[vc_row full_screen_section_height=”no”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Online marketing looks easy, doesn’t it? With a website and blog all set up, social media accounts that are live and active, anyone would think that this would be enough.
Wrong.
If doing all of this and despite your efforts, no one seems to be taking any notice of your business you might feel your frustrations rising, sales aren’t quite what you had hoped for, and you don’t know which way to move forward.
Sound familiar?
Why online marketing is crucial for your business
Online marketing is one of the most cost-effective ways to get the word out about your business. And on the off chance that one of your marketing campaigns goes viral, it will pay itself off in dividends. So don’t lose heart – your time and money spent on your campaigns may not benefit you today or even tomorrow, but stick with it.
The slow-burn approach will make the most impact on your readership and is better than a quick spark which is often forgotten shortly after.
Where to start
We’ve all been there. Comments seem to be ignored on social media, and no one is even reading your blog post, let alone browsing your website.
So what can you do about it?
The first thing you can do is plan, plan and then plan some more. Planning is at the centre of any quality marketing activity. While you can take advantage of last-minute marketing ideas, the ones which work the best are the ones that you have thought out in advance.
Failure to plan leads to an inconsistency in ideas, a waste of resources and a sharing of information which is just not relevant to your readers.
Ask yourself these questions.
- Which social media outlets will you be using?
- How often will you be posting?
- When is the best time to share the information?
Having a clear direction in mind will help you set your marketing schedule and stick to it. The more comprehensive your strategy, the better the results.
Who is your target audience?
Do you really know and understand who your market is? A deep dive into defining your ideal customer will ensure you are providing content relevant to them. Pretty kitties are cute and all, but they won’t do much to enhance the reputation of your business.
What content will you share?
Once you know who your ideal audience is, and the content they wish to see, you can start to plan your online strategy. It should always be about your followers, expressly designed with their needs and wants in mind. So what are your options?
Mix up your content to keep it exciting and engaging. Some ideas to think about include:
- Providing helpful tips
- Showcasing breaking news
- Offering opinion pieces
- Sharing of older blog posts
- Allowing guest posts
- Highlighting FAQs
- Running a series of connected posts
- Delivering industry predictions
- Acknowledging fan comments and information
- Asking questions
- Posting video’s and podcasts
Unique ideas will have your readers coming back for more. Keep it fresh, educational and entertaining.
Are your results measurable?
As with all marketing projects, find a way to measure the results.
- Was there an increase in views or sales during this period?
- Did more people sign up to your social media accounts?
Use whatever online tools you can find to measure the success and sustainability of your efforts.
Online marketing plays a vital role in the success of your organisation and should be an integral part of your overall marketing plan but connecting on a more personal basis is more important than ever. If you need help with developing a strategy and bringing all your efforts together get in touch.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]