DigiIndia Squad - Digital Marketing Podcast for Small Biz & Nonprofits in India
By DigiIndia Squad
In this podcast, we assemble and disassemble marketing and communication topics for small businesses and nonprofits in India.
DigiIndia Squad - Digital Marketing Podcast for Small Biz & Nonprofits in IndiaApr 29, 2021
E24: Our Journey So Far (Last Episode)
This podcast exclusively covers digital marketing scenario and landscapes for small and medium enterprises and non-profits. This is the last episode in this series. Of course, Monica and Manasi will be back with a new series on fresh topics in a month’s time or so.
In Episode 24, Manasi and Monica talk about their journey, developing the DigiIndia Squad podcast, and earlier video series. They cover:
- How the idea started
- The research process & the challenges and gaps observed
- The execution, from branding to the hustling
- Strategic moves made
- Times of doubt
- Lessons learned
It's been a great journey. We'll be back with more soon! Bye for now!
Our presence:
www.instagram.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.facebook.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.linkedin.com/company/DigiIndiaSquad
www.twitter.com/DigiIndiaSquad
You can still email us, and send topics you'd like us to discuss at digiindiasquad@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you.
#marketingpodcast #indiamarketingpodcast #podcastIndia #smallbusinessmarketing #nonprofitmarketing #digitalmarketingtips
E2: Digital Marketing Careers - Transition, Progression, Rural vs Urban
This episode is also available in video.
In Episode 2 of the DigiIndia Squad video series, Monica turns the tables on Manasi, digging into her career path. Some great tips are shared in the conversation, the perception of digital marketing, what it means to be a digital marketer, the gaps in the digital marketing education, what students of digital marketing should think about, and more.
Some of the questions discussed include:
1) Manasi moved from a career in journalism & media relations to digital marketing and communications. What was the trigger? What pros and cons did you experience, technical and professional, in the transition?
2) How does your journalism background help you become a better communicator and marketer?
3) You spend a fair amount of time training students on marketing and communication. What are the students prepared or not prepared for academically that they need to ramp up on quickly to enter the industry?
4) What is the interest in learning digital marketing in rural areas? In your experience, what are the challenges and opportunities here?
Our presence:
www.instagram.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.facebook.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.linkedin.com/company/DigiIndiaSquad
www.twitter.com/DigiIndiaSquad
Email us your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss at digiindiasquad@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you.
#marketingpodcast #indiamarketingpodcast #podcastIndia #smallbusinessmarketing #nonprofitmarketing #digitalmarketingtips
E3: How to get ideas for content creation?
This episode is available in video.
In Episode 3 of the DigiIndia Squad video series, Manasi and I do a deep dive into how marketers, content creators, business persons, and solopreneurs and come up with content ideas that resonate with their target audience.
We cover the topic from four angles:
- Internal sources
- Customer-facing platforms and personnel
- Environment (competition and eco-system)
- Industry
This is a little longer than the time we usually target but we felt it was important to get all these ideas out there for you to get started with whatever you have in hand. Using these ideas, you’ll have enough ideas to keep your content marketing calendar full for months ahead!
Our presence:
www.instagram.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.facebook.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.linkedin.com/company/DigiIndiaSquad
www.twitter.com/DigiIndiaSquad
Email us your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss at digiindiasquad@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you.
#marketingpodcast #indiamarketingpodcast #podcastIndia #smallbusinessmarketing #nonprofitmarketing #digitalmarketingtips
E4: Brands that get content right
This episode has video content.
In the last episode, Manasi and I talked about content ideas - how to generate them and get your content calendar going. In this video, we look at some brands whose content has grabbed our attention. While my starting point for this exercise is a search engine, Manasi chooses social media.
The recording got a little messed up so a placeholder image has been used where Manasi is talking. Close your eyes and just listen (:-)), the discussion should add value.
Our presence:
www.instagram.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.facebook.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.linkedin.com/company/DigiIndiaSquad
www.twitter.com/DigiIndiaSquad
Get in touch at digiindiasquad@gmail.com.
#marketingpodcast #indiamarketingpodcast #podcastIndia #smallbusinessmarketing #nonprofitmarketing #digitalmarketingtips
E23: 6 Marketing Case Studies from Nonprofit & Small Biz
In E23, Manasi and Monica take up 3 case studies each and disassemble the marketing goals, tactics, and outcomes.
Manasi covered the following businesses:
Monica covered the following nonprofits:
We thank all of you for your feedback and responses, some on WhatsApp, some on our social media accounts and some on our email. Most questions we are receiving are from small business and nonprofits on what are the opportunities in the digital world how to use digital media platforms to grow their business or to increase their donor lists or increase the awareness among members to support a particular cause.
Have feedback? Get in touch with us at digiindiasquad@gmail.com.
#marketingpodcast #indiamarketingpodcast #podcastIndia #smallbusinessmarketing #nonprofitmarketing #digitalmarketingtips
E5: Brands that get content right
YouTube episode link: https://youtu.be/TZxtgEn_Feg
What can small and medium hospitality businesses continue working on in the marketing space to survive the sheer slowdown caused by the Coronavirus pandemic?
Manasi and Monica share some ideas and examples of what business owners can focus on to prepare for the better times that are sure to come.
Our presence:
www.instagram.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.facebook.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.linkedin.com/company/DigiIndiaSquad
www.twitter.com/DigiIndiaSquad
Email us your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss at digiindiasquad@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you.
E6: Marketing Tips for the Travel Sector in the Covid Crisis
YouTube episode link: https://youtu.be/rPXYqGN5VnU.
The travel industry is one of the worst-hit industries during the Coronvirus slowdown.
In this episode, Manasi and Monica talk about different ways in which travel agencies and carriers such as airways and waterways can continue to engage their audiences until the tide changes. Manasi also shows the Facebook and Instagram pages of brands that are maintaining a strong presence and others that have stalled.
Our presence:
www.instagram.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.facebook.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.linkedin.com/company/DigiIndiaSquad
www.twitter.com/DigiIndiaSquad
Email us your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss at digiindiasquad@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you.
#marketingpodcast #indiamarketingpodcast #podcastIndia #smallbusinessmarketing #nonprofitmarketing #digitalmarketingtips
E22: Quick Overview of Digital Marketing - Part 2
Continuing from the previous episode, we talk about other digital marketing channels for small businesses and nonprofits alike. Of course, these channels are applicable for all businesses but our target audience for this podcast is the SME and nonprofit space.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Email Marketing: Importance, methods, strategy, and campaign types.
- Mobile Marketing: What it encompasses, importance in today's times, campaign types, technology.
- Paid Promotions: An important aspect to understand and accessible via social media, search engines, third-party vendors, etc. Why and when do we use this channel?
- Analytics: The last element that ties the whole picture together - what works, what doesn't, what if, why, where, when, how - enabling you to improve your customer's experience.
#marketingpodcast #indiamarketingpodcast #podcastIndia #smallbusinessmarketing #nonprofitmarketing #digitalmarketingtips
Our presence:
www.instagram.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.facebook.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.linkedin.com/company/DigiIndiaSquad
www.twitter.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.contentknockout.com
E21: Quick Digital Marketing Overview - Part 1
In this episode, Manasi and Monica take ten steps back to talk to give a quick overview of digital marketing.
Digital Marketing is far from new. And there’s loads of information on it on the world wide web. Even so, in our work with small businesses and nonprofits, we’re often asked to explain “digital marketing.” What does it mean? What does it involve? What are the different channels available to us?
Well, in this episode, we thought to share a simple explanation for leaders of nonprofits and SMBs to understand what the digital marketing channels are.
In the first part of this topic, we cover:
- Why a website (covered in detail in E11: Essential components of a website for small biz)
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) (refers to E9: How Voice Search is Changing Digital Marketing and E8: The Rise of Vernacular Content in India)
- Social Media Marketing
- Content Marketing
- Online Reputation Management (ORM)
- Affiliate Marketing
We'll continue with the other channels in the next episode.
Meanwhile, if you have any comments or questions, use our social media channels or email us at digiindiasquad@gmail.com.
#marketingpodcast #indiamarketingpodcast #podcastIndia #smallbusinessmarketing #nonprofitmarketing #digitalmarketingtips
Our presence:
www.instagram.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.facebook.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.linkedin.com/company/DigiIndiaSquad
www.twitter.com/DigiIndiaSquad
E8: The Rise of Vernacular Content in India – A Trend to Ride On
In Episode 8, we talk about how vernacular content is becoming a huge deal in the internet space in India and why marketers and business owners must find ways to ride this trend. (YouTube link: https://youtu.be/8c4QpwcVfmY)
We talk about how this change has come about, what initiatives (in both technology and business) have supported this trend till now, what the future holds for vernacular support and local businesses as well as the challenges of offering multiple language support in the complex and multifarious diversity of India.
There is a huge jump in the consumption of audio and video content, in vernacular, largely driven by smaller towns and cities. “Literary agnostic” content is the way to break the language barrier that has existed for non-English speaking users of India.
There are references to many reports and articles in this discussion, some of which are linked in this blog post.
#marketingpodcast #indiamarketingpodcast #podcastIndia #smallbusinessmarketing #nonprofitmarketing #digitalmarketingtips
Our presence:
www.instagram.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.facebook.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.linkedin.com/company/DigiIndiaSquad
www.twitter.com/DigiIndiaSquad
Email us your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss at digiindiasquad@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you.
E20: Why small businesses cannot afford to postpone digital marketing
In Episode 20 of the #DigiIndiaSquad podcast, the Mo and Ma girls, Monica and Manasi hash out the question they still get asked by small businesses: Do we need digital marketing?
YES! You do. But with the right thought in place.
The discussion answers questions such as:
- why small biz must pay immediate attention to digital marketing,
- what are the trends observed,
- why you need a seasoned professional to navigate the transition to digital marketing,
- what you need to have ready,
- how to get started,
- when to get started,
- where to start, and
- who should start.
We end with a few examples.
Please do leave your questions in the comments section and we will revert to you. You could also revert to us on digiindiasquad@gmail.com
Find us as @DigiIndiaSquad on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
#MarketingTips #SmallBusiness Marketing @DigitalMarketing
E9: How Voice Search is Changing Digital Marketing
In this episode, Monica and Manasi talk about the changes in consumer behaviour that are driven by voice usage. Watch the video for the demo.
How to improve the chances of content showing up in search engines as a response to voice search?
What does voice search optimisation involve?
What are rich results?
Articles referenced:
- Google Algorithm Update
- How to Earn Google Featured Snippets for Mobile: Large-scale Study
- Voice SEO: Different tactics required for Google Assistant, Siri and Alexa
- All about search and its history
- #brandequity: Voice hits the right chord for brands, sees 270% growth in #onlinesearches
- How #Internet of #Voice is changing the rules of #digitalmarketing #YourStory
- How to Optimize for Voice Search: 6 SEO Strategies for Success #SearchEngineJournal
Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, and YouTube as DigiIndiaSquad.
Email us your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss at digiindiasquad@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you.
E10: Why every organisation must have a documented marketing strategy
In this episode, Manasi and Monica delve into a common grouse - organizations not having a marketing strategy, not even a documented business strategy. Please watch the YouTube video episode for the demos - https://youtu.be/2ny8sZsYzfk.
When an organization hires a marketer, he/she will take the cue from the business plan and develop a marketing strategy that aligns with the business goals. Without the plan in place, business owners and marketing teams run the risk of marketing with no clear purpose in mind, no measurement plan, no tracking.
This is not a good space to be in, for the business owner or the marketer. It's important to start with a SWOT analysis followed by a plan developed using the NAMDUS methodology, as explained by Manasi.
Without clear goals and a plan to get there, businesses lose confidence in marketing, and marketers lose morale. Don't let that happen.
#marketingstrategy #documentedmarketingstrategy #documentedbusinessplan #SWOTanalysis #NAMDUSmethodology
E19: Slowing down marketing post 2020 - Part 2
Following Part 1 of this topic, in this episode, Manasi and Monica talk about some organisations who have turned the change in consumer behaviour to their benefit and profit, changing their marketing proposition. We also talk about how organisations can walk the talk of "slowing down the marketing" during this time of crisis.
We also share some advice from marketing experts from around the world on slowing down marketing.
Get in touch with us at digiindiasquad@gmail.com. DigiIndia Squad is also available on social media channels.
E1: Is nonprofit marketing all that different from digital marketing for business?
This is our first episode. Also available on YouTube.
In this episode, Manasi quizzes Monica about the nonprofit space, discussing questions such as:
- When you say digital marketing, I can only hear, what is your budget, how many leads can you get, what is your cost of conversion and %age of conversion. In this context, how different is digital marketing for nonprofits or NGOs?
- In what contexts can NGOs or NPOs take up digital marketing?
- If we have to map a donor journey, what would it typically look like?
- What role does Online Reputation Management play in the digital world for NGOs?
- What role does Integrated marketing play for NPOs and NGOs?
Our presence
www.instagram.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.facebook.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.linkedin.com/company/DigiIndiaSquad
www.twitter.com/DigiIndiaSquad
Email us your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss at digiindiasquad@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you.
E7: How consumer behaviour has changed during Covid19
From big brands such as Girias offering oxymeters and sanitizers, Bata offering face masks as gifts to customers, one thing is assured - consumer expectations and behavior have changed - for the short-term and the long-term.
In this episode, we talk about the reasons behind this change, what the trends have been during and post the lockdown and what is expected in the times to come. Will these changes stick? Has a decelerated pace of life actually made us more empathetic citizens?
One point that came out in a McKinsey survey was that people are going to research more before purchasing.
One of the decisive factors today is how the brand has treated its employees during this period. How interesting! In fact, this is something we have highlighted in both our earlier episodes on marketing tips for the Hospitality and Travel sector.
This and more await you ... enjoy viewing or listening.
E18: Slowing down marketing post 2020 - Part 1
In Episode 18 of the DigiIndia Squad podcast, Manasi and Monica take up the topic of how marketing has slowed down post-2020 and why that has happened. they share personal stories that reflect a change in consumer behavior as well as tales from around.
There has been a significant change in consumer behavior as a result of the pandemic. We've talked about that in length in Episode 7: How consumer behavior has changed during Covid19. In the episode, we elaborate on some changes around health, lifestyle habits, relaxation, purchases, and food.
In Episode 19, we'll continue the discussion with how businesses can walk the take, bring about a change in their marketing proposition, share some stories, and some suggestions. Stay tuned.
E17: WhatsApp Marketing for Small Biz & Nonprofits - Part 2
Continuing from Part 1 of this topic in Episode 17, we'll talk about the opportunities WhatsApp Business offers small businesses and nonprofits/NGOs, some tips to help you make the most out of these opportunities and caution you on common mistakes.
Opportunities
- Share business contact information
- Tagline
- Address and opening hours
- Send updates (Nonprofits such as Milaap share donation acknowledgement and project updates)
- Website
- Engage customers, donors, volunteers, etc. For example, Tamil Shirts.com (50 designs with more than 7,000 customers from India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, the U.A.E., and U.K.) uses Quick Replies to be more productive, label customers and make follow-up calls for sales. Since they began using the WhatsApp Business app, they say sales have increased by 30 percent, customer interaction by 70 percent, and leads getting converted to new business by 20 percent.
- Labeling allows your response to be more in line with the stage the customer/donor is - inquiries, orders, warm leads, hot leads
- Improved communication - product images, demos, audio explanations, video walkthroughs, live video chats. For example, Bengaluru-based software as a service (SaaS) startup Lorry Business to Business (LOBB), create a group, from sharing proof of delivery, to tracking location, to business acknowledgement, to keeping everyone in loop
- Upload your product service catalog - promotions
- Helps businesses transcend geographies - customers from across the world
- Good source for referral business
- Use the live location feature (Hey DeeDee, the company paving the way for delivery girls, uses the app to track the attendance of the staff even when they are on the road), and they collect real time feedback too on Whatsapp
- With regular Whatsapp, you can still use:
- Status
- Tag line
- Contact info
- Other ideas: Video walkthroughs, live video chats
- Disappearing messages (expire after 7 days) - coupon codes, limited period offers
- Broadcast
- Groups
Some tips
- For your Whatsapp Business Account, remember:
- More transactional
- Take permission
- Respect the receiver’s request to exit
- Use the features well - label, quick replies, auto response, catalog, etc.
- Be authentic
- Communicate, be responsive
- Use the status and profile picture (regular WhatsApp)
- Pay close attention to the needs of your customers and address them
- Build trust - referral source
Read the stories of how small biz are using WhatsApp for ideas and inspiration.
Common mistakes
- Not having a strategy
- Bulk messaging - spamming
- Not taking permission
- No personalisation, generic messaging
- Not maintaining the hygiene of the contact list
- Excessive messaging
- Not giving complete business information in the profile
- Nonresponsive
- Not organising your contact list
- Not setting an Away message
- Not tracking links
- Don't add people to groups without their permissions - group chat link is the better way - let them join
Get in touch with us at digiindiasquad@gmail.com. Also available on social media channels.
E16: WhatsApp Marketing for Business and Nonprofits - Part 1
Since this is going to be a longish topic, we’ll break this into two episodes. Today, we’ll discuss the origins of WhatsApp, why it’s a good marketing tool for small businesses and nonprofits, the different Whatsapp offers for businesses, the content formats you need to use, and most importantly, a strategy. And of course, we’ll share some stories.
Given the massive and highly engaged 1.5 billion user-base, the potential reach for businesses is vast.
Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp together have captured nearly 80% of the text messaging market.
WhatsApp is used innovatively by businesses and nonprofits alike, especially in countries such as India and Africa.
There are two options for businesses.
- WhatsApp API for large businesses or enterprise
- WhatsApp Business for small businesses and nonprofits
We talk about this and more in this episode. We share stories of some amazing use cases.
WhatsApp Business offers multiple advantages to businesses such as:
- Free
- On Android and iPhone
- Tailored for small businesses (and nonprofits)
- Business info - address, opening hours, business description, email address, and website.
- Connect with customers
- Upload catalog
- Organise your customers
- Automate responses to FAQ
- Save and reuse messages
- Sort responses
- Set Away message
- Set a Greeting
The compatible content formats on WhatsApp include:
- Text
- Image
- Audio
- Video
- Stickers
- GIFs
- Call - audio + video
Last but not the least, we talk about a WhatsApp strategy - why it's important and how you go about it.
E15: Is Facebook still useful for small biz and nonprofit marketing - Part 2?
Manasi and Monica resume the discussion from last week. They discuss:
- important Facebook features that will help a brand grow organically,
- Facebook Ads,
- Marketplace,
- eCommerce integration,
- some stats on why people engage with brands on Facebook,
- some examples,
- and tips.
Reference links:
- Facebook Blueprint - over 75 courses
- The 2020 Topics and Trends Report From Facebook IQ
Our presence:
www.instagram.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.facebook.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.linkedin.com/company/DigiIndiaSquad
www.twitter.com/DigiIndiaSquad
Email us your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss at digiindiasquad@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you.
#marketingpodcast #indiamarketingpodcast #podcastIndia #smallbusinessmarketing #nonprofitmarketing #digitalmarketingtips
E14: Is Facebook still useful for small biz and nonprofit marketing? Part 1
In Episode 14 of the DigiIndia Squad podcast, Manasi and Monica talk about the relevance of Facebook marketing today. With the organic reach going down and the rapid changes that are the wont of social media platforms, what can marketers working for small businesses and nonprofits do to achieve marketing outcomes?
In Part 1, we talk about some stats that prove Facebook is still a very relevant marketing tool in India, features and algorithms, and the need for marketers to stay informed about the direction Facebook is taking for the future.
The Facebook Newsroom website is one way to stay updated on what Facebook is working on currently and has up its sleeve for the future.
Enjoy the listen! And happy holidays! We'll come back with Part 2 in 2 weeks from now. Watch this space!
E13: Should small businesses and nonprofits care about branding - Part 2?
In Episode 12, we had talked about the definition of a brand and its components. We take that topic forward in Episode 13 and talk about:
- the branding process
- the all-important question - "when" does a "brand" become important
- "business" vs "brand"
- ... and loads more.
#branddevelopment
#smallbusinesstips
#smallbusinessmarketing
#brandmarketing
Our presence:
www.instagram.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.facebook.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.linkedin.com/company/DigiIndiaSquad
www.twitter.com/DigiIndiaSquad
Email us your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss at digiindiasquad@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you.
E12: Should small businesses care about branding - Part 1?
In this episode, Monica and Manasi discuss:
- why branding is important for small businesses and nonprofits
- how nonprofits have a startup culture
- what branding means
- who are the stakeholders you consider when analyzing your brand
- some examples of brands
- the components of a brand
- Logo
- Taglines
- Values
- Vision
- Mission
- Messaging
- Merchandise
- Advertising
- Assets
- Merchandise
- Equity itself
- Experience
- Color and font
- Customer service
- Reputation
- Taglines
In the second part of this topic, we'll discuss the process of developing a brand and when in the business cycle branding becomes important.
Stay tuned.
Our presence:
www.instagram.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.facebook.com/DigiIndiaSquad
www.linkedin.com/company/DigiIndiaSquad
www.twitter.com/DigiIndiaSquad
Email us your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss at digiindiasquad@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you.
E11: Essential components of a website for small biz
Essential components of a website for small biz
- Why have a website?
- Who does not need a website?
- How will you measure?
- Mobile-first / Component
- Website architecture
- Content & Policies
- Website pages
- Forms
- Call To Action placement
#DigitalMarketingIndia
#DigitalMarketingVideoSeries
#onlinemarketingwebinar
#onlinemarketingtraining
#digitalmarketingjobs
#DigitalMarketingtips
#DigitalMarketingcareer
#DigitalMarketingSmallBiz
#DigitalMarketingSMB
#DigitalMarketingLocalBusiness
#DigitalMarketingNGO
#DigiIndiaSquad