If it's technology based, it's evolving rapidly.

Digital marketing strategies are no different.

From the early days of cold emails and list buying to web directory ads, digital marketing has come a long way.

With the dawn of virtual reality and now A.I., businesses are finding more unique and creative ways to get in front of their audiences.

And yet, some fundamentals remain unchanged and still deliver some of the best results.

In this article, you'll discover 9 of the best digital marketing strategies for modern businesses.

What Is A Digital Marketing Strategy?

A digital marketing strategy is like your game plan for reaching and engaging your potential customers online.

It outlines the digital channels and tools you'll use, such as social media platforms, email marketing, SEO, and content marketing. 

The idea is to have a clear plan that guides your online marketing efforts, helping you to achieve your business goals, be it boosting sales, increasing website traffic, or building brand awareness. 

A well-thought-out digital marketing strategy helps you to allocate your resources wisely, measure your campaign's success, and adjust your tactics as needed to get the best results.

It's all about reaching the right people, at the right time, with the right message, through the right digital channels to ultimately influence their buying decision.

Marketing Strategy vs. Marketing Tactics

Alright, let’s break it down.

A marketing strategy is your big picture, the overarching plan you have to reach your business goals.

You can call it a roadmap, a blueprint or an action plan. Whatever you call it, it’s the documented steps of the things you will do to market your brand over time. 

On the other hand, marketing tactics are the steps you take along that road. They’re the actions you'll undertake to follow your strategy.

So, for instance, if your strategy is specifically to build brand awareness, your tactics might include creating engaging social media posts, collaborating with influencers, or launching a content marketing campaign. 

If your strategy is broader, it might include a plan for building brand awareness as well as a plan for generating traffic, leads and conversions, each with their own set of tactics.

In other words, your strategy is your end-to-end route , and your tactics are the individual turns you take to get there.

Audience and Channel Alignment

Yes, its critical  that your message resonates with your target audience. 

But, it's not just about crafting a compelling message; it's also about choosing the right digital channels to deliver that message. 

Different digital channels attract different types of audiences. 

For instance, Instagram and TikTok may appeal to a younger crowd, while LinkedIn and Facebook might reach a more professional or older audience. 

So, do your research, understand where your target audience hangs out online, and align your digital marketing efforts accordingly.

When your message and the channels are in sync, your digital marketing campaigns are more likely to hit the mark. 

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO is like your ticket to the online visibility party. 

It gives you the opportunity to put a front door to your world on Googles high traffic search engines.

When done well, it helps your website rank higher in search engine results when someone looks up keywords related to your business. 

This can lead to more people visiting your website, and eventually, more customers walking through your door (virtually or literally).

It’s about making sure that when people search for what you offer, your business shows up.

Content Marketing

Why use content marketing?

Content marketing is about providing value, plain and simple. 

It’s about creating and sharing useful content that helps your audience solve their problems or answer their questions. 

If your content answers an important question for your client in an engaging, valuable, entertaining or compelling way, it’s highly valuable to them. 

Creating content like this, help you build trust and a positive relationship with your audience, encouraging them to come back for more. 

Over time, this trust can translate into customer loyalty and increased sales and trust is the number one ingredient for a successful brand.

Video Marketing: Engaging the Visual Audience

Videos help to bring your content to life and act as an important opportunity to inject personality into your brand.

Videos are incredibly effective in delivering messages in an engaging and memorable way. 

They can explain complex topics in a digestible manner, showcase your products in action, or simply entertain while promoting your brand. 

The bonus? They're easily shareable across digital platforms, extending your brand’s reach.

Tips For Creating Compelling Video Content

Keep it real and relatable. 

Whether it’s a tutorial, product showcase, or a fun behind-the-scenes glimpse, your video content should resonate with your audience. 

You don’t have to be a comedian, but injecting some quirks, humour or personality into your videos goes a long way.

Remember, the beauty of video is its ability to humanize your brand, to show the faces and stories behind the business.

Why Use Video Marketing?

Video marketing is like having a conversation with your audience without being in the same room. 

It's engaging, memorable, and can be incredibly persuasive.

Plus, platforms like YouTube and TikTok are booming, offering a vast audience ready to consume video content.

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Social Media Marketing (& Community Building)

TikTok: The Rising Star of Social Media Marketing

TikTok is not just for quirky dances anymore. 

It’s a playground for creativity and authenticity, making it a fresh platform for brand promotion.

With its algorithm favoring engaging content, it's an avenue to showcase your brand in a fun, authentic light.

Overview of TikTok's Growth and Potential

With a user base crossing the 1 billion mark, TikTok has morphed into a social media giant since its inception in 2016. 

It’s like the new kid on the block that everyone wants to hang out with. 

Its user-friendly interface and the virality-centric algorithm offer a ripe platform for digital marketers and for clever, creative digital marketing campaigns.

With platforms like Facebook stemming organic reach in favour of ads, newer platforms like TikTok are a refreshing organic outreach tool.

Strategies for Brand Building on TikTok

Stay true to your brand, but don’t shy away from hopping on trends and using humor. 

Keep it digestible and entertaining while you get your message across and leave your audience wanting more.

Use hashtags effectively to increase discoverability, and consider collaborating with TikTok influencers to expand your reach. 

It's about blending in while standing out.

Email Marketing & Advanced Automation

Why Use Email Marketing?

Without doubt, email marketing and automation is my favourite marketing tool.It’s like having a direct line to your customers where you get to share a little more than you do in other channels. It’s personal, direct, and when done right, can drive significant results. 

By automating your emails, you can send personalized messages to the right people at the right time, without having to do it manually. 

It’s like having a virtual assistant who knows just what to say to encourage your customers to take action.

Voice Search Optimization: The Future of Search

Voice search is not science fiction; it’s here and growing fast. 

With the rise of voice-activated assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant, more and more people are searching for answers to their questions  using their voice. 

It’s the convenience of just asking a question out loud rather than typing it out.

Strategies for Optimizing Content for Voice Search

Focus on natural language and long-tail keywords. 

People speak differently than they type, so your content should reflect that. 

Make sure to answer common questions clearly and concisely, as voice search is often used to ask specific questions.

Why Use Voice Search Optimization?

It’s about staying ahead of the curve. 

As voice search becomes more popular, optimizing for it will help ensure that your brand doesn’t get left behind when it comes to online discoverability.

The questions people ask about a certain topic follow similar patterns. The more your brand shows up with the answer to their question, the more awareness your brand earns.

Pay-per-click (PPC) Advertising

PPC stands for pay-per-click which is as simple and straightforward as it sounds. You place ads on ad platforms such as Google Adwords, and when a prospect clicks on your ad, you pay the platform.

It's a direct way to buy visits to your site, rather than earning them organically and often, these visitors are highly targeted and ready, or nearly ready to buy.

This can be a quick method to get your brand in front of people who are actively searching for what you offer.

Influencer Marketing: Harnessing Authentic Voices

The Impact of Influencer Marketing on Brand Building

Influencer marketing is about collaborating with individuals who have a significant following and credibility within a certain community. 

When these influencers endorse or mention your products, it can lead to increased brand awareness and trust among their followers.

The alignment of your brand with influencers of your target audience also comes with the benefit of trust by association. If the influencer of your audience trusts you, then often you have some of their trust by default. 

How to Choose the Right Influencers for Your Brand

It's crucial to collaborate with influencers whose followers match your target audience.

Look for influencers who share your values, have good engagement rates, and are open to co-creating content that resonates with their audience while promoting your brand.

Augmented Reality (AR) in Digital Marketing

AR offers a unique way to engage customers by providing interactive and immersive experiences. 

Although this is still a very new channel for marketers, the novelty has created a great opportunity for early adopters and because of the novelty, there’s huge scope for innovation and creativity.

AR is  an innovative tool that can enhance the way customers interact with your brand, whether it’s through virtual try-ons or interactive 3D ads.

Personalization: Tailoring User Experiences

Personalization in digital marketing involves creating customized experiences for individuals or segments of your audience. 

Coke’s “Share-a-Coke” campaign is one of the most memorable personalisation campaigns, but personalisation doesn’t need to be at scale. 

Take the time to make your messages more relevant to specific people or groups and you’re on your way.

By using data to understand your audience’s preferences and behaviors, you can tailor your marketing messages, offers, and content to meet their specific needs and interests.

Interactive Content: Engaging the Audience Actively

Interactive content like quizzes, polls, or highly engaging videos encourages active participation from your audience. 

It's not just about conveying a message; it's about creating a two-way dialogue and providing value in a dynamic, engaging way.

It adds an extra layer of substance to your brand experience which enhances client relationships.

Account-Based Marketing (ABM): Personalized B2B Strategies

ABM is a highly focused business marketing strategy in which a marketing team treats an individual prospect or customer like its very own market. 

It’s gaining traction among digital marketing approaches  within B2B services for better targeting and personalized communication.

If you service medium to large businesses, ABM could be a strategy that could work for your brand. 

Over To You

Navigating the digital marketing landscape can feel like a complex puzzle. 

Some pieces will fit in places where others won’t and every single market and business is different.

However, with a solid strategy and a clear understanding of your audience and goals, you can effectively use digital tools and channels to reach and engage your target customers. 

The key is to stay informed about the latest trends, be willing to adapt, and keep your audience at the center of your decision and your digital marketing strategies.

FAQs

1. How do I choose the right digital marketing strategy for my business?

Identify your business goals, understand your target audience, and choose the digital marketing tools and strategies that align with these factors. It might require some testing and analysis to find what works best.

2. How do I measure the success of a digital marketing campaign?

Use analytics tools to track performance metrics like website traffic, engagement rates, conversion rates, and return on investment (ROI).

3. Is social media marketing necessary for every business?

Follow reputable digital marketing blogs, get effective digital marketing strategy, subscribe to industry newsletters, and join digital marketing communities or forums to check some of examples of digital marketing

4. How do I stay updated with the latest digital marketing trends?

A brand can maintain its relevance by being customer-centric, focusing on experience, differentiating, and consistently innovating and engaging with its audience.

5. What is the importance of SEO in digital marketing campaign?

SEO helps improve search results and your website’s visibility on search engines, which can lead to more organic traffic and potentially increased sales and brand recognition.

6. How often should I update my digital marketing strategy?

It's advisable to review and possibly update your digital marketing strategy at least annually, or whenever there are significant changes in your business goals, target audience, or the digital marketing landscape.

7. Is having a blog still relevant for digital marketing?

Yes, having a blog is still relevant as it can help improve SEO, provide valuable content to your audience, and position your brand as an industry leader.

8. How important is mobile optimization for digital marketing?

Mobile optimization is crucial as a significant amount of web traffic comes from mobile devices. Ensuring your website and digital content are mobile-friendly enhances user experience and can improve search engine rankings.