“Let the interns take care of it – they know Facebook, right”?
Adapting and pivoting to digital is not something to keep the marketing interns busy – it is a fundamental for forward-thinking and growth-minded businesses. It is virtually impossible for any businesses to continue to grow without digital marketing being one of the pillars of their business strategy.
We’ve worked with a LOT of businesses (big, small and everything in between) and one of the biggest misconceptions they have is thinking that digital marketing is just social media. Yes, social media is ONE aspect of digital marketing, but it is definitely not the full picture!
In order to build a robust digital marketing strategy, you need to have at 360º approach. We’re talking the combined force of social media, SEO, consistent content creation, paid campaigns, optimised landing pages, CRM platforms and data analysis.
It’s not about blindly shooting arrows in the dark – digital marketing brings light and clarity to the entire business cycle by providing accurate data and unparalleled results for ad spend.
Here are some reasons to move the focus on digital marketing from basement to the boardroom in your business, to deliver brand awareness, growth, customer loyalty and retention:
Meet customers where they’re at 🙋🏽♀️
Digital marketing allows brands to foster true connection and loyalty with customers – any business’ most valuable asset. The pandemic has sent time spent on digital devices into the stratosphere. As consumers spend more time online, make sure your brand meets them in their preferred digital spaces and push these leads down the marketing and sales funnel. By focussing on delivering an outstanding customer experience, customers feel valued, knowing their brands respond to their immediate needs and interests and are there for the long haul.
When it comes to platforms, focus is key 👀
You don’t have to be everywhere! In fact, trying to be on all platforms dilutes impact and puts a drain on your precious resources and budget. Get really clear on who your customers are and which platforms are they most likely to use. Focus on building an engaged and loyal audience on those platforms – be authentic, start conversations and focus on excellence.
Use data to inform strategy 📊
Digital marketing is completely measurable. Data, search and analytical tools can help identify who your target audiences’ are and help you understand their ever-shifting needs. We’re talking using pixels, analytics and website tags to analyse who your audience is, what touchpoints they’ve had with your brand, and what content yeilds the best results. Gather these insights regularly and use them to inform your strategy. Don’t forget to PIVOT – be agile and execute meaningful campaigns that drive higher engagement and better ROI.
Great returns for relatively low cost 💰
Marketing online can be very cost effective for small businesses that need leads and sales FAST. The one critical proviso: targeting is KEY. More isn’t more – you need to find your niche and focus on quality over quantity.. Targeting a bang-on audience yields much better (and cheaper!) results. Plus, allocating smaller daily budgets allows you, the budding business owner, more control in managing cash flow and maximising sales so you can re-investing into marketing.
Don’t only focus social media 🛑
Don’t get caught up in social media being your only digital marketing effort. One of the most under-valued business resources and tools any brand has is its customer database. With the amount of data created by consumers continuing to grow, the insight opportunities available through data collection is also growing. And targeted communication to that hot, loyal audience, can deliver incredible returns for brands.
At Ignite, we are passionate about entrepreneurs. That’s why we offer a variety of packages to serve our customers – ranging from Do-It-Yourself Workshops to train you & your staff, to Everything-Done-For-You solutions.
Get in touch with us to figure out what you need!
Wise words! 100% agree!