While SEO and SEM are not quite as trendy as they once were, there is still a lot of interest in these areas. If you’re looking to enter the field, either as a career or as a side project to build up your portfolio, then you’ll want to make sure you have the credentials to back up your expertise. Here’s a rundown of the essentials you’ll need to know as an online marketer.

SEO Basics

Whether you’re an SEO noob or a seasoned pro, you’ll always need to start at the basics. This includes understanding the anatomy of a website, how to optimize content, and the differences between search engines. If you’re looking to take your craft further, then you may also want to consider pursuing a degree in search engine optimization. If you don’t have the time to commit to a full degree, then learning the fundamentals through a certification course or apprenticeship will also provide you with the skills you need to become an SEO pro. You can also use tools such as Google’s free Keyword Planner to get started with keyword research for your SEO projects.

SEM Basics

SEM or social media optimization is a form of internet marketing where you use social media platforms to get more website traffic. It typically involves using keywords in your articles and videos in order to have the content displayed when potential customers search for terms on social media platforms like Google or Facebook. You may be familiar with the work of Mad Hippie and their incredible SEM program. If you want to get into the trenches with a top brand name, then you can apply to their Master’s program to take your skills to the next level. Once you’ve learned the ropes from a top-tier company, you can look for side gigs offering training or consulting services to help entrepreneurs and businesses get their online marketing strategy in order.

Marketing Mix

Now that you’re equipped with the basics, it’s time to move on to the fun part: creating and optimizing campaigns for your business. Without a clear idea of what works for your company and what doesn’t, it’s hard to produce successful marketing campaigns. This is where marketers get into trouble: they don’t necessarily follow the proven techniques that get results, but they come up with their own theories about what will make their product or service stand out in the marketplace.

As a new business owner, you’ll have to make important decisions about what to prioritize and how to divvy up your marketing budget. It’s essential to have a clear idea of how each tactic will play out and what the underlying metrics are to measure the results of your campaign. For example, you may want to spend 75% of your marketing budget on SEO and 25% on social media marketing. You can use software like Growthoid to help you develop marketing plans and track their results. By doing this, you’ll be able to evolve your plan as needed and adjust it as you go along.

Local SEO

If you’re looking to enter the field and want to be able to target local audiences, then Google Maps is your best friend. Having a Google Maps listing means that potential customers can find you easily when they’re searching for a business like yours in their area. In order to have a Google Maps account, you’ll need to have a Google Business Profile. If you don’t have this profile, then get it set up now (you can find free Google Business accounts here).

Once you have a Google Maps account, all you need to do is add your business’s address, phone number, and website. Doing this will give you instant credibility when potential customers search for your business on the platform.

Content Strategy

You can’t expect to succeed using tactics from the past. In order to drive organic growth and attract more customers, you’ll need to develop and implement a content strategy. Content strategy is all about creating and implementing a plan to grow and retain your audience via content. While this may seem obvious, a lot of businesses are guilty of going through life as usual and not thinking about the content they’re putting out. This kind of approach will not serve you well in the long run if you want to grow your audience and be able to attract potential customers to your site.

By creating and implementing a content strategy, you’ll be able to set yourself apart from the competition and get ahead of the game. If you want to find out more, then this free video from Digital Marketing Group will teach you everything you need to know about creating a content strategy.

Analytics

If you’re looking to be a data-driven marketer, then you’ll need to learn how to use Google Analytics. This software will help you track the results of your marketing campaigns and measure their effectiveness. You can use this info to tune your strategy and identify areas where you’re doing well and need to improve upon. Analytics can also help you find the qualities that make for a good user – or customer – experience.

You’ll need to have a login to access your Analytics account. If you don’t have one, then create an account now (you can use any email service you want – Gmail, Yahoo, or AOL are all free). Once you’re logged in, you can use the platform to track your website’s traffic, gain a better understanding of your audience, and analyze the performance of various marketing campaigns. With a free trial, you’ll have access to all the essentials needed to get started with Google Analytics.

Digital Marketing

With so much information available online, consumers have the power to find what they want quickly and easily. This is what makes digital marketing so attractive: you can target the right audience and get in front of them with digital marketing platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and Twitter Ads.

Whether you want to advertise your goods and services, endorse a product, or just want to create buzz for your business, you can use digital marketing to make your message reach the right audience. By doing this, you’ll be able to build credibility with consumers and encourage them to learn more about your business.

SEM In Depth

If you’re looking to take your skills further, then you may want to consider pursuing a degree in search engine marketing. This will give you the opportunity to dive into topics like keyword research, content strategy, and landing page optimization. If you want to make sure you’re getting the most out of your SEM efforts, then you may also want to consider using a tool like Keyword Planner to find high-value keywords and phrases that you can use to populate your content with. By doing this, you’ll be able to establish yourself as an expert in the field and convince potential customers that your product or service is what they’re looking for.

The Bottom Line

Getting started in online marketing can be challenging – especially since most industries are moving toward in-house marketing staffs instead of marketing agencies. However, the rewards can be invaluable as you start carving out a successful niche for your business.