What is digital marketing?

Digital marketing is the use of technology across internet-connected devices to serve advertisements to a targeted audience on social media, search engines, connected TV, email, and display advertising.

What are the levels of digital marketing?

At L2 Digital Marketing we have three levels of digital marketing - basic, intermediate, and advanced digital marketing. Basic includes website and online directories. Intermediate digital marketing includes SEO and SEM so people can locate you online. Advanced includes social, targeted TV, connected TV along with SEO and SEM.

What are the 7 Cs of Digital Marketing?

The 7 Cs of digital marketing are: Customer, content, context, community, convenience, coherence, and conversion.

Digital Marketing FAQ

Kyle Patterson • November 3, 2023

The who, what, where, when, and how of digital marketing

What is digital marketing?

Digital marketing is the use of technology across internet-connected devices to serve advertisements to a targeted audience on social media, search engines, connected TV, email, and display advertising.
What are the levels of digital marketing?

At L2 Digital Marketing we have three levels of digital marketing - basic, intermediate, and advanced digital marketing. Basic includes website and online directories. Intermediate digital marketing includes SEO and SEM so people can locate you online. Advanced includes social, targeted TV, connected TV along with SEO and SEM.
What are the 7 Cs of Digital Marketing?

The 7 Cs of digital marketing are: Customer, content, context, community, convenience, coherence, and conversion.

What is the rule of 7 in digital marketing?

The "rule of seven" is a marketing principle that states a person must be exposed to your brand or ads at least seven times before buying from you.
Is digital marketing an IT job?

Digital marketing is related to IT in that you utilize your company website as the hub of all your marketing activities and there are technical skills required. A digital marketing specialist will likely interact with IT but typically a trained marketing expert with experience in brand management and communications will run the digital marketing of your company rather than IT.
What questions should I be asking in digital marketing?
When hiring a digital marketing specialist or firm to assist your company, ask questions including:
- Are you Google Ads certified?
- What type of results have you achieved for your clients?
- Is there a specific area of digital marketing you specialize in?
- What is a typical budget size you require?

What's the most important part of your digital marketing strategy?

First, you want to have a website that showcases the amazing product or service you offer. You want to invest in branding and messaging to set your business apart in the marketplace. This happens on your website. Invest in quality photography, video, and work with a professional like L2 Digital to develop your brand identity and message so that your advertising sticks. Couple this with quality, consistent product/service delivery and your marketing will help your business take off.
Do I need a blog?

A blog is a great way to build trust with your clients, attract new ones, and rank higher in search engine results. Keeping fresh relevant content, answering questions, and directing people back to your website are great ways to grow your online presence, reputation, and show your active in doing business online. Make sure you are linking out to resources and other authoritative sites in your industry, and link to other pages within your site, so Google, Bing, and Yahoo! make the connections. The other plus about a blog is you can take the content you produce on your blog, and share it across social media, create graphics, quotes, and highlights from your blog to promote across social. This is helpful in attracting the right audience to your site to drive new business.
Does SEO work and is it worth it?

SEO or search engine optimization is the ongoing process of improving your website in search engine results. There are a number of ways to improve your search results. These are SEO tactics. Tactics can include blogging, alt-tags, meta descriptions, keyword density, keyword strategy, inbound and external linking, and page authority. SEO is very industry and website specific so determining the best strategy for your business is a custom solution that should be built out over a period of at least 12 months to see optimal results. SEO, done right, does work and can be a major factor in getting qualified traffic to your website.

What compliance laws do I need to follow for my website?

New laws that impact digital marketing include consumer privacy and accessibility. Consumer privacy - means you need to disclose and gain consent when you are collecting private information on a website visitor through cookies or other means of gathering information. This can be as simple as a notification and prompt to "accept" or "decline" cookies.
Accessibility - over 4,000 lawsuits were filed this year around ADA compliant websites. You need to show you've done your due diligence on making your website accessible to the public and anyone who might be wanting to access your website including those with disabilities. This can be accomplished in a number of ways including a software install on your site.
How much money do I need to get started in digital marketing?

To start running a digital marketing campaign, you need a website and an ad account. Depending on the type of business you have, our digital marketing firm will recommend different placements for your ads. You want to be strategic about your ads, the messaging, the offer, the pricing of your products, etc. That's really where the heavy lift comes in. Setting up the campaigns is easy. It's the content of the ads and the call to action that you want to spend time on. Figure 10% of your sales for marketing with a minimum of $250 per month for ads for a small business.
How do I hire a digital marketing pro?

Hiring a digital marketing professional can help increase sales, reach new clients, and grow your business. When making a hire you have a couple of options:

1) Bring a professional in-house full or part-time employee to work exclusively on your business. The pros of this choice is the hire is 100% devoted to your business 8 hours per day.

2) Outsource your marketing efforts to a digital marketing firm with a track record of success. Here you get dedicated talent and a team of people to work on your campaign. Additionally, a digital marketing company like L2 Digital has clients across multiple industries to apply best practices and leverage our experience and team to take your marketing to the next level.
What's the difference between an advertising agency and a digital marketing company?

An advertising agency will typically work with larger clients and develop an integrated advertising campaign across TV, radio, billboards, and sponsorships spending upwards of $100,000+ on a single campaign.

Digital marketing has lowered the barrier to entry into advertising to reach a large audience. With Google Ads and Facebook Ads starting as low as $2 or less (one of our client's cost-per-click (CPC) is $0.12 per click), it is less expensive and more efficient for companies to advertise and hire a digital marketing company to manage their ad spend.

Some companies function as both a digital marketing shop and a full service advertising agency. Companies like L2 Digital Marketing in Pasadena will take a client on with as little as $250 per month to spend on ads, while also working with major clients on $100k+ campaigns.
What's the best platform to build my website on?

Choosing what platform to build your website on is an important decision. WordPress, Shopify, Squarespace, Wix to name a few are all options. Depending on what you're trying to accomplish and what your goal is for your site can be a big part of your decision-making in this area. If you want to get into e-commerce, WordPress or Shopify and possibly Squarespace. If your website is more informational, you might be able to get away with a Wix or Squarespace. However, you want to also consider the fact that Google search seems to favor WordPress sites that are well built in search engine results. Additionally, Wordpress can grow with your company and are fully customizable to the needs of your business.
How much does it cost to advertise on Google?

When you advertise with Google you only pay when someone clicks on your ad. Your ad is only shown when someone searches for what you offer and your ad is only triggered when a "keyword" that you want to be found for is used in Google search. Thus Google ads when done correctly can significantly help grow your business. Please note that many times it may take 3-6 months to optimize a campaign and begin seeing results.
Where should I advertise if my budget is only $200 per month?

You have to start somewhere. Even if you have a small marketing budget, you can and should start investing in advertising your business. I recommend hiring a company like L2 Digital Marketing to do SEO on your website and paid search.
Is email marketing effective?

Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasize this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.
What is marketing automation?

Marketing automation is using technology to trigger timely marketing messages at points along a buyer journey. For example, a prospective customer signs up for a $5 off coupon. This triggers a set of email messages or text messages to that customer.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Subscribe to our blog

Best Practices for Startup Marketing

By Kyle Patterson • September 5, 2025

Launching a startup is exciting—but also overwhelming. With limited time, tight budgets, and pressure to prove traction, a strong, solid marketing plan if often overlooked for a fly by the seat of your pants, paid ads here and there when you get around to it. Yet, the truth is clear: without smart marketing, even the best products and services struggle to find their audience. At Thrive Marketing, we’ve seen too many startups delay or underinvest in marketing, only to scramble later. The good news? You don’t need a huge budget or a massive team. What you need is a focused strategy, consistent execution, and clear measurement. Here are the best practices every startup should follow when building their marketing foundation: 1. Define Your Core Audience First Don’t try to market to “everyone.” Successful startups start small and grow big. Identify: Who your ideal customer is Their biggest pain points Where they spend time online The more specific your audience definition, the easier it will be to create messaging that resonates. 2. Build a Brand Story That Connects People don’t just buy products—they buy into a story. Share why you started, the problem you’re solving, and the vision you’re chasing. This creates emotional connection and sets you apart from competitors. 3. Focus on Digital Channels That Drive Early Wins Instead of spreading yourself thin across every platform, double down on what works: Social Media: Pick 1–2 platforms where your customers spend the most time. Email Marketing: Build your list early; it’s your most valuable owned channel. Paid Ads (with Testing): Even small ad budgets can validate messaging fast. 4. Track Metrics That Matter Vanity metrics (likes, followers) look good but don’t pay the bills. For startups, focus on: Cost per lead Conversion rate Customer acquisition cost Lifetime value A lean dashboard of 3–5 KPIs is better than chasing 20. 5. Iterate Constantly Startups thrive on agility. Test campaigns, measure results, and pivot quickly. The goal is not perfection—it’s momentum, learning, and improving constantly. 6. Don’t Go It Alone Many founders try to do all their marketing themselves, only to burn out. Outsourcing to trusted marketing partners or hiring fractional marketing support gives you expertise without full-time costs—so you can stay focused on growing your business. Final Thoughts Startup marketing doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By defining your audience, telling a compelling story, choosing the right channels, tracking meaningful metrics, and staying agile, you’ll set your company up for long-term growth. At Thrive Marketing, our mission is simple: to help startups and small businesses build marketing systems that work. Whether you’re pre-launch, newly launched, or scaling, the right marketing foundation will help you attract customers and investors—and thrive in a competitive market.

Money Manager Model for Marketing

By Kyle Patterson • April 9, 2025

Put Your Marketing Budget to Work: How THRIVE! Marketing Manages Your Money Like a Pro

Marketing Help Near Me

By Kyle Patterson • March 30, 2025

Marketing Help Near Me: Finding the Right Marketing Agency Partner

Unlock $10K in Free Advertising with Google Grants for Non-Profits

December 10, 2024

Amplify Your Mission: Unlock $10K/Month in Free Google Ads for Your Non-Profit

direct-sales-opportunities-mlm-network-marketing

The Power of Direct Selling

By Kyle Patterson • September 22, 2024

Discover the power of direct selling with L2 Digital Marketing. Learn how this flexible and empowering business model provides entrepreneurial opportunities, allowing you to earn the income you desire by marketing digital services. Join us and unlock your financial freedom today.

creating-a-marketing-plan-venture-capital

What Venture Capitalists Look for in a Startup Marketing Plan

By Kyle Patterson • September 20, 2024

Discover what venture capitalists look for in a startup marketing plan, from audience insights to scalability, and how to craft a strategy that secures investor funding.

How to Craft a Marketing Plan That Captures Investors' Attention

August 8, 2024

Learn how to craft a marketing plan that attracts investors and sets your startup up for success. Discover why a solid strategy is key to securing funding and how L2 Digital Marketing can help you create a winning plan.

Boost Your Online Presence with Basic SEO

By Kyle Patterson • July 1, 2024

At L2 Digital Marketing, we understand that SEO can be complex and time-consuming. That’s why we offer a straightforward, affordable solution to help your business thrive online. Our experienced team is dedicated to delivering results and providing exceptional customer service. With our basic SEO package, you can focus on running your business while we handle the intricacies of SEO.

Unlocking Financial Independence: The Power of MLM, Direct Sales, and L2 Digital Marketing

By Kyle Patterson • June 27, 2024

How Multi-Level Marketing, Direct Sales, and Advanced Digital Strategies Drive Financial Success

Leveraging AI in Digital Marketing

By Kyle Patterson • June 25, 2024

A New Era in Marketing with L2 Digital Marketing & AI In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, staying ahead of the curve is essential for any business aiming to thrive. At L2 Digital Marketing, we recognize the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) in impacting how we engage with customers, optimize campaigns, and drive growth. This article delves into our capabilities with AI and explores how leading platforms like HubSpot harness this technology to deliver unparalleled results. The AI Advantage in Digital Marketing AI has emerged as a game-changer in digital marketing, offering tools and techniques that enhance efficiency, accuracy, and personalization. Here are key areas where AI makes a significant impact: 1. Data Analysis and Insights: AI excels at processing vast amounts of data swiftly and accurately. At L2 Digital Marketing, we utilize AI-powered analytics to gain deeper insights into customer behavior, preferences, and trends. This enables us to make data-driven decisions that enhance the effectiveness of our marketing strategies. 2. Personalization: One of the most significant advantages of AI is its ability to deliver personalized experiences. By analyzing customer data, AI can create highly tailored content and recommendations. This personalization fosters stronger customer relationships and increases conversion rates. 3. Automation : AI-powered automation tools streamline repetitive tasks such as email marketing, social media posting , and ad management. This not only saves time but also ensures that campaigns run seamlessly, allowing our team to focus on strategic planning and creative execution. 4. Predictive Analytics: AI can forecast future trends and outcomes based on historical data. Predictive analytics helps us anticipate customer needs, optimize budget allocation, and improve campaign performance, ensuring that our clients stay ahead of their competition. 5. Chatbots and Customer Support: AI-driven chatbots provide instant, 24/7 customer support, enhancing customer satisfaction and engagement. These intelligent bots can handle a wide range of queries, from basic information requests to complex troubleshooting, freeing up human resources for more intricate tasks. AI-Powered Platforms: The HubSpot Example HubSpot is a prime example of a platform that effectively integrates AI to boost digital marketing efforts. As a leader in inbound marketing, HubSpot offers a suite of AI-driven tools that complement our services at L2 Digital Marketing. As a Hubspot partner, we're also able to implement their CRM for your sales and marketing efforts. - Content Strategy: HubSpot's AI analyzes top-performing content and suggests topics that are likely to resonate with your audience. This ensures that your content strategy is always aligned with current trends and audience interests. - SEO Optimization : AI tools in HubSpot help optimize content for search engines by providing insights into keyword performance, search trends, and competitor analysis. This improves organic search rankings and drives more traffic to your website. - Lead Scoring: HubSpot uses AI to score leads based on their likelihood to convert. This allows us to prioritize high-quality leads and tailor our marketing efforts to nurture them effectively. - Email Marketing: With AI, HubSpot can personalize email content, predict the best times to send emails, and optimize subject lines for higher open rates. This leads to more engaging and successful email campaigns. - CRM Integration: HubSpot's AI-powered CRM tools track and analyze customer interactions, providing valuable insights into customer journeys. This helps us tailor our marketing strategies to meet the specific needs of different customer segments. L2 Digital Marketing: Your Partner in AI-Driven Success At L2 Digital Marketing, we are committed to leveraging the full potential of AI to enhance your digital marketing efforts. Our team of experts continuously explores new AI technologies and integrates them into our services to provide cutting-edge solutions. Whether you are looking to improve customer engagement, drive more traffic, or increase conversions, our AI-driven approach ensures that you achieve your marketing goals efficiently and effectively. In conclusion, the integration of AI in digital marketing is not just a trend but a necessity in today's competitive environment. Platforms like HubSpot, with their advanced AI capabilities, offer powerful tools that drive success. At L2 Digital Marketing, we harness these tools to deliver results that exceed expectations. Embrace the future with us and experience the transformative power of AI in digital marketing.