Marketing is such a different animal than it used to be. What used to be as simple as buying ad space in a newspaper or recording an ad for the radio turned into full on production with the invention of the television.

Add to that the ever growing advertising “free-for-all” that is social media, from Facebook to email and everything in between, and you get something new altogether. It can either be incredibly effective, or it could be a hot mess.

The following digital marketing tips can help you ensure you are taking your modern day marketing plan in the right direction.

Know Your Audience

This one is one that is easy to get wrong from the beginning. It takes a very long time to get it right, especially if it isn’t part of your ground roots, first-day marketing outlook.

The problem occurs when a new business starts. The owner, rightly believing the website, wrongly believes this is their largest customer base.

They post to Facebook friends, email family, and Tweet like crazy. This is not bad, per se, but depending on what the product or service is, it may not be effective.

One of the best digital marketing tips out there is to know your audience. Once you do, you can intentionally reach beyond friends and family.

Know How to Reach Them

How do you do that? How do you go beyond your circle of friends and relatives, and if you haven’t done so yet is it too late? No, it is not too late. We lost some time, but it is not too late.

There are several ways to reach beyond friends and family intentionally. Posters at the playground, pin-ups on local college campuses, and even well-placed ads in print if your target audience is one that likely still reads the paper. There are even ways to do so online.

Be Social on Social Media

This is at the top of the social media digital marketing tips. When it comes to social media, it is important to get your name out there to those who can use your services.

Being social can be done by joining groups and participating in discussions. Be social on social media. Do not only post ads like crazy in relevant groups you have been accepted too. That is a good way to get kicked out or even banned.

Sincerely interact with those in your social media circles, on their accounts and yours, and build your reputation as an authority. Once they trust your business and see you have what they need, they will come.

SEO is Still Marketing Tip #1

Social media is a big part of SEO, combine it with what is taking place on your web site. You have to get your site ranked well in the search engines to get traffic.

Try an SEO tune up every few months to ensure you are on task with any new algorithms. If you have no clue what that means, find a way to hire someone that does.

Marketing is a new beast, but these tips can help you navigate and conquer that beast. The largest piece of the puzzle is taking the time to know your audience and interact with them. Once you are there, the road isn’t nearly as bumpy.