Digital marketing is constantly evolving and this can seem unsettling at times. Strategies that were working in the past may not be effective in the present. Do you know why many companies fail to get ahead of their competitors? It is simply because they are unwilling to adapt to the ever-changing world of digital media. But, the great thing about a digital marketing strategy is that you can change them on the fly in response to real-time results and analytical data. While this may seem complicated as if you changed things too quickly, you may not be able to find if your strategy worked in the long run. But if you wait too long, you are likely wasting your two precious resources: time and money.
With that said, how do you know when is the right time to change your digital marketing strategy? To help you keep up with the fast-paced industry, I’ve created this post to help you know when to change your digital marketing strategy.
Below are the 5 signals to help you decide when to abandon your current strategy.
1. Focus on low-value metrics
If you’re targeting low-value metrics like impressions and clicks, you may be missing out on them because impressions and clicks only let you know your marketing visibility. And not the actual precision of your strategies.
2. Only focus on your brand and not on the needs of the audience
All marketers want to spread their brand, but you shouldn’t go overboard by sticking your brand on everything. In fact, make your content educational and focused on the problems and needs of your audience. This would really help you target buyers in the initial stages of the buyer’s journey.
3. Excessive use of keywords
Although it is necessary to place keywords in your content, Google’s priority always lies in providing a user experience of reach and relevance of the content. Google has nothing to do with the number of times your site displays the keyword as “Digital Marketing Strategy”.
4. Don’t trust your instincts
Your previous experience is certainly precious. But your decision-making process shouldn’t be based solely on what worked in the past. It’s a very bad idea as what worked tomorrow may be completely irrelevant today. Therefore, guiding your marketing strategy through objective data will only allow you to get better results.
5. Not integrated
Whether you’re dealing with a digital marketing expert, an IT department, or a startup, it’s very common for digital marketing strategies to end up in silos. It is an easier way but of course it is not effective. It is true that the digital approach works best when integrated with traditional channels.
Now that you know whether or not you need to change your digital marketing strategy, here is a comprehensive guide to help you build a powerful new marketing strategy to achieve your online goals.
What are the essential steps to create an effective digital marketing strategy?
When creating a marketing strategy for your business, always keep your audience first. Set goals, plan your strategy, implement it, and finally measure your success.
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Research on your target market and competitors
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Know your audience because if you don’t know them, how can you help them?
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Integrate different marketing strategies and use only the right tools
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If you don’t have the required skill set, feel free to purchase special services
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Identify your value proposition online and apply it to all digital marketing channels
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Last but definitely not least, get ready
But before you do anything, ask yourself a few questions. Asking the right questions and having the answers in place will definitely help you make the right decisions. I have provided some questions and answers below to help you.
What digital channels are most effective for you and why?
With so many digital channels, it is difficult to choose the best one. So you can identify it with these simple basics:
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Identify the channel where most of your potential customers like to hang out
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Analyze the behavior of your target audience
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Raise awareness with Twitter
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Attend industry events and conferences.
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Social networks and newsletters to reach your potential customers
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SEO or combination of SEO and PPC to help you attract more visitors
How to evaluate your digital marketing activities?
Unfortunately, some companies do not know how to correctly answer this question. If you are also one of them, do not be ashamed! Just jump in and find out how you can determine the correct metrics and evaluate your current digital marketing activities.
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Identify your target KPI (key performance indicator) to help you understand what is working
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Monitor your website traffic and sales to know the necessary statistics about your customers
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Track and measure your metrics through Google Analytics
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Survey your site visitors to find out if they are satisfied with your solutions.
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Track ROI, Conversions, Market Share, and Sales
How to make your business stand out from the crowd?
In today’s competitive digital marketplace, it is really difficult to make your business stand out from your competitors. But an effective strategy can help you stay ahead of them. Let’s see how.
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Communicate and educate your customers effectively
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Stay honest and transparent to build customer loyalty
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Talk less, listen more
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Be authoritative and helpful in what you do
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Get to know your competitors and learn from them
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Be creative, open-minded and try new technologies.
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Speak in the language of your audience
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Use proof points and testimonials to prove you are the best
Final thoughts
As the world of the online landscape changes, so should your digital marketing strategy. Therefore, it is essential to keep abreast of the changing market and new technological advancements to help you grow even more.