As you embark on a journey of marketing digitally, what is the first thing to consider? If you are anything like me; The first question would be: What is the cost? The answer might be surprising as the commodity you will have to invest in this process is time more than money; granted, time is money. That is why you pay people like me to do what you don’t have time to do.

There is something a digital marketer can’t do, and that is to decide what your business stands for. You have to determine what you want to add to people’s lives before you invest in any form of marketing. The first thing you need to address is your brand. 

• Who are you? 
• What are your values? 
• What do you bring to the table?

Set up a checklist and create the following: 

• A logo, 
• A website, 
• Make a list of things that are most important regarding your business. 

The types of media you will be using are owned, paid, and earned media. The ultimate media would be: earned media. Consumers start engaging with you on social and sharing your content. We know that’s where we want to end up, but it takes time. 

Owned media incorporates your brand, logo, colors, and values. Everything you create yourself and that people can find on your website. Think of your website as the Rome of your business; all things digitally should lead there. Your website is where people should find all the answers to their questions and get in touch with you. 

If you haven’t invested your time in these essential aspects of your digital footprint, stop, do that first. Create content, videos, ads, anything that incorporates what you want to talk about, what you want people to see, and what type of message you want to get across to your audience.

Paid media helps you to scale up your media campaign. You have the content on your website. Now you want to get the message out there. The competition is fierce. You might have a great product or service with the perfect brand, but it won’t help you much if you don’t end up on the correct audience’s smartphone. We all need a nudge. Paid media gives you the boost you need for people to notice.

Ok, they notice you. What now? The average number of times people need to see the name or brand of your business before you become a consideration is seven times. It is all about consistency. Get to know the different social media platforms and share applicable content. When people see you posting high-quality, value-adding content consistently, you become a thought leader in your field, and that is where you gain their trust.

Just like that, you reach the goal of leveraging earned media. Earned media comprises shares, reviews, mentions, and reposts; anything that lets your content appear on people’s timelines. Some of the benefits of earned media include the fact that it creates credibility, is organic, and tends to last longer than paid or owned media. Your followers become your free marketing team on a massive scale.