What is Digital Marketing?
Digital marketing typically refers to online marketing campaigns that appear on a computer, phone, tablet, or other device. It can take many forms, including online video, display ads, search engine marketing, paid social ads, and social media posts.
Let’s picture a typical situation you probably experienced over the past few years, especially during those Covid lockdown days. Imagine this: I’m lounging around in my PJs and a nice shirt, all set for a Zoom call 🙂 (don’t judge we all have done this). I suddenly realized I needed a new coffee maker (the old one’s gone to appliance heaven). I whip out my phone, and within minutes, I’m knee-deep in online ads, reviews, and videos. That’s digital marketing in action, my friend!
Simply put, digital marketing is anything you stumble upon while scrolling through your phone, tablet, or maybe that dusty laptop in the corner. It can morph into many forms—those catchy videos you can’t resist clicking on, those display ads that seem to know exactly what you’re thinking (Is it creepy or just brilliant? The jury’s still out), search engine marketing, the paid ads popping up on your favorite social media, or even the product recommendations you ask ChatGPT, more on this here.

“ Did You Know? 90% of US adults go online every day. While 41% say they are online almost constantly ” |
Digital Marketing vs. Traditional Marketing
Just as Indian parents love to compare their younger kids with older siblings, digital marketing is often compared to “traditional marketing,” such as newspaper or magazine ads, billboards, and direct mail. Funny enough, television is also usually lumped in with traditional marketing. I can definitely relate to TV because whenever I attend my nephew’s birthday party, all the dads there are too old for me, and all the kids are just too young.
Now, let me tell you, if you’ve ever dipped your toes into the immense pool of digital marketing these days, you just can’t ignore it. When I launched my first digital ad campaign, it felt like throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. Imagine the joy when I could check in on how it was doing in real-time—like being able to see if the spaghetti actually landed on the plate or ended up on the floor!
Moreover, I found the cost-effectiveness of digital marketing really appealing, especially as the founder of a bootstrapped startup with limited funds, and that was enough to seal the deal.
Traditional marketing, on the other hand, is akin to trying to bake a soufflé without knowing what a soufflé is. You invest in a full-page magazine ad; hopefully, it pulls in customers. But if something goes awry, good luck making adjustments without shelling out more money. I once had a friend who spent a small fortune on a billboard, only to realize it had a typo in the phone number. It took ages to realize this and even longer to make the changes.
Speaking of editing your ads once they are live, in the wonderful world of digital marketing, you can tweak your content on a whim—like adjusting the thermostat until it’s just right. Want to change a phrase? Go ahead! However, with traditional marketing, once that ad is printed, it’s as final as words written in stone.
Just to be clear, I’m not saying traditional marketing has no merit and should be ignored altogether. Who doesn’t remember those awesome billboard ads from Google, the quote-unquote king of digital marketing.

However, I’m trying to make the point that whatever your business, you can’t ignore digital marketing and the perks that come with it—freedom, flexibility, and frugality are all within reach! Sure, it requires strategy and a bit of finesse, but if you play your cards right, the possibilities are endless. It’s like having a never-ending buffet where you can sample everything without worrying about the calories—well, at least until the next analytics report comes in!
Why is digital marketing important?
Now, let’s get real: if your business isn’t riding the digital wave, you might as well be sending smoke signals to get your message out. Whether you’re selling handmade soap on Etsy or just trying to offload that vintage lamp from your grandmother (you know, the one that’s seen better days), having a digital presence is key. It’s like throwing a virtual party and inviting the world—who wouldn’t want a piece of that action, right?
And trust me, making noise online isn’t just for the big brands splashing cash everywhere. Remember, the main goal of digital marketing is to grab attention. You want a crowd around your little booth at the marketplace, so to speak, and get folks excited about what you’re serving. It’s all about creating buzz and connecting with people genuinely interested in what you offer.
As mentioned earlier, 90% of US adults are online daily. That’s a crazy number of potential customers waiting for you to grab their attention—think about all the opportunities!
Conclusion
To sum up, digital marketing is your ticket to spreading the word, connecting with people, and getting them to take action. If you’re ready to dive into this exciting digital world, remember: it’s not just about what you’re selling but how you connect with your audience. So, get ready to dive in, put on your marketing cap, and let’s create some digital magic!