Digital Marketing Strategies: Cutting-Edge Insights from Online MBA Marketing Concentrations

At one time, digital marketing was considered to be a niche sector of the marketing field, and many thought it would always be one small component of an overall marketing strategy. However, digital marketing quickly grew to be one of the most powerful and impactful ways of promoting products and services in today's modern economy. Encompassing email marketing, social media marketing, and website marketing, digital marketing strategies are crucial to the success of any business, regardless of its size, scope, and industry. 

Digital Marketing in MBA Programs

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree has long been considered to be the premier graduate degree program for those who aspire to leadership positions in business. Within this graduate degree program, students can select concentrations, with a concentration in marketing being one of the most popular options. Over time, the online MBA marketing concentration has evolved to include the leading digital marketing strategies within its curriculum. 

Evolution of Digital Marketing

According to Chief Data Officer Magazine, digital marketing grew and evolved along with technology throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. Almost as soon as digital technology was invented, marketers began to see the potential to use these tools to improve and enhance their marketing strategies. Today, digital marketing encompasses a wide range of techniques and strategies, including email marketing, website marketing, search engine optimization, and social media marketing. 

Importance of Advanced Marketing Education

Selecting an online MBA with a marketing concentration that offers you advanced insights into the best social media and digital marketing strategies can allow you to develop a competitive advantage in a job market that is becoming increasingly crowded. A future-forward marketing education allows you to apply emerging trends to the traditional marketing techniques and practices that have long been relied upon. 

Core Digital Marketing Strategies Covered

When you select the online MBA marketing concentration, you will find that the MBA curriculum focuses on key digital marketing components and strategies, allowing you to become proficient in the best marketing practices utilized in today's business landscape. 

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search engine optimization, commonly referred to in the marketing industry as SEO, is the practice of updating website content and other online content to maintain a high ranking on the most powerful search engine result pages. The purpose of SEO is to increase website traffic and drive conversions, allowing brands to increase their visibility and improve overall revenue. 

Content Marketing

As a strategic marketing approach designed to stimulate interest in a brand and cultivate a long-term following, content marketing is a digital marketing technique that requires a brand to create a steady stream of relevant, optimized content in the form of blogs, website landing pages, social media content, and more. Per the Content Marketing Institute, content marketing should be embedded into other marketing strategies, rather than considered as a standalone entity within the overall marketing plan. 

Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing is defined by Investopedia as the practice of leveraging social media platforms to promote products and services. Focused primarily on connection, engagement, interaction, and consumer data, social media marketing is considered one of the most powerful marketing techniques of the modern era. In addition to promoting products and services on social media, a social media marketing campaign also aims to improve engagement with its target audience and increase long-term connections. 

Email Marketing

Considered to be the first form of digital marketing, email marketing still plays a key role in any digital marketing strategy. The American Marketing Association describes email marketing as the use of email to attract new customers and maintain communication with existing customers. An email marketing strategy may involve regular newsletters to established customers, emails highlighting new promotions or discounts, or promotions that encourage users to revisit their shopping cart. 

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising

Pay-per-click advertising campaigns, which are known in the industry as PPC campaigns, are strategic marketing campaigns that leverage social media and SEO tools to increase website traffic. PPC advertising is a marketing model that requires advertisers to pay for an ad based on the number of clicks that it receives. The most effective PPC campaigns not only drive site visits, but also increase conversions. 

Influencer Marketing

Closely linked to social media marketing, influencer marketing is a powerful digital marketing strategy that allows brands to connect with individuals on social media who have a significant following among their target audience. Influencer marketing partnerships can help a brand increase exposure, improve engagement levels, and significantly boost revenue. 

Benefits of Online MBA Marketing Concentrations

In effect, marketing drives the business world, increasing the demand for experienced and intuitive marketers. By selecting an MBA concentration in marketing, you can enjoy benefits in every aspect of your career, regardless of the field or industry that you specialize in. 

Flexibility and Accessibility

An online MBA marketing concentration is one of the most flexible and convenient graduate degree programs. With courses that include both synchronous and asynchronous instruction, you can easily balance your MBA curriculum requirements along with your existing professional obligations and personal responsibilities. The accessibility of online MBA degree programs makes them more appealing to professionals at all stages of their career, allowing them to pursue this coveted qualification. 

Up-to-Date Curriculum

Marketing is a dynamic field, and an online MBA program can easily update and adapt its curriculum to accommodate the latest digital marketing strategies and emerging trends. Throughout your degree program, you will enjoy an advanced, relevant MBA curriculum that allows you to develop the skills needed to thrive in the ever-growing, ever-changing world of marketing. 

Industry-Relevant Skills

Throughout your courses, you will develop industry skills that allow you to improve your resume and seek leadership positions in marketing. These are the most relevant industry skills in marketing: 

• Communication 
• Project Management 
• Leadership 
• Social Media 
• Digital Literacy 
• Customer Service 

Real-World Applications

Knowing how digital marketing strategies have been applied at some of the most widely recognized brands around the world can help you see the power and impact of these techniques. These are some of the most effective real-world applications of social media and digital marketing. 

Successful Digital Campaigns

Successful digital campaigns often rely on a variety of tools and techniques to generate interest among a wide range of consumers, with most also having an in-depth understanding of the social and emotional pulse of a community at that time. One of the most successful digital campaigns was Apple's work-from-home digital campaign. This acknowledged the chaos and uncertainty of the pandemic era while promoting the technology available to help people navigate the challenges associated with working remotely while balancing all of life's other responsibilities. 

Analyzing Marketing Data

The leading digital campaigns are successful because their marketers can collect consumer data and analyze it effectively. Data drives digital marketing strategies and must be used to effectively develop a campaign that targets a specific audience and accommodates their personalized preferences. 

Adapting Strategies to Market Trends

Digital marketing strategies are essentially living entities because marketers must always be able to adapt according to the latest market trends. In an age where something can go viral in a matter of moments, sparking a movement in which everyone attempts to join in, digital marketing professionals must be able to act quickly, think creatively, and adapt accordingly. 

Career Prospects with Digital Marketing

Considered to be one of the most prominent and relevant niches in the marketing industry, digital marketing offers professionals a wide range of career opportunities. Across every industry and sector, brands are looking to leverage the best digital marketing strategies to increase online visibility, improve engagement levels, and drive sales for their organization. 

These are some of the career prospects in digital marketing to consider: 

Roles in Digital Agencies

Digital marketing agencies are specialized firms that employ marketers well-versed in the best digital marketing strategies, trends, and techniques. Those who work at digital marketing agencies often have a set of clients that they serve, often working to develop dynamic and impactful digital marketing strategies based on their needs and preferences. 

Corporate Marketing Departments

Most corporations today have marketing departments that include digital marketing specialists. In this capacity, digital marketing professionals work to develop and enhance the social media and digital marketing strategy for that organization, keeping in mind the overall values and mission of the brand. 

Entrepreneurial Ventures

Due to the nature of digital marketing, there are many opportunities for entrepreneurial endeavors and independent freelance work. Digital marketers can work to create their own businesses in which they provide a wide range of digital marketing services for the clients that they discover and connect with. 

Choosing the Right Online MBA Program

Knowing that you want to focus on marketing within your MBA program is the first step. Next, you will need to select an online MBA with a marketing concentration that will provide you with the education and experience you need to elevate your career. 

Accreditation and Reputation

It is essential to choose an accredited online MBA program, as this provides you with assurance that you are receiving a relevant and quality education. Employers will also be looking for qualified graduates who have completed an accredited MBA program, which will help increase your prospects in the job market. The reputation of the university that you attend will also have an impact on your overall career, so it is important that you carefully select a school that is well-respected in the business world. 

Faculty Expertise

Choosing a program that prioritizes faculty expertise will ensure that you receive a relevant and insightful education from faculty members who have professional experience in digital marketing. 

Course Structure and Resources

The most effective online MBA programs with a concentration in marketing offer a blend of synchronous and asynchronous instruction. They incorporate a variety of tools and resources into the curriculum, allowing you to feel comfortable and confident throughout your entire program. 

Learn More About the Best Digital Marketing Strategies at Lindenwood University

At Lindenwood University, we recognize the power of digital marketing, and believe that our students should enjoy an education rooted in the best digital marketing strategies, while simultaneously adapting to emerging trends in this dynamic field. In addition to offering an online MBA with a marketing concentration, we also offer an online bachelor's in marketing and an online master's in digital marketing, all of which offer insight into the top practices in digital marketing. 

Request more information about our online degree programs today.