Don’t let the words digital marketing scare you. It sounds like something only a super-nerd could do, but it’s actually really simple.
Think of it like this: it’s just making friends for your business on the internet. You’re just talking to people where they already are—on their phones and computers. That’s it!
Welcome to Digital Marketing You Can Totally Do This!
Let’s be real, words like “SEO,” “PPC,” and “analytics” can make you want to close your computer and go eat a cookie. But what if “digital marketing” is just a fancy way of saying “show people how awesome you are, but on the internet”?
That’s the whole secret. You’ve got this!
Your website is like your online store. Your social media is like a fun party where you meet new people. Your emails are like sending a friendly note to a friend. See? Not so scary when you think about it that way.
You don’t need a special degree or a zillion dollars to start. You just need a little help and to believe that you can do it. Our job is to get you excited, not scared.
Making Sense of the Internet World
All those confusing words can feel like a secret code. Let’s translate them into normal, everyday words so you know what’s going on.
What Those Fancy Words Really Mean
| Scary Term | What It Actually Is (Simple Version) |
|---|---|
| SEO (Search Engine Optimization) | Making it easy for Google to find your website. Like putting a big, bright sign on your store. |
| PPC (Pay-Per-Click) | Paying to have your website show up first on Google. It’s like buying a front-row seat. |
| Content Marketing | Answering your customers’ questions with helpful blog posts or fun videos. |
| Social Media Marketing | Hanging out on Facebook or Instagram and making friends for your business. |
| Email Marketing | Sending a friendly, helpful note to someone who asked you to. No spam allowed! |
| Analytics | Just looking at what’s working and what’s not, so you can do more of the good stuff. |
See? Behind every big, scary word is a simple idea. It’s all about being helpful and showing up where people can find you.
And you picked the perfect time to start! Businesses are realizing how important it is to be online. In fact, most of the money companies spend on ads is now spent online.
This just means one thing: the people who need you are online, looking for you right now. Your only job is to say “Hi, I’m here!”
You don’t have to be a computer genius. You just have to be nice and helpful. The rest is just learning a few easy steps. And we’re here to help you with that.
Your adventure starts with a few key ideas. We’ll keep it simple, promise. Here’s what you really need to know:
- Your main goal is to be helpful: Answer questions and solve problems. Be a superhero for your customers.
- Doing something is better than being perfect: It’s more important to post something than to wait for the perfect post that never happens.
- You can start small: Don’t try to do everything at once! Pick one thing, like making your website look nice, and get it done. Then move on.
Ready to take that first step? It all starts with learning how to market your business in a way that feels easy and fun. We’ll break everything down for you. You’ve got this.
Your Website: Your Home on the Internet
Think of your marketing like throwing a party. You can send out cool invitations (that’s your social media and emails), but if you tell people to come to a messy, empty house, they won’t stay long.
Your website is that house. It’s your home base on the internet. It is the most important part of your online world. Hands down.
Facebook and Instagram can change their rules whenever they want, but your website is the one place you own and control completely. It works for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even when you’re sleeping! It’s your best employee. You can do this, and we can show you how to make it awesome.
Making Your Website a Friendly Place
You don’t need to be a computer wizard to have a great website. The best websites are simple, clean, and easy to use. Think of it like inviting people to your living room.
When someone walks in, you want them to feel welcome, right? You want them to easily find a chair and know where everything is. Your website is exactly the same.
When someone lands on your site, they should know three things right away:
- Who you are: Is it super obvious what your business does?
- What you sell: Can they find your stuff easily?
- What to do next: Is there a big, friendly button that says “Call Us” or “Buy Now”?
If they have to search for your phone number or read teeny-tiny words, they will leave. It’s that simple. In fact, almost 40% of people will click away if a website is ugly or confusing. You work too hard to lose people over something that’s easy to fix!
What Every Good Website Needs (No Computer Degree Required!)
Forget about all the confusing stuff for now. A great website that actually gets you customers just needs a few simple things. Here’s your easy checklist.
1. A Super Clear Message
The very first words people see should tell them exactly how you help them. No fancy business talk. Just be clear.
Bad Example: “We leverage synergistic solutions to optimize human-centric workflows.” (Huh? Is that even English?)
Good Example: “We Fix Leaky Faucets Fast in Newark, Ohio.” (Perfect! I know exactly what you do.)
2. Make it Easy to Contact You
Your phone number or a “Get a Free Quote” button should be one of the first things people see. Put it right at the top of the page so they can’t miss it. Don’t make them play hide-and-seek!
3. It Has to Work on a Phone
This is a big one. More than half of all people on the internet are using their phones. If your website looks all messed up on a phone, you’re losing customers. Period.
Turning Your Website into a Customer-Getting Machine
A great website doesn’t just look pretty; it gets you new customers. It should be built to turn people who are just looking into people who pay you. We call this a lead generation website, and it’s simpler than you think.
For businesses like roofers or plumbers, having a site built for this is a total game-changer. You can learn more about how lead generation website design for home services contractors turns website visitors into real phone calls. It’s all about making it super easy for someone to say, “I need your help!”
By focusing on these simple things, your website goes from being a boring online flyer to your best marketing tool. You can do this, and we’re here to help you get it done right.
Finding Customers Where They Already Are
Okay, your business is awesome and your website is ready. Now what? You need to invite people over!
Think of it this way: your customers are already online, scrolling on their phones and looking for answers. Your job isn’t to make them go somewhere new. It’s to show up where they’re already hanging out.
You don’t have to be everywhere at once—that will just make you tired. Let’s focus on a few key places to find your people.
Social Media: The Big Online Party
Think of Facebook and Instagram as a giant, fun party. People are there to relax, talk to friends, and look at cool pictures. It’s a casual, social place.
You wouldn’t crash a party and start yelling “Buy my stuff!”, right? Of course not. You’d chat, make friends, and be cool.
That’s how social media works best. Share helpful things. Post fun pictures. Be a real person, not a walking, talking ad. Even if you’re not an author, learning some basic social media strategies for authors can teach you a lot about building a friendly community online.
Search Engines: The Giant Library
Now, think of Google as the world’s biggest library. When people go there, they have a specific question they need an answer to, like “how to fix a leaky faucet” or “best pizza near me.”
Your job is to be the best, most helpful answer for their question. When you write something on your website that answers their question, Google sees you as a helper. Then, it shows your website to the right person at the right time. How cool is that?
Before you go all-in on finding customers, you need to make sure your online “home” is ready for guests. This little chart breaks down your next move.
This decision tree helps you figure out whether to build a new online presence from scratch or just fix up the one you already have.
Email Marketing: The Friendly Letter
Finally, let’s talk about email. Forget about junk mail. Think of it as sending a personal, helpful letter to a friend who asked to hear from you. These are people who said, “Yes, please send me cool stuff!”
This is where you can build real friendships with your customers. You can share special tips, offer good deals, or just tell a funny story. It’s one of the best ways to turn a first-time visitor into a forever fan.
The goal is not to be on every single website. It’s to pick one or two places where your best customers hang out and show up there all the time.
So, how do you choose? Simple.
- Got a business that looks good in pictures? Like a bakery or a flower shop? Instagram is your best friend. It’s all about pretty pictures.
- Do you sell to other businesses? Then LinkedIn is your spot. It’s like a fancy business party online.
- Running a local business? Facebook is amazing for connecting with people in your town. The right Facebook ads for local businesses can bring people right to your door.
Choosing the right place to be is about working smarter, not harder. Focus your energy, and you’ll start making real friends who need what you have to offer. You’ve got this.
Creating Stuff People Actually Want to See
Let’s talk about “content.” That’s just a big word for “the stuff you post online.” Your pictures, blog posts, videos—that’s all content.
But how do you make stuff that people actually want to look at? How do you stop them from scrolling past you to watch another funny cat video?
The secret is super simple. Stop trying to “make content.” Start trying to answer a friend’s question. When you think of it that way, this whole thing becomes fun instead of scary. And yes, you can do this, even if you don’t think you’re a “creative” person.
Be the Answer to Their Questions
Your customers have questions. All day long. They’re typing stuff into Google like, “how do I get a juice stain out of my rug?” or “what’s the best way to plant tomatoes?”
This is your chance to shine!
Your job is to be the best, most helpful answer to those questions. If you own a carpet cleaning company, a quick video showing exactly how to get that stain out is like magic. You’re not just trying to sell them something; you’re helping them.
The best marketing isn’t about fancy ads. It’s about being truly helpful. When you solve a small problem for free, they will remember you when they have a big problem they need to pay someone to fix.
Being helpful builds trust. Trust is what turns a stranger on the internet into a happy, paying customer. It’s that simple.
Easy Ideas for Posts You Can Make Today
Feeling stuck? No worries. Here are a few super simple ideas that work for any business. The trick is to just be yourself and be helpful.
- Answer a common question: What’s the one question you get asked all the time? Turn that answer into a short post. Done!
- Show what you’re working on: People love to see “behind the scenes.” If you run a bakery, show a quick video of you decorating a cake. If you’re a painter, post a picture of your neat and tidy work van. It makes your business feel real.
- Share a happy customer’s story: Did a customer love your work? Ask if you can share their story. It’s way better than you just talking about how great you are.
See? You don’t need a fancy camera or a movie studio. You just need your phone and a willingness to share what you already know.
Content Is More Than Just Words
Remember, “stuff you post online” can be many things. Not everyone likes to read. In fact, video is super popular right now. It’s how lots of people prefer to learn, and making simple videos is not as hard as it sounds.
You don’t need fancy gear. Your smartphone can shoot great videos that answer questions or show off your work. If you’re curious, there are tons of easy video marketing tutorials that show you how to do it step-by-step.
The goal is to be helpful in whatever way your audience likes best. Some people read, some watch videos, and others just look at pictures. A mix of all three is a great way to reach more people. Just start with whatever feels easiest for you. You’ve got this.
Simple Tools to Make You Look Like a Pro
You don’t need a pile of money or a team of computer geniuses to look like a marketing pro. Really! There are tons of simple, friendly, and often free tools that can make your life way easier.
Think of these tools as your helpful sidekicks. They do the hard work so you can focus on your business. Let’s look at a few simple helpers that will make you look awesome. You can absolutely do this.
Tools for Great Designs (Even If You Can’t Draw a Stick Figure)
Ever see those cool, professional-looking posts on Instagram and wonder how they did it? They probably used a super simple design tool. You don’t need to be an artist anymore.
Tools like Canva are like a magic wand for design. You can create beautiful posts, flyers, and even logos just by dragging and dropping things around. They give you thousands of templates that are already made for you. All you do is change the words and colors. It’s like paint-by-numbers for your business.
A few things you can make in minutes:
- Cool social media pictures: Stop posting boring text. Make your posts pop!
- Simple logos: Get a pro-looking logo without spending tons of money.
- Business cards and flyers: Make your own stuff that looks amazing.
The best part? Many of these tools are free to use.
Tools to Build a Website Without Crying
Building a website used to be a huge headache with lots of confusing computer code. Not anymore. Today, you can build a beautiful website without knowing any code at all. It’s as easy as playing with LEGOs.
Tools like WordPress let you build a website by just dragging and dropping things on the page. You just pick what you want—like a text box or a picture—and put it where you want it. You see exactly what it will look like as you build it.
You are in complete control. If you can write an email, you can build a website with these tools. It’s amazing for small businesses.
This means you can have a professional “home on the internet” up and running in a weekend. You can create a place that looks great and gets you customers, all by yourself. We believe in making things simple, which is why we’ve put together a guide on some of the best marketing software that helps business owners just like you.
Tools to See Who Is Visiting Your Site
Okay, so you’ve got a great website. But is anyone actually visiting it? A simple tool can tell you.
Don’t let the word “analytics” scare you. Tools like Google Analytics have one simple job: to show you who is coming to your website. It’s like having a friendly person at the door of your online store who counts how many people walked in today.
It can show you simple but powerful things, like:
- How many people visited your site yesterday.
- Which pages on your site are the most popular.
- If people are finding you on Google or Facebook.
This information is like gold. It helps you see what’s working so you can do more of it. It’s not about confusing charts; it’s about simple clues to help you grow.
And these tools are getting smarter all the time. You can find more details about the future of digital marketing on StackAdapt.
Getting started with these tools is easy, and we can help guide you. You’ve got this.
Your First Three Steps to Get Started Now
Alright, enough talking. It’s time to do something! Let’s get you a quick and easy win.
Forget those long, scary to-do lists. We’re breaking it down into three super simple steps you can do right now. The goal is to get moving, not to be perfect. Let’s go!
Step 1: Tidy Up Your Online Front Door
Your website’s main page is your digital handshake. Does it make a good first impression?
Your only job is to make one tiny improvement today. Pick one of these:
- Make your phone number bigger. Seriously. Can someone find it in three seconds? If not, make it big and put it right at the top.
- Make your headline clearer. Does the main sentence on your site say exactly what you do? Change “Innovative Solutions Provider” to “We Fix Clogged Drains in Columbus.” Simple is better!
- Look at it on your phone. Pull up your website on your phone right now. Is it easy to read? If it looks weird, just make a note of what’s wrong. That’s a great first step.
That’s it! You just made your most important marketing tool better. See? You can do this.
Step 2: Make One Helpful Social Media Post
Don’t worry about a big plan. Just make one single post that helps someone. Don’t sell anything. Just be useful.
Need ideas?
- Answer a common question. What’s one thing customers ask you all the time? Post a quick answer.
- Share a quick tip. If you’re a painter, share a tip on how to pick the right paint. If you’re a mechanic, explain what that weird noise in your car might be.
- Show your work. Post a nice photo of a job you just finished. Before-and-after pictures are even better!
This post doesn’t need to be seen by millions. It just needs to help one person. You’re building trust, which is the secret to winning this game.
Step 3: Learn One New Thing
Getting good at this is all about taking small steps. A great place to start, especially if you want to earn money from your website, is learning how to start affiliate marketing. Just reading one helpful article makes you smarter.
Remember, every expert was once a beginner just like you. They just started. They took one small step, and then another.
You’ve already taken the biggest step just by reading this. Now you have three simple things to do to get your first win. You have everything you need to start right now. You’ve got this.
A Few Common Questions (And Simple Answers)
Okay, let’s answer a few questions that a lot of beginners have. No fancy talk, just straight answers so you can get started. You got this.
How Much Does This Stuff Cost?
Here’s the best part: you can start for free. For real.
You can make a Facebook page or an Instagram account right now and start sharing helpful stuff without spending any money. You can also make small changes to your website for free.
Later on, you might want to spend a little money on ads, but you don’t have to right now. The free tools are plenty to get you started.
Which Place on the Internet is Best for Marketing?
That’s like asking, “What’s the best tool in a toolbox?” It depends on the job! There is no magic “best” place that works for everyone.
The secret is simple: Go where your customers already are. Don’t try to make them come to you; meet them where they like to hang out.
Think of it this way:
- Selling things that look pretty, like custom cakes or cool T-shirts? A picture-heavy place like Instagram is perfect.
- Solving tricky problems or giving expert advice? A blog on your own website is the best spot to show how smart you are.
How Long Does It Take to See Results?
Be patient. This isn’t like flipping a light switch—it’s more like planting a garden. You have to plant the seeds (your posts), water them (keep posting), and give them time to grow.
You might see some good things happen in the first few weeks. But building a real, strong online presence usually takes a few months of doing it over and over. Just stick with it. It will pay off!
Feeling ready to go but want someone to help you? At The Cherubini Company, we help business owners like you turn these simple ideas into real money. Let’s make your website work for you. Learn more at https://cherubinicompany.com.
