How to Build Your First Digital Marketing Strategy?

So, you're running a business—and you're starting to realise that just having a great product or service isn't enough anymore. If people can’t find you online, you might as well be invisible. That’s where digital marketing steps in.

Now, if the idea of "building a strategy" sounds a bit too corporate or overwhelming, don’t worry. We’re keeping it simple, beginner-friendly, and totally doable—even if you're a one-person team working from the kitchen table.

Here’s how to build your first digital marketing strategy (without losing your mind).

Step 1: Start With Clear, Simple Goals

Ask yourself: What do I actually want from my marketing?

No fluff—get specific.

• Want more people to visit your website?
• Want to grow your Instagram following?
• Want leads for your service-based business?
• Want online sales for your product?

Pick one or two goals. Trying to “do everything” right out of the gate usually ends in burnout and confusion.

Pro tip: If you’re not sure, start with traffic and lead generation. You can’t sell anything if no one’s coming through the digital door.

Step 2: Know Who You're Talking To

This part’s huge.

You need to understand who your ideal customer is—not just in a vague “anyone who needs landscaping” kind of way. We're talking specifics.

Try to answer:

• What do they care about?
• What frustrates them?
• What keeps them from buying?
• Where do they hang out online?

Whether you're marketing to busy parents, tech startup founders, or cafe-loving millennials, your strategy should speak their language.

And yep, it’s totally fine to have more than one customer type—just don’t try to speak to all of them at once in every campaign.

Step 3: Choose Your Channels Wisely

You don’t need to be everywhere. Please don’t try.

Start with just 1–2 channels that make sense for your goals and your audience.

Here’s a cheat sheet:

• Instagram/TikTok: Great for visual products, lifestyle brands, food, fashion, and younger audiences.
• LinkedIn: Best for B2B services, consultants, or professional industries.
• Email Marketing: Awesome for nurturing leads, especially if you’ve already got a small list or customer base.
• Google Ads: Ideal if people are actively searching for what you offer (think local services or niche products).
• SEO & Blogging: Long game—but powerful if you want to show up in search and build trust.

Start small. Learn what works. Then build out from there.

Step 4: Create Content That Actually Helps

Here’s a secret: People don’t really care about your business. They care about how your business can help them.

So create content that solves problems, answers questions, or entertains them. If you’re a plumber, post about what to do if your water heater dies. If you sell candles, show people how to create a cozy night-in vibe.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just be useful, real, and consistent.

Bonus? Google loves helpful content. So do social algorithms. And so will your future customers.

Step 5: Set a Budget (Even If It’s Tiny)

You don’t need a big budget to get started—but having some budget helps you move faster.

Some ideas:

• $100/month on Instagram or Facebook ads to boost a few posts.
• $15/month for an email tool like Mailchimp or ConvertKit.
• $0 for Canva to create decent-looking content.

Set a monthly cap and track what gives you the most bang for your buck. Don’t just throw money around without knowing what you’re getting back.

 Step 6: Measure What Matters

Marketing isn’t a one-and-done deal. You’ve gotta check in, tweak, and improve.

Set up simple tracking:

• Use Google Analytics to see where website traffic is coming from.
• Watch social media insights for reach and engagement.
• Use UTM links to track what campaigns are actually converting.

Even a quick 15-minute check-in each week can help you understand what's working and what’s just... noise.

Final Thoughts

The most important thing? Start somewhere. You don’t need a fancy funnel or a full-blown content calendar to begin. You just need a clear goal, a basic plan, and the guts to experiment.

And remember—marketing is a marathon, not a sprint. You’ll mess some things up. You’ll post stuff no one sees. That’s okay. Keep showing up, learning, and testing until you find your rhythm.

If you're ever feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just unsure what to do next, don’t be afraid to reach out and get more marketing advice from people who’ve been through it. (Like us, hint hint.)

Now go out there and make some noise.