Depending on your business, your industry, and the country you are located in, there is an abundance of online marketing channels you could operate from. When it comes to creating effective marketing strategies, it’s imperative to consider the most suitable platform for your brand, products, and audience. With so much competition, it’s vital to understand what makes your website or social media stand out from the crowd.

Personal Branding Is The Key

This year, more and more businesses and brands are recognizing the importance of having a strong personal brand. A strong personal brand provides you with a unique selling point that will distinguish you from competitors. When someone encounters your product or service for the first time, how immediately do they think of you? It’s important to create an image and presence for yourself that is consistent across all platforms.

A personal brand forms the identity of a business or brand, enabling them to represent themselves online. In other words, a personal brand is a business’ or brand’s online identity. When you establish and promote a personal brand, you are in charge of representing yourself and what you offer online. Your brand’s personality and ethos will dictate the type of content you post, the images you use, and the language you employ.

A personal brand can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. You could have a single identity that you promote across all platforms or several identities that you leverage on different platforms. The option is up to you!

Focus On The User Experience

The most effective way to gain traction and engage audiences on social media is through exceptional user experiences. This involves ensuring that everyone who interacts with your content and/or platform has an engaging, positive experience. From the second they log in, to the second they use your product or service, nothing should feel forced or difficult for the user. Creating a delightful experience will enhance your users’ trust in and affection for your brand, product, and website.

You should always be thinking about how you can improve the user experience when developing and implementing an online marketing strategy. Not only will this produce positive results, it will also increase the likelihood that users will engage with your content and continue to use your product or service.

Establishing A Theme

An identity sets the tone and atmosphere for your content, whether you are blogging, podcasting, or vlogging. A theme determines the overall feeling of your content and serves as a unifying factor among your various platforms.

Your theme will guide the overall look and feel of your content, whether in image format or written word. When developing your theme, it’s important to look at elements such as layout, color, and font to create a cohesive and memorable experience for your audience.

Choose A Mobile First Approach

Even though desktop blogging, podcasting, and vlogging are still quite popular, the era of the mobile consumer is upon us. In 2019, consumers spend more time on their smartphones and tablets than on their computers. When creating content for online marketers, take this into consideration as you plan out your strategy.

Depending on your niche, you could run the risk of being out of date and irrelevant if you don’t adjust your strategy to accommodate the mobile consumer. When developing content for mobile users, ensure that your language, imagery, and font are accessible on such smaller screens. Although it’s essential to have a mobile friendly website, create content that is equally as appealing on a tablet or notebook computer.

Blogs Versus Social Media

There are several distinct differences between blogs and social media. While both are considered online marketing platforms, blogs are generally considered to be a type of content marketing, while social media is often deployed as part of a larger marketing strategy.

Firstly, blogs are usually considered to be a form of content marketing. This involves creating and disseminating newsworthy content to draw in and interest readers. Once you’ve established a relevant audience on a blog, you can integrate affiliate marketing seamlessly into your strategy.

As a brand, you could operate a blog to build credibility, establish yourself as an expert in your industry, and engage with potential customers.

When Should You Blog?

It’s a common misconception that you should only blog when you have new content to promote. In reality, you can use a blog to establish yourself as an expert in your industry, provide customers with useful information, and gather feedback from your audience.

The ideal scenario for a blog is when you already have a well-established presence on social media and you are looking for a way to leverage your existing content to attract, engage, and retain new customers. If you are just starting out, consider whether or not you should build a blog from the ground up or use a platform like WordPress.

Why Should You Use Social Media?

Although blogs are a fantastic way to establish and grow a personal brand, it’s important to remember that not everyone is a talented writer. For this reason, in addition to establishing your blog, you could also use social media to attract attention to your brand and encourage potential customers to learn more about you.

The most effective use of social media is when you engage with your audience on a personal level. When someone visits your Facebook page or follows you on Twitter, you have the opportunity to impress, educate, and/or entertain your audience. When using social media to promote your blog, keep your posts visual and short to encourage people to ‘like’ and’share’ your content. Make sure you always provide value and do your best to stay informed of the most popular topics in your industry.

Podcasts Versus YouTube Channels

Another crucial difference between blogs and social media is the fact that one is a type of content and the other is a form of media. As a brand, if you have a YouTube channel, you can integrate Google Ads seamlessly into your strategy, allowing you to target and engage with potential customers based on their interests.

If you’re looking to attract and engage audiences on social media, you could create a YouTube channel to host video blogs, Q&As, and exclusive interviews.

As with any content, the more you post, the more you will attract and retain an audience. When establishing a presence on YouTube, make sure you upload videos at least once a week to ensure you continue to gain momentum and reach a critical mass of engaged users.

Choosing The Right Country

Depending on your business, your brand, and the country you are located in, there are several distinct digital marketing channels you could operate from. When choosing the right country for your brand, it’s important to consider a number of factors to ensure your chosen country provides you with the best possible platform for your needs.

As a brand, you could choose to operate a store, blog, or both. When establishing your presence on social media, consider which platforms your target audience uses the most to determine which country you should be operating from. If you are just starting out, consider whether or not you should set up shop in a country that supports your industry, offers favorable tax policies, and allows for the free flow of ideas and information.

International Dimensions

Even if you have your heart set on operating from the UK, if you are providing a digital service that requires significant international reach, you might want to consider whether or not Ireland, New Zealand, or another country provides you with a better base of operations.

The world is getting smaller thanks to online connectivity, meaning businesses, brands, and individuals can operate from anywhere. With so much choice, it’s essential to understand the differences and decide which one is the most suitable for your needs.