Your business’s online presence is more important than ever. As technology advances and people become more tech savvy, the internet is one of the best ways of reaching customers. But simply posting a picture here and there, or creating a mediocre website with little content is not enough. You need to develop a digital marketing strategy that is tailored towards your business’s goals. There are 6 main disciplines of online marketing, but they can all work together to achieve your goals and grow your business. Let’s go over the 6 tactics, as well as the basics of creating a strategy that works for you.
The 6 Pillars of Digital Marketing
All of the different categories in online marketing can be successful, so long as you use them correctly. The more areas you use, the more exposure your company will receive. However, it’s time-consuming and can get expensive. Rise Local recommends starting off with one or two pillars and adding more as you improve your website and content. These are the 6 main categories:
- Content Marketing
- Pay-Per-Click Advertising
- Search Engine Optimization
- Social Media Marketing
- Email Marketing
- Native Advertising
Content marketing and search engine optimization focus on organic content and search. We utilize keywords, engaging titles, authentic images, write informative and relevant content, the list goes on! These tools allow us to optimize your content, which means it will rank higher in searches without having to pay for ads. Once your website is ready for further traffic, we can invest in advertising campaigns.
Simple Steps for Creating a Digital Marketing Strategy
Here are 6 steps that you should follow to create a strategy that works for your business.
Create a Customer Persona
Think about the ideal target audience, such as their age, gender, interests, location, etc. Put yourself in your customers’ shoes. Once you can imagine a person, you can make assumptions about what appeals to them. You can do this by creating a narrative and being specific. Where do they shop? What platforms do they use? What do they need? Any preferences?
Identify Your Goals and Tools
Define your goals, make them suitable, and make sure that they are measurable. The more specific you are with your goals, the better it is to measure their success. We encourage using the SMART technique: measurable, specific, attainable, relevant, timely.
Evaluate Your Existing Digital Presence
It’s good to know what you have already accomplished. Take a look at your website, social media, blog content, word-of-mouth, etc. Were they effective, and can you use them again?
Understand the Digital Sales Funnel
The sales funnel is the arc of a buyer’s journey. It’s important to address each stage of the funnel in your marketing strategy. Here are the four stages: awareness, interest, engagement, action.
Create a Content Plan
What kind of content will attract buyers and on what platforms? Identify keywords and develop a keyword strategy, create a content calendar so you can post consistently, and use call to actions.
Analyze Results
Once your strategy is developed, analyze results in intervals. Are you progressing towards your goals? How are customers interacting with your content? From this information, you can tailor your strategy.
Develop Your Digital Marketing Strategy with Rise Local
Our marketing experts at Rise Local can help you develop a digital marketing strategy. We will help you identify goals, create customer personas, write your content, and promote your brand on different social media platforms. Get in touch with us today, to learn about the different services Rise Local offers. We can’t wait to transform your brand!