How to start digital marketing ?

So, you're thinking about getting into digital marketing ? It’s an exciting world to dive into, especially since it’s constantly evolving with new trends and technologies.

Whether you want to promote your own business or you’re considering launching a digital marketing agency, it’s all about building a solid foundation and being consistent.

Let’s walk through the steps to help you get started!

How to start digital marketing business?

First of all, what is digital marketing?

Digital marketing refers to all the techniques companies use to get noticed by their potential customers and clients. It also covers promoting the products and services a company offers.

It’s kind of a blend of traditional marketing and online promotion. To do it right, you need to know how to navigate various communication and promotional channels, like email marketing, newsletters, social media, SEO, and even classic advertising.

The key is starting with a solid marketing strategy that helps you set clear goals and figure out the best way to achieve them.

Here’s how you can get started:

1. Get the basics right

Before you jump into the deep end, it’s essential to understand the fundamentals of marketing—whether traditional or digital. You can’t really excel in digital marketing if you don’t know how marketing works in general.

For example, understanding customer behavior, how advertising works, and how sales cycles function is super important. These concepts are the backbone of digital marketing. You’ll also need to get familiar with the main tools in digital marketing like SEO (Search Engine Optimization), social media marketing, and Google Ads.

"It's not what you sell that matters as much as how you sell it."
— Brian Halligan,(HubSpot Blog)

What is SEO in digital marketing ?

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a technique that helps make your website more visible on Google and other search engines. The idea is that when someone searches for something related to your business, they find your site first (and not your competitors’!). Here's what you need to do:

1. Find the right keywords: You need to figure out what people are searching for on Google when they’re looking for your product or service. Then, you use these keywords in your content so that Google knows what your site is about.

2. Optimize your website: This means working on your site’s structure (titles, descriptions, images, etc.) so everything is clear and easy for Google to find.

3. Improve speed and accessibility: If your site is slow or hard to navigate, people will leave quickly, and Google won’t like that. Your site needs to be fast and easy to use on all devices.

4. Create quality content: To really stand out, you need to create articles, videos, or other types of content that will interest your visitors and answer their questions.

   Need a solid structure? Try these top 5 Blog post templates you need to try in 2025.

5. Get links pointing to your site: Other websites linking to yours or talking about your content can help improve your ranking on Google. This is called "link building."

In short, SEO is all about ensuring that your site shows up well on search engines, so more people can find it, visit it, and eventually buy or get interested in what you're offering!

So, start by learning how to attract the right audience to your website, create content that engages them, and convert them into customers.

Also, your CMS plays a crucial role in SEO success. Using an SEO-friendly platform like Inblog ensures your content is well-structured, fast-loading, and optimized for search engines.

2. Define your ideal customer profile

Ask yourself a few key questions:

• Why do you need digital marketing?

• How can you showcase your expertise?

• How do you grow your brand awareness?

• What can you do to make your business more visible online?

• How can you drive more traffic to your website?

• How do you generate leads?

• What’s the best way to boost your sales?

You won’t be able to tackle all of these at once, but the trick is to make a plan and develop a strategy that evolves over time.

A typical approach would be: increase traffic to your site, generate leads, and boost sales.

But you could also try a different angle, like focusing on building your brand awareness first to drive more traffic, and then directing that traffic to physical stores for purchases.

The most important thing is that your digital marketing efforts are practical and clear to everyone involved in your business. Make sure everyone knows what’s going on and what’s at stake!

Example: If your client is a local coffee shop, you could focus on social media engagement to show off their unique brews, happy hour specials, and cozy ambiance. For an online retail store, SEO might be the first thing to focus on—making sure their website ranks well on Google for product searches.

Some ideas to try:

• Start with social media campaigns to build brand awareness.

• Invest in SEO to make your website more discoverable.

• Use email marketing to nurture relationships with leads.

• Try paid ads (like Google or Facebook ads) to generate immediate traffic.

• Offer value with content (blogs, videos, or guides) to show off your expertise.

As you go, you’ll see what works best for your specific business!

2) Set your goals

Once you’ve identified your target audience, the next step is defining your goals. This helps you choose the right marketing techniques and set a realistic budget.

Your goals will depend on your industry and business model. For example, a media company focused on getting clicks will have very different priorities than a sales team aiming to convert leads into paying customers.

The key is to think long-term. Clear goals give you direction, improve visibility, and keep you motivated when challenges arise.

How to set the right goals? Use the SMART method:

The SMART framework helps break down your goals into five key criteria to make them more effective:

• Specific  : Be as clear as possible. Instead of saying, “I want more website visitors,” set a goal like: “Increase website traffic by 15% by the end of the year.”

• Measurable : Your goal should be trackable with data. That could be the number of visitors, time spent on a page, or social media shares.

• Achievable : Aim high enough to stay motivated, but don’t set impossible goals that will lead to frustration.

• Realistic : Keep things practical. Your team needs to believe in the goals, so they stay engaged and committed.

• Time-bound : Set a deadline. For example: “Generate 20% more leads by the end of Q2.” This helps keep everyone focused and on track.

Without well-defined goals, your digital marketing strategy will lack direction and won’t be as effective.

Some ideas to get started:

• If your goal is brand awareness → Focus on content marketing, SEO, and social media engagement.

• If you want more leads → Work on email marketing, landing pages, and lead magnets (like free eBooks or webinars).

• If increasing sales is your priority → Optimize your website for conversions, run targeted ads, and improve retargeting efforts.

Budget tip: If you’re just starting, try low-budget campaigns (like organic social media marketing or creating a blog) before jumping into expensive Google Ads or influencer collaborations.

Whatever your goal is, make sure it’s clear, measurable, and aligned with your overall business strategy! 

3) Analyze your competitors

Once your goals are set, it’s time to take a close look at your competitors. What products or services do they offer? How are they marketing themselves? What strategies are they using to attract and convert customers?

A solid competitor analysis helps you understand what works in your industry and where you can stand out. But it’s not just a one-time thing—you need to keep an eye on them regularly.

By staying aware of their moves, you can find gaps in their approach, come up with fresh ideas, and offer something truly unique to your audience.

How to study your competitors effectively?

• Check their website & content : What type of content are they creating? Blogs, videos, case studies?

• Analyze their social media : Which platforms are they active on? What kind of engagement are they getting?

• Look at their SEO & keywords : What keywords are they ranking for? Tools like SEMrush or Inpages can help.

• Study their ads & promotions : Are they running Google Ads? Facebook Ads? What’s their messaging like?

• Read customer reviews : What do their customers love (or complain about)? This can highlight opportunities for you.

The goal isn’t to copy them—it’s to learn, adapt, and do things better. Stay sharp, stay original, and always look for ways to bring real value to your audience!

4) Find what makes you stand out

Now that you’ve analyzed your competitors, it’s time to define what makes you different. What’s your unique value? Where does it come from, and how can you highlight it in your marketing?

Maybe it’s a unique product, a special feature, outstanding customer service, or strong partnerships. Whatever it is, your job is to make it clear and memorable so people associate your brand with that unique advantage.

How to stand out in a competitive market?

• Find your edge : What do you offer that competitors don’t? Better quality? Faster delivery? A personal touch?

• Make it obvious : Don’t just be different—communicate it clearly across your website, social media, and marketing.

• Show, don’t just tell : Use customer testimonials, case studies, or demonstrations to prove your value.

• Leverage storytelling : People remember stories more than features. What’s your brand’s story?

Some ideas to differentiate your business:

• If competitors focus on low prices → Emphasize premium quality or exclusive service.

• If they lack customer support → Offer 24/7 chat, a personal touch, or VIP customer care.

• If they have generic branding → Create a strong personality with unique visuals and tone.

• If they follow trends → Innovate and set new trends instead.

In digital marketing, standing out is the key to being remembered. The brands that succeed are the ones that dare to be different—so own what makes you unique and make sure the world knows about it! 

5) Choose the right marketing channels

Digital marketing gives you tons of ways to reach your audience, but not every channel will work for your business. The key is to pick the right ones based on your target customers and goals.

Here are some of the main communication channels you can use:

• Your website : The foundation of your online presence.

• Blog content : Helps build authority and improve SEO.

  To find the right platform, explore our guide to the 15 Best Blogging Platforms in 2025.

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization) : Boosts organic traffic.

• Email marketing & newsletters : Great for nurturing leads.

• Google Ads & paid advertising : Delivers quick results.

• Social media : Engages your audience where they already spend time.

Each of these channels targets a different audience in a different way, so your job is to match the right tool to the right goal.

How to choose the best channels for your business?

• If your goal is brand awareness : Focus on social media & content marketing.

• If you need more website traffic : Invest in SEO & paid ads.

• If you want better customer retention : Use email marketing & newsletters.

• If you’re selling high-ticket products : Try content-driven sales with case studies & webinars.

Don’t spread yourself too thin! Start with 2-3 channels, test what works best, and scale from there. The goal isn’t to be everywhere—it’s to be where your audience is and make an impact. 

Examples :

• Write blog posts for a clothing store like “10 must-have winter outfits for 2025” or “how to style your new spring collection.

• For a fitness studio, you can run Facebook and Instagram ads for a “Free trial class” or use Instagram stories to show behind-the-scenes workout sessions.

• For a real estate agent, you could create targeted Facebook ads that show properties based on location, budget, and home size preferences.

6) Create valuable content

Great content is at the heart of digital marketing, but it’s not just about posting random articles or videos—you need to stay relevant to your industry and your audience’s interests.

Step 1: Define your content scope

Choose topics that align with your business and resonate with your audience. For example, if you run an online store selling women’s fashion, your content should focus on style tips, trends, and outfit ideas—not unrelated topics like men’s fashion or kids’ clothing.

Step 2: Plan your content themes

Make a list of key themes and break them down into multiple subtopics. This ensures you have a steady flow of content ideas while staying focused on your niche.

Step 3: Keep your content SEO-friendly

Search engines prioritize websites with consistent and relevant content. If your topics are all over the place, your SEO will suffer. Staying within your niche helps search engines (and your audience) see you as an authority.

Also an important part of SEO is optimizing your URLs. Learn how to craft the perfect slug with our guide on what is a URL slug and how to make it SEO-friendly.

Step 4: Audit & repurpose existing content

Check what you’ve already posted on your website and social media:

• Revise & update old blog posts with fresh info.

• Repurpose content into different formats (turn a blog post into an infographic or a LinkedIn post).

• Fill content gaps by covering topics you haven’t explored yet.

For social media posts: Share user-generated content (like photos of people enjoying your client's product), or even run contests to boost engagement.

For example : A hair salon can post before-and-after photos of their clients or run a “Tag a friend” giveaway to get more followers.

Always look for new content ideas! Even old content can work wonders if refreshed and republished. Stay consistent, keep your content valuable, and your audience (and Google) will reward you!

7) Automate your marketing processes

Once you’ve completed the setup phase and your content is ready to go, it’s time to automate your digital marketing. Automation is a game-changer, especially for tasks like email marketing and newsletters—and it doesn’t have to be expensive!

You can use affordable tools to schedule and send emails, newsletters, and even follow-up sequences at the perfect times, without having to do it manually every day.

How to automate effectively?

• Email campaigns : Set up automated email sequences that go out based on triggers like user sign-ups, abandoned carts, or specific actions. Tools like Mailchimp and HubSpot let you set up email campaigns to nurture leads and send personalized content automatically.

• Newsletter automation : Plan out your content for the next few months and schedule newsletters to go out on a regular basis.

  To maximize your email list growth, learn how to embed forms in your blog posts and capture leads effortlessly.

• Social media posts : Use tools like Buffer or Hootsuite to schedule your posts across different platforms.

Why automation rocks:

Once everything is set up, these processes run on auto-pilot, keeping you connected with your customers without needing constant supervision. It saves you time, improves efficiency, and ensures that your customers always hear from you at the right moment.

Don’t forget to periodically check your automated processes to make sure they’re working smoothly. Automation is great, but it still needs a little oversight from time to time!

8) Test your strategy on target customers

Now it’s time to put your plan into action! Creating content, researching topics, and writing consistently can feel overwhelming at first—but don’t stress, digital marketing is a long game.

Your early content won’t go viral overnight, and that’s completely normal. The good news? This gives you room to experiment without major risks. While your brand is still growing, take advantage of this period to:

• Test different content styles : Play around with tones, formats, and structures.

• Try various marketing approaches : Experiment with blog posts, videos, or short-form content to see what works best.

• Analyze audience reactions : Pay attention to engagement, feedback, and comments.

Why experimentation is important

Your first followers and customers will provide valuable feedback that helps you refine your strategy. You'll also discover which content types you're most comfortable creating and which formats deliver the best results.

What to track: Website traffic, social media engagement, and ad performance (CTR, cost per click, etc.).

• Example: If a client’s blog is driving 80% of their traffic, maybe it’s time to invest more in content and SEO. If Facebook Ads aren’t working, try a different platform or refine the targeting.

So, don’t be afraid to make mistakes! The best way to learn what works is by testing, tweaking, and improving over time. Stay consistent, analyze the data, and adjust accordingly.

9) Promote your content

As you gain experience, your content quality will naturally improve, and you'll create articles, videos, and infographics that truly resonate with your audience. Over time, you'll get better at addressing their needs, increasing engagement and success.

But here’s the catch: great content alone isn’t enough. If no one sees it, it won’t bring in new visitors or convert them into customers. That’s why promotion is just as important as creation!

How to effectively promote your content?

• Leverage social media : Share your content across platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, depending on where your audience is.

• Use email marketing : Send newsletters to your subscribers, linking them to your latest blog posts or videos.

• Repurpose content : Turn blog posts into LinkedIn articles, Twitter threads, or short TikTok videos to reach different audiences.

• Engage in communities : Share your content in relevant Facebook groups, Reddit threads, or forums where your audience hangs out.

• Collaborate with others : Partner with influencers or brands in your industry to cross-promote each other’s content.

Don’t just post and hope for the best—actively engage with your audience, reply to comments, and encourage shares. The more visible your content is, the faster your brand will grow!

10) Analyze the collected data

The next step in your digital marketing launch is to measure and analyze the data generated from your efforts. Using the right tools, you’ll be able to track everything and gain insights into almost any aspect of your campaign.

This analysis is like a content audit—it helps refine your future strategy, gather data for prospecting, and optimize upcoming product launches. It’s crucial for improving your SEO performance, boosting visits to your site and social media, and understanding how your campaign is performing overall.

Why data analysis matters

• Track progress : Assess whether your goals are being met and make adjustments where necessary.

• Optimize SEO : Analyze what’s driving traffic, then fine-tune your strategy for better rankings.

• Evaluate ROI : See if your efforts are paying off by looking at conversions, leads, and sales.

• Guide future decisions : Use the insights to shape upcoming campaigns and set more effective targets.

Don’t just collect data—use it! Review your numbers regularly, and adjust your approach to ensure continuous improvement. The more you understand your audience’s behavior, the better you can serve them and achieve long-term success!

But, what is the digital marketing strategy that tracks users across the web?

Basically, it’s called web tracking or behavioral tracking, and it’s how companies track what you do online across different websites and apps. They use a few methods to gather this info:

• Cookies and tracking pixels
  Cookies: These are tiny files that get stored on your device, and they track what you do online, like what pages you visit, how long you spend on them, and what you click on.
  Tracking pixels: These are tiny, invisible images embedded in websites or emails. When you load a page, these pixels track your activity, like if you clicked on a product or viewed a video.

• Retargeting / Remarketing
  This is when companies show you ads for stuff you’ve already looked at. Like, if you visit a product page but don’t buy, you’ll start seeing ads for that same product on other websites or social media. It’s all thanks to cookies and tracking pixels.

• Cross-device tracking
  Companies also track your activities across multiple devices (like your phone, computer, and tablet) to get the full picture of your behavior. For example, if you’re logged into your Google account on both your phone and laptop, they can follow you across both devices.

• Tools like google analytics and others
  Tools like Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel help businesses analyze how you interact with their website. They track things like how many pages you visit, where you click, what you buy, etc.

• First-party and third-party data
  First-party data: This is data collected directly from you, like when you register on a site, fill out a survey, or interact with their content.
  Third-party data: This is data collected by other companies (like data brokers or other websites) that track you across the web.

• Segmentation and personalization
  All this data lets companies categorize you into groups (like people who like sports, fashion, tech, etc.) and then personalize the ads or content they show you, making it more relevant.

• Privacy regulations
  Of course, all of this has to follow privacy laws like the GDPR in Europe, which makes companies be transparent about how they collect your data and gives you the option to opt out of tracking if you want.

In short, all these strategies allow companies to follow you from site to site, retarget you with ads, and show you personalized content. But with growing concerns over privacy, these practices are under more scrutiny, so digital marketers need to stay updated on the latest laws and regulations.

If you want to measure your blog's growth effectively, check out our latest insights on Blogging statistics (2025): Key metrics you need to know.

11. Expand and offer more services

Once you start seeing results and building momentum, it’s time to expand your offerings. If you initially focused on SEO, why not branch out into content creation or paid ad management once you’ve mastered that? As you gain more experience and clients, you’ll start to see which services deliver the best results.

Example of scaling:

Let’s say you’re handling social media ads for a local gym. Once you’ve gotten solid results with the ads, you could expand into SEO to help them rank for keywords like “best gym near me” or reputation management to gather positive reviews and boost their online presence.

By gradually offering more services, you can increase your value to clients while also growing your business and expertise!

12. Stay updated and keep learning

Digital marketing is constantly evolving. New trends, algorithms, and tools pop up all the time, so staying up-to-date is key to keeping a competitive edge.

How to stay updated:

• Follow industry blogs : Check out sites like Moz, Neil Patel, and HubSpot for the latest tips and insights.

• Attend webinars : Join online events to hear from experts and learn new strategies.

• Join marketing communities : Participate in discussions on Reddit, LinkedIn, or other forums where marketers share advice and trends.

By continuously learning, you’ll ensure your skills are sharp and that you’re always ahead of the curve!

Final thoughts :

Starting a digital marketing business involves a mix of understanding the basics, setting clear goals, and picking the right tools. Once you have that foundation, it’s all about testing, tracking, and tweaking your campaigns.

For example, you might start small with SEO for a local business, then branch out into social media marketing and Google Ads. The key is to grow gradually, measure your results, and scale your services as you get more comfortable. And remember, consistency is everything in digital marketing.

Now it’s time to put everything into action !

Still choosing a platform? Compare the 15 Best Blogging Platforms in 2025 to find the perfect fit.