Late nights, a growing collection of gray hairs, and enough coffee to keep a herd of elephants wired for days. After all the trial, error, and frustration (and let’s face it, a few strong words along the way), you’ve finally launched your minimum viable product (MVP). Congratulations! Now, buckle up – it’s time to take that MVP on a digital marketing joyride!

Okay, so you’ve got the product out there. It’s not perfect (what is, really?), and yes, there may be a few bugs lurking around. But hey, it’s live! After months (or years?) of blood, sweat, and tears, you finally have something to show the world. Now the big question: How do you tell everyone you’re open for business?

Because let’s face it, a product is nothing if no one knows about it, no one’s using it, no one’s recommending it. And as much as the internet is filled with articles claiming to have cracked “the art” of digital marketing – like it’s some kind of elusive, mystical skill only the chosen few can master – the truth is… it’s not that complicated.

Digital marketing is really just about mastering four simple fundamentals, putting them into action, and getting better with each try. Sure, when done right it takes work – a lot of it – but the basics? Those stay the same.

Think back to when you first learned to read. 99.9% of us were awful at it! Slow, stumbling over words, unsure of the next one. But stick with it long enough, and before you know it, you’re reading entire books – maybe even writing one! Digital marketing is no different. You just need to practice, and before you know it, you’ll be the one writing your own digital marketing playbook.

So, with that in mind, let’s keep this simple. Digital marketing boils down to four core elements. And they are…

Defining What You’re Selling

Before you get lost in the sauce of digital marketing, there’s one simple question you need to answer: What the hell are you selling?

Identifying Your Unique Advantage

I know, it sounds basic, but trust me – if you can’t clearly define what you’re offering and why it’s different from the crap everyone else is pushing, you’re already behind. So, take a minute and ask yourself: What makes your thing special? In a market flooded with endless options, you’ve got to focus on one of these three things to stand out:

1. Price Advantage – Are you offering a more affordable solution?
2. Feature Advantage – Do you have a standout feature that others lack?
3. UI/UX or Usability Advantage – Is your product easier to use or more intuitive than alternatives?

Crafting a Clear and Impactful Pitch

Once you’ve identified your unique advantage, refine it until you can describe your product in one sentence that clearly communicates why it’s different and valuable. This concise pitch should be the cornerstone of your marketing efforts, from copywriting to ad creative.

Starting with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

Remember: your product doesn’t need to be perfect from the start, but it should solve a real problem for your audience. Focus on delivering a minimum viable product (MVP) that addresses core needs, then use feedback and data to improve it. If your MVP resonates with users, you can confidently iterate and build a stronger version (2.0). If it falls flat, it’s time to reassess and realign it with what your audience actually wants.

Strategic Advertising: Start Small and Smart

Finally, don’t overspend on advertising before you’re clear on what you’re selling and why people should care. Your budget should be used strategically – focus on the right channels and audience, and always measure the effectiveness of your campaigns before scaling up.

Building a Strong and Consistent Brand Identity

By aligning your product’s USP with a strong brand voice – including a consistent tone, visual identity (design, colors, logo), and messaging – you can create a memorable experience for customers and stand out in the marketplace.

An audience

Imagine trying to sell beard oil to a 23-year-old woman in Spain – yeah, probably not your best bet. This is exactly why you need to nail down who you’re selling to. Don’t just cast your digital net out there hoping to scoop up anything that floats by.

Understanding Your Target Audience

When you’re launching a product or service, make sure you’re crystal clear about WHO your customers are before you even think about running ads. Some key things to consider are:

• Who are they? Age, gender, income level, and buying habits.
• Where are they? Country, region, or even neighborhood.
• What are they after? Is your product something they want for personal use or work?

Once you know your target audience, you can build a far more effective plan – your messaging, sales funnel, and customer journey will all improve. In fact, knowing exactly who your customer is can make or break your strategy.

Narrowing Your Focus for Maximum Impact

Here’s a twist: when you’re just starting, don’t try to save the whole world. Focus on a specific group with a problem that only you can solve. Maybe it’s a quirky beauty product for vegans who love crystals, or a super niche subscription box for people obsessed with 90s sitcoms. Make your offering so unique, so tailored to that crowd, that it feels personal.

Why? Because when you’re a newbie, resources are usually limited, and you can’t afford to go wide and hope for a miracle. (Unless, of course, you’re Elon Musk with a rocket in one hand and a meme coin in the other – but, spoiler alert, most of us aren’t.)

Building a Loyal Fanbase

Once you’ve found your niche, nurture it. Over time, you can grow and scale to a broader audience, but at first, focus on making a loyal fanbase out of a smaller group who sees you as their go-to solution.

Crafting Irresistible Offers

Here’s the tricky part: you’ve got to get creative with your offers. Think about this: if you launch with nothing special, you won’t get that initial buzz you’re after. People love a deal – whether it’s a cheeky discount, a freebie, a bundle deal, or even a “buy one, get one free” for the ultimate splurge shoppers. But – and this is crucial – don’t go crazy with discounts unless your margins can handle it. For a high-end brand or something with slim profit margins, discounting might actually hurt more than help.

So, how do you know? Go back to your audience. If they’re price-sensitive, great. If not, maybe just throw in a special gift with purchase instead. And hey, if your launch hasn’t happened yet, why not tease people with a sweet pre-launch offer to get them excited?

Bottom line: keep your first launch focused, personal, and full of value. Once you’ve got that fanbase, you can turn your sights to bigger, bolder moves.

A website

Your website is your digital storefront. It’s the first impression, the handshake, the moment someone decides whether they give a damn or not. It’s gotta be clear, no fluff, and with one purpose: turn visitors into actual customers. 

Clarity and Value

The second someone lands on your page, they should immediately know what you’re selling and, more importantly, why they should care. Because let’s face it, most people are just looking for three things:

1. Price – What will this cost me?
2. Product/Service Information – What am I buying or signing up for?
3. Key Selling Points – How will it help me? Does it save time, money, or effort? Does it simplify a task or solve a specific problem?

If you’re just starting out, avoid the temptation to load your site with long mission statements or elaborate brand manifestos. At this stage, your focus should be on quickly getting your product or service in front of the right audience with a clear, compelling message. You want visitors to understand, in just a few seconds, what you do and why it matters.

Creating a Powerful Message

A good place to start is by crafting a short, easy-to-understand tagline – think 7 words or less – that encapsulates your product’s core value. Once you’ve nailed this, expand it into a brief, benefit-focused statement that highlights what makes your offering stand out.

Remember, building a website that performs well is a process, and it’s all about testing and optimizing. Experiment with different layouts, copy, and calls-to-action to see what resonates most with your visitors. Don’t be afraid to iterate and improve as you go – there’s always room to refine your approach.

Boosting Authority Quickly

Pro Tip: If you’re just starting and don’t have much time to build authority, consider purchasing a domain name with existing backlinks. This can give you an immediate credibility boost, as search engines will recognize your site as more established. 

Leveraging Social Media

Lastly, don’t forget the power of social media. As you build your website, create social media profiles that align with your brand. These platforms can help you engage with potential customers, drive traffic back to your site, and build trust in your brand.

And finally, you’re going to need…

The ways and means to market effectively

Choosing the right marketing channels is essential to getting your product in front of the right audience. Whether you’re engaging with prospects on social media, building your email list through gated content, or running targeted ads on high-traffic websites, this phase is about maximizing your reach with the most cost-effective strategies and achieving the highest return on investment (ROI).

Optimizing Your Landing Page

Having a website is great, but having a well-optimized landing page is what turns interest into action. A landing page is often the first point of direct contact between you and a potential customer. Think of it as a “digital handshake” – the initial interaction that could lead to a sale. If done right, landing pages are conversion machines. They should answer key questions that your visitors have, such as:

• Who are you?
• What are you offering?
• How can I get in touch? (This should be a clear and simple call to action)

Use Landing Pages to Build Your Email List

Pro Tip: Always design your landing page with the goal of collecting email addresses. Capture leads by offering something valuable in exchange for their contact info – such as an eBook, a discount, or exclusive access to content. Email is still one of the most powerful tools in digital marketing, and building an email list early on can pay off in the long term.

Boost Conversions with Retargeting

And, of course, we can’t wrap up without mentioning retargeting. Retargeting allows you to reach users who’ve visited your site but haven’t converted yet, ensuring that your brand stays top of mind and maximizing your chances of turning casual visitors into loyal customers.

And lastly, we wouldn’t be Adcash without talking about…

Ad formats

As a general rule, you always want to be finding the balance between effective onsite advertising that upsells and converts alongside quality UX that makes your end audience receptive to your offer without feeling spammy. Our pick for the top online ad formats in the market today are…

In-Page Push

These alert-like ads mimic push notifications but are more effective and less intrusive. Well-targeted, engaging, and with the sole purpose of increasing an advertiser’s bottom line. Great for e-commerce, VPN/Software services, or platforms where timely updates or promotions can drive immediate action. Check them out right here.

Pop-Under

By appearing behind an active browser window, this format seamlessly integrates into the overall UX flow. And, as the last thing the user sees before exiting the website, they stay top of mind for the future. Ideal for sports, entertainment, or high-involvement products where you want to stay top of mind without interrupting the user’s experience. Check out why pop-unders are still so effective.

Interstitial Ads

The ultimate Cure for Banner Blindness, Interstitials appears while a website or page is loading. The time between browsing is used to reach the end-user with an immersive, tailored, and engaging ad experience. Perfect for gaming, entertainment, or subscription services where an immersive ad experience can engage users during brief pauses in browsing.

To maximize ad effectiveness, choose a format that aligns with how your audience engages with your site. Whether it’s an in-page push, pop-under, or interstitial, the right ad should seamlessly fit into the user experience while delivering value. By matching your offering to the right format, you can encourage conversions without disrupting the user’s journey.

Conclusion

Alright, that’s enough for today. Thanks for sticking around. If you’ve got something to say – whether it’s a brilliant idea I missed or a snarky comment you think I’ll find amusing – drop it down below. 

Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can submit a poem. No prizes, no glory, but you will earn my undying (digital) admiration and respect.

That’s all for now. Go do something productive, or not.