Successful Digital Marketing Techniques
In this fast-paced digital age, with everyone glued to their smartphones and tablets, it makes absolute business sense to put time and effort into developing a great website. After all, your website is your storefront, and your chance to make a first impression on customers and prospects, so why not make it a great one? When you add proven marketing tactics such as SEO, you can drive in even more site visitors to your new site.
But many business owners think that simply putting a good site out on the web is simply enough to bring in new business. While an excellent website is a powerful tool, it is only the starting point when it comes to your overall digital marketing efforts. If you really want to succeed, it’s time to start thinking ONGOING.
Optimizing for a Mobile World
You’ve built a website that matters. Now, don’t mess it up by forgetting that an increasing number of today’s users are browsing websites on their mobile devices. If someone can’t view your site on their smartphone or tablet, they’re likely to click away, so it pays considerably to optimize your website and any other content that you’re using for mobile devices. Don’t make this mistake – mobile compatibility is becoming more important than ever before, especially for businesses targeting a younger, more tech-savvy demographic.
Stepping Up Your SEO Game
If you’ve hired a great web developing company, you’ve no doubt already heard about initial SEO marketing tactics. And hopefully, you already have a plan in place when it comes to continuing SEO efforts as regards your website. Ideally, you should have a game plan mapped out to do about five hours of regular SEO work every month on your site when it comes to things such as text and tags.
However, the work doesn’t stop there. Don’t forget that off-page SEO is an important tool in your arsenal of online marketing tactics, and that you should be including it in your marketing plan. From community creation to blogging, forum posting, cross-linking, press releases, PPC ad campaigns, and more, there are many ways to work with off-page SEO. Find the methods that are right for you, and use them. Don’t rest on your laurels in this regard.
SEM / Online Advertising / PPC Advertising
Speaking of PPC ad campaigns and the like, don’t shy away from the use of these tools. Paid advertising does of course require some investment; so don’t dive in without doing your research first. Take the time to figure out what type of investment you’re willing to make, and how to best use online advertising to your advantage. What are your competitors doing, and how could you best use this advertising in your industry? Try running some test campaigns to see what works and what doesn’t before rolling out larger campaigns.
Ramp Up Your Analytics Knowledge
While you’re rolling out campaigns and taking practical steps to get things done in terms of your marketing, don’t forget that you should always pay attention to the ins and outs of the marketing side of business. One of the most important tools in your arsenal is to sharpen, improve and stay on top of your Google Analytics knowledge. Google Analytics keeps changing, and what is true today may not necessarily be true tomorrow, so take the time to brush up on your knowledge and how to get the best results for your website.
Stay On Top of Your Social Media
You may have spent time building a great website, but you can’t rely on your customers and clients to come to you. One of the great things about the Internet today is just how incredibly social it’s become, which provides excellent opportunities for getting out there and mingling around the digital water cooler. From Facebook to Twitter, Instagram to Pinterest, or any other social media sites that provide you with outstanding opportunities, be sure that you are investing the right amount of time into your social media. Doing so will give you the chance to connect with the right people at the right time. It will also boost your SEO, drive people to that stunning website you’ve built, and ensure that your public sees the content you’re creating and curating. It remains one of the best strategies to enhance your online marketing efforts.
Become a Content Marketing Titan
We love content, and hopefully, you do too. There are many types of content that you can create to connect to people. Consider the following:
- Blogs – The easiest way to reach out, blogs can be information, insightful, or simply fun. The sky is the limit.
- White Papers – Craft informative papers with industry insight.
- Articles – Creative how-to articles, insightful news articles, and much more.
- eBooks – Free eBooks are a great way to not only gain new visitors but to gather information when people sign up to newsletters and more.
- Videos – From videos about your business’s history to how-to guides, these easy to digest pieces of content are quickly becoming industry leaders.
- Newsletters – This is a great place to report any company news, recognize employees, provide quick tips, announce events, etc.
One of the great things about developing new and relevant content is that it gives you a credible reason for keeping in front of your customers on a regular basis. Using these content-laden tools is also a great way for you to show off your expertise and to provide something useful to your clients.
It can also organically draw in new site visitors – whether directly to your site or in through other channels, such as through site partners, social media, guest blogs or other methods. Creating memorable content doesn’t have to be a time-killing endeavor, either. Just figure out what type of content you can provide, and where, and fill in the gaps that are out there with something of quality.
Staying on Top of Public Relations
PR is an important part of your online marketing efforts, as well as your overall company communications strategy. One thing to pay attention to is the importance of earned media versus paid media. Earned media refers to things such as mentions, shares, reposts, and reviews of content as opposed to paid for pay per click advertising, display ads, and paid content promotion. Public relations and social media interactions provides your company more earned media and a more valuable reach without having to pay more revenue for that media from your marketing budget. Staying on top of news and trends, as well as being ahead of the curve, can help your marketing efforts and lead to a much better return on your investment.
While you’re at it, remember that another important thing that you can do to reach out is to work with businesses and not-for-profits to give back to the community – especially if yours is a small, local business that does considerable work within the community.
Email and Affiliate Marketing Aren’t Dead
Email is not dead; don’t discount it in your online marketing efforts. Be sure to take the time to build an email mailing list, remember to optimize your emails, and send out top-notch emails on a regular basis to your clients and customers. Also, ensure that you are doing your best to send out targeted emails to different clients and customers. In short, play it smart and learn the rules of the game when it comes to email marketing.
Likewise, affiliate marketing is still an essential part of the marketing game. Working with others to help with the promotion of your business is a smart strategy, and one that you shouldn’t count out just because it might seem a little outdated in this digital world. Remember, it can help significantly lessen your workload. Just be sure to run some tests and be sure it’s working for you.
Overall, there is plenty that you can do – and should be doing – after you get that bright, beautiful new website up and running. Give yourself a minute to celebrate the launch of your new site, but after that, get ready to roll up your shirtsleeves and get to work. There’s still plenty to do, and we can help you get it all done.