Digital Marketing 101: Understanding the Basics
“Not only are bloggers suckers for the remarkable, so are the people who read blogs.” - Seth Godin
Introduction:
Ever feel like you’re trying to figure out an entire foreign language when it comes to getting noticed online? Relax—you’re not alone. Digital marketing can seem huge and confusing at first, but in reality, it’s just about reaching people where they spend time (the internet) using strategies that speak directly to their needs.
Below is a straightforward guide introducing the basics of digital marketing. Use it to kick-start your own efforts, and remember—imperfect action beats inaction! Start publishing, learn as you go, and tweak your strategy over time.
With that said, here are 4 core elements to the digital marketing foundation! 👊
1. SEO: The Foundation of Online Visibility
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is about making your website friendly for search engines like Google. When you optimize your site—by using relevant keywords, earning quality backlinks, and delivering great content—search engines rank your pages higher. That means more people can discover your brand.
Example of an SEO Tactic: If you run a bakery, use terms like “best cupcake bakery in [City Name]” or “fresh artisan bread daily” in your blog or product descriptions.
Suggested Image: A photo of someone typing “bakery near me” into a search bar on a clean, minimalistic background.
Cite your sources for SEO best practices if you’re referencing any specific data points (e.g., Moz or Ahrefs for statistics on search volume).
2. PPC: Reaching the Right People, Fast
Pay-Per-Click (PPC) ads—such as Google Ads—help you jump directly into relevant search results or targeted social media feeds. You pay only when someone actually clicks your ad. It’s the fast track to generating leads, especially if you’re just starting out.
Example of a PPC Tactic: Use Google Ads to target “cupcake lovers” in your city with a special coupon for first-time orders.
Suggested Image: A screenshot of a simple Google Ads campaign interface or an ad example with a catchy headline.
Remember to track clicks, conversions, and costs so you can see if your ad is paying off.
3. Content Marketing: Telling Your Story
Content marketing is all about creating useful, interesting content—blog posts, videos, podcasts—that attract your ideal audience. The goal: show potential customers you know your stuff and can help them solve a problem.
Example of a Content Marketing Tactic: A weekly blog post sharing baking tips or sweet recipes if you’re a bakery.
Suggested Media: A short video of you decorating cupcakes or a blog post with step-by-step images.
Cite your inspirations, stats, or recipe origins as needed. For example, link to a reputable cooking site if you reference specific temperature guidelines.
4. Social Media Strategies: Engage & Grow
From Facebook to TikTok, social media can dramatically expand your reach if used wisely. But it’s not just about posting pictures. Focus on engaging your audience—start conversations, ask questions, run polls, etc.
Example of a Social Media Tactic: Use Instagram Reels to showcase behind-the-scenes of your bakery at 5 a.m., highlighting fresh ingredients and the daily routine.
Suggested Image: A stylized screenshot of an Instagram feed featuring a brand’s cohesive color palette and engaging captions.
Track likes, shares, and comments. That’s your measure of engagement.
Bonus: Quick Checklist for Your Blog
Create Your Blog Page
Add a blog element to your site (compact or list view).
Start with an enticing layout that resonates with your branding.
Identify Blog Topics
Reflect on your audience’s interests. Tools like Answer The Public can spark ideas.
Draft an Outline
Align topics with your company goals—do you want brand awareness, leads, or sales?
Write Conversationally
Pretend you’re chatting with a friend—no need for heavy jargon.
Pick a Catchy Title
Something that promises value and piques curiosity (e.g., “5 Tasty Social Media Tips You Knead!”).
Use Media
Include images, short videos, or even GIFs to bring your words to life.
Add Data & Citations
Back up claims with references to official studies, stats, or expert articles.
End with a CTA
Ask readers to do something—schedule a call, sign up for your newsletter, try a recipe, etc.
Edit for 30 Minutes
Polish the final post for clarity, grammar, and style.
1. It drives long-term results
A blog is an essential tool for building a long-term relationship with your audience. The best blogs will eventually become an extension of your company’s culture and marketing strategy, which means that each article you publish has the potential to create a lasting impact on your brand.
Your blog serves as a platform through which you can share information, knowledge, and tips on your preferred topics. This allows you to provide valuable content with value in return. The more time readers spend on your website, the more chances there are for them to get familiarized with your business and become customers down the line.
2. Blogging helps with link building
Your blog should be the top source of information for your business. By writing consistently on your blog, you’ll want to build links back to your website and help increase its authority.
You can use a free service like Google Analytics to track how many people are visiting your site. This will give you an idea of what kind of traffic is coming in from where. You can then decide whether or not it makes sense to invest money into advertising.
If you have a blog that has been around for a while, you may find yourself having trouble getting new readers. If this is the case, there are many things you can do to get more traffic to your site.
You need to make sure that you are providing value in some way to your audience. This means that you should be offering something of interest and benefit to them. You will also want to provide quality content on a regular basis.
Make sure you have an RSS feed so that people can subscribe to your blog. This will allow them to receive updates whenever you post new articles.
3. It increases SEO
Search engine optimization is a vital part of any successful digital marketing campaign. A well-written blog can improve your search rankings by helping you rank higher in search engines. When someone searches for a topic related to your niche, they will often click on the first few pages of results. These are usually the websites that have the most relevant content.
If you want to get more traffic from Google and other search engines, make sure you use keywords throughout your site. This means using them in titles, headers, subtitles, and even in the body of your articles. If you do this, it will help people find what they’re looking for when they type in a keyword or phrase into their browser.
This means that regardless of what your business offers, your target audience is likely searching for products or services like yours on search engines like Google.
Conclusion & Call to Action
Digital marketing doesn’t have to be intimidating. By mastering the basics—SEO, PPC, content marketing, and social media—you’ll reach your ideal audience faster and more effectively. The key is to start, even if it’s not perfect. Keep tracking results, refining content, and testing new ideas.
Ready to power up your online presence? Pick one tactic from above—maybe it’s writing your first blog post on SEO tips, or launching a quick PPC campaign—and just do it. For more targeted strategies or a full digital marketing plan, reach out and let us guide you through the process.
Remember: imperfect action beats inaction. The digital world waits for no one, so jump in!
For a FREE marketing strategy call contact us at 601-463-9511/[email protected]!
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Start your own blog checklist:
Here is a quick checklist to get you started with you website blow. Remember imperfect action beats inaction, get started and keep publishing.
Start planning your blog topics by Identifying what resonates with your audience. If you are stuck you can use sites like - https://answerthepublic.com/
