A Beginner’s Guide to Digital Marketing in India

Digital marketing in India is growing rapidly as more and more businesses realize the power of online platforms to reach and engage with customers. For beginners looking to tap into this emerging field, here is a quick guide to the basics of digital marketing in the Indian context:

 

Choose Your Platforms Wisely

While digital marketing includes a diverse array of platforms, it’s important to focus your efforts on the ones that have the maximum penetration in India. These include:

  • Search engines (primarily Google which has over 90% market share in India)
  • Social media (Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn top the charts in terms of active users)
  • Messaging apps like WhatsApp which has over 400 million users in India
  • E-commerce marketplaces like Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra etc.

 

Focus on Mobile

India has over 500 million smartphone users and most internet users are ‘mobile first’, meaning their primary access is via a mobile device. Your digital marketing campaigns must be optimized for mobile – responsive websites, mobile ads, WhatsApp marketing are key.

 

Localize Your Content

Global digital marketing trends do apply to India, but it’s critical to adapt your content and messaging for local audiences. From using colloquial terms to featuring Indian faces in ads or content, localization is key.

 

Use Influencers

Influencer marketing has taken off in India with brands partnering with ‘macro’, ‘micro’ and ‘nano’ influencers on social media. Identify influencers relevant to your niche and engage them for reviews, sponsored posts, takeovers etc.

 

Focus on Video

Video is hugely popular in India – on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram etc. Use both short format content (Reels etc) as well as longer video articles, tutorials or live streaming. Optimize for vernacular languages too.

 

Go Vernacular

A huge segment of internet audiences in India use regional languages. Expand your digital footprint by creating content in languages like Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Bangla etc. Platforms like Google and Facebook make it easy to target vernacular users.

 

Experiment with Newer Platforms

While established platforms are popular, new ones are emerging too. Explore options like ShareChat, Roposo, Moj which target ‘Bharat’ users. Participating early can help reach users organically.

 

Track Your Results

Digital marketing allows you to track results through tools like Google Analytics. Measure metrics like leads, sales, traffic etc. to understand what campaigns work for your business. Refine regularly.

 

Conclusion

India’s digital marketing space offers exciting opportunities for brands to connect with a rapidly growing internet population. Choose the best digital marketing company in India and increase online presence. By following the above tips on optimizing for major platforms, using localized content, leveraging influencers and tracking results, beginners can make a solid start. As you experiment and expand your digital presence, your brand is sure to find its footing with this digitally-savvy audience.