Digital marketing is a must for every brand. Digital marketing is all about using technology to create and fulfill various marketing objectives, and it refers to all online marketing efforts. As such a broad field, it’s easy for marketers and business owners to get lost.
“There are numerous branches of digital marketing and each one carries its own benefits and procedures,” says Chris Bower, CEO of Digital Internet Marketing, a digital marketing company in Detroit.
“With so many complex layers and an ever-evolving marketing landscape, it’s crucial that businesses understand where to focus their attention.” With that in mind, here are five digital marketing growth tactics you should know:
1. Email Marketing
No matter what industry you’re in, email is still the preferred method of communication between consumers and brands. According to the Direct Marketing Association, on average, email marketing sees a 4,300% return on investment.
That equates to roughly $44 for every dollar spent. Simply put, the email is the primary connection between you, current, and potential customers. It’s personal, purposeful, and targeted.
For many people, email can be the biggest driver of sales. To reap the full benefits of email marketing, you’ll need a well-designed website, a reliable email marketing service, and a high-converting opt-in form.
2. SMS Text Marketing
SMS marketing, or text message marketing, is a growing field in the world of marketing. And while there’s plenty of potentials, SMS marketing remains elusive, largely because it’s so easy to get it wrong.
To start with, you’ll need a great SMS marketing tool like OptinMonster or ActiveCampaign. Always include an opt-out option, which helps eliminate any friction that might occur; after all, text messages are a very personal way of community.
Use SMS to send exclusive deals and offers, run contests, gather feedback, and much more. Be sure there’s always a call to action. Every SMS should answer two important consumer questions: “How do I benefit?” and “What action do I need to take to receive these benefits?”
3. Local SEO
Local SEO refers to the practice of increasing search visibility for brick and mortar businesses and certain online businesses. Regardless, this brand of search engine optimization focuses on optimizing local search results.
For example, as a coffee shop in Seattle, you would want your coffee shop to show in “coffee shop in Seattle” and “coffee shops near me” results made locally. Similarly, if most of your customers are in particular locations, you might use local SEO to attract them.
One of the biggest reasons why local SEO is so important is because nearly half of all Google searches are looking for local information. Furthermore, 72% of consumers that conducted a local search visited a store within five miles.
4. Influencer Marketing
There’s no doubt you’ve heard of influencer marketing by now. Influencer marketing is a practice where brands work with influential people to help promote their products and services in a more organic way.
The reason why influencer marketing is so effective is that the majority of consumers trust people they know and this includes the social media accounts they follow.
Consumers turn to influencers because they’re well-versed in a particular niche or industry without being biased and they represent real lives versus commercial lives.
5. Social Media Advertising
Social media advertising can be a game-changer for your business. And while many brands have social media pages, there’s so much more to social media marketing than simply posting updates and promoting products and services.
It’s important to understand the difference between social media marketing and social media advertising. Social media marketing encompasses all the unpaid techniques you use to connect with your audience via social media platforms. Social media advertising, on the other hand, refers to the paid methods you use to drive sales.
To create an effective social media advertising strategy, you need to set SMART goals and have a thorough understanding of who your audience is. Begin by analyzing where most of your customers are? Are they on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Pinterest, or another social platform?
Next, consider the content that would perform well if you amplified it. You don’t need to create a full-blown commercial for your ad. Take a look at the content that’s already performing well and promote it.
Use demographic and behavioral filters on your audience where necessary and use custom audiences when applicable. Lastly, don’t forget about social media remarketing, a practice that encourages users to visit you again if they’ve already visited your site before.
