The acronym ‘OMCA’ stands for ‘Online Marketing Certified Associate’. This certification is applicable to individuals who want to enter the field of digital marketing. This certification is also known as the ‘Digital Marketing Merit Badge’ or the ‘Digital Marketing Minor’.
The exam is administered by the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s) and the American Advertising Federation (AAF). Only individuals who register and pay for the certification can take the exam. The registration process is free. Candidates are advised to research the topics covered in the certification before taking the exam.
The certification exam is designed to reflect the knowledge and skills required to function effectively in today’s ever-evolving digital marketing world. The examination is also intended to match the curriculum of most reputable marketing programs.
What Is Digital Marketing
Put simply, digital marketing is all about marketing using digital technologies (such as websites, mobile phones, and digital billboards), and it represents the overall approach marketers use to attract customers and engage with them online.
This may include marketing efforts such as SEO, PPC, and social media. However, to fully participate in the digital economy, marketers should have a basic understanding of the technologies used in the various sectors (e.g., digital agribusiness, digital insurance, etc.).
Additionally, while SEO is a highly technical and specialized area of digital marketing, understanding the basics of SEO and knowing how to implement it effectively on a larger scale are essential.
Importance Of Digital Marketing To Businesses
To follow the metaphor, SEO is the fuel that gives a business its energy (which, in turn, generates revenue).
In other words, without a strong online presence and effective SEO, a business will simply run out of gas (leaving thousands in revenue on the table).
Because all businesses need customers to survive, it is in the best interest of every business to have a digital marketing strategy. As a business owner, you must understand that creating and implementing a digital marketing strategy is not a one-shot deal; it is an ongoing process that requires your attention and dedication (especially in the beginning).
Additionally, while SEO and other forms of digital marketing are considered “free” marketing tools, they are not free. Businesses need to ensure they are investing in the right approaches to gain traction in today’s crowded marketplace.
Difference Between SEO, Content Marketing, And Digital Marketing
To put it simply, SEO is the process of getting traffic from the search engines to your website. Content marketing is the process of marketing a product or service through the creation and distribution of high-quality content.
To be clear, SEO and content marketing are both forms of digital marketing, and they are both extremely important. However, they serve different purposes. SEO is all about getting traffic while content marketing is about engaging the audience and keeping them interested in and engaged with your content.
Getting Traffic And Converting It Into Customers
Getting traffic and turning it into customers is the key to growing a business. Without a steady stream of customers, you will never be able to grow your business and therefore you will never be able to earn a substantial income from it.
To put it simply, when a customer comes to your site and makes a purchase or signs up for a free trial, you have succeeded in converting that traffic into a customer. At this point, you can consider the acquisition (i.e., getting the customer) to be a part of your SEO or content marketing efforts, but you should not consider it to be the end of the process.
As a business owner, manager, or marketer, you must understand the importance of SEO and other forms of digital marketing in order to successfully engage with and attract customers to your company. Additionally, you must understand the difference between getting traffic and converting it into customers so you can properly allocate your resources and effort between the two processes (i.e., gaining traction and growth vs. merely sustaining operations).