How To Start A Digital Marketing Business: A Concise Guide

Starting a digital marketing business is not an easy task for any business. However, the thing with a digital marketing business is that you can set up proven systems to help you launch a successful business that helps clients grow online and make money.

This article will walk you through the key steps to start your digital marketing business. From building skills to finding clients, you'll learn how to get started quickly and stay in the industry for long. Let's begin.

In digital marketing, a person (or an agency) uses all the trendy online channels to promote their clients’ businesses, products, services, etc. The old-school method focused solely on search engine optimization (SEO) and paid ads.

However, with modern advancements and apps developed in the last 15 years, you need a diverse strategy to succeed as a marketer online. That strategy involves utilizing social media marketing, email campaigns, and paid advertisements. These channels can help businesses build awareness around their audience, allowing you to drive sales for the client's business.

But why not newspaper, print, or TV advertising? Well, it's pretty simple. When was the last time you read a physical newspaper? Can't remember, right? So, the basic premise is that you need to market your stuff where your audience hangs out. And for most people, that is the online space. You can find the "nicest" of niches if you search for it.

With digital marketing, you can also control who sees your advertisement. You can target specific groups and measure your campaigns' success so you can adapt quickly and be profitable. All of this has become possible in the last 10-20 years. It's fascinating. You can improve website visibility through SEO, get ideal followers on social media, turn them into email list subscribers, etc. The sky's the limit.

You can learn no "one" skill stack to become a level 100 digital marketing master. Some marketers are making 10x more than other hardworking digital marketers. It solely comes down to who you know in your contacts and how big of a problem you can solve for them. Work with rich guys to solve their biggest bottlenecks, and you can succeed with a relatively small skill stack.

With that in mind, here are some “cornerstone” skills that you can learn:

This includes writing blogs (like this one), creating social media posts, designing engaging visuals, etc. Everything that you make for your client's audience to consume is content. Analyzing helps you track performance and adjust strategies for better results.

Another important skill is managing paid ads, such as Google Ads or Facebook campaigns, now known as meta ads. Here, you’ll need to learn how to create a profitable ad in the first place, which is known as the “creative.” After that comes the budgeting part, target audiences, tracking ROI, and so many nitty-gritty details.

We just discussed that writing blogs comes under "content creation," right? Well, yes, but SEO is a league of its own. Writing blogs and optimizing them for search engines are both different skill sets. You don't need to become an "SEO expert" like a LinkedIn guru. Still, basic SEO knowledge will help you understand terminologies used in the industry and see why your content may or may not be ranking.

Finally, it is essential to stay updated with trends. Tools, platforms, and algorithms change often, and keeping up ensures your clients get the best results.

Now that you know what skills you need, it’s time to apply them in real life for a win-win situation where you and your clients can benefit:

To build a strong portfolio at the start, work with some big names for free or at a lower cost. You need one solid case study to show other businesses what you can do and for your self-development. Use the results from these projects and leverage the case studies and testimonials to get more clients.

Now, you start spreading your name and putting yourself out there. Use social media platforms like LinkedIn and X to share tips and examples of your work—network with like-minded people and your ideal clients. Cold outreach, like cold emailing, cold DMing, or calling businesses, is also valid. If you have a budget, run ads targeting businesses in your chosen niche.

Once you have clients, drop everything for some time and focus on delivering the best value. Remember, the best marketing is peer-to-peer referrals. If you can impress your clients, the recommendations will take you far. Show them results, like more website visits or better sales. Always keep your clients updated with clear communication and regular reports.

Working alone is fine when starting because it doesn’t cost you anything, and there is no upside ceiling on how much you can earn. Running an agency allows you to handle more clients, offer different services, and delegate tasks to your team. However, it also takes more time, planning, and money.

Think about what works best for your goals, skills, and lifestyle. If you prefer a "working alone from your laptop" lifestyle, freelancing might be the right choice. Forming an agency could be your next step if you want to take on more significant projects and work with a team.