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Digital Marketing Beginner Course

Digital Marketing Beginner Course

This course is designed for small business owners, who are new to the world of digital marketing. For 10 days, participants will learn practical, easy-to-understand strategies for promoting their businesses online. The course covers key topics such as using popular platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to reach customers, creating high-quality photos and videos for social media, and designing eye-catching marketing materials with free tools like Canva. Each day includes hands-on activities to ensure participants not only learn but also apply these skills to their businesses, empowering them to thrive in today’s digital landscape.

Responsible Valarie Waswa
Last Update 12/12/2024
Completion Time 1 day 6 hours
Members 40
Beginner Digital Marketing Students
Day 1: Introduction to Digital Marketing
Day 1: Introduction to Digital Marketing

Course Objective: Learn how to effectively use Facebook and Instagram to promote and engage with customers.

Topics: 

  1. Using Facebook for your business
  2. Instagram for your business: Everything you need to know. 

What is Digital Marketing?

Yes, we offer both physical and digital gift cards in various amounts. Physical gift cards can be purchased in-store or online and shipped to the recipient, while digital gift cards are sent instantly via email. Both types can be used for online and in-store purchases.

We’re committed to providing prompt and effective solutions to ensure your satisfaction.

Absolutely! If a book is out of stock, you can place a special order through our website or by visiting the store. We'll notify you once the book is back in stock, and you can choose to pick it up in-store or have it shipped to your address. Special orders typically take 1-2 weeks to fulfill, depending on availability.

 Digital marketing is the use of online platforms and digital tools to promote products and services to potential customers. Unlike traditional marketing, which relies on physical means like flyers or billboards, digital marketing takes place on the internet. This could be through social media, email, websites, or even online ads.

Simple Example: When you see an ad for a product while scrolling on Facebook or Instagram, that’s digital marketing in action.

 
 


Importance of Digital Marketing For Small Businesses

  • Cost-Effective: Traditional methods like TV ads are expensive, but with digital marketing, you can reach many people at a lower cost. Even with a small budget, you can promote your business online.
  • Wider Reach: Digital marketing allows you to reach customers beyond your local area, even across the country or the world.
  • Builds Relationships: You can engage directly with customers through social media and messaging platforms like WhatsApp. This helps build trust and loyalty.
  • Measurable Results: You can track how many people saw your ad, clicked on it, or bought something. This helps you see what’s working and what’s not.

Example: If you have a small business selling clothes, you can post photos of your products on Instagram or Facebook, and people can contact you to make purchases. You don’t need a big budget, just a phone and internet access.

Overview of Digital Marketing Channels


Social Media Marketing: Using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp to connect with your customers.

Email Marketing: Sending personalized emails to customers with offers or updates.

Search Engine Marketing (SEM): Using Google Ads or similar platforms to make sure people find your business when they search online.

Content Marketing: Creating helpful content like blog posts or videos that educate your audience and build trust.

Influencer Marketing: Collaborating with people who have a lot of followers to promote your products. 


Activity: Group discussion on current marketing practices and expectations

1. Digital Marketing Basics: Interactive Overview (15m)
  • Activity: Start with a group brainstorming session where participants identify what they think digital marketing is and list any online tools they use or have heard of.
  • Purpose: This will create engagement from the get-go and set a foundation of familiarity with the concept. It also brings a local context to the discussion, which helps make digital marketing feel accessible.
2. Exploring Customer Journeys Online (15m)
  • Activity: Run a customer journey mapping activity. Split the participants into small groups, and ask them to think of a typical path a customer might take in discovering and buying from a small business online. For example, finding the business on social media, visiting its profile, asking questions, and making a purchase.
  • Purpose: Helps participants visualize the stages of engagement and gives context to how digital marketing influences each step.
3. Social Media Familiarization Workshop (15m)
  • Activity: Set up a guided social media exploration, specifically Facebook or Instagram, if they aren’t already familiar. Show them how a professional profile looks versus a personal one, emphasizing the importance of branding.
  • Hands-On Task: Have them create a sample post or practice navigating a business profile. This can serve as a preview for the in-depth social media strategies you’ll cover on Day 2.
  • Purpose: Provides immediate hands-on experience and establishes a connection to social media, likely their most familiar digital platform.
4. Digital Marketing Tools Mini-Demo (15m)
  • Activity: Give an overview of essential tools, like Canva for graphics or Linktree for managing bio links. Use a projector to demonstrate each tool briefly and provide examples of how each can help small businesses.
  • Hands-On Task: Let participants create a simple graphic on Canva or explore Linktree if devices are available.
  • Purpose: This serves as a light introduction to tools they’ll use later in the course and gives them confidence in digital tools from day one.
5. Goal Setting and Personal Branding Exercise (15m)
  • Activity: Each participant writes down one specific goal they have for their business online (e.g., "Increase Facebook engagement" or "Sell three items a week via Instagram").
  • Guided Task: Pair up participants to discuss how they might achieve these goals and encourage them to focus on creating a basic personal brand.
  • Purpose: It personalizes their digital marketing journey, helping them align course learnings with their business objectives.


Week 1
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Digital Marketing Beginner Course
Week 1 Quiz: Introduction to digital marketing

Congratulations Digital Marketer !!! You are Halfway through!

Alright, time for a quick quiz to see how much we've soaked in so far! 😎 No need to panic, it's just a casual check-in to see where we’re at. 


You’re totally allowed to scroll back through the course, peek at your notes, or even team up with your friends. The goal is to get the right answers, not to stress.


Let’s do this! 🎯

Day 3: TikTok Marketing for Small Businesses
Day 3: TikTok Marketing for Small Businesses
Preview


Objective:

Learn how to use TikTok to create engaging content and increase visibility for your business.

Topics: 


1. ​Introduction to TikTok and Its Growing Popularity


Overview: TikTok is one of the fastest-growing social media platforms, known for its short-form videos, which range from 15 to 60 seconds. TikTok’s audience is young and engaged, but it’s quickly growing to include people of all ages and demographics, making it a powerful tool for businesses looking to reach a wide audience.

Why TikTok is Great for Businesses:

  • Huge Audience: Over 1 billion active users.
  • Viral Potential: Content can go viral quickly, helping you reach thousands or even millions of viewers.
  • Engagement: TikTok users spend a lot of time on the app, and many actively engage with content by liking, commenting, and sharing.

Tips for Businesses on TikTok:

  • Stay authentic—people prefer real, raw content over overly polished videos.
  • Use trending sounds and hashtags to increase your reach.

2. ​Creating Engaging Short-Form Videos


 Overview: Short-form videos (15-60 seconds) are the backbone of TikTok. To stand out, your videos need to be eye-catching, creative, and aligned with your business.

Steps for Creating Engaging TikToks:

  1. Plan Your Content: Know what message you want to deliver, whether it's a product demonstration, behind-the-scenes look, or a funny skit.
  2. Grab Attention Fast: The first few seconds are critical. Use bold visuals, engaging text, or a trending sound.
  3. Use Effects: TikTok offers a variety of effects (like slow motion, filters, and transitions) to make your videos stand out.
  4. Post Consistently: TikTok rewards consistency, so post regularly to increase your chances of reaching more people.

3. Utilizing Trends and Hashtags for Greater Reach


 Overview: TikTok thrives on trends, from popular sounds to viral challenges. Taking advantage of these trends can boost your content’s visibility.

How to Use Trends:

  • Explore the “Discover” Page: This shows the most popular sounds, hashtags, and challenges.
  • Use Trending Sounds: Incorporate popular sounds or music in your videos to increase your chances of being featured.
  • Participate in Challenges: Many businesses join challenges, using their own twist to promote their products.

Hashtags:

Hashtags are crucial on TikTok to get discovered. Use a mix of trending hashtags and niche-specific ones (e.g., #KakamegaBusiness, #SmallBusinessKenya).

4. Activity: Create a TikTok Video

Objective: Help participants create a TikTok video using trending sounds and hashtags that align with their business.

  • Activity Steps:
    1. Explore Trends: Start by guiding participants through the “Discover” page on TikTok, showing them how to identify trending sounds, hashtags, and challenges.
    2. Brainstorm Content Ideas: In small groups, have participants discuss what type of video they could create—whether it’s a product demo, a behind-the-scenes look, or a fun skit relevant to their business.
    3. Plan and Record Video: Each participant will plan and record a 15–30-second video using a trending sound. Encourage them to use effects like transitions or filters to make the video stand out.
    4. Add Hashtags and Post: Show participants how to add a mix of trending and business-specific hashtags (e.g., #SmallBusinessKenya, #ShopKakamega). Each person will upload their video (or practice within the app without publishing, if they’re not ready to post).
  • Materials Needed: Smartphone, TikTok app, sample business ideas or products if they don’t have their own.
  • Goal: By the end of the activity, participants will have created a TikTok video, explored trends and hashtags, and gained confidence in using the app for business marketing.