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Understanding Digital Marketing: Your Comprehensive Guide

Sean Hegarty - MD of Jigsaw Digital, Manchester
Sean Hegarty

We’ve all heard of the term “digital marketing” , but what is it really? In todays blog we’ll talk you through the different digital marketing services and by the end you’ll know it all the facts.

Digital marketing is essentially the process of promoting your products, services, or brands through digital channels to reach and engage with your customers. With the rise of technology (especially online), traditional marketing methods have become less effective, making digital marketing a critical aspect of any business strategy. During covid many businesses moved their business online and saw significant growth.

In this guide, we will provide a comprehensive understanding of digital marketing, and we’ll look at its definition, the different types of digital marketing, as well as the benefits for your business.

So What is Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing refers to the use of digital technologies, such as search engines (Good old Google), social media, email, and websites, to promote a product, service, or brand. The goal of digital marketing is to reach a target audience and drive conversions through various digital channels.

Types of Digital Marketing

Digital marketing encompasses a wide range of tactics and strategies. Some of the most popular types of digital marketing include:

  • Search Engine Optimisation (SEO): The process of optimising a website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERP) for relevant keywords.
  • Pay-Per-Click Advertising Management (PPC): An online advertising model where advertisers pay each time a user clicks on one of their ads. The most popular PPC model is Google Ads, but this is just more than paying per click. You can read more about Google Ads in our blog.
  • Content Marketing: Content marketing is the creation and sharing of valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a target audience and ultimately drive profitable customer action. A classic example of consistent content marketing is our blog that you’re reading now.
  • Social Media Marketing: The use of social media platforms, such as Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, to promote yourself. The common mistake most businesses make when it comes to social media is by focusing on sales, sales, sales. Nowadays businesses and clients want to know more about the company, your culture, your staff and your humour – so don’t neglect these in your posts. Make sure to sell you and your business, not just your products
  • Email Marketing: The use of email is a great way to communicate with customers. Having a newsletter sign up on your website is a great way for visitors to keep up to date with your company.
  • Affiliate Marketing: Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing strategy where affiliates receive a commission for promoting your product or service. It’s not for every business and is probably more widely used with eCommerce websites. But again, it’s a great way to get your name or product out there with minimal input from yourself. All you do is pay a commission for referrals or sales.

The Benefits of Digital Marketing

In this modern age, digital marketing is pretty much essential and provides benefits for businesses of all sizes. such as:

  • Reaching a Large Audience: Digital marketing allows businesses to reach a large audience through the various channels. Gone are the days of promoting your business in the local shop or newspaper
  • Cost-Effective: Digital marketing is often more cost-effective than traditional marketing methods, such as print advertising and direct mail. Withe the correct SEO agency (not mentioning any names *cough* Jigsaw Digital), you can get page 1 rankings and it doesn’t cost you for ever click
  • Measurable Results: Digital marketing provides measurable results through analytics and tracking, allowing businesses to see what is working and what needs improvement. We love using Google Analytics and Search Console (both of which are free)
  • Increased Engagement: Using effective digital marketing allows businesses to interact and engage with customers in real-time, providing a better customer experience.
  • Targeted Advertising: It also allows businesses to target specific audiences based on demographics, interests, and behaviours – perfect for Facebook ads and Google ads

Round Up

As you can see, digital marketing is a critical component of any successful business strategy and should never be overlooked. By understanding the definition, types, and benefits of digital marketing, businesses can effectively reach their target audience and drive conversions through various digital channels.

If you’re ready to start your digital marketing journey, Jigsaw Digital is here to help. Call our office today to find out more about our award-winning digital marketing services in Manchester.