Crafting a Simple Digital Marketing Strategy That Actually Works

    If you're just starting your digital marketing journey, the phrase “digital marketing strategy” might sound like a huge, scary beast. But hey, don’t panic — it's not rocket science (unless you’re literally marketing rockets). Let’s break it down into something you can actually do.

    A strategy is just a plan. A map. A guide to get you from “no one knows me” to “people are finding my content, buying my stuff, and even sharing it with friends.” In this post, I’ll walk you through how I built my own beginner-friendly digital marketing strategy — and how you can do it too.

    Why You Need a Strategy

    Jumping into digital marketing without a strategy is like driving without a destination. You’ll burn fuel and time, and possibly end up somewhere you don’t want to be. A good strategy gives your marketing efforts focus, direction, and purpose.

    Start With Your Goal

    What do you actually want to achieve?

    • Drive more traffic to your blog?
    • Get people to sign up for your newsletter?
    • Sell your handmade soap online?

    Your goal will shape everything else you do. My first goal was simple: get 100 people to read my blog post. That’s it. And that tiny goal helped me figure out what to focus on.

    Know Your Audience

    Don’t try to market to everyone. You’ll end up speaking to no one. Ask yourself:

    • Who do I want to reach?
    • What are their problems?
    • What kind of content do they consume?

    For me, it was beginner bloggers trying to get traffic. I made content that spoke to their struggles — like finding keywords, writing faster, and choosing the right tools.

    Pick Your Channels

    You don’t need to be everywhere. Start with one or two platforms where your audience already hangs out. Here’s a quick guide:

    • Instagram: Great for visuals and lifestyle brands
    • Facebook: Good for community building and older audiences
    • YouTube: Awesome for how-to content and reviews
    • Blog: Best for long-form content and SEO

    I started with a blog and Pinterest combo. Low cost, low barrier, and pretty effective if you stay consistent.

    Create Valuable Content

    Don't overthink this. Valuable content solves a problem, entertains, or inspires. If you're not sure what to write or make, just think: what did I struggle with last week that someone else might be dealing with too?

    Some content ideas I used early on:

    • How I chose my blog niche
    • 5 tools that helped me grow faster
    • Common mistakes I made (and how to avoid them)

    Use Email Early

    I regret not starting my email list sooner. Seriously. An email list lets you talk directly to your audience without relying on algorithms. Just offer something simple — a checklist, a free PDF, or tips they can’t get elsewhere — in exchange for their email.

    Track Your Progress

    If you’re not measuring, you’re guessing. I didn’t use fancy analytics at first — just basic stuff like:

    • Page views (Google Analytics)
    • Email signups
    • Click-through rates from social media posts

    Tracking helped me figure out what worked (and what didn’t), so I could do more of the good stuff.

    Real Talk: What Actually Worked for Me

    When I started applying a real strategy, things changed. I stopped writing random blog posts and started writing with purpose. I made content around keywords, shared it with a plan, and sent emails with real value. Within two months, my traffic doubled and my email list started to grow. Slowly, yes — but consistently.

    Keep It Simple, Keep It Going

    You don’t need a 50-page marketing plan. You just need a goal, a way to reach people, and a commitment to keep showing up. Digital marketing is more about being human and helpful than being perfect.

    Next time, we’ll dig into keyword research and how to find terms people actually search for — without paying for expensive tools. Stick around, it gets even more fun!