Digital marketing is a complicated business that has exploded in the last ten years. It’s hard to keep up with all of the new tools, techniques and nuances. It’s hard to know who to trust and what information is reliable. The truth is, there is still so much to learn, and there are still so many things that you need to know. John Andraos advisor to the President of The Demand Institute, has put together a series of articles to help you understand what you need to know about digital marketing.
Digital marketing can be intimidating. It’s hard to trust a seller you don’t know, and it’s hard to know what information is true. There are so many opinions and opinions get very confusing quickly. Even the digital marketing pros can be a little bit in the dark about what digital marketing actually is. This article is designed to help clear up some confusion and answer five of the biggest digital marketing questions. Here Are 5 Things Nobody Told You About Digital Marketing :
1. It’s no longer about the Website:
A lot of people have come to realize that the most important thing about digital marketing isn’t your website. Your website is still important, but it used to be the most important thing. It used to be the only thing you had in a market where information overload was becoming an issue. It used to be the catalyst that helped you grow your brand, get more business and expand your influence.
Those days are gone. You need more than just a pretty website and some good looking ads.. Your contacts, referrals, reviews and social media profiles are now what really make you stand out in the market. The rest of the stuff is only a nice cherry on top, and it doesn’t make up for a bad website.
2. You Don’t Have to Buy Strong SEO:
It used to be that you needed an SEO expert in order to build your brand page. You were competing against companies with huge budgets and strong SEO tactics, so you had to spend lots of money in order to compete. Those days are gone. These days your competition just might be another small business with a good looking website and some good looking ads.
An SEO expert can make your brand page look good, but it’s not the be all end all. It’s not going to make you a household name overnight. It’s just going to make you look better than your competition. You can still do this on your own if you need to, and so can any small business or entrepreneur.
3. You Shouldn’t Be Afraid of Social Media:
Social media is still important in this era of information overload and too many opinions. Social media is the first place people go when they are looking for information about a new product or service, but that doesn’t mean social media is the only place they go. Your website is still an important part of the equation, and so are your reviews and profits.
Social media can be a great source of new customers, but it’s not a replacement for good old fashioned marketing or advertising. You can’t sell your goods or services to people who are already buyers. Social media is where you sell yourself, and that doesn’t change as long as there are customers out there. Social media is also a great way to build your brand page, get more business, and work on reviews, referrals and profits while you are at it.
4. It Doesn’t Have to Be Hard:
You don’t have to be a programmer or a marketing expert in order to build your digital brand page. You just need to know what you want, who you are and where you are trying to go. You have to have a website that looks good, that sells your goods or services and that reflects your professional image. You also have to have an online presence as strong as your offline presence. This can be as easy or complex as you want it to be, but it does take some time and thought if you really want it done right.
5. Blogging is Still Important:
One thing that has not changed over the last ten years is the importance of blogging. Blogging is still a great way to build your brand and get more business, and it’s still a way to make good money. Blogging is hard, because it’s easy to become irrelevant in this day and age. It’s easy for people to get caught up with the newest thing, lose interest and move on without you.
You have to blog regularly, and you have to blog in a way that will pique the interest of your potential customers. That’s what keeps them coming back and makes them feel like they know more than you know. It’s also a great way to build your brand page, get more business and keep you top of mind with the people who matter most.
