Bringing You Some Basics of Digital Marketing
Effective digital marketing doesn’t have to be incredibly complex. As you dive into the marketing world, there are going to be a number of people with opinions and ideas about what you should do first. Or they’ll tell you if you don’t do XYZ, your business is going to fail. That’s not what this article is about. Comet Agency isn’t here to scare or intimidate first-time voyagers into the marketing world. We are here to guide, inspire and help you grow.
We have some ideas about what would be the most beneficial things for you to explore first, but this is your company and you make the decisions. We just want to make sure you have all the tools you’ll need.
Marketing basics are the lifeblood from which all great marketing campaigns are born. Brick-by-brick you’ll need to build your brand and voice, and we want you to start off on a solid foundation.
Differentiation
One of the biggest challenges your company will face is setting yourself apart from the crowd. Newer companies can be sidelined by name recognition alone, so it’s important to have a strong sense of identity. Who are you? Why are you different? What markets do your competitors exist in? These are all things you have to look into when starting out. Something as simple as your name could make an extraordinary impact in the competition pool. If your name is too vague or too similar to another company, you may miss out on leads simply because they confuse you with another business. There are, of course, many other factors that will contribute to competition, but the key thing to understand is what will set you apart from the pack.
Audience
A major variable to consider is your audience. The audience, of course, will be the pulse of your business. During the planning process, really get to know your audience. Where do they live? How much income are they making? Do they have families? Are they young? Old? Find your ideal customer and then speak directly to them. Make them feel seen, wanted, and encouraged to utilize the services or products you provide. Other avenues to consider are their social media habits, consumer trends, and decision making practices. Having an intimate knowledge of who your customers are will be an asset to any business.
SMART
We know that you want your business to be the best, and you’re eager to achieve all of your dreams. Burnout is real though, and can be a huge detriment to you and your business. So, we encourage you to keep your goals SMART.
- Specific (simple, sensible, significant).
- Measurable (meaningful, motivating).
- Achievable (agreed, attainable).
- Relevant (reasonable, realistic and resourced, results-based).
- Time bound (time-based, time limited, time/cost limited, timely, time-sensitive)
Every business wants to be the most successful version of themselves, but success takes time. You should always be prepared to play a long game. Having weekly, monthly, yearly, and even five-year goals, will help keep you focused and on track. Remember, everything changes, and you should always be ready to pivot when need be. Willingness to adapt and market flexibility can even help you thrive during unprecedented circumstances, like the COVID-19 pandemic. Have goals, be prepared to have those goals change, and be vigilant to the world around you.
There is no end-all and be-all in digital marketing. Things change, there are new innovations everyday. Having even a small amount of knowledge of marketing basics though will give you a solid foundation. Remember to take stock of your competition, know your audience, and keep your goals SMART. Stay on track, stay focused, play the long game and your business will be a marketable success.
Need help navigating the waters of digital marketing? We can help! Contact Comet Agency today!
