their email address, such as an ebook, a discount code, or access to exclusive content. If you’re a brick and mortar business collect emails at the cash register.
When crafting your emails, prioritize clear, engaging subject lines to ensure your emails are opened. Your email content should always provide value to your readers, whether that’s informative content, entertainment, or exclusive offers.
Finally, analyzing the performance of your emails through open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates is crucial. Use these insights to refine your strategy over time, focusing on what resonates most with your audience. Effective email marketing is about building relationships with your audience by consistently providing value, which in turn, fosters brand loyalty and drives conversions.