It’s no secret that more marketing takes place on digital platforms than anywhere else. So, how do you maximise your marketing spend and take your business to the next level? Here are five digital marketing tips you can use to enhance your online presence.
Focus on the customer experience
User experience is always a big focus, and rightly so. But what is it? User experience starts from the moment a potential customer searches for your business on Google, connects with you via social media or contacts you in any way. Your goal is to make it as easy as possible for potential customers to access the information they need or to purchase your products or services.
Some examples of this include chatbots on your website to help with customer queries or even simply having a clean website design that’s easy to navigate. Let’s consider an example of a good customer experience for an e-commerce business.
A customer searches on Google for camping supplies. You’ll rank well on that search query if your SEO is in good order. Upon clicking the search result, the landing page your customer arrives on is clear, easy to read, and gives them all the information they need. Your website menu should be easy to navigate, so even if the customer wants a specific product, they should be able to find it with one click or search.
Once they hit the product page (which should be your landing page for more specific product-related search queries), the checkout process is straightforward, and the customer also receives related product suggestions. This is an excellent customer experience because everything is easy. Anything different than this, such as a slow-loading website or complex website navigation, will send the user straight back to the Google search page to find an easier company to deal with.
Quality video content
If you look at any list of top digital marketing tips for the last few years, video content will be part of it. People love video content, and it’s a great way to connect with your audience on a different level. Firstly, video content is excellent for SEO, so it should form a significant part of your website design.
Beyond that, though, video content is used across several platforms. Social media channels such as X, Facebook, Tik Tok and Instagram are all heavily based on users watching videos, even if they’re only 30 seconds long.
From funny clips that give insight into your business to finely tuned marketing or ‘how-to’ videos, it’s smart to bring plenty of video content into your marketing strategy. The great thing is, with so many platforms to publish video content on, your videos don’t need to be perfect every time or cost a lot of money. Sometimes it’s just about giving your audience a glimpse inside your business in order to form a connection.
Using artificial intelligence
It seems like 2023 was the year that artificial intelligence (AI) blew up in popularity. The rise of programs like ChatGPT has thrust AI into the global spotlight, with more people accessing and using the technology. However, AI has been around for a long time in various forms. Product recommendations, ‘buyers also purchased’, and image recognition software like Google Lens all operate with some level of AI.
The list of uses for AI is almost endless, so we won’t address them all. However, it’s fair to say that from a marketing point of view, AI has the capability to improve accuracy while saving time and resources. From selecting the best-paid advertising copy to answering customer queries with an AI chatbot, there are multiple ways to take advantage of this technology in your business.
New technology like AI can make some people feel uncomfortable, but the fact is, it’s here to stay, and businesses need to adapt quickly or risk getting left behind.
Optimising for voice search
Let’s say you’re typing a search query into Google on your smartphone. You’re likely to use fewer words because it’s easier, right? So, your search might be: ‘school shoes near me’. However, without the need for typing, voice searches are typically longer because you speak more naturally. For example, you might ask your smart home assistant: ‘Find me a budget shoe store near me that sells school shoes’.
As you can see, the search query is a lot longer. But voice search doesn’t necessarily work differently from a normal typed search – the only difference is how you input the information. As a result, we expect to see an increased need to use long-tail keywords when optimising for SEO. The search volume for longer searches may not look appealing now, but getting ahead of the game is never a bad idea.
A comprehensive and varied marketing strategy
Finally, the best advice we can give for 2023 and all future years is to have a varied marketing strategy. There are so many ways to promote your business online these days, which gives you a great opportunity to build brand recognition. Keep consistent messaging and advertising materials across all platforms, such as social media, YouTube, your own website, and paid ads. In addition, ensure you invest in quality SEO.
Remember, every business is different, so you may need a different marketing strategy than your competitors. You might also need some trial and error to see where you get the most value for money from your marketing efforts. But overall, keeping it varied gives you more opportunities to find your ideal audience.
If you’d like help developing a tailored, effective digital marketing strategy to boost your online presence, contact RealClicks today.