6 Tips I Learned As a Public Relations Student That Are Vital to Digital Marketing

A series of tips and resources I’ve learned and will be taking with me into my public relations career

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What is digital marketing?

Digital marketing has become an essential component of any business strategy. With the growth of online channels and the increasing importance of digital media, digital marketing has become more complex and competitive. As a digital marketing specialist, it is essential to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices. Here are some tips that have helped me stay on top of the game, and have landed me my dream first job.

• Stay current with industry trends: The digital marketing landscape is constantly evolving, and it is important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies. A lot of technology information that was relevant 2 years ago is now obsolete — do research by following industry blogs, attending conferences and webinars (my university held multiple seminars and conferences free for students to meet and learn from real-world professionals), and engaging with other professionals on social media. Create a network as early as possible.
• Probably one of the most important skills a person will need to be a successful digital marketing specialist, Etsy seller, content creator, etc. is to develop a strong understanding of SEO. Search engine optimization is a critical component of digital marketing. As a specialist, it is essential to have a strong understanding of how search engines work and how to optimize content to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). The same can be said for use of keywords and domain authority.
• Focus on mobile optimization: With more and more people accessing the internet through mobile devices, it is essential to have a mobile-friendly website and to optimize all digital marketing efforts for mobile users.

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• Utilize social media: This one seems obvious. But as a specialist, it is important to understand the intricacies of different platforms and how to leverage them to reach your target audience. What demographics are using each app? What are they using it for? How is the app’s ad system compared to others?

Use Facebook’s ad relevance diagnostics: This tool allows you to see how relevant your ad is to your target audience. By analyzing the factors that affect your ad’s relevance score, you can optimize your ad to improve its performance.

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Utilize custom affinity audiences in Google Ads: Custom affinity audiences allow you to target users based on their interests, behaviors, and habits. By creating custom audiences that are tailored to your business, you can reach users who are most likely to be interested in your products or services.

• Measure and analyze results: Digital marketing efforts should be measured and analyzed to determine what is working and what needs improvement. Utilize analytics tools to track website traffic, conversions, and other key metrics. It’s better to adapt than insist something will catch on.
• Continuously test and refine strategies: Digital marketing is a constantly evolving field, and what works today may not work tomorrow. Continuously test and refine strategies to ensure that they are effective and optimized for the current landscape.

Some resources to help you stay current in the field of digital marketing include industry blogs like Moz, Search Engine Journal, and Social Media Examiner. Additionally, there are a number of online courses and certifications available from platforms like Google, HubSpot, Hootsuite and Spin Sucks Academy. In total I have earned 5 certifications from the comfort of my bed from HubSpot, Hootsuite AND Spin Sucks — inbound sales, social media, social marketing, PESO Model and digital advertising. Talk about resume builders.

Now, for writers, it is important to know these rules in different ways — this will also depend on the genre of writing you prefer or the style you like to use. Even so, there are so many different ways to communicate a message, story, or sale, for example, just like some of the ways a person may write, tell a story, get a reader’s attention, etc.

Knowing your audience, what they’re looking for, what problems they want to see solved, how your work serves them and their lives, and why people should support you are all similar goals and interests of digital marketing specialists as well as writers who want to see engagement between their writing and an audience.

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As a digital marketing specialist, it is important to continuously educate yourself and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices. By following these tips and utilizing these resources, you can stay ahead of the curve and impress an employer!