If you’re looking to better understand the world of online marketing, then this blog post is for you. We’ll cover everything from the theoretical foundations to practical tips. Make sure to bookmark the page so you can come back for more info.

Theoretical Underpinnings

Before we get started, it is imperative that you understand the difference between online marketing and digital marketing. The former is often referred to as “traditional” internet marketing, and it involves marketing products and services that are available on a digital platform (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, or Google Ads). The latter is often referred to as “digital” marketing, and it involves marketing products and services that are connected to the internet (e.g., email marketing, blogging, social media, or mobile advertising).

You’ll often hear marketers and experts in the space use the terms synonymously, but they are different animals. For example, let’s say you’re a travel agency that specializes in luxury cruises. You could run ads on a travel website to attract potential customers. But once they arrive on your site, you can guide them to make a booking with you by referring them to a luxury cruise that you know is on your agency’s travel itinerary. This is an example of online marketing.

Traditional Versus Digital Marketing

If you’re brand new to the field, then it can be tricky to discern the differences between traditional and digital marketing; however, once you familiarize yourself with the fundamentals, the nuances become more apparent. Here are some basic guidelines to follow.

• In traditional marketing, you’ll often find that the target audience is aware of the brand or product that you’re promoting. This is typically proven in retail surveys where a majority of respondents are familiar with the brands or products being advertised.
• In digital marketing, the brand or product that you’re promoting is often not as familiar to the audience. This can make it more challenging to get the attention of potential customers, and it requires a different approach.
• One of the most significant differences between traditional and digital marketing is that with the former, you’ll need to purchase advertising in order to gain visibility in the marketplace. With digital marketing, you can gain visibility through various platforms (e.g., social media) without having to advertise. This can save you both time and money in the long run.
• As previously stated, digital marketing is often considered to be “modern” or “traditional” internet marketing. But what is traditional internet marketing? According to HubSpot Blogger,
  • In the past, individuals learned about products and services through hard copies of directories and newspapers. These are still viable ways of finding leads, but digital marketing has evolved to become a multi-channel, data-driven approach to lead generation.
  • Traditional internet marketing is often used synonymously with digital marketing, but it can still be considered “modern” in nature. Think, for example, of traditional magazine or newspaper advertising. However, the difference is that with digital marketing, you don’t need to rely solely on paid ads to gain visibility. You can use various platforms (e.g., social media) to do the same.
  • Paid advertising on a digital platform (e.g., Facebook or Google Ads) is often considered “traditional” or “organic” internet marketing. While it is still available, organic marketing is no longer considered a dominant lead generation tactic, as many businesses already have large followings on social media. However, organic marketing can still serve a purpose – in some cases, it even outperforms paid advertising.
  • Depending on your niche, you can use various tools to grow your audience on social media. For example, if you’re a hair products manufacturer, you can use social media to listen to and interact with customers who have similar interests. This is called “market research” and it can help you figureheads develop new products and offer unique deals to stimulate sales.
  • If you’re interested in using social media to gain exposure and leads for your business, then it’s critical that you follow the right procedures. One of the first things that you should do is create a business account on each platform that you plan to use. This will ensure that you have a spot to disseminate content, that your account is active, and that you’re able to engage with customers on a consistent basis. It’s also a good idea to follow the rules and guidelines that correspond with each platform. For example, Facebook prohibits the use of pop-up and pop-under ads, so be wary of any advertiser that uses these tactics.
  • Once you have an established audience on a particular platform, then you can begin to use that platform to its fullest potential. While you can and should be active on all of the social media channels that you establish, you can take this a step further by using social media to grow your audience and engage with customers in a more personal manner. Create content that is engaging and interesting, and make sure to interact with your audience on a consistent basis.
  • Depending on your expertise, you can use your blog to establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry. By regularly producing and publishing content that is both authoritative and valuable, you can increase your visibility in your industry, gather some online fans, and even inspire individuals to purchase your products or services. Think of prominent industry figures such as Gary Vaynerchuk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jack Dorsey.

  How To Create a Successful Blog

  Blogs and content platforms like Medium are extremely useful for marketing and business purposes. Not only can you put your thoughts and experiences into words and make them available to others, but you can also use a blog to establish yourself as an expert in your industry. If you want to learn more, then be sure to check out this comprehensive guide to starting a blog in 2020.

  Practical Tips

  There are several tips and tricks for effective online marketing including a few that relate specifically to blogging and content strategy. Keep in mind that while some of these tips may seem obvious, they still need to be reiterated due to the amount of businesses that still go unchecked.