If you are looking to take your local business or organization online, how do you go about doing so? Does the idea of online marketing intimidate you? If so, you are in for a treat, because we have compiled a list of the most essential tips from experts across the web for any would-be marketer to follow.

Focus On The Basics.

When developing an online marketing strategy, it is essential to put into consideration the basics – what are your goals and what are you trying to achieve? The basic structure of your strategy should include the following:

• Analysis of your current marketing activities (this includes looking at your website analytics, social media platforms, and paid marketing).
• Set a benchmark for your existing marketing efforts and establish what you are trying to achieve (ROI, brand awareness, etc.).
• Determine the digital tools and platforms that can help you achieve your goals.
• Plan your content strategy – what are you going to write about and how often?
• Determine your target audience (including their demographics and psychographics).
• Build a brand voice and language that is consistent throughout your content.
• Develop an online persona for your brand (e.g., a brand voice, logo, icon, and color scheme).
• Plan your digital marketing activities (this includes determining the type of content you are going to create, when you are going to post it, and where you are going to post it)
• Research your competitors and identify their strengths and weaknesses.
• Plan for growth and sustainability (i.e., how are you going to develop the content to keep your audience engaged and coming back for more?).
• Measure the results of your digital marketing efforts (this includes looking at your website analytics, social media platforms, and paid marketing).
• Take a step back and review your entire strategy. Is it effective? Is it worth continuing? Has anything changed?

Don’t Forget The Basics Of Offline Marketing.

Just because your business is online doesn’t mean that offline marketing is obsolete. In fact, it can be extremely useful in combination with your digital marketing efforts. So, if you are looking to take your local business or organization offline, here are a few tips from experts across the web for you to follow:

• Analyze the local markets and industries for your products or services and create buyer personas.
• Determine the social media platforms that your target audience uses.
• Create social media accounts for your business and connect with people who have shared interests with your target audience (i.e., people that you’d like to attract).
• Post regularly and make use of hashtag marketing (i.e., incorporating keywords into your posts to make them more easily found).
• Establish relationships with other businesses in your industry (i.e., solidify your position as the go-to source for your products or services).
• Build a brand voice and language that is consistent throughout your content.
• Measure the results of your offline marketing efforts (i.e., visits to your website, signups for your email list, etc.).
• Take a step back and review your entire strategy. Is it effective? Is it worth continuing? Has anything changed?

Ensure that you have everything you need to begin marketing your business online. If you are unsure of what steps to take next, reach out to a reputable digital marketing agency for help.