How to Get Your Digital Marketing Off to a Fast Start in 2020
Ilia Jones | February 2020
Digital marketing is a necessity in 2020. Whether you’ve been online since the start of the internet or if you’re a novice to the digital marketing world, now is a great time to make sure your online marketing strategy is doing its job and you’re getting the most out of the age of the internet in 2020.
Every year, we hear from business owners and executives who plan to finally get ahead with search engine optimization, social media marketing, email, and other strategies. What they find, all too often, is that the everyday demands of running their companies get in the way. Before long, their enthusiasm fades under the weight of deadlines and pressing responsibilities. I think we can all relate. Other things take priority and once again, your digital marketing initiatives take a back seat.
Well, not this time! Let 2020 be the year you turn things around.
We want to give you a simple three-step process you can follow to not only get your online marketing campaigns off to a fast start in 2020 but to keep them moving forward profitably for years to come.
Set Goals You Actually Intend to Achieve in 2020
Often, business owners set “goals” that are more like dreams or wishes. They aren’t specific, realistic, or SMART. This is a bad start. Goals will drive your tactics and your overall strategy, so take time creating specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely goals.
When setting goals, think in terms of measurable targets you want to reach with your website and online marketing plan in the coming year. If you aren’t sure whether you can reach them or not, speak with a creative team you can trust to get the answers. Either way, it’s important to get started on the right foot if you’re going to make this your best year ever.
Turn Your Yearly Goals into Daily and Weekly “To Do” Items
Here at ArcStone, we love a to-do list. Even more, we love checking those to-dos off that list.
Having firm online marketing goals is a good start, but it isn’t enough to carry you to the finish line. In order to translate those plans into action, you have to decide how much work there is to be done, and you have to keep track of that work and make sure it’s realistic for your time frame.
Take each of your major targets and assign them some level of activity. Think about what you need in terms of blog posts, ad spending, website improvements, or other metrics. Then figure out who will own those items and how much time it will take to get them done. Do not forget to assign a deadline to each item. This is the only sure-fire way to keep your content items on track.
If you’re like most of the business owners we work with, you probably end up with a list of items that need to be accomplished right away, along with other tasks that have to be performed on a daily or weekly basis. Now you have the ingredients of a successful plan.
Schedule, Assign or Outsource Your Campaign
This seems to be one of the most time-consuming and often difficult tasks to tackle for clients. But it’s also the most important. Take the time to plan out your year in detail. Who will perform all of this work that needs to be done, and when?
If you or your team are going to be handling things like content creation and analytics reviews in-house, then go ahead and schedule the time on your calendars. Don’t put off finding the time and making tough decisions now, because you will be unlikely to come back to it once your business is moving in full swing. As you begin to plan, keep your goals in mind.
And finally, remember that you don’t have to handle every aspect of your online marketing plan on your own. Outside vendors – like the creative professionals we employ – can often handle some parts of the job faster, cheaper, and more professionally than you or your team can on your own.
Want to Smash the Competition in 2020?
At ArcStone, we are sometimes referred to as a web design company or creative agency. What we really do best, though, is help our clients to get busier, happier, and more profitable. If that’s the kind of service you’re looking for from a vendor, then we want to hear from you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and see how we can help!
