If you are a teen-preneur, congratulations on having the courage to step up and join the business world. Just like anything worth achieving, the road to success will be challenging. But don’t fret, as there is always some form of advice that you can use to help you manage your business. Our previous article entitled “Teenage Entrepreneur” gave some valuable tips like maintaining a healthy work-life balance and how to stay organized by using computer programs. In this article, we will continue to share some crucial things about business, and this time it is about digital marketing.
Why digital marketing is important
Marketing is the process of promoting your business and selling the products or services. In the past, traditional methods were to place an ad in a newspaper or magazine. Today, digital marketing is using digital tools, such as mobile apps and online social platforms, to promote and sell your products or services. So, why does digital marketing matter?
Pew Research reports in the early 2000s only about 50% of American adults used the internet. Today, that same demographic statistic has skyrocketed to 93%.
For any business to survive, it has to have customers. Paying customers provide money that is the lifeblood of a business. Without customers, the business does not make money and eventually dies. This is why digital marketing is so important, as it is the process used to gain customers on the internet.
What makes a good digital marketing strategy?
There are a lot of valuable tools that are readily available on the internet that can help you come up with your digital marketing strategy. A digital marketing strategies guide by Maryville University suggests using Google Analytics to better understand your audience. This helpful tool can generate web traffic reports with details like how long a person spent on a website or what products they clicked on. The data gathered from this analysis can be used to conduct your SWOT analysis.
SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. For example, if your analytics show that your audience spends only a few seconds to browse your catalogue, this may count as a weakness in your marketing program. Therefore, your marketing strategy should include strategies that will entice them to stay longer on your website.
RELATED ARTICLE: THE TOP ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ENTREPRENEURIAL MARKETING.
3 digital marketing tools teen-preneurs can use
1. SEO
As a teen-preneur, you want your business to come up as one of the top listed search results. Search Engine Optimization(SEO), is the process of improving your site or product’s visibility so that customers can easily find it on the internet. A guide to understanding SEO on the TechDee website explains some of the goals of SEO, like:
- Building an audience
- Making you discoverable
- Turning prospects into customers
There are even some tactics like watching your competitors learn something new. While SEO is not a big hidden secret, not every entrepreneur on the internet understands how important it can be. Now that you are learning this, you will have an advantage over those unaware of its power.
2. Social media marketing
Marketing on social media is a very effective way to reach millions of people. You can upload photos, input descriptions, build an audience and communicate directly with people interested in what you are offering. Online platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram have millions of users you could potentially reach, and the best part is – they are free!
3. Email marketing
Email is a great way to connect with your customers and let them know of new products, special offers, discounts, and other services. It is very efficient, saves time, and is a direct line of communication. You just need to ask them for their email address and start your customer base.
Some of the free online email marketing tools are:
- HubSpot Email Marketing
- Omnisend
- Benchmark Email
- Mailchimp
Becoming a teen-preneur is very fulfilling as it proves that you can accomplish great things at a young age. While at times it can be very challenging, keep in mind that when you achieve your dream, it will all be worth the effort! Try these tips out, and good luck!
Article contributed by Jackie Rodman.
