Digital marketing has become the dominant form of advertising, accounting for over 56% of marketing spending since 2022. From search engine optimization to social media posting, you have a lot of options for getting your business out there– but you need to know what you’re doing. Otherwise, you can burn through your marketing budget quickly.
An effective digital marketing strategy is essential for all businesses, including retail and online stores, to maximize your marketing budget and grow your business. Here’s how you can market as efficiently as possible online.
While it’s hard to tell exactly what kind of digital marketing is best for your business, there are some universal strategies that can make any marketing channel more effective.
Here are three strategies you need to implement if you want to make the most of your digital marketing spending.
Your website is the backbone of your digital marketing strategy. In most cases, online ads or social media posts you make will lead back to your site, which means you need to be sure your site is equipped to turn those clicks into customers. Otherwise, you’re just wasting marketing money.
First, make sure your site is working correctly, can be easily navigated, and is secure. If an unsecured connection notification greets customers or they can’t figure out how to explore your site, your bounce rates will skyrocket as your marketing budget plummets.
Next, implement conversion rate optimization (CRO) strategies to help keep leads on your site and moving toward a purchase. You should create clear calls to action that tell leads what to do next so they don’t sit on your homepage or landing page without interacting with content. Mobile responsiveness is also crucial to take advantage of the 60% of sales that come from mobile customers.
Finally, customize your checkout to ensure you’re able to push leads across the finish line. If you’re using Shopify, consider a one-page checkout to increase conversations. You should also customize your checkout with social proof and FAQs to give customers peace of mind before they complete their purchases.
Marketing isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. Leads don’t want to receive vague, uninteresting marketing texts or emails clearly trying to sell them something. They want you to acknowledge their needs and solve their problems.
Targeting your marketing allows you to write content that engages the recipient more effectively. You can use personal contact information or the products they’ve shown interest in to segment them so you can send a message tailored to them.
For example, if you sell baby supplies, you may separate your mailing list by gender to help target new moms or dads with specific messaging.
One reason digital marketing is difficult is the number of options customers have and the access to information at their fingertips. In many cases, someone else sells similar products or offers similar services to you. If you give leads any reason to second-guess their purchase, like looking for better prices, you risk losing a sale.
FOMO, or a fear of missing out, is a powerful tool for online marketing and sales. With it, you can encourage potential customers to take action immediately before it’s too late. Limited-time sales, advertising limited quantities for sale items, and highlighting how many others have made a purchase are all ways you can encourage ad clicks and conversions.
For example, you might open a marketing email with “Only 500 left!” to convince leads to see what all the fuss is about.
Digital marketing can be incredibly effective, but if you want to make the most of your marketing dollars, you need to be an expert in the various marketing channels that are available.
At Watt Media, we can help you build the site you need and create a robust digital marketing strategy that spans from search engine optimization to social media marketing to paid ads.
With our help, you can spend less and achieve more. Get in touch today!