In today’s dynamic digital world, a business’s success can depend on what they do/don’t do online. As Q1 of 2016 comes to a close, now is a good time to reevaluate your digital marketing strategy to make sure you’re on track for success this year. Keep these digital tips in mind to ensure your digital marketing strategy is inline with both your goals and your customers’ needs.
Mobile > Desktop
Think about it, just over 15 years ago we were all oohing and ahhing over large, bulky desktop monitors that sat on their designated table and made loud screeching sounds to connect to the Internet. Now, mobile devices have allowed us to carry our personal diary, entertainment portal, wallet and gateway to real-time information all in one handheld piece of technology. More and more people (especially millennials) are relying on their smartphone as their main access to the internet, so you must market accordingly.
Make sure your website is fully responsive across all devices. Tailor the digital experience to simplify the mobile user’s journey. Verify and test your email templates on multiple devices to ensure your message is reachable to anyone, no matter what device they’re on. If your digital marketing isn’t tailored to mobile, this needs to be priority #1 for Q2.
Expand Your Audience Through Content
You’ve probably heard the phrase “Content is King” a lot over the past few years, and there’s a good reason for it. Content marketing is an influential and effective way to reach your customers and even be used as a retention tool, if done correctly.
This year, take inventory of the content resources you currently have on hand. Every piece of content marketing doesn’t need to start from scratch; chances are, you have plenty of content to work with from previous blogs, social media posts, and more.
Once you have an idea of what content you have on hand, think about what’s missing. What kind of new content would add value to your customers? If your business has never offered a white book, take an old blog post, rebrand it and create an inviting landing page for new and existing customers to download it.
Lastly, create a content distribution plan for the year. This includes all social posts, blogs and quarterly pieces such as white papers.
Measure Your Success with Analytics Tools
Digital marketing has opened the door to new ways to measure your efforts. Because of this, successful digital campaigns include tools to measure and analyze their results. With proper metrics, you’ll have insight into your ROI and identify what efforts to keep – and which ones to get rid of. Luckily, many channels allow you to set up low-risk marketing experiments that create immediate results. This includes both social media platforms and search engines.
Never Stop Learning
The digital marketing world is constantly changing, and businesses will either sink or swim when it comes to riding the constant wave of changes.
With your website being one of your most important business and digital assets, you should learn more about front-end web development. If you’re looking to update your website soon (which could arguably be everyone, since website best practices and Google are always changing), it’s important to have this working knowledge meaningful to make informed decisions and have productive conversations with those who handle your website. Stay current with the industry through blogs and digital publications. HubSpot, Panda and PSFK (which offers a free basic account) are great resources to check out on a regular basis.
Even though Q1 is winding down, it’s possible to make 2016 your business’s most successful year ever with an exceptional digital marketing plan. If executed correctly, you’ll build a strong web presence, entice new customers, and keep your existing customers happy. Although the digital marketing space is always changing, your ability to keep up with its pace will instantly set you apart from competitors. Get your digital marketing strategy on point and experience the world of benefits that comes with it.
