Are you struggling to get the most out of online marketing efforts? Do some of your tactics feel like they’ve run their course? And finally, are you ready to make 2021 a game-changer year for your business? If you answered yes to those questions, there’s good news. You are obviously at a decision point in the life of your company. Maybe things have been good up to now, but diminishing returns have begun to set in. Change tactics as the new year approaches and attempt to pump fresh blood into your company’s veins. Here are six tactics that, together or separately, can rev up profits, attitudes, and the customer base. They’re easy to remember, too, because each one is known by a single word.
Variety
Variety is listed first for a reason. It’s more of a general philosophy than anything else, but it’s possible to apply it directly to your firm’s online marketing and sales campaigns. For instance, if your go-to technique for the past five years has been pay per click ads, consider adding at least two new methods to the mix. Don’t get rid of PPC; enhance it with strategies like intent SEO, banner ads, video, and more.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
SEO is the centerpiece of many a content campaign because it’s effective. Fine tune your SEO tactics by taking user intention into account. For example, instead of a typical SEO keyword that is the name of your product (like “custom-made knife sheaths”), put yourself into the mind of a potential buyer and try, “buy custom-made knife sheaths,” or “research custom-made knife sheaths.” You can schedule your consultation today to help implement intent SEO to a higher, more refined level. For business owners who want to outrank their competitors and boost revenue without spending a dollar more, using SEO strategies based on user intent is the way to go.
Optimization
If you’re not optimizing your website for mobile devices, get busy. The online marketplace is changing rapidly, and that means more transactions are taking place on the go, from buyers’ phones, laptops, watches, tablets, and vehicle-based devices. There’s no reason to leave money on the table, but that’s what happens when a potential customer runs into a snag with your main site, shopping cart, or payment portal that’s not optimized for mobile.
Video
Digital marketing gurus love to point out that content is king, but for the 2020’s, video content is the king of kings. If you want to see for yourself, do a test run of a single video advertisement. Most entrepreneurs are shocked at the response they get, having wallowed in content-only strategies for years. Up front, creating video pieces costs a bit more, but the return on investment far outpaces written content in almost every case. But if you decide to produce visual marketing pieces, don’t skimp and try to make them yourself. Hire an expert freelancer or company that specialized in making slick, short, high-quality marketing clips. Check references and view portfolios before choosing who to work with. There’s nothing more powerful than a top-notch video ad. And there’s nothing worse than a poorly made one.
Research
The very word, research sounds dull and old-fashioned. It’s anything but. In the era of online selling, it refers to what government folks call counter-intelligence. That’s a nice way of saying subscribe to your competitors’ sales pages, giveaway programs, and e-newsletters. Modern-day research is about studying your business rivals, legally of course, in order to anticipate their moves and learn from their missteps.
Data
Real estate pros love to remind people about the importance of location, location, location. For online sellers, that advice could be changed to data, data, data. No matter what channels you use, there are tons of data available about what works, what doesn’t, what customers want, where buyers come from, and more. Spend at least an hour or two each week digging into the information at hand. The more you know about your prospective clients and their desires, the more successful you’ll be.