Nowadays, more and more companies are realizing the power of online marketing and social media platforms to grow their business. According to HubSpot Blogs research, 75% of businesses are planning to increase their marketing budget in 2018, and only 16% are planning to decrease it.

If you’re looking to establish an online marketing team to help grow your business, keep in mind these tips. They’ll help you to create an efficient group that can take your company’s online marketing to the next level.

1. Hire people who enjoy working independently.

The best marketers on social media are often the ones who work independently, posting engaging content while also keeping an eye on the performance of other people’s content. These individuals don’t rely on others to get the work done, but rather take initiative and ownership of the project.

To this end, you should look for individuals who are used to working remotely and who possess strong communication skills. Additionally, you want to make sure that your team members enjoy working together and that they have the necessary skills to operate as a team.

2. Use online collaboration tools.

Traditional marketing professionals might laugh at the term “digital marketer,” but the fact is that knowing how to use online collaboration tools can make a significant difference in your marketing work.

These tools allow for real-time communication and sharing of documents, ensuring that everyone on the team is well-informed about the project. They also save a lot of time, which you can then invest in other areas of the business.

3. Create content that is relevant and useful.

If you want to become a successful online marketer, you have to learn how to generate quality content that is both relevant and useful to your target audience.

According to HubSpot Blogs, customers value content that is well-written, presented in an engaging manner, and backed up with facts and real-life examples. When creating content, make sure that you adhere to these value pillars. To ensure that your content resonates with your audience, conduct keyword research and analysis to pinpoint specific phrases and words that your target audience is using to search for relevant content. From there, you can develop a content strategy to align your messaging around these key terms and create content that will engage your audience.

The better your strategy, the better your results. To further refine your strategy, use keyword research tools to track the performance of your content. You should aim to sustainably grow your traffic. Otherwise, you’re risking falling into the “digital ghost town” trap.

4. Build an editorial calendar.

An editorial calendar is invaluable for any marketing team. It helps to organize your content plan and ensures that key content gets published regularly.

According to HubSpot Blogs, nearly all businesses (92%) keep a close eye on the performance of at least one of their digital marketing channels. If you’re serious about growing your business through digital marketing, build an editorial calendar and review the performance of your content channels on a weekly basis. This way, you’ll be able to identify areas of weakness and improve upon them.

5. Use a lead generation tool.

Leisurewear brand Jacamo created a lead generation tool that allows customers to create a wish list of products that they’d love to see, as well as those that they’re currently seeking.

Based on their research, the team at Jacamo discovered that many people were seeking an easy way to keep track of their wish list, as well as a way to easily share their list with others. They also learned that many customers were using social media platforms to research products and seek inspiration.

To take their product discovery process into the digital realm, Jacamo built a lead generation page where users can enter their email address to receive notifications of new products and offers. From there, the team can build a profile of the individual and determine whether or not they are a good fit for their business.

6. Use online tools to streamline your work.

The more time you spend on content creation and distribution, the less time you have to grow your business. That’s why it’s important to use tools to save time wherever possible.

Online tools like HubSpot and Marketo allow you to automate your workflows, ensuring that the most important tasks get completed with minimum effort. For example, you can set up automated email campaigns that notify you when a new lead comes in, or use tools to schedule content to be published at regular intervals.

These software tools streamline your work and allow you to focus on growing your business instead of doing the same old, boring tasks. It’s essential to find a tool that will help you accomplish this.

7. Hire people with a passion for quality.

If you want to be the best at something, you have to be willing to put in the time and the effort to master it. When it comes to content marketing, quality speaks for itself. Your customers will appreciate your attention to detail and the value that you’re bringing to the table.

The better the quality of your content, the better your results. To that end, look for individuals who have a proven track record of creating high-quality content for publication. Additionally, make sure that your team members are committed to producing content that will engage and retain your audience. If you can find people who are passionate about quality, you’ll be able to develop a top-notch content marketing program in no time.

8. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

Quality is always a key consideration when selecting employees for a marketing team, but so is experimentation. In a world full of uncertainty, experimentation is key to propelling your team forward.

According to HubSpot Blogs, only 16% of businesses are planning on decreasing their marketing budget in 2018. However, those who do intend on cutting back spend nearly all of their planned budget on offline marketing, such as radio ads and billboards. This could be a mistake.

If you want to grow your business through digital marketing, experiment with different techniques and measure the results.