The Evolution of My Digital Marketing Journey From 2013 to 2023

Digital marketing is a broad term that encompasses various strategies and techniques to reach and engage potential customers through digital channels and platforms.?

It involves creating and distributing valuable content, designing and optimizing websites, launching and managing online campaigns, analyzing and measuring results, and more.?

Digital marketing is not just a way of promoting products or services, but a way of building relationships and trust with the audience.

I have been a digital marketer and content writer for 10 years now, and I can say that it has been an amazing and rewarding journey.?

I have witnessed and participated in the evolution of digital marketing, from its humble beginnings to its current state of sophistication and innovation.?

I have learned a lot, faced many challenges, and enjoyed many successes along the way.

You can read more about the writing portfolio on: www.bhaviksarkhedi.com

In this article, I will share with you some of the key milestones and trends that have shaped the digital marketing landscape in the past decade.?

But before I dive into the details, let me tell you a little bit about myself and how I got started in digital marketing, and what it was like back then.

I am the founder Write Right, a content writing agency that serves personalized content to over 1,500 clients across the globe. I am also the founder of Estorytellers, Taletel, Dad of Ad, and the author of 8 published books.?

I am recognized by Google and listed in the Top Content Writers in the World and Best Content Writers in India. I have been a dedicated and contributing writer to Entrepreneur India Magazine, HuffingtonPost, Yourstory, and 15 other reputed blogs.?

I cover topics such as entrepreneurship, small business strategy, AI, travel, lifestyle, health, career guidance, digital marketing, and much more.

How I Started My Digital Marketing Career

I started my digital marketing career in 2014, when I joined a small agency as a content writer. Back then, digital marketing was still a relatively new and emerging field, and there were not many established rules or best practices.?

The main goal was to create as much content as possible, and to rank high on search engines using keywords and links. The quality and relevance of the content were not as important as the quantity and frequency.

I remember writing dozens of articles and blog posts every week on topics that I had little or no interest or expertise in.?

I would use tools like Google Keyword Planner and Moz to find the most popular and competitive keywords, and then try to stuff them into the titles and headings of my articles.

I would also use various link-building techniques, such as guest posting, article submission, directory listing, and social bookmarking, to generate backlinks to my articles.?

I would then monitor the traffic and ranking of my articles using Google Analytics and Webmaster Tools.

I was not very happy or satisfied with this kind of work, as I felt that I was not using my creativity or passion for writing.?

I was also not sure if this was the right way to do digital marketing, as I did not see much engagement or conversion from the visitors who came to my articles. I wondered if there was a better way to do digital marketing, a way that would allow me to express myself and connect with the audience.

How I Discovered Content Marketing

One day, I came across a blog post by Neil Patel, one of the most influential digital marketers in the world. The title of the post was "How to Create a Content Marketing Strategy That Drives Traffic and Conversions.?

I was intrigued by the term "content marketing" and decided to read the post.

The post explained that content marketing is a strategic approach to creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action.?

The concept of content marketing blew me away, and I realised that this was the kind of digital marketing that I wanted to do.?

I wanted to create content that would help and inspire the audience, and that would showcase my personality and expertise.?

I decided to learn more about content marketing, I read books and blogs on content marketing, such as Content Marketing Institute, Copyblogger, and HubSpot.?

I also started to apply the principles and techniques of content marketing to my own work, and I saw a remarkable improvement in the quality and performance of my content.

You can read more about the writing portfolio on: www.bhaviksarkhedi.com

The Major Shifts in Digital Marketing

Digital marketing has undergone many changes and transformations in the past decade.

From my experience here are some of the major shifts that occurred:

From desktop to mobile: The rise of smartphones and tablets has changed the way people access and consume information online.?

Mobile devices have become the primary source of internet traffic, and mobile marketing has become a crucial component of digital marketing.?

Mobile marketing involves optimising websites and content for mobile devices, creating mobile-friendly landing pages and forms, using mobile apps and SMS marketing, and leveraging location-based services and geofencing.

From search to social: The explosion of social media platforms has changed the way people discover and share information online.?

Social media has become a powerful tool for digital marketers to reach and engage their target audience, build brand awareness and loyalty, generate word-of-mouth and referrals, and drive traffic and conversions.?

Social media marketing involves creating and distributing engaging and relevant content, participating in online conversations and communities, using social media ads and influencers, and monitoring and measuring social media performance.

From data to insights: The advent of big data and analytics has changed the way digital marketers measure and improve their campaigns.

Data-driven marketing involves collecting, analysing, and applying data from various sources, such as web analytics, CRM, email marketing, social media, and more, to understand customer behavior, preferences, and needs, and to optimize marketing strategies and tactics accordingly.?

Data-driven marketing also involves using tools like A/B testing, heatmaps, and surveys, to experiment and validate different marketing hypotheses and assumptions.

When I started my digital marketing career in 2014, some of the key strategies and tools that were popular then were:

SEO basics: SEO, or search engine optimisation, was one of the most important and effective digital marketing strategies back then. SEO involves optimising websites and content for search engines, using keywords, meta tags, headings, links, and more to rank high on search engine results pages (SERPs) and drive organic traffic.?

Some of the tools that I used for SEO were Google Keyword Planner, Moz, Yoast, and SEMrush.

Early social media marketing: Social media marketing was still in its early stages back then, and there were not many platforms or options available.?

The main platforms that I used for social media marketing were Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. I used these platforms to create and share content, such as articles, videos, images, and infographics, to attract and engage my audience, and to drive traffic to my website.?

Some of the tools that I used for social media marketing were Hootsuite, Buffer, Canva, and Animoto.

How Advancements in Technology Have Influenced Digital Marketing Strategies

Advancements in technology, have had a significant impact on digital marketing strategies over the past decade. Some of the ways that technology has influenced digital marketing strategies are:

Personalization: Technology has enabled digital marketers to create and deliver personalized and relevant content, offers, and experiences to each customer, based on their behavior, preferences, and needs.?

Personalization helps digital marketers to increase customer satisfaction, loyalty, and retention, and to improve conversion rates and revenue.?

Personalization involves using tools like AI, ML, CRM, email marketing, and more, to segment and target customers, and to tailor and customize marketing messages and actions.

Automation: Technology has enabled digital marketers to automate and streamline various digital marketing tasks and processes, such as content creation and distribution, email marketing, social media marketing, lead generation and nurturing, and more.?

Automation helps digital marketers to save time and resources, to increase efficiency and productivity, and to reduce human errors and inconsistencies.?

Automation involves using tools like AI, ML, marketing automation platforms, chatbots, and more, to execute and manage marketing campaigns and strategies.

Innovation: Technology has enabled digital marketers to innovate and experiment with new and creative digital marketing strategies and tools, such as interactive and immersive content, voice and video marketing, influencer and user-generated content marketing, gamification and loyalty programs, and more.

Innovation helps digital marketers to stand out from the competition, to attract and engage new and existing customers, and to drive traffic and conversions.?

Innovation involves using tools like AR, VR, 3D, podcasts, live streaming, and more, to create and share unique and memorable content and experiences.

Digital marketing is a dynamic and exciting field that has changed dramatically in the last 10 years. I have witnessed and participated in this evolution, and I can say that it has been a rewarding and challenging journey.

To keep up with the rapid changes, I have adopted some strategies that have helped me stay relevant and effective in my role as a digital marketer.?

These include:

Continuous learning: I always try to learn new skills, tools, and techniques that can help me improve my performance and deliver better results for my clients.?

I read blogs, books, podcasts, and newsletters, attend webinars and courses, and follow industry experts and influencers on social media.

Networking: I value the connections and relationships that I have built with other digital marketers, both online and offline. I join communities, forums, and groups, where I can exchange ideas, insights, and feedback with my peers.?

Experimenting with new platforms: I am not afraid to try new things and explore new opportunities in digital marketing.

I test and experiment with different platforms, channels, and formats, to see what works best for my target audience and goals. I also monitor the performance and analytics of my campaigns, to learn from my successes and failures.

I believe that adaptability and foresight are essential qualities for any digital marketer who wants to thrive in this fast-paced and competitive environment.

Digital marketing is constantly evolving, and we need to be able to adapt to the changing needs and preferences of our customers, as well as the emerging technologies and trends that shape the industry.

Some of the future trends and directions that I think will have a significant impact on digital marketing are:

VR/AR in marketing: Virtual reality and augmented reality are becoming more accessible and affordable, and they offer new ways to create immersive and engaging experiences for customers.?

VR/AR can be used to showcase products and services, tell stories, and create brand awareness and loyalty.

Further integration of AI: Artificial intelligence is already playing a key role in digital marketing, by helping with tasks such as data analysis, content creation, personalization, and optimization.?

AI will continue to enhance and automate various aspects of digital marketing, making it more efficient and effective.

Ethical considerations in data usage: Data is the fuel of digital marketing, but it also raises ethical and legal issues regarding privacy, security, and consent.

Digital marketers need to be aware of the regulations and best practices that govern data usage, and respect the rights and preferences of their customers.

Based on my 10-year journey, I would like to offer some advice to upcoming digital marketers who want to pursue a career in this field:

Be curious and passionate: Digital marketing is a field that requires constant learning and innovation. You need to be curious and passionate about the latest developments and trends, and always look for ways to improve your skills and knowledge.

Be creative and analytical: Digital marketing combines art and science. You need to be creative and analytical, and able to balance both sides of your brain

Be flexible and resilient: You need to be flexible and resilient, and able to cope with change and failure. You need to be able to adapt to different situations and challenges and learn from your mistakes and feedback.

To sum up, digital marketing is a field that has evolved tremendously in the last 10 years, and it will continue to do so in the future.?

It is a field that offers many opportunities and rewards, but also demands a lot of dedication and hard work.?

It is a field that I love and enjoy, and I hope that you will too.

I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this topic, and what you think the future of digital marketing will look like.

You can read more about the writing portfolio on: www.bhaviksarkhedi.com