What Is Digital Marketing 2024 How Does Digital Marketing Work?

With digital marketing, you can show off your yummy treats to people all over, not just those nearby. For example, if someone searches for tasty pastries, your bakery could pop up at the top of the list. And how will you do that? With the help of digital marketing. 

With the help of it, you can promote your content online by advertising on social media. Social media is a big part of digital marketing. Lots of people use it, about 4.9 billion in 2023, and that number is growing every year by 5.1%. 

Platforms like Facebook and Instagram lets you connect with customers, share cool stuff, and even advertise your bakery to specific groups. 

Glossier, a well-known beauty brand, started in 2014 as an Instagram account run by Emily Wix, a beauty industry influencer. They didn’t have a physical store or even many products initially. The results? Glossier achieved a cult-like following and multimillion dollar valuation within a few years, all thanks to a strategic and well-executed digital marketing approach.

They didn’t have a traditional marketing budget, but by strategically using social media, influencer marketing, and content creation, they were able to build a loyal customer base and become a major player in the beauty industry. Glacier wonderfully used the power of digital marketing to grow their business. 

What is Traditional marketing

Traditional marketing is like shouting across the crowded playground to get everyone’s attention. So in traditional marketing, let’s say TV ads and billboards.

Think commercial and joint posters trying to reach a lot of people at once. Second example would be newspapers and flyers spreading messages through printing materials delivered to homes or handed out to streets. 

What is Digital Marketing

So in this article on What is Digital Marketing, we will be covering the basics of digital marketing, starting with an introduction to what it is, how it is different from digital marketing. We will explore how digital marketing works, breaking down the steps in easy to understand terms. You will also learn about effective strategies you can use to make the most out of digital marketing for your business.

All right, so let’s understand what digital marketing is. So digital marketing is the art of using the Internet to promote products or services to people who might be interested in them. Instead of relying solely on traditional methods like newspaper, ads, or flyers, digital marketing takes advantage of online platforms like websites, social media, emails, and search engines. Did you know that 89% of Americans go online every day, and about 30 91% are online nearly all the time. This means it’s super important to be online too.

By having ads and stuff online, you can make your brand known, give customers a great experience, and even get more people interested in what you offer. By using digital channels like social media, pay-per-click ads, search engine optimization, and email marketing to connect with existing customers, you can measure your success in numbers.

Tracking websites, visits, and social media engagement, email open rates, and more are also used in this. This data helps you understand what’s working and what’s not, allowing you to adjust your strategy to maximise the results.

All right, so this was about digital marketing. Now, let’s understand how digital marketing is different from traditional marketing. So digital marketing and traditional marketing are like two sides of a coin. They both aim to promote products or services, but they do it in different ways. 

Digital marketing aspect

So digital marketing, however, is like whispering directly in the ear of a person who wants a particular product. So let’s say online ads. Placing ads on websites or search engines that people who are already interested in your steps will see. Next is social media. Connecting with people on platforms like Facebook and Instagram where you can show them why your product is the best. Then another example would be targeted emails. Sending messages directly to people who might be interested, like offering a discount on their first product purchase, is another benefit of digital marketing.

So basically, digital marketing is more specific and targeted marketing. All right. Now, let’s understand how it actually works. 

How Digital marketing works

Digital marketing works by leveraging the power of the internet and technology to connect with potential customers. This involves using online tools to reach and engage with your audience where they spend most of their time. That is the internet. Let’s have a look at some. 

SEO (search engine optimisation)

First on the list is SEO. This helps your website show up in higher search engine results, making it more likely for people to find you when they search for something you offer. For example, when someone in your area searches for a freshly baked pastry, SEO ensures that your bakery’s website appears at the top of the search results. This increases the chance of local customers finding your bakery online when they’re looking for baked goods. All right, so this was about SEO. 

Content Marketing

This involves creating useful and interesting content like blogs, videos, and social media posts can attract and retain customers. For example, you could create engaging content such as blog posts about the history of pastries, tutorial videos on cake decoration, or photos of your creations on social media.

This content not only showcases your expertise, but also keeps your audience engaged and interested in what you offer. 

social media marketing

So this social media marketing involves using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to connect with your audience and share content that encourages them to interact with your brand. 

For example, you can use delicious images of your bakery goods, interact with customers by responding to comments and messages, and even run contests or promotions to attract more people to your store. 

That is the bakery. Coming to the next one, which is email marketing. So email marketing is like having a personal connection with your customers. It involves using email to connect with potential and existing customers. It’s essentially sending commercial messages, but with a permission-based approach. 

People who sign up for your email list are essentially giving you the green light to send them information. For example, you can collect email addresses from your customers who visit the bakery, and you can send them regular updates about new pasty flavours, special promotions, or upcoming events at your bakery. 

This personalised communication keeps your brand top of mind and encourages repeat business.

Pay Per Click or PPC advertising

Pay Per Click or PPC advertising is an online advertising model where advertisers pay a fee each time their ad is clicked. It’s a way of buying visits to your website rather than attempting to earn those visits organically. Ppc ads typically appear alongside search engine results or on social media platforms, and advertisers bid on keywords to display their ads to the relevant audiences. 

For example, you could create ads that appear when people search for terms like best bakery in your town or target social media users based on their interest in baking or desserts. 

With PPC, you only pay when someone clicks on your ad, making it cost-effective. Effective way to attract potential customers to your bakery’s website or social media profiles. Now that we have discussed the types of digital marketing strategies, let us understand how you can implement each of these strategies. So first, identify your names. 

The first step is understanding who you want to reach. Imagine them as people who might be interested in your product or services. This is like picturing the people who would love your bakery. Are they busy professionals looking for a quick breakfast pastry or maybe families with sweet teeth?