What are digital platforms?
By Siân Morgan-Owen
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links for which I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase. I only recommend products I love.
What Are Digital Platforms?
At its core, a digital platform is where your business meets your customers in the virtual world. This can be for sharing information, selling products or services, or simply engaging with your audience.
Why are they important? The value of a digital platform lies not just in the transactions, but also in the community that it nurtures. After all, a platform without its users is like a shop without customers – pretty much pointless.
Working with online entrepreneurs such as coaches, bloggers, and course creators, I’ve seen how vital these platforms are. And it’s becoming increasingly hard to tell apart online and offline businesses. Essentially, if you’re running a business today, refining your digital presence should be top of your agenda.
Who Needs a Digital Platform?
Short answer: Every business. We’re all quick to “Google” whatever we need, from home decor ideas to the best places to eat in a new city. This is why it’s important for businesses to be visible and accessible online.
You might be surprised at how many digital platforms you’re already using or could be using to enhance your business.
Types of Digital Platforms
Let’s break down the digital platforms into four main categories:
Social Media Platforms
- What they are: Places where people interact, including specific groups.
- Examples: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X (Twitter), Pinterest, and maybe Clubhouse and Threads.
Service-Oriented Platforms
- What they are: Platforms allowing engagement with your services like websites and email marketing tools.
- Examples: Websites (using WordPress, Squarespace, Etsy, Wix, Shopify), Email Marketing (Mailerlite, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign), and others like Calendly, Zoom, Linktree, Canva.
Knowledge Platforms
- What they are: Where you share your expertise, host memberships, and courses.
- Examples: Kartra, Easy Peasey Funnels, Smart Growth System, Kajabi, MembersVault, sections of your website like Learndash, Wishlist Member, and your blog.
Media Sharing Platforms
- What they are: For distributing your videos and podcasts.
- Examples: YouTube, Vimeo, Spotify.
Providing value to your community while also turning a profit is the sweet spot for using digital platforms.
FInal Thoughts
Consider this:
Are you leveraging your digital platforms effectively?
If not, what’s holding you back?
Managing these platforms can feel like a mountain of work, which is why it’s understandable for business owners to feel overwhelmed.
Dazzling Top Tips to Manage Your Digital Platforms:
- Review and Refine: Regularly check your platforms for content relevance and user engagement.
- Engage with Your Community: Your audience is the heartbeat of your digital presence. Listen, interact, and evolve based on their feedback.
- Consistency is Key: Keep your brand voice and message consistent across all platforms.
- Content Repurposing: Maximize your efforts by adapting content across different platforms. For example, a blog post can be turned into a video summary for YouTube or a series of posts for Instagram.
At Digitally Dazzling, we aim to simplify the complexity of managing digital platforms. By teaching you how to repurpose content effectively, we help streamline your online presence, making it more manageable and impactful.
Remember, your digital platforms are a reflection of your business. With the right approach, they can open doors to endless opportunities.
