A year ago, I already decided to get really started with marketing for my company. But the year passed by so fast I didn’t really get to it. In order for my business not to be left behind in the game, I need to get my marketing sorted out in 2019. Since January is already done, how should I start digital marketing in 2019? And how do I get most out of my limited budget and efforts?
We hear this from most of our clients very often, so let’s take a look at what you can really do to get your marketing perform in 2019.
1. Assess your current situation
In digital marketing, like other aspects of business, you can achieve best results with thorough planning. Furthermore, your plan can be only solid if you know your current situation and competition well enough. Situational analysis isn’t always the most exciting thing to do, however, it’s instrumental to achieve splendid results. Think about which marketing elements you already have and how they have performed. Also reflect which marketing channels you believe the most and where your company could succeed the most. Additionally, think about what marketing expertise and resources you already have available in your company today.
The second step is to look at some other companies. You should definitely see what your competitors are doing for marketing. It’s also recommended to learn from other companies who might not be your direct competitors or even in your industry, but who do digital marketing well. Above all, don’t try to reinvent the wheel but learn by example and gather as many relevant marketing ideas as possible. Set goals and budget
2. Set goals and budget for digital marketing in 2019
When you know your current situation and competition, it’s time to set goals and a budget for digital marketing in 2019. Ask yourself what you would like your company to achieve within 1-2 years. After that, anticipate where your industry is going and what’s required to stay competitive. Don’t only try to be as good as your competition but aim at surpassing them in the future. Reflect if that’s achievable and what it would take for you to get there.
List realistic, yet achievable and actionable goals. Set goals for the entire year and break them down to monthlies too. When you know what you’re going to achieve, set a budget for digital marketing for 2019. You don’t necessarily need a large marketing budget, but it’s a good idea to set a rough budget at this stage.
3. Optimise your marketing channels
Make sure you have a professional company website and you’re present in the most important social media channels. If you don’t have a website yet, do it first, since it might be tough to run a business successfully without a website. Similarly, if your website has been untouched for a year, optimise it for content and conversion. Make sure you have business accounts at least on Google my business and Facebook. You can also expand to additional social channels, e.g. LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, depending on the type of business and industry. But remember to establish your company in the most optimal social channel first before expanding to others.
4. Drive traffic to your website
When your website and social channels are optimised, it’s time to drive traffic to your website. First, ensure all technical components on your website are optimised for search engines like Google. Second, create an effective content plan and write about topics that are important to your business and prospective clients. Add new content to your website and/or blog regularly. Additionally, test Google Ad Words to drive paid traffic to your website for quicker results. Concentrate on the most potential keywords in paid traffic to control cost and get the highest quality traffic and leads. In conclusion, quality is a lot better in marketing than quantity to achieve success in digital marketing in 2019.
5. Communicate with your audience
Understand who your audience is and communicate with them on a regular basis. You can communicate with them through your blog, social media channels, email, or even via online apps. In addition, ask your audience for feedback about your products and services. Participate in discussions around topics related to your business. Similarly, handle any negative feedback about your company promptly and professionally.
Tie your client communication to your content plan. Create consistency and continuity. Make it very easy for your audience to engage with you. Remove any barriers there might be, even the slightest ones. Formulate an effective mailing strategy, since most people still say email is their preferred communication method.
6. Create an action plan for digital marketing in 2019 and follow up
If you really want to get your marketing – or anything else in business – going, you need to make a solid action plan. Also, you need to assign a due date for each action item and follow up regarding them very closely. Of course, delays can sometimes happen, so your plan needs to be somewhat flexible too. But unless you have a decent plan with timelines and adequate follow-up, most people won’t actually end up executing it. As a result, your marketing won’t improve in 2019 either and your business might suffer more.
Set goals and tie them into your marketing plan. Actively measure your progress as well as achievements and take necessary actions to adjust on time. At the end, your business needs to sell but remember not only focus on short-term revenue. In the beginning you’ll need to build your brand and marketing in order to generate successful and wealth long term as well.
7. Hire marketing help for quicker results
Start your marketing and do as much as possible by yourself. If you don’t get things going as fast as you’d expected, hire a good marketing specialist to help you out. Above all, you can get an expert to finalise your marketing plan, follow up with it, and help you with the most difficult or cumbersome tasks. However, it’s highly recommended to hire a company with enough expertise in the areas you need help with, so you don’t need to pay several companies to do bits and pieces. Similarly, it’s also highly recommended to hire a local company who knows your market really well.
Marketigation is a local digital marketing expert. Above all, we’ve helped SMEs frame their marketing plan and successfully execute it over the past 10+ years. Don’t wait and miss another year of success! Book your free marketing assessment today or contact us for more information about our marketing services.