Online marketing, otherwise known as digital marketing, requires careful planning if you want to get the best results for your marketing dollars. We outlined 10 best practices for online marketing in our post “Online Marketing 101.” This checklist will help you remember what you need to do to succeed with your online marketing.
Set a specific, measurable goal for each piece of online marketing material
Have goals for both content you create and content you hire someone to create for you
Remember to include multiple kinds of digital marketing: banner ads, pay-per-click ads, blog posts, e-mail newsletters, social media posts, videos, and web pages
Decide on the best goal for each—earnings, engagement, good will, and growth are all important
Determine your online marketing budget
If you have a small budget, find areas—like social media —where the cost is largely your time
With a larger budget, look at both free and paid opportunities to market your business online
Spend money where your ideal clients spend time (mobile, social media, your website, etc.)
Invest in a quality website or blog
Get to know your customers
Use analytics to discover what your customers are searching for
Ask questions and encourage comments on your blog, in your e-mail newsletter, through videos
Track views and purchases so you know more about your customers and who they really are
Create something of value to offer clients
Use FAQs from e-mails and your website to determine what online content will truly help people
Create information pieces: “best of” or “worst of” lists, the easiest or fastest way to do something, how-to guides, product reviews, new uses for familiar products
Make sure to include branding and digital marketing information like your company name and website URL
Post content that will entertain your audience—if it is original, brand it and add your online marketing information as mentioned above; if you are sharing someone else’s content, give them credit and add your own commentary, which can then include your branding
Make it easy for mobile users
Create a mobile-friendly, responsive template for your e-mail newsletter
Make sure your blog and website are mobile-friendly and responsive
Go for organic search results
Use clear, concise copy
Avoid keyword stuffing and the search engine penalties that may come with that practice
Create each piece of online content with one specific topic or keyword/keyword phrase in mind
Keep your writing/speaking as natural sounding as possible to keep visitors coming back for more
Be quick to respond to comments and complaints because these generate organic search results
Give it time, whether using social media or SEO on your website
Measure your ROI and evaluate what you want to change
Determine budget changes
Decide on future content
Expand or retarget demographic
Focus on a specific platform or decide to explore new territory
You don’t have to do it all yourself. Here at Tate Design, we help you identify the best places for your digital marketing and then deliver effective, trackable campaigns.
Call Tate Design at 610.725.0702 or e-mail [email protected] to get started.
Online Marketing 101