Today's consumers start their buying journey online, regardless of whether they purchase online or in-store. If your business isn't visible in these digital spaces, you're missing out on potential customers actively looking for your products or services. With smartphones becoming the primary way people find businesses, being digitally present isn't optional anymore—it's as fundamental as having a business phone number.
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Difference between Traditional Marketing and Digital Marketing
Unlike traditional marketing (billboards, print ads, TV commercials), where you broadcast one message to everyone, digital marketing lets you:
Target specific customer groups precisely Engage in two-way conversations with customers
Track exactly how many people saw and responded to your marketing
Adjust your strategies in real-time based on what's working
Start with small budgets and scale up gradually
Engage in two-way conversations with customers
Common Myths and Misconceptions
"Digital marketing is only for online businesses" - False! Even local brick-and-mortar stores need a digital presence
"It's too expensive for small businesses." - You can start with minimal budgets and scale up
"Results should be immediate" - While some channels (like ads) work quickly, others (like SEO) build value over time
"You need to be on every platform" - Focus on platforms where your customers spend time
Quick Self-Assessment
You likely need digital marketing if:
Target specific customer groups precisely Engage in two-way conversations with customers
Your competitors appear in Google searches, but you don't
Customers ask why they can't find you online
You rely mainly on word-of-mouth marketing
You can't measure your marketing ROI accurately
Your target customers are under 65 years old
You want to expand beyond your local market
Types of Digital Marketing Services
Search Engine Marketing
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is improving your website to increase visibility when people search for products or services related to your business on Google, Bing, and other search engines. The better your pages' visibility in search results, the more likely you are to garner attention and attract prospective and existing customers to your business. Hiring an SEO company will give you access to optimal strategies and professional talent, which will execute all the required technical activities and provide reports. Click here to read more about SEO services and why it matters.
How much will it cost?
Doing SEO yourself will be less effective as you might lack the right tools and experience. So, It is always advisable to hire an SEO company. Hiring an SEO company will generally cost anywhere from ₹25,000 to ₹1,00,000
When can you expect an ROI
SEO is a highly competitive space. A good SEO company can show a substantial increase in organic traffic within 4-6 months.
Google Ads/PPC
PPC (Pay-Per-Click) marketing is a digital advertising model where you pay only when someone clicks your ad. It's like placing a billboard that's free until someone walks into your store because of it. You bid on keywords relevant to your business using platforms like Google Ads. Perfect for quick results, you can control costs, target specific audiences, and measure exact returns on every rupee spent.
How much will it cost?
Think of CPC as a bid for customer attention. When someone searches for your keywords, you pay only when they click your ad. Costs vary widely:
Local services: ₹10-50 per click
E-commerce: ₹15-100 per click
Insurance/Finance: ₹100-500+ per click.Your actual cost depends on competition and keyword quality.
Setting Realistic Budgets
Start with this formula:
1.Target monthly sales × Profit per sale = Revenue goal
2. Typical conversion rate (2-5% for most industries)
3. Calculate backward: If you need ten sales and the conversion rate is 2%, you need 500 clicks
Example monthly budgets:
Starter: ₹15,000-30,000
Growth: ₹30,000-1,00,000
Established: ₹1,00,000+
Expected ROI
Healthy ROI benchmarks:
E-commerce: 200-400%
Services: 300-500%
B2B: 200-600%. Expect 3-6 months to optimize campaigns for best returns.
Hidden Costs to Watch
Agency management fees (10-20% of ad spend)
Landing page creation (₹5,000-20,000)
A/B testing costs
Tracking setup (₹2,000-10,000)
Image/copywriting (₹1,000-5,000 per ad set)
Regular optimization time
Remember: Start small, test different approaches, and scale what works.
Social Media Marketing
Essential Platforms
Choose based on your business:
Instagram/Facebook: Best for B2C, retail, visual products (highest ROI for most businesses)
LinkedIn: Essential for B2B and professional services
Twitter: Great for customer service and news updates
YouTube: Valuable for tutorials and brand building. Don't spread yourself thin – master one platform before expanding.
Content Creation Costs (Monthly in India)
Basic Package: ₹15,000-25,000
- 15-20 posts
- Basic graphics
- Simple content calendar
Standard Package: ₹25,000-50,000
- 30-40 posts
- Custom graphics
- Basic video content
Premium Package: ₹50,000-1,50,000
- Daily posts
- Professional videos
- Stories/Reels
Ad Spending Guidelines
Minimum adequate monthly budgets:
Starting: ₹10,000-20,000
Growth: ₹20,000-50,000
Established: ₹50,000+ Always start with a 70% budget on your best-performing platform.
Managing Social Media Teams
Structure options:
In-house (₹20,000-40,000/month per manager)
Digital marketing agency (₹30,000-1,00,000/month)
Freelancer (₹15,000-35,000/month)
Influencer Marketing
Costs per post:
Micro (10k-50k followers): ₹5,000-15,000
Mid-tier (50k-500k): ₹15,000-50,000
Macro (500k+): ₹50,000-5,00,000+
Benefits:
Instant credibility
Ready-made audience
Authentic content
Better engagement rates
Remember: Quality engagement matters more than follower count.
Content Marketing
Blog posts and articles
Blog posts and articles remain cost-effective in India, with professional writers charging ₹1,000-5,000 per article, depending on research depth and word count. Many startups leverage content writers from tier-2 cities who offer competitive rates while maintaining quality.
Video content
Video content is gaining traction, though production costs are significantly lower than in Western markets. Essential marketing videos cost ₹15,000-50,000, while high-production corporate videos range from ₹50,000-2,00,000. Many Indian businesses are succeeding with smartphone-shot social media content and YouTube channels.
Infographics and custom images
Infographics and custom images from Indian designers typically cost ₹3,000-15,000, with many businesses utilizing design hubs in cities like Bangalore and Pune. Stock image subscriptions cost ₹1,000-3,000 monthly.
Email newsletters
Email newsletters are increasingly popular, with Indian email marketing platforms like WebEngage offering more localized pricing (₹5,000-30,000 monthly based on subscriber count). Newsletter content creation typically costs ₹2,000-8,000 per edition. The Indian content marketing landscape benefits from lower operational costs, with many businesses running full content marketing campaigns for ₹30,000-1,50,000 monthly. The rise of vernacular content has also opened new opportunities, though quality multilingual content typically commands premium rates of 20-30% above English content.
