How Does Digital Marketing Work?

By Elliot Gustafson

November 20th, 2024

Digital marketing is a fast-growing field that uses the internet and online-based technologies to promote products and services. In contrast to traditional marketing, which might focus on print ads or physical mailers, digital marketing utilizes strategies like search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, email campaigns, and much more to reach a targeted audience online. In today’s interconnected world, businesses must leverage these online tactics to stay competitive and grow. But how does digital marketing work in practice, and what does it mean to be a digital marketer? In this blog post, we will cover what digital marketers do. What would a typical day look like for a digital marketer. How should you go about your work as a digital marketer? What are the best services that a digital marketer should specialize in? And how Novela can help you achieve your goals.

What Do Digital Marketers Do?

What Exactly Do Digital Marketers Do? Here’s the Breakdown

Digital marketers are the masterminds behind a brand’s online success. Their job? Promoting products, services, or entire brands through various digital channels. From crafting targeted strategies to boost visibility and generate leads to running social media ads and optimizing websites for search engines, they’ve got it covered.

But it doesn’t stop there. Digital marketers dive deep into data analytics to track performance and tweak campaigns for the best results. They’re the glue between content creators, designers, and web developers, ensuring every aspect of a brand’s online presence is in sync. Whether it’s crafting irresistible content, managing pay-per-click (PPC) ads, or engaging customers through social media, their ultimate goal is to connect with audiences in meaningful ways and drive business growth.

In a nutshell, digital marketers:

• Develop marketing strategies to hit specific target audiences.

• Analyze data to measure success and refine their approach.

• Create compelling content for blogs, social media, and more.

• Run ad campaigns to maximize return on investment (ROI).

• Engage customers through emails, social media, and beyond.

Their work is essential for businesses looking to build a strong online presence, attract leads, and nurture them through the sales funnel.

What Would a Typical Day Look Like for a Digital Marketer?

A day in the life of a digital marketer can be quite dynamic. Here's what a typical day might look like:

Morning:

●      Start by checking campaign performance on platforms like Google Analytics or Facebook Ads Manager. Analyze traffic, conversion rates, and other key performance indicators (KPIs).

●      Respond to emails or messages from clients, colleagues, or partners.

●      Review any ongoing ad campaigns, making adjustments based on data insights to improve performance.

Midday:

●      Dive into content creation, whether that’s drafting a blog post, designing a social media update, or scripting a video.

●      Attend a meeting with a client to review their marketing goals and refine the strategy.

●      Collaborate with the design or development team to ensure landing pages and digital assets are optimized for conversions.

Afternoon:

●      Plan and schedule social media posts for the week using tools like Buffer or Hootsuite.

●      Create an email marketing campaign to send to a segmented audience later in the week.

●      Research industry trends, competitor activity, and new marketing tools that can be leveraged for future campaigns.

By the end of the day, the digital marketer has seamlessly woven together strategy, creativity, and data analysis, all with the goal of driving results for their clients.

How Should You Go About Your Work as a Digital Marketer?

To succeed in digital marketing, professionals need to approach their work with the right mindset:

●      Be Analytical: Always let data guide your decisions. Use tools like Google Analytics, SEMrush, and Hotjar to measure the performance of your campaigns. Adjust based on what’s working and what isn’t.

●      Stay Curious: Digital marketing is ever-changing. Stay up to date with trends, algorithms, and consumer behavior. Take advantage of online learning platforms and certifications to refine your skills.

●      Be Creative: Creativity is the heart of effective digital campaigns. Whether it's coming up with catchy copy for a landing page or designing an engaging ad, creativity will set your work apart.

●      Adapt Quickly: Digital marketing moves fast. Trends and platforms can shift overnight, so being flexible and adapting to new tools or strategies is crucial for staying ahead.

What Are the Best Services That a Digital Marketer Should Specialize In?

The world of digital marketing is vast, but certain specialties stand out due to their high demand and effectiveness:

1. SEO (Search Engine Optimization): SEO is the process of optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results. It remains a core skill because organic traffic often provides the best ROI.

2. Social Media Marketing: With billions of people using social media daily, knowing how to engage users on platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok is essential.

3. PPC Advertising: Paid search advertising can deliver quick results. Mastering platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads can help you drive immediate traffic and conversions.

4. Content Marketing: High-quality content is the foundation of digital marketing. Whether it’s blog posts, video marketing, or infographics, content fuels SEO and social engagement.

5. Email Marketing: Despite being one of the oldest digital marketing techniques, email marketing remains incredibly effective for building relationships and driving repeat business.

How Novela Can Help You Achieve Your Goals

At Novela, we understand that digital marketing is a growing profession offering location freedom and flexibility. Whether you’re an aspiring digital marketer or a business looking to improve your online presence, we’re here to support you. Our digital marketing simulations and certification program (coming soon) equips you with the tools, knowledge, and hands-on experience to succeed in this exciting field. You’ll learn the ins and outs of the top marketing services like SEO, social media management, PPC, and content marketing, all taught by industry professionals. Plus, our unique simulation-based learning approach gives you real-world experience right from the start. We aim to help you grow your skills, build a fulfilling location-independent career, and connect with businesses eager to harness the power of digital marketing.