7 Online Marketing Activities to Build Your Practice

In the internet age, marketing on the web is essential. If you’re looking to build a practice as a professional online marketer, here are 7 actionable steps to take in 2022.

1. Build a Portfolio

The first step in the development process is to build a portfolio. This is simply a collection of content that you’ve created over time for various clients or businesses. You’ll want to build out a website, gather as much content as possible, and begin creating customised examples of your work. You could even look into starting a blog if you haven’t done so already, as content marketing is a popular and effective way to build a brand and develop an audience. Your portfolio should include:

  • Samples Of Your Work – To develop as an online marketer, you’ll want to create a variety of content for different platforms. These should be gathered into a single place so that you can easily show clients your range and demonstrate your expertise. Create some samples of keyword-rich content for use on blogs and websites that you’ve built, and include any case studies or examples of popular work that you’ve done. Make sure to vary the language and style that you use when creating content, as this will make you seem more like an expert rather than just another generic content creator.
  • Blogs – Start a blog. Blogging is a fantastic way to build your brand and develop your audience. Even if you’ve only got a few hundred words per post, you could potentially reach a few thousand readers per month. The great thing about blogging is that you can literally treat it like a content marketing exercise, focusing on creating useful and value-packed content that connects with your audience. As well as building your blog, you could look into starting a podcast or recording a YouTube video series to extend your reach and establish yourself as an expert in your industry.
  • Websites – Start a website. Similar to a blog, a website provides you with a platform to engage with potential clients and showcase your work. Unlike a blog though, a website provides you with a fully-fledged platform that you can brand, optimise, and monetise. When choosing a niche, make sure that there’s enough demand for your products or services in your chosen niche. Look for the “money words” (e.g. affiliate marketing, CPA marketing, PPC marketing, and so on) that your potential clients are likely to use to find your business online. When choosing a legal website builder, ensure that the platform allows you to fully customise the layout of your site, as this will impact how your site looks to users and how easy it is to find what you’re looking for.
  • SEO-optimised Landing Pages – For any new site that you build, make sure to use a reputable SEO company to help build your site initially, and then maintain it on a regular basis. These specialists can help maximise the search exposure of your site and bring in targeted traffic using various methods, such as SEO content marketing, SEO banner marketing, and so on. If you want to learn more, explore our SEO 101 guide to get started.
  • Socially-relevant Content – Create content that’s both relevant and interesting to your target audience. There are a variety of methods that you can use to engage with your audience, including video content, infographics, and web pages. Look for topics and niches that you’re familiar with, and establish yourself as an expert in your industry by creating valuable content that contributes to the discourse.
  • Product Review Blogs – Reviews are important, especially when it comes to B2C brands. If you have a look at some of the most successful consumer brands, you’ll see that most of them have established themselves as leaders in their industry through effective review programs. You could create a product review blog as a way to establish your expertise and earn some money from your knowledge. Look for industries and markets that you’re familiar with, and then use your in-house expert knowledge to offer valuable tips and tricks on the topic.
  • E-commerce Websites – If you want to build a successful practice as an online marketer, you’ll eventually want to venture into e-commerce. Launching an online shop allows you to directly connect with customers, engage with them through compelling content, and monetise products that they’re interested in. When choosing an e-commerce platform, bear in mind that you’ll need to learn how to use it and build your store from the ground up. Ensure that you choose a reputable platform and that you create an effective store from the get-go. Once you’ve got your shop up and running, consider using a tool like Shopify to make running your store much easier.
  • Podcasts – Start a podcast. Similar to a blog, a podcast is a digital publication that you can use to engage with your audience and showcase your work. The great thing about podcasts is that you can literally talk to your audience and answer questions about your niche. The more you do, the more you’ll discover to talk about. Find a niche that you’re passionate about, and then use your podcast to establish yourself as an expert in your industry.
  • LinkedIn – LinkedIn is one of the most popular professional networks on the web, with over 500 million active monthly users. If you want to grow your business, then LinkedIn is a must. With over 200 skills and career opportunities available to you, the ability to connect with other professionals and grow your network is always available. If you want to find a job in your industry, then LinkedIn is a must. Not only will it connect you with hundreds of thousands of professionals, but it also allows you to discover endless opportunities that you might not have even considered.

2. Build A Base

Once you’ve got your portfolio established, it’s time to start building a base of clients. The best way to do this is to use various marketing strategies to reach people in your industry. When choosing marketing activities, make sure to vary the platforms that you use and ensure that you try new things regularly. This will help establish you as an expert in your industry.

3. Create Content That’s Actually Useful

The next step in the process is to create content that’s actually useful. To do this, you’ll want to establish yourself as an expert in your industry by creating content that’s both relevant and interesting to your target audience. There are a variety of methods that you can use to engage with your audience, including video content, infographics, and web pages. Look for topics and niches that you’re familiar with, and establish yourself as an expert in your industry by creating valuable content that contributes to the discourse.

4. Measure The Results Of Your Activities

Now that you’re starting to establish yourself as an expert in your industry, it’s time to measure the results of your efforts. Just because you’ve created a blog or a podcast doesn’t mean that you’ll automatically start earning money from it. To start generating revenue, you’ll need to find and engage with an audience on social media. Once you’ve got a decent sized audience on social media, it’s time to explore the different options that you have for monetising content.

5. Monetisation

The final step in the process is to monetise the content that you’ve created. Just because you’ve engaged with an audience on social media doesn’t mean that they’re necessarily interested in purchasing your products or services. To ultimately monetise content, you’ll want to find a way to make money from your blog or podcast. The great thing about the internet is that there’s a variety of revenue-generating opportunities available, from displaying adverts, to using affiliate marketing, to selling and creating your own products. Once you’ve established yourself as an expert in your industry, it’s time to explore these various options and see which ones might work for you.

As you can see, establishing an online practice as a marketer is a lengthy process. Just remember that with time, effort, and responsibility, you can most definitely succeed.