A Closer Look at Digital Marketing

Amid the ever-evolving digital world, the profession of digital marketer has become one of the most appealing careers for the younger generation. In fact, specialized courses on digital marketing are now popping up everywhere.

But what exactly is digital marketing? When did digital marketing first emerge? Let’s explore this together…

Definition

A simple definition of digital marketing is the activity of marketing products or services online using technology, such as email, social media, or the web. Digital marketing consists of a set of strategies to attract potential buyers and thereby increase transactions.

When did digital marketing first emerge?

Although the term itself only became widely known with the development of the internet, digital marketing techniques are believed to have existed as early as 1896. At that time, Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of the radio, demonstrated a “public transmission of wireless signals.” Although it took 10 years for radio to finally reach the general public, it didn’t take Guglielmo long to realize that radio could be used to market products.

At that time, the first live radio broadcast was an opera performance at the Met. Those who initially listened only on the radio were later inspired to buy tickets for the next performance. This step later became the catalyst for the birth of digital marketing.

The Benefits of Digital Marketing

Technology allows us to communicate with anyone, anywhere. The same applies to business. Technology can be used to reach a wider audience or target consumer base.

Here’s a simple example: before the internet existed, business owners in Jakarta would have struggled to reach markets outside Jakarta—or even outside the island of Java.

We might only realize this because Indonesia is a country with a vast number of islands. Sometimes, geography poses a challenge when a company wants to market its products or services. Through digital platforms, we can reach target consumers in any region of Indonesia, including overseas. Furthermore, the costs involved are still relatively affordable compared to marketing directly by visiting each region in person.

Furthermore, technology allows us to obtain accurate and measurable data—from tracking how many people view or even click on our products, all the way through to the purchase stage. Or, on which social media platforms our company’s ads are viewed the most. All of this can be presented with measurable data, serving as a reference when the company wants to develop new strategies.

Okay, so how do you actually do digital marketing?

First, you must identify and define the goals for the product or service you want to market. This will influence the digital marketing strategy you’ll use. For example, if the goal is to increase brand awareness, you might be able to reach more new customers through social media. Second, define your target audience. It’s important to remember that your target audience may vary depending on the social media platform you use for marketing.

The next steps are to establish a budget for each digital channel, strike a good balance between paid and free digital strategies, create engaging content, optimize your digital assets for mobile, conduct keyword research, and iterate based on the analytics you track.