One of the things that Pepper Virtual Assistants look forward to is planning and implementing digital marketing campaigns. We believe that businesses need to embrace the new tech age and include it in their marketing plans to grow their brand.
According to a study by Ascend2, marketers are expecting brand websites to be the most effective channel in 2017. But did you know that 50% of businesses don’t even have a defined digital strategy? Smart Insights report that only 34% have it integrated into their marketing plans!
In our last blog, we talked about how you can create an achievable marketing plan in 2017. Today, we’re looking into the digital channels that you need to include in your strategy. Let’s look at them one by one.
Brand Website
Your website is your most crucial channel. It is where majority of your online traffic goes. Essentially, a brand website is the central hub of information and sales where you have the opportunity to sell your products or services.
For 2017, make it a priority to make your website as user-friendly and efficient as possible. Search engines like Google give high rankings to websites that are compatible for mobile use. Remember that other marketing platforms are meant to act as funnels that lead customers to your website.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Search engine optimization is responsible for the search visibility of your website. After all, what good is a website without SEO? In fact, 31% of survey respondents consider organic search to be one of the most effective channels in a digital marketing plan.
Always use the most relevant keywords to your brand. These act like flags that allow search engines to find what your site has in common with the queries that are sent to them. Use keywords that are simple and conversational. Just think of how you would search for something online! Not only that, make sure that your brand is listed on reliable directories so that you’re easily located by your customers.
Emails
Have you ever heard someone say that emails are dead? We have heard that quite a lot but that is not true! In fact, emails continue to be one of the most reliable marketing channels available.
According to Harris Interactive, about 81% of American online shoppers are more likely to make additional purchases after receiving brand promotional emails. As the number of people who reads emails on mobile increases, it is paramount that businesses adapt their promotional emails and newsletters to be compatible for smaller screens. Email is more alive than ever and we expect it to continue to thrive in today’s digital marketing landscape.
Social Media
Over the last decade, social media rose to be one of the most significant and influential parts of marketing. It quickly became a crucial component in a marketer’s arsenal and has changed the way brands attract and engage with their customers.
It is important that businesses carefully consider the different types of social media channels to include in their digital marketing plans. This will help you determine the kind of content and format you need to create in order to best capture the attention of your target audience. With so many platforms available, there is no need for you to be on every social media site. Instead, build a strong following on the most populated channels to promote your brand.
Video
Did you know that video is predicted play a bigger role in 2017? This is because video not only educates but also creates a unique user experience for customers.
In 2016, digital campaigns proved that video has become a fundamental part of marketing. In fact, as much as four times as many consumers prefer digestible video content over text posts!
Digital marketing has been rapidly gaining traction and it is not slowing down anytime soon. It has become a vital part of marketing campaigns. The best part? Small businesses can leverage it for their businesses with minimal costs!
What other channels do you think should be included in a marketing plan? Share your thoughts with us in the comments! If you’d like to know more about how we can help you with your digital marketing plans, sign up for our free five-hour trial.
Check out the other parts of our Marketing Planning 2017 series:
- How to Create an Achievable Marketing Plan this 2017
- Digital Channels You Need to Include in Your Marketing Plan
- Infographics Fridays: Marketing Planning 2017
Pepper Virtual Assistants is a business solutions firm that specializes in virtual administrative and personal assistance, online marketing, customer support, and copywriting. We are known for reliability through our managed services, responsive client handling backed by extensive training, and rockstar virtual assistants hired for their skills and expertise.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks