Running a killer digital marketing plan feels totally overwhelming for small biz owners or even marketing rookies on bigger teams. Facebook, Google, websites, videos – so much to keep up with. As per experts at defiant digital marketing agency, every business wants more leads and sales. But choosing the right combination of digital tactics that convert prospects into actual dollars seems confusing. Luckily, proven frameworks exist for structuring a strategic online presence step-by-step. Read on for the full lowdown on crafting digital strategies ready to work overtime for your brand.
Set Concrete Goals
Building any marketing or advertising plan starts by getting crystal clear on what fundamental objectives you aim to achieve. Do you need a refreshed brand identity gaining traction regionally to support new brick-and-mortar locations? Are you focused exclusively on increasing mobile app subscribers nationwide this quarter? Whatever your core sales objectives, outline tangible goals guiding strategy so you can measure what marketing success or failure looks like. Classic examples include driving more site web traffic, increasing social media followers, capturing email subscribers and most importantly – trackable new revenue.
Research Your Audience
Too many digital plans blast generic messages hoping something resonates. But finely tuned strategies demand you first analyze details on current and aspiring customer demographics. Who responds best so far and where are untapped pockets of fans? What social sites or apps does your audience live on? When and what do they search Google for? How do buyers currently find you organically? Professional tools like Google Analytics and Facebook Insights reveal treasure troves of intel on the interests, behaviors and influences of those engage with your brand. Document key audience insights as they will inform content and activity moving forward.
Map Your Online Properties
Before attracting audiences externally through ads and promotion, inventory existing digital assets already driving visibility. Document your website URLs, blog and page templates mixes currently live. Audit social media channels currently posting and followings on each. Review email lists active along with open and click through rates over recent campaigns. Same for YouTube, podcast channels or other avenues broadcasting your message. Evaluating owned media real estate sets the foundation that adds layers of digital marketing built upon over the strategic timeline.
Assess Your Competition
Sun Tzu said supreme battle victories emerge from knowing both self and enemy. Your digital arena is no different. Identify 2-3 chief competitive brands then analyze activity across their sites, feeds and campaigns. How often do they post? What partnership avenues or influencers do they leverage? How interactive are followers and fans in sharing or tagging posts? What special offers capture attention? Benchmarking rival content formulas, special events and general digital footprint spotlights creative ideas you can model while ensuring your plan counters what makes them truly stand apart currently from consumers.
Mix Organic and Paid Tactics
Balancing free and paid promotions sets consistent engines humming. Organic activity like blogs, search optimization and social posting fuel long term visibility and relationships requiring patience. Paid ads, influencer sponsorships and content partnerships offer rocket fuel injecting immediate exposure. But neither work isolated alone forever. Budgets expire yet search standings and follower bases remain. Interleave both over time for stability as each platform evolves unpredictably. Patience and budgets that weather storms win.
The 10 Digital Marketing Strategies that Gain Results
- Search Engine Optimization
- Social Posting Across Top Platforms
- Paid & Organic Content Creation
- Search Engine Marketing Ads
- Retargeting Past Visitors
- Email Capture and Drip Campaigns
- Website User Experience Refinement
- Partnerships with Micro Influencers
- Ongoing Advocacy for Reviews/Ratings
- Conversion Funnel Optimization
That checklist gives a look at core digital activities for engaging, tracking and converting visitors into loyal brand advocates over time. But how do you make choices aligning best platforms, messages and budgets for your specific aspirations? Calling on certified digital marketing pros as coaches makes winning easier.
Enlist Specialists as Coaches
Pure beginners swim nowhere fast alone. The same applies when pioneering new digital marketing frontiers. Aligning with specialized consultants, agencies and technologies as friendly guides prevents ineffective activities or platform misuse. External pros bring added manpower, insider platform expertise and objectivity assessing performance. Consider coaching for insights to build more advanced in-house capabilities over time. With the right digital marketing roadmap and training wheels, your strategy can pedal significant brand growth milestones ahead.
