Why I Love Digital Marketing

When I tell people I am a digital marketer, I often take it for granted that they know what I mean.

So a few days ago, when my niece asked me what do digital marketers do, it shocked me!

I know I’m not alone. Other digital marketers and marketing consultants that I’ve come across have met the same question too.

As mentioned in this article, there’s a digital skills gap. There’s a growing demand for people with digital skills, particularly for those in the middle-income bracket, specifically soft skills.

So I wrote this article to help persons like my niece understand what digital marketers do. And in case you are considering it as a career option, I hope the article helps you out too.

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What Digital Marketers Do

The ongoing shift to the digital media landscape as an effective marketing method is affecting every industry as we speak.

It says here that internet users increasing at phenomenal rates worldwide, on the latest count in 2016, there were a recorded 2.21 billion more internet users than 2015, totalling a grand 3.5 billion users today.

As a digital marketer, I learn and adapt, as there is no set rule or method to follow. Due to the constant change in the industry, I have to be on top of my game in:

website design,
web development,
search engine optimisation (SEO),
search engine marketing (PPC advertising)
social media marketing
mobile marketing
influencer marketing
video/audio production
marketing automation,
web design
blog post writing skills
copywriting and editing,
Google Analytics, Google Trends, etc
business/marketing strategy
content planning, content management and curation,
online reputation management
sales and marketing, i.e. “smarketing”
e-commerce and so much more.

For instance, social media marketing enables companies to be in direct contact with their target audience on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and so on. This allows for feedback and relevant information to be gleaned from in a matter of minutes from your target audience.

It is an effective method that allows companies to establish, maintain and monitor relationships with both their targeted audiences.

Digital Marketing Institute notes that 93% of online activity starts with a search engine and ensures the continued effectiveness of SEO as a superior marketing strategy while about 80% of Americans make an online purchase at least once a month.

So as you can see from the above stats, as a digital marketer I have a lot of work to do.

There is no room for complacency here, as my clients are relying on me to produce answers to their questions. And helping them derive tangible results from their digital efforts.

I have to come up with relevant content, quality content, and interesting content consistently for my clients’ digital campaign. It is my duty to help all my clients (whether large brands or one-person businesses ) maintain a dominant online presence actively.

It is my duty as a digital marketer to familiarise myself with new platforms or applications. To see how my clients can further use it in reaching their target audience. Click To Tweet

Through this website, my newsletter, blog, social networks, etc., the opportunities for reaching my target group are endless.

Running a digital marketing agency has given me some added benefits that help in my unique situation.

I love it because of its fast-moving, fast-changing environment. Platforms and applications are launching every day in our digital world. I love being part of a 3.5 billion online community because that opens up countless opportunities for me to help businesses grow.

It is my duty to be aware of trends in web design, social media, search engine optimization, email marketing, content marketing, online marketing, digital media and a lot more.

It is my duty as a digital marketer to familiarise myself with new digital channels, platforms or applications. To see how my clients can further use it in reaching their target audience. To see what digital partnerships, I can form that will benefit my agency and clients.

Through it, I get a true insight into audience behaviour and how my customers interact with my content. It also provides direct opportunities for me to engage with them in real-time.

Another reason I love digital marketing is that it is always evolving. Each time Google or Facebook introduces a new algorithm update, I have to learn how it impacts on my digital marketing plan and the ability of my marketing message to reach my audience.

So there’s never a dull moment. The bar for digital advertising keeps getting raised higher, and only the best survive!

For me, one of the most significant advantages of digital marketing is its low cost. However, these days, the competition in the online advertising and marketing tech space is so much that the cost involved in it is rising drastically. However, it offers tremendous benefits in our digital economy if done right.

With tools like social media advertising, infographic, video advertising, mobile marketing and email (which cost less than traditional printed materials), you can reach a vast audience across the globe in real-time as compared with any other traditional method.

However, despite its low cost, it adds value to your business, no matter whether you’re a one-person show, a small business, or a global brand.

Another advantage of it for me is that it offers better brand awareness and brand control. With a good content marketing strategy, I can target people I want to engage with by location, industry, and so on. Therefore, content marketing is critical in modern-day marketing strategies.

With traditional advertising and promotion, I limit the ability to control my brand. With traditional medium, I don’t have output control and my contact is indirect until my audience reacts to my offerings.

Related to my brand control are my brand engagement and exposure. Through platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and so on, I engage with existing and potential customers.

Engaging with customers is vital to growing your digital presence and business. Digital marketing has the potential to bring extended exposure to my personal and business brand.

The share buttons on my blog and other social media platforms help my blog visitors to make my content travel far on the web!

Through this website, newsletter, blog, social networks, etc., the opportunities for reaching my target audience are endless. Click To Tweet

If combined with a well-executed search engine optimisation campaign, it has vast potential in the digital world of today.

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Another advantage of digital marketing lies in its ability to be inbound, permission-based and non-intrusive. Unlike traditional marketing, where I push my marketing message to the public whether or not people show interest in my services.

With it, I get a true insight into my audience behaviour. I see how my audience shows their interest in my services and permits me to market to them by subscribing to my newsletter, liking and following me on various social networks. Thus, my audience does not view my marketing message as intrusive.

Through my website, my newsletter, blog, relevant content, social networks, etc., the opportunities for reaching my target group through an effective method are endless.

Also, by my developing an ever-expanding portfolio of marketing achievements, I can negotiate competitive rates.

As noted here, it is an industry that not only rewards creativity, but it also relies heavily on input and guidance from analytical types; those who know how to connect with others, and those who seem to always exist on the leading edge of technology.

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Another advantage of digital marketing lies in its ability to be inbound, permission-based and non-intrusive.

Unlike traditional marketing, where I push my marketing message to the public whether or not people are interested in my services.

With digital marketing, my audience shows their interest in my services and permits me to market to them by subscribing to my newsletter, liking and following me on various social networks. Thus, my audience does not view my marketing message as intrusive.

You should love digital marketing too, since about 40% of the world population lives on the Internet! So why would you look anywhere else for your customers?

However, another key finding according to this article is that while 38% of consultants spend 81-100% of their marketing efforts on digital, 13% still say that 80% of their marketing still happens offline.

Why Do You Like Digital Marketing?

You should love digital marketing too, since about 40% of the world population lives on the Internet!

According to Smart Insights, some most in-demand skills for 2017 were digital advertising, content creation, content strategy, and social media, which is splendid news for those who veer towards the creative, social and business end of the spectrum.

I see how my audience shows interest in my services and permits me to market to them by their subscription to my newsletter, liking and following me on various social networks. Click To Tweet

Conclusion

So over to you. Since you’re reading this post, I assume it is okay for me to ask you: Why do you like digital marketing?

Let me know in the comment section below. I’m curious to see if you and I share the same opinions on why we like it.

Do you have questions about how to improve your digital marketing, SEO, content marketing, social media marketing and any other aspects of your marketing campaign? Or would you prefer a one-on-one marketing consultation? Let me know. I’d be glad to help.

What Digital Marketers Do