Streamline Your Entire Digital Marketing Strategy With Just 6 Simple Steps
Did you know that a successful digital marketing strategy hinges on the ‘6 M’s’?
I recently tuned into an enlightening episode of the Social Media Marketing podcast featuring Michael Stelzner and Jenny Li Fowler, where they explored this framework
Here’s a breakdown tailored for you and your eCommerce business:
- Mission — Define Your Mission, Set Your Goals
What do you want to achieve? Increase online sales, build your brand, or grow email subscribers? Define your mission and set specific, measurable goals to guide your marketing efforts. For example, think beyond social media when setting digital marketing goals for your online store.– Instead of: “I want to increase my Instagram followers.”
– Try: “I want to increase Instagram engagement by 10% and drive 20 more website visits per week through Instagram.”
– Better: “I want to grow my email subscribers by 15% within the next month through targeted lead magnets and email marketing campaigns.”Bonus: Market — Understand Your Audience
Who are you targeting? Get to know your audience inside and out. Conduct market research, analyse customer data, and use social listening tools to understand their needs, interests, and behaviours. It’ll help you create targeted and personalised marketing messages that resonate with your audience.
These five tactics can help you with your market research:
– Customer surveys and feedback forms,
– Social media analytics,
– Google Analytics,
– Keyword research tools, and
– Competitor analysis. - Message — Craft Your Unique Value Proposition (UVP)
What makes your brand stand out? How is it different from your competitors? It’s important to communicate a clear and compelling UVP that resonates with your audience and sets you apart in the crowded digital marketplace. Use storytelling, visuals, and customer testimonials to showcase your brand’s unique qualities.Next, ensure your brand voice resonates with your target audience. For instance, highlight your eco-friendly products if sustainability is your unique selling point. Or, if you offer high-quality products at competitive prices, emphasize that. Make sure your message is consistent across all your marketing channels to build a strong and cohesive brand image.
If you struggle coining your UVP, these tips could help:
– Research your competitors and identify their unique selling points
– Understand what motivates your target audience
– Use emotional triggers to connect with your audience
– Focus on how you can solve a problem or fulfil a desire for your customers.
– Consider speaking to a marketing consultant or conducting focus groups to gather insights and refine your messaging.Remember, your UVP should be clear, concise, and should align with your brand values and purpose.
- Medium — Evaluate Each Platform in Your Marketing Strategy
Once you have a clear mission, message, and target audience, it’s time to evaluate which platforms will help you achieve those goals.Each digital marketing platform has its unique strengths and target demographics.
Some, like Instagram and Pinterest, are more effective for product-based and lifestyle businesses while others, like LinkedIn, may be more suitable for B2B stores.
Before investing time and resources into a particular platform, ask yourself these questions:
– Where does your target audience spend their time online?
– Which platforms align with your brand image and values?
– What type of content performs best on each platform?
– Are there any specific features or tools that could benefit your marketing efforts?Review data from previous campaigns and use analytics tools to discern the platforms that generate the highest traffic, leads, and conversions for your business. Stay vigilant for emerging platforms and digital trends to maintain a competitive edge.
- Management — The Power of Process Management
It’s no secret, efficient processes can greatly impact the success of a business. Implementing a process management system can help streamline work flows, increase productivity, and improve overall efficiency.To begin, identify areas in your business and digital marketing process that can benefit from a more structured approach. It could include content creation, social media scheduling, email marketing, or customer relationship management.
Next, map out each step of the process and pinpoint any bottlenecks or areas that could use a little boost. You might want to think about using project management tools or automation software to make things smoother and cut down on human errors.
Make sure all team members are up to speed and fully onboard with the new processes to keep things consistent and effective. Create easy-to-follow guides for each process and make sure everyone knows the drill. Don’t forget to ask for feedback and keep tweaking and polishing the processes as we go along.
By implementing a strong process management system, your business can operate more smoothly and effectively, allowing for better results in your digital marketing efforts. Plus, it can also help save time and resources in the long run.
- Metrics: Track and Revise Key Metrics.
Analytics and data are crucial in understanding the success of your digital marketing efforts. Make sure to regularly track key metrics such as website traffic, lead generation, social media engagement, and conversion rates.Use this data to identify what’s working and what may need improvement. For example, if a particular social media platform is driving the most website traffic, consider investing more time and resources into that platform.
But don’t be afraid to revise your tactics if certain strategies or platforms are not producing desired results. Use A/B testing or try new approaches to see what resonates best with your target audience.
Let’s say, for example, you’re not seeing the desired conversion rates from your email marketing campaigns. Instead of giving up on email marketing altogether, try experimenting with different subject lines or calls to action to see what resonates best with your audience.
Or if you notice a decrease in website traffic, consider conducting a user experience audit to identify any issues that may be hindering site performance.
- Monitor: Keep an Eye on Mentions, Comments, and Conversations.
Engage with your customers on social media to build a loyal community. Listen to their feedback and respond promptly, showing that you value their opinions. This can also help identify any potential issues or concerns that may arise.Stay on top of industry news and trends by following relevant publications and thought leaders in your field. Attend conferences or networking events to stay connected with the latest developments and get insights from industry experts.
By regularly monitoring and engaging with your audience, you cannot only improve your digital marketing efforts but also build a strong brand reputation and foster customer loyalty.
Through strategic planning, continuous evaluation and improvement, as well as staying informed and engaged with consumers, your business can achieve success in its digital marketing endeavours. So take charge of your processes, track key metrics, and adapt to the ever-evolving digital landscape to reach and connect with your target audience effectively.
By mastering these ‘6 M’s’, you’ll set a strong foundation for your digital marketing strategy.
Need help with your digital marketing strategy? Contact us at info@prettysocial.co.za or give us a call on 079 896 1593 to learn more about how we can help.