Digital Strategist: Important Questions to Ask Before Selecting One
Are you unsure about how to approach a digital marketing strategy? With all of the social media websites and other online platforms available today, it can be confusing and difficult to know how to draw up an effective online marketing strategy. Below are some questions you need to answer before you select a digital strategist.
When it comes to any marketing, SEO, and advertising activities, the cost involved is usually at the top of the list of concerns for businesses and other organizations.
From the start, you should ensure that your budget is not wasted on meaningless tasks, tools, and equipment.
If possible, sit down with someone who has gone through the same process and identifies the aspects of it that you should be aware of and what each aspect of your campaign will cost.
Once you have these figures, you will be in a much better position to budget and start your marketing or wait until you are in a better position to do so.
Digital strategist … Who Will Do the Work?
You have to decide if you will do this work in-house or hire other digital marketing professionals.
In many cases, businesses have to begin by investing in their website and need to carry out Search Engine Optimization (SEO) activities that will attract more shoppers and potential customers through the search engines.
If you don’t have the resources available, companies like KC Web Specialists provide this kind of service and will optimize your website’s content and will also complete other SEO tasks that increase the visibility of your website online.
If you decide to take matters into your hands, you need the proper tools to do this kind of work.
For example, in most instances, you need planning software, keyword research software, automation systems and analytics tools. Once you have these valuable tools, you will be in a much better position to make the right decisions and work a lot faster.
How Much Time Is Involved?
Digital marketing campaigns and strategies take a long time to plan and implement. Once they are set up, you have to continually tweak and modify these campaigns and strategies.
It’s vital to understand just how much time you need to set aside for this work.
Once you do know what’s involved, you can schedule a chance to do this work and hire additional resources if needed.
What Platforms Should I Consider?
Today’s business owners and online marketers have a broad range of choices. The platforms you use to market and advertise your business will often determine how successful your digital marketing campaigns are, so you should choose wisely.
For instance, if you want to develop a new business website, a reliable Content Management System like WordPress may be a good option, whereas Magento might be better for e-commerce stores.
When it comes to creating a digital marketing strategy, it’s vital to prepare properly and ask each of the questions mentioned above.
Once you do this, you will get a greater understanding of what’s involved, and you will approach your online marketing and adverting activities in a more informed and professional way.
Prioritize voice of customer digital strategy
The voice of the customer has always been one of the most powerful concepts in marketing.
And today’s social media platforms act as one giant megaphone for that voice.
With topics like ad fraud and ad blocking on the rise, we’re about to see an influx of investment into digital influencer marketing.
Why?
Influencer content cannot be blocked, external influencers are being created every day, and the best way to gain customer trust is by aligning with somebody they already trust.
Learn More About Influencer Marketing
What exactly is digital influencer marketing?
According to Forbes, “Influencer marketing is a form of marketing that identifies and targets individuals with influence over potential buyers.”
Basically, influencer marketing is about providing product context and expertise through an inspirational person.
And it’s creating a huge return for businesses too.
According to Thompson, on average, businesses generate $6.50 in revenue for each $1 invested in influencer marketing. 70% of influencer marketing campaigns made $2 or more for every $1 invested, and 13% make $20 or more.
Learn How To 10x Your Business With Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing is revolutionizing our industry (and most don’t do it effectively). People want to listen to another human, not a corporate puppet.
Scott Cook, the founder and CEO of Intuit, said it best, “A brand is no longer what we tell the consumer it is – it is what consumers tell each other it is.”
He’s hit the nail on the head and the numbers show it. Influencers hold the power and it’ll be our job to cater to them.
The bottom line
To be effective in this new era, marketers need to see their jobs differently. No more just focusing on metrics like clicks, video views or social media shares.
They must successfully integrate their function with other business functions to create entire brand experiences that serve the customer all the way through their experiences throughout the business.
They can do better. Much better. But first, they need to stop seeing themselves as crafters of clever brand messages and become creators of positive brand experiences.
There can never be enough focus on continuous improvement in brand marketing, independent of how well the business is doing. It seems we all are looking to take our success to a new level.
This is an excellent time to make a statement about their brand marketing. Changing before you have to is always a good idea.
Need some help in capturing more customers from your marketing strategies? Creative ideas to help the differentiation with potential customers?
Call today for a FREE consultation or a FREE quote. Learn about some options to scope your job.
Call Mike at 607-725-8240.
All you get is what you bring to the fight. And that fight gets better every day you learn and apply new ideas.
When things are not what you want them to be, what’s most important is your next step. Call today.
Test. Learn. Improve. Repeat.
Are you devoting enough energy to improving your marketing, branding, and advertising?
Do you have a lesson about making your marketing strategy better you can share with this community? Have any questions or comments to add in the section below?
Mike Schoultz is the founder of Digital Spark Marketing, a digital marketing and customer service agency. With 40 years of business experience, he writes about topics to help improve the performance of small business. Find him on G+, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Digital Spark Marketing will stretch your thinking and your ability to adapt to change. We also provide some fun and inspiration along the way. Call us for a free quote today. You will be amazed at how reasonable we will be.
More reading on marketing strategy from Digital Spark Marketing’s Library:
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