If you are a business owner or someone who is interested in growing their business, you need to be aware of the importance of digital marketing. It is no longer "nice to do or have," it has become a necessity for any kind of business that wants to succeed in today's economy.

The internet and all its various platforms are the largest distribution channels on Earth. In fact, according to a recent study, nearly 80% of Americans have purchased something online. This means you must have an online presence to get in front of those who shop online. If you are not already doing some type of digital marketing, you are losing revenue that could allow your business to grow substantially.

Keep reading if you want to know why it is important for every business to have a digital marketing strategy and get ideas on what you should be doing.

Why Digital Marketing Is Important for Every Business

Every business, no matter how big or small, needs to be aware of the importance of digital marketing. After all, without it, you could very well end up like the thousands of other businesses that have failed and gone bankrupt in the last few years, especially recently with the pandemic. The main reason is that so many people today shop online instead of shopping at brick-and-mortar locations. This means your website is, by far, the most important marketing tool your business will ever have. If you do not currently have a website (with your own domain), then you are far behind your competitors who do. If you do not use some form of digital marketing (or if you aren't using it properly), you are almost certain to lose a significant number of sales to your competitors who are taking advantage of their digital presence.

What Kind of Digital Marketing Should You Do?

Digital marketing has become imperative for every type of business. If you are not sure where to start in digital marketing, and if you don't have a clue how to launch and manage a campaign, then you are in the right place. Marketing encompasses many kinds of strategies such as online engagement, social media marketing, paid ads, brand awareness, and reputation management (just to name a few that we will touch on shortly).

While some of these strategies overlap, most of them work together to help you reach your goals. The great thing about the world of online marketing is that there are practically no limitations. As long as you know who you are wanting to see your message, then your possibilities can be endless.

Social Media: An Easy Way to Spread the Word

The most important thing in social media marketing is to have a strategy that works for your brand, your business, or your campaign. Chances are that your ideal consumer is on at least one social media platform. It is your duty as a business owner to determine which platform your consumers use the most so you can create content that will be shown to them. Depending on what goals you have for the content you post on social media platforms, it can be an easy (and cheap) way to deliver news, announcements, specials, and offers to your consumers. Organic social media growth may take more time than paying for ads on the platform itself, but it is not impossible to do. Save your money and time by doing your research, get your priorities straight, and choose the right social media platform to engage your audience.

Engagement: Get Your Customer to Tell Others About What You Have To Offer

"Engagement" in marketing can have multiple meanings but getting your customers (or potential consumers) to engage in, let's say your social media, means to react to, comment on, or share a post you have published. Creating content that people want to engage with will cause your social media engagement levels to skyrocket.

You should ask yourself what type of content your audience wants to share and how it can be improved. Social media marketing is not just about posting feed updates or sharing blog content. What you share on social media should be engaging, informative, and entertaining.

Paid Ads: The Low-Tech Way to Get More Traffic!

Running a paid ad campaign is a great way to drive traffic to your website, advertise your products and services, and get in front of consumers you are wanting to target.

However, without the right strategy, it can be a complete waste of time and money if you are not reaching your intended audience (or do not know how to). The key to a successful ad campaign is to create ads that speak directly to your consumers and entice them to perform your call-to-action (CTA). Merely having a CTA is not what is going to cause your prospect to purchase your product, visit your website, or schedule an appointment with you. Your ad should have compelling copy, graphics, and information that is valuable to your targeted consumers.

Brand Awareness: Keep Your Customer Informed and Loyal!

Brand awareness is an imperative marketing strategy that every business whether it is a new business or one that has been established for many years should implement. Brand awareness is very important because it will help your business to grow, increase your business profits, and improve your business image.

Examples of things that may contribute to your brand awareness include your logo, business color scheme, shipping and packing materials, and even the appearance of your employees. Brand awareness is an ongoing digital marketing strategy to keep not only current consumers aware that you are still available to them but making sure new consumers are aware of your products and services as well.

Reputation Management: The Art of Making Yourself Likable!

Managing your business' reputation is one of the most important digital marketing strategies you should be focusing on. Creating a positive online presence for your business is paramount to your company's success. Think of when you are searching for a place to eat when you are hungry and can't figure out what you want. What do you do? Most people will search on Google to see what is around them, while some may get on Yelp to find other places. Regardless of where you search for a place to eat, the first thing that many consumers' eyes are drawn to is the reviews. You aren't going to eat at a place that has a 1-star rating, are you?

One of the most common ways to maintain your business' reputation is obtaining reviews! The more positive reviews you receive, the higher your ranking will be on Google and other search engines. If you own or manage a restaurant, we recommend asking customers to leave a review on Yelp, Google, Urban Spoon, or other platforms where your customers can find you. Regardless of the type of business you own or manage, reviews will help your business tremendously.

Need Help? That's What HTX Marketing Group is Here for!

Whether you need to develop a digital marketing strategy from scratch, optimize an existing digital marketing plan to drive better results, or assistance in implementing any of the tactics mentioned in this article, HTX Marketing Group is the marketing agency that can help. Our team at HTX Marketing Group is ready to assist you in growing your business and provide the results you want when you want, and how you want!

To get started, check out the "Services" tab on our website to learn the many ways we will help grow your online presence. Plus, when you are ready, simply schedule online by clicking the button below or call us at (713) 965-7370 to hop on an introductory strategy call!