Digital marketing lets brands get insights into their clients and interact with them in specific and intimate ways. It’s also a much more efficient and cost-effective way to reach your intended audience than traditional marketing strategies. It doesn’t matter if you’re using channels such as email or social media and optimizing your content to optimize for search engines (SEO) or creating a complete content marketing plan. Digital marketing should be a component of every marketer’s strategies.
Before diving into digital marketing, let’s look at the common misconception. The terms internet and online marketing are often utilized interchangeably with digital marketing. Although they are both related, however, there are some subtle distinctions. While highlighting the differences between these two terms, this article will discuss:
- What is digital marketing?
- The story of marketing via digital
- The advantages of digital marketing
- Learn more about digital marketing
How do you define digital marketing?
Digital marketing uses digital channels and devices such as smartphones, computers, and other media — to conduct marketing purposes such as promoting brands or products. It encompasses online channels such as social media, email SEO, and others, as well as electronic billboards, TV, and radio.
Digital marketing isn’t the equivalent of Internet or online marketing. In reality, these terms are part of the digital market. Let’s take a deeper look at these terms.
Marketing via digital
The umbrella term used to describe digital marketing encompasses every digital channel, which includes radio, television, digital billboards, and any other marketing techniques dependent on a tablet, phone, or computer, as well as the Internet. Marketing that relies on the Internet is also included in an additional category called Internet or online marketing.
Marketing on the Internet or online
Digital marketing is a subset of Internet or online marketing, including social media, email SEO, and pay-per-click (PPC). These terms can be interchanged.
The story of digital marketing’s history
A few years ago, channels like television, radio, and electronic billboards became the first types that used digital media for marketing. They were a one-way communication with a large audience, similar to traditional print advertisements. While these conventional methods remain in use today, they are classified as offline digital marketing strategies that don’t have the differences and features of modern online marketing techniques.
Digital marketing in the modern age began to gain traction in the latter part of 1990 due to the advent of online. When people began to interact with brands and others on the web, marketing became an enormous array, including digital media. Marketing no longer dominated the debate. Instead, consumers were empowered to become editors, critics, fashion makers, and trendsetters. The attention span of viewers dwindled because they could turn off any page at any time.
To get customers’ attention, brands have developed their strategies for marketing to incorporate digital experiences tailored to the customer’s specific preferences and requirements — all on the channels they prefer. And that includes digital marketing channels on the Internet, which the majority of people are aware of, which have:
- “Pay-per-click” (PPC) advertising
- Email marketing
- Marketing content
- SEO or Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- SMS Short Message Service (SMS) marketing
- Social marketing through media (SMM)
- SEM stands for Search Engine Marketing. (SEM)
The advantages of digital marketing
Although there are many benefits to all types that digital marketing can provide, online digital marketing is the one that has the most significant impact. Let’s take a look at personalization via offline digital marketing as well as internet-based digital channels for marketing. Regarding offline digital marketing, an organization could promote its products on the radio station targeted at specific groups of people. They could run ads on television on programs that appeal to particular groups or design digital billboards that are more dynamic than traditional billboard advertising. However, these channels provide a different degree of personalization than digital marketing methods.
Let’s examine some of the benefits of modern digital marketing over traditional marketing.
- Accessibility. Modern digital marketing is generally cheaper than traditional methods of marketing. Consider the costs of setting up an online or social media account instead of purchasing billboards to reach the same target audience.
- The reach. The Internet enables users to connect with people across the globe while advertising in a paper or airing commercials on television can only reach one nation or a specific area.
- Personalization. Segmentation is a significant step towards tailoring your marketing messages to particular population segments. Traditional marketing methods were not flexible, whereas modern digital marketing provides highly personalized experiences.
- Flexibility. Modern digital marketing allows you to keep using the marketing initiatives that bring the greatest return on investment and eliminate those that aren’t.
- The ability to measure. Businesses can now determine the source of their traffic and conversions and use the data to make decisions. When a newspaper advertisement reaches worldwide, and the firm hopes it will attract customers, companies can now view the number of visitors to their blog and the percentage of users who clicked on the product page.
Make a plan for your next move and learn more about digital marketing.
Digital marketing is a crucial component of any marketing strategy. It allows you to customize your message for a specific audience and determine how well it is received. Any modifications can be implemented quickly and at minimal costs, allowing you to create connections with your customers by providing the best possible experience. If you’re looking to increase your customers, you’ll be able to connect with customers around the globe in a matter of minutes.
We’ve barely begun to scratch the level. Check out these resources to find out more about the digital marketing process:
- Digital Marketing Strategy: 11 Essential Must-Know Marketing Strategies
- Marketing Channels: An Essential Digital Guide
- Why Digital Marketing is Crucial — No Matter the Size of Your Business
Adobe can assist
A successful marketing plan has to be executed through a top-quality marketing tool. Adobe Marketo Engage uses strong B2C and B2B marketing automation tools to improve each aspect of your customers’ engagement, regardless of channel. It also lets you integrate your sales and marketing teams on the same platform to effectively attract segments, nurture, and attract leads, from discovering your brand until they become your most loyal customers.