Muhammad Iqbal Sandira: Tips for Implementing Digital Marketing for MSMEs, Must Be Dare to Invest and Willing to Learn

Who does not know the term 'digital marketing'? This term is one of the terms that is becoming a trend among the public, especially business people, in the digital era as it is today. This is because digital marketing not only used in large-scale businesses but also for MSMEs.

So, is it important for SMEs to implement digital marketing? What about SMEs in the region? Are there any tips for applying? digital marketing for small and medium sized businesses?

Muhammad Iqbal Sandra, as General Manager Marketing PT Diagnostics Utama Laboratory, share information about digital marketing for SMEs in order to answer some of the questions above.

But, before that, consider the definition of the term digital marketing itself according to Iqbal as the perpetrator digital marketing.

What is that Digital Marketing?

In general, digital marketing is a marketing strategy that uses digital means. However, Iqbal emphasized that the term digital marketing used in Indonesia has a more specific meaning. According to him, term digital marketing which is often used in Indonesia refers to Internet Marketing.

"There are many types of digital, such as LED monitors and digital banner. However, in Indonesia people are used to interpreting the term digital marketing It is Internet Marketing, "He said.

internet marketing itself is a marketing strategy that utilizes channels internet, like website, applications, and much more.

How important Digital Marketing for a Business?

For Iqbal, digital marketing has an important role in a business, whether small, medium, or large. But, what makes it so important?

Iqbal explained that there are two reasons why digital marketing important for a business. First, the internet has reached at least 75% of areas in Indonesia. Second, the industry must be innovative and sustain to be in line with the goals of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).

"Indonesia has beencover by the internet by seventy five percent. So, can't help but understand digital channels itu urgent for industry, and in line with the goals of the SDGs, yes, where the industry must be innovative and sustain. So, to answer all of that, the industry must understand digital because digital is the future.”

For these two reasons, Iqbal stated the importance of digital marketing, even for small and micro-scale enterprises, although the techniques applied are different from large-scale enterprises.

Not only becomes a necessity, for him the application digital marketing is also a necessity. Moreover, there are competitors who will always innovate digitally.

“I feel that digital transformation is mainly in the marketing it is very important because otherwise he will be left behind by competitors. The competitors do a lot of digital innovation while we are late. So like it or not, digital must be pursued.”

Do Regional MSMEs Need to Implement Digital Marketing?

Given that MSMEs are spread all over Indonesia, then what about MSMEs located in regions or borders? is digital marketing remains an obligation to implement?

Iqbal is of the opinion that digital marketing It also needs to be implemented by regional MSMEs. This is because, digital marketing can help SMEs reach more and more customers.

However, as previously mentioned, the stages or ways of applying digital marketing for MSMEs, especially regional MSMEs, of course it is different. Instead of focusing on Branding, regional MSMEs have an urgency to be able to reach customers as far as possible and as quickly as possible in order to quickly generate funds.

“Regarding product introduction, brand awareness, it is not a priority. In fact, that's the number. What matters is how to make channel digital isreach customers. As far as possible and as quickly as possible," said Iqbal.

Getting Started Digital Marketing for SMEs

Even though it is a must, but starting the implementation digital marketing for SMEs is not easy. Moreover, if you do not have the knowledge.

To overcome this, Iqbal provides two solutions. The first solution is to budget 3% to 5% of profits to be used to find the right people to help with implementation digital marketing on SMEs.

If you don't want to use your profits to recruit other people, the second solution is to spend time on self-study.

"So take it slow. Use three to five percent profit. Try to find the right person . appropriate if you have not mastered (digital marketing). Find the information. I think you have to be brave enough to invest. If you don't have the courage to invest, you won't grow. If you don't want to spend money, spend time studying. Investment is neck up," said Iqbal.

It is now easier to study independently. Iqbal mentioned that digital marketing can be learned easily through platforms as GoogleYouTube, or follow bootcamp.

Applying Tips Digital Marketing for SMEs

There are so many ways to apply digital marketing. However, for MSMEs, Iqbal recommends focusing on marketing organic.

Organic marketing or organic marketing is a marketing strategy used to increase traffic to a business through channel-channel not pay. Organic marketing usually related to strategy SEO and channels organic like Google and social media.

Then, Iqbal also explained two tips or two steps of implementation digital marketing in a manner organic for MSMEs, namely: digital presence and acquisition keyword potential.

Present in all digital channels, such as Google, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, is the first thing MSMEs have to do. This method is a strategy so that your business can always be present when hearings do a search on digital channels The.

“So when audience want to make a choice, he is there. That's like the most important thing. Organic is different on Facebook, right? search engine different, GGoogle is different, Instagram is different. Each person search he's there, on every platform."

Acquisition keyword Strategic

The second stage after being present in all digital channels is to acquire keyword potential or keyword strategic. This step is an example of implementing SEO which according to Iqbal is very important for MSMEs.

“SEO is the spearhead. Because that Google zero moments of truth. When people don't have references, Google provides references. And that's what UKM friends should pay attention to," he said.

Iqbal also didn't forget to give an example of an acquisition keyword to provide a clearer picture to SMEs.

For example, a business by the name of Casanova sells oversized clothing products. Then, the business can acquire keyword-keyword frequently used by hearings to find the product. Examples like long-tail keywords "Big clothes in Ciputat" and "Big clothes in the Ciputat area".

Even though that method is a strategy for long term, but according to Iqbal acquisition keyword strategy still needs to be done.

“Yes the challenge is search volume low. But it's better if we just acquire it. Especially if you're just starting out," he said.

Evidently, digital marketing It is also an obligation for MSMEs, wherever they are, in the current digital era. It's just that the application is different from digital marketing on a large scale business.

Even so, above Iqbal has shared ways and tips for implementing it digital marketing for MSMEs. So, MSMEs can apply it easily and can reach customer more with the help of digital.