How to Start Your Digital Marketing Efforts

Are you thinking of diving into the world of digital marketing? Whether you’re an established company looking to make a shift from traditional marketing, or a newer organization looking to build its brand, digital marketing is of the utmost importance to reach your customers where they are. 

Digital marketing can be overwhelming if you’re unfamiliar — from understanding all the lingo and strategies to how it impacts your business. The Padula Media team is ready to help you navigate the complexities of digital marketing. Based in Chester County, PA, our team of digital marketing experts is able to develop a customized plan and strategy for you to meet your goals.

But where to even start? Let’s look at some key things to consider if you want to build a digital marketing plan.

Research and Analyze

Before you get started on a digital marketing plan, you need to understand where your business currently is, and where you want it to go. Are you looking to garner more leads? Or increase awareness? Take the time to understand what your goals are so that you can determine which digital marketing strategies to enact. The best objectives are set around actionable and measurable results — not vague ideas or general directions. Try and be as specific as possible when writing these objectives and key results out. The Padula Media team is always willing to consult with a client on how to set attainable and realistic goals.

Part of setting your goals should be to examine what has worked over the past year or so. Did you generate great results from one of your campaigns? What didn’t work? This is also a great time to do a competitive analysis to determine who your competitors are, and what types of digital marketing they are utilizing. You should know how your competitors are marketing themselves and how you can capitalize on their gaps in strategy. For example, if a top competitor is strong in SEO but weak in social media, you might be able to benefit from their lapses. 

Budget and Strategize

The next step in creating a digital marketing plan is to determine your budget. Your budget will not only determine how much you spend but also which categories or channels are best suited for you. You should consider things like company revenue, position within the industry, your previous results, and forecasted goals. If your biggest objective is to drive leads, you might have to spend a bit more than a goal to simply increase brand awareness. 

The good news is that digital marketing can be affordable and attainable no matter what your budget or goals are. If you are currently heavily investing in traditional marketing, you might be shocked at the cost-effectiveness of digital marketing!

Once you’ve set your budget, you should be able to start strategizing the content you want to create and which channels are right for the content. If you have a goal to increase website traffic, a quick (but sometimes expensive) option could be to run a Google Ad campaign. This will boost traffic fast and can give you an immediate boost, but might not be within your budget. 

If you’re looking for no-cost or low-cost effective ways to start your digital marketing strategy, look into SEO and content marketing. These strategies can help you organically grow your online presence and are more affordable than running digital advertising campaigns to reach your goals. The key is to understand your audience, and the best places to reach them at all stages of the marketing funnel. 

Whether you have a large budget or are just starting out, you should consider how these strategies will play out both short-term and longer-term. One way to visualize this is to create a content calendar that clearly outlines both your paid and organic marketing activations and how they will contribute to your overall strategy.

Execute and adjust

Once you’ve done the research required to set your digital marketing up for success, now it’s time to execute. The biggest key to success in digital marketing is keeping things consistent, so make sure you’re taking the necessary steps to follow your plan. There are tools and platforms that make executing your plan simpler. Consider investing in a marketing automation platform like Hubspot or Mailchimp to take some of the work off of yourself. It’s always better to work smarter, not harder!

As your campaigns are up and running, make sure you’re tracking the results so you can see how you’re progressing to your initial targets. One of the biggest benefits of digital marketing is that you can adjust as needed to make sure you’re getting the results you want. If you start your marketing campaigns and find you’re missing the mark, you can go back to the drawing board or implement an A/B test to see what consumers are resonating with. 

The key to success in digital marketing is to have a plan. By taking the necessary time and effort to develop your plan, you can see great results.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to start when it comes to digital marketing, Padula Media can help. As a leading digital marketing team in Chester County, PA, we have specialists on hand to help you grow your business and improve your online presence. Drop us a note and let’s get started!

Jordan

TECHNICAL SPECIALIST

Jordan received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics from Texas A&M and started his first business after graduating. He has started and exited businesses in various industries including education, SaaS, marketing, eCom, SEO, and AI. Outside of work he likes to cook, game, and take leisurely walks around the lake.

Alex

WRITER

Alex Shute is an SEO Strategist and SEO Content Writer renowned for integrating organic search into broader marketing strategies, aiding businesses and professionals in boosting their organic revenue. Passionate about SEO and Content Writing, Alex stays abreast of industry trends and conducts thorough site analyses to enhance SEO metrics and identify improvement areas.

Ethan

WRITER

Ethan is an experienced Content and Copywriter. He graduated from Clemson Univeristy with a degree in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. After graduating he moved to Europe to teach Englsh in Hungary and Spain before returning home to get back to his marketing roots. When he isn’t working, Ethan loves to travel, play soccer, play guitar and spend time with friends and family.

Shannon McLaughlin

MARKETING COORDINATOR

Shannon graduated from Shippensburg University with a major in Communication/ Journalism and emphasis in Public Relations. Outside of work she enjoys running, Philly sports, and spending time with friends and family.

Kyle Toomey

PHOTOGRAPHER

Kyle is our Content Creator. Photography, Videography & Drone. “Creating Content is what I love to do and to be able to do it as a career makes it all the better.” Kyle recently got married and enjoys spending his time with his wife Traveling, watching Philadelphia sports and playing Baseball/Softball.

Owen Pesnell

VIDEOGRAPHER

Owen is passionate about helping clients communicate through video. From the conception of a project all the way through to final delivery, Owen’s focus is on creating video content that is true to your brand and resonates with your target audience. Outside of work, you’ll likely find him walking the Schuylkill River Trail.

Megan

CONTENT CREATOR

Megan is a content creator with a passion for telling stories through intentional design. She holds her bachelor’s degree in Communicative Arts, with emphasis on Public Relations, from Wisconsin Lutheran College. Throughout her career, Megan has worked with dozens of businesses to revamp their marketing materials and strengthen their social strategy. When she is not designing social media graphics and debating the use of the oxford comma, Megan is with her family and friends (and still probably drinking coffee).

Ethan

WRITER

Ethan is an experienced Content and Copywriter. He graduated from Clemson Univeristy with a degree in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. After graduating he moved to Europe to teach Englsh in Hungary and Spain before returning home to get back to his marketing roots. When he isn’t working, Ethan loves to travel, play soccer, play guitar and spend time with friends and family.

Lili

WRITER

Lili is an experienced SEO writer passionate about creating engaging content. When she’s not working, Lili enjoys spending time outdoors, reading books or bingeing shows, and caring for her two fur babies. An avid learner, she also works hard to stay up-to-date on the latest strategies and techniques associated with marketing and SEO.

Cameron

LEAD WRITER

Cameron is a writer and digital marketing expert dedicated to helping small businesses grow through valuable content and digital strategies. With years of experience, she has aided numerous businesses in expanding their reach and establishing themselves as industry leaders. A Virginia Tech graduate, Cameron has worked as a reporter for the Roanoke Times and spent seven years on Compass real estate’s marketing team, working with the nation’s top real estate agents to grow their business. She enjoys building lasting relationships with clients and using powerful content to help them achieve their goals.

Maribeth Woodford

MARKET DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Maribeth Woodford is a seasoned professional with a rich background in business development, franchise sales, and marketing. Her entrepreneurial journey is highlighted by her successful stint as the owner of a yoga studio for eight years, demonstrating her deep understanding of market trends and customer engagement. This experience underlines her expertise in not only running a business but also in effectively marketing it to a target audience. Her skills in marketing have been instrumental in her ability to help businesses grow, showcasing her knack for creating strategies that resonate with diverse consumer bases. Maribeth’s authenticity shines through in her marketing approach, allowing her to connect with customers and clients on a genuine level. In her personal life, Maribeth is a dedicated mother to two college-aged children and enjoys the lively company of her GoldenDoodle, Munson. Her love for travel and yoga is a reflection of her dynamic personality and continuous quest for knowledge. Overall, Maribeth Woodford’s blend of professional acumen in business development, marketing, and franchise sales, combined with her passions, paints the picture of a well-rounded, driven, and compassionate individual.

Laura

PHOTOGRAPHER

A former biologist, Laura first picked up a camera to photograph the microscopic world of insects. She now enjoys all genres of photography including real estate, events, portraits, and her favorite: family documentary. When she’s not behind the lens Laura can be found with her husband and their five kids camping at the beach or off on some other (mis)adventure.

Maddy

BRANDING AND DESIGN

Maddy is a strategic storytelling expert with a diverse background in digital marketing, videography, and graphic design. She received her B.S. in Interactive Digital Media with minors in Graphic Arts and Film Studies from Immaculata University. Outside of building brands, Maddy is also a trained dancer and teacher, Ben & Jerry’s addict, and dog lover.

Nicole Kavetski

Senior Marketing Manager

Nicole received her B.S. in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology from West Chester University and has made her way into the Digital Marketing field as Padula Media’s Senior Marketing Manager. Outside of work, she likes to travel, cook, and attend concerts with her friends.

Sachin

FULL-STACK DEVELOPER

Sachin is a highly skilled full-stack developer. He completed his graduation in website development.

After completing his studies, He started his professional journey as a web developer and worked in an IT organization for three years.

Apart from his professional endeavours, He is also a fitness enthusiast and likes to spend his free time in the gym.

Kari Schneider

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT & FINANCE

Kari is a longtime entrepreneur and networker. She has a 25+ year background in sales and marketing in the telecommunications industry, real estate, solar and business consulting. She loves balancing books and creating order out of chaos.

Steven Singer

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Steven, our Director of Operations, is focused on strategy, growth, and the future of Padula Media. He has a background in the real estate industry stemming from sales to operations and management. With Padula Media, Steven will be helping our sales, marketing, and operations teams to give our clients a 5-star experience in achieving their goals.

Thomas Padula

FOUNDER & CEO

Thomas is a creative marketer and leader with determination and enthusiasm for every project and every client. He remains passionate about growing businesses by creating personalized solutions to draw traffic and build an online presence. Thomas has been recognized as one of the most influential leaders in Chester County under the age of 40.

Fred

MASCOT

Fred Chunky Padula is Padula Media’s mascot.