One of the best ways to grow your business is with a strong digital marketing strategy.
Unfortunately, however, not everyone knows how to create one.
In order to implement a successful digital marketing strategy, you’ll first need to define what success looks like for you.
What is success?
Surprisingly enough, defining success is the first point of failure for many business owners. Oftentimes, they feel like they can skip this step. But how can you achieve success if you don’t know what it looks like?
There are quite a few metrics used to define marketing success, but the most frequently used measurement is return on investment (ROI).
ROI is used to measure how much money your digital marketing strategy brought in versus how much money you spent to accomplish those goals.
The higher the ROI, the better. A negative ROI should be the red flag that makes you change your strategy.
Depending on your goal, ROI might not be the best way to measure your success. Sometimes, defining success is as simple as reaching a numerical goal of X new followers or shares.
Where do many business owners drop the ball?
Skipping the first step isn’t the only ingredient in a failed marketing strategy. There are several other potential factors involved, including:
1. Low budget
You truly get what you pay for in the marketing world. Think of your marketing strategy as the car that drives your business to success. If you buy a cheap car, you won’t get very far. But if you invest wisely, you’ll be able to get exactly where you want to be. Chances are, if your competition is doing better than you, it’s because they have a bigger marketing budget.
2. Refusal to change
When the world changes, it’s only natural for your marketing strategy to change alongside it. If it doesn’t, you’ll be left behind. One of the best examples of this can be seen in 2020, when the world shifted into lockdown. Businesses that did not adapt their marketing strategies to suit the current events failed, and those who appropriately adjusted their strategies are still here today.
3. Outdated marketing tactics
Buying spammy backlinks and random email lists are just a couple of the many outdated marketing tactics that can actually get you in real trouble these days. While these methods used to be a great way to boost your domain authority in the short term, Google has caught on and is now punishing these sites.
These outdated marketing tactics are not worth it. They won’t get you long-term results and may even get you banned from email marketing platforms like Drip or Mailchimp. Not only that, but your reputation will be tainted, and Google may decrease your ranking if they catch you in the act.
4. Attempting to DIY marketing
Internal marketing is possible, but it’s not always the best option. Oftentimes, working with an external marketing team is the best way to execute a successful strategy. This will allow the experts to take on your marketing while your staff remains focused on what they know best–your products and services.
5. Mismatched branding
Your brand should be at the center of your marketing focus. It must be presented the same way across all social media channels and mediums, from color and logo to core values and tone. Mismatched branding will result in a confused audience with a decreased trust in you.
Creating a successful digital marketing strategy doesn’t have to be so complicated. When you sign up for a free 45-minute strategy session with Bizzuka, we’ll help you discover why your current marketing strategy is failing and how to fix it. Check out our blog for more tips on marketing and SEO.