The proliferation of social media resources, social media advertising, and digital marketing has made it easier than ever to pitch Main Street without massive Madison Avenue advertising budgets.
Cynthia Srednicki, CEO & CMO of integrated marketing agency Dreamweaver Brand Communications believes these options allow you to be selective on your digital marketing spend, and only “build and grow your brand’s social media presence on the social media platforms that not only represent your company best but where your current and future customers are most likely to engage with your brand or business.” Social and digital marketing is not a one-time, set it and forget it campaign; the marketing campaigns grow and evolve as your business does and as changing market conditions dictate. Marketing experts Cynthia Srednicki and Gerard T. Rogan, Founder & COO of Dreamweaver Brand Communications share their thoughts on digital marketing beyond the usual social channels of Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Yelp to help you plan your 2017 social media marketing and advertising campaigns. Here are their ten B2B and B2C marketing suggestions:
1) Create Compelling Content
With consumers’ attention spans at all-time lows, averaging now just 8 seconds according to a Microsoft study, creating compelling content is a must. It is vital to grab your readers’ attention with information tailored to their needs, in an easy to read format and they will keep coming back for more. Even if it is just for SEO purposes, every B2B or B2C company needs an active blog and content marketing plan. “Highlighting your employees, products, services, and business in your content,” says Gerard T. Rogan President and COO of Dreamweaver Brand Communications. “In 2017 and beyond, video and imagery are critical to driving engagement.”
2) Go Mobile
B2B and B2C consumers consume virtually all of their information on-the-go. Therefore it is essential that your marketing platform and website be “mobile centric” not just “mobile friendly.” Brand messaging that is not designed for mobile access, and voice search is less valuable in 2017 and beyond.
3) Think Locally
Integrating a paid hyper-local social advertising campaign by targeting customers by zip code, street name, neighborhoods and interests connect you with a targeted audience that is relevant to your brand or business.
4) Build a Social Profile
Spending a few minutes on your business Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Yelp and other social media platforms and amplifying your brand’s or business’s visibility with consistent, well placed, paid social media posts will increase your digital profile and subsequently attract targeted new B2C and B2B customers. A well-executed B2C or B2B social advertising campaign will raise brand awareness, attracted new customers, and have better ROI than traditional networking would.
5) Use the “Buy Button”
B2C consumers now more than ever make purchases with just one click, without even leaving Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube and other social media platforms. “Buy buttons” continue to gain momentum, popularity, and dramatically increase the likelihood of a purchase, while simultaneously freeing up your marketing budget from investing in developing an e-commerce app.
6) Dream Big (without spending big)
Large and small businesses alike can benefit from digital marketing. These solutions enable you to spend and monitor your marketing dollars wisely to increase brand awareness and the brand’s reputation. Cynthia Srednicki of Dreamweaver Brand Communications says, “Basically if people are not aware of your business, they are not going to purchase your product.” An integrated brand communications agency can create and execute a keyword search and search optimization plan and campaign to attract additional attention.
7) Pay to Play
Strictly relying on organic search to find your audience places the odds against you. Amplify your B2C and B2B marketing efforts, improve your brand awareness, and increase sales through paid advertising on important sites. When considering utilizing paid digital advertising, it is best to consult with a top marketing agency for maximum ROI.
8) Dive into Data Headfirst
Google Analytics and reasonably priced data analytic software can provide you valuable, actionable customer insights from personalizing offers, improving customer service, or even improving website sales conversions.
9) Influencer Marketing
According to a recent Nielsen, survey 92% of people increasingly trust word-of-mouth recommendations, and that is where influencer marketing comes in. An influencer marketing agency can help you find a social media influencer to increase your brand’s reach and awareness.
10) Email Marketing
No one likes spam but a clean opt-in email marketing database is one of your secret weapons. Email marketing is one of the most cost-effective marketing tools available: According to MarketingSherpa, 78% of consumers between the ages of 35-44 rank email communication as the delivery method they most prefer. Email marketing when used appropriately is a powerful marketing tool.
Ready to talk B2B or B2C Digital Marketing?
