A lot of what we know about building a successful website is easy to summarize in a few paragraphs. It’s the stuff that happens behind the scenes that we tend to skip over, writing off as unimportant. But thinking about these strategies to help your customers succeed can improve not just your website, but your whole business.
As you begin thinking about the creation of a digital marketing blueprint, you may find yourself wondering which items should be included in such a document. Here are 10 things that are critical to include when crafting a digital marketing blueprint checklist for your business.
1. A list of all the tools you have at your disposal and how you can use them.
This includes software like WordPress, Google Apps or even a dedicated email service provider (like MailChimp). You don’t want to spend money on something that won’t be used! If you’re not sure if it’ll work for your needs, then you shouldn’t buy it.
2. A list of all the websites and blogs that could potentially benefit from your efforts.
These sites might not necessarily be your main target audience, but they could still provide valuable information to them. Think of them as potential partners, and always consider what the barrier to entry is.
3. A list of all the social media accounts you have access to.
Social media is an excellent way to reach out to potential customers and prospects, so make sure you use it effectively! This starts by making sure you have all your channels organized and seeing where you might be missing an account.
4. A list of all the online stores that could potentially benefit from your efforts.
Businesses often offer discounts to their customers based on their purchase history with other retailers. If they don’t have one, this could be an opportunity to cross-sell with them.
5. A list of all the online services you have access to.
Many companies offer free trials or trial periods for new features or products before committing to a long-term subscription plan. Make sure you take advantage of this opportunity!
6. A list of all the online courses that could potentially benefit from your efforts.
These classes are often available for a low fee or even for free. If you can help them succeed, they’ll be more likely to remember you when it’s time to make a purchase.
7. A list of all the blogs that could potentially benefit from your efforts.
These sites might not necessarily be your main target audience, but they could still provide valuable information to them.
8. A list of all the online forums (and Quora communities) that could potentially benefit from your efforts.
These forums are often full of people looking for answers to their questions. If you can provide those answers, then they’re more likely to remember you when it’s time to make a purchase.
9. A list of all the magazines that could potentially benefit from your efforts.
These magazines are often full of articles written by professionals in your industry. If you can get your name out there, then they’re more likely to remember you when it’s time to make a purchase.
10. A list of all the newspapers that could potentially benefit from your efforts.
These newspapers are often full of classified ads placed by people in your industry. If you can get your name out there, then they’re more likely to remember you when it’s time to make a purchase.
As you can see, there are a lot of different things you can do to market your business online. The trick is to pick the ones that are most appropriate for your business and customers. You don’t want to waste time and money on strategies that won’t help you!
Part 2: How to Get Your First Few Customers
Now that you have a solid marketing and visibility target list, it’s time to put it into action. The first step is to make sure your website is up and running. If you’re building a brand-new site, then this shouldn’t take too long with the help of Squarespace or a WordPress template.
If you’re migrating an existing site, then it could take a little longer depending on how much content you have and how outdated your old website is.
The next step is to make sure your online marketing strategy is in place. This means setting up your social media accounts, getting reviews for your business, and doing any other digital marketing you need to do.
Finally, the last step is to get your first few customers! This is often the hardest part, but if you’ve done the first two steps correctly then it should be a lot easier.
The first way to get customers is to give something away for free. This is called a “giveaway”, and it’s a great way to build your brand awareness and get people interested in what you have to offer.
There are many different types of giveaways that you can do. The most common ones are:
- Raffles – This involves giving away an item to one person at random. The more tickets people buy, the greater their odds of winning.
- Contests – This involves giving away an item to one person who does some sort of action. The simplest one is a comment contest, where people have to leave a comment to enter and the winner is chosen at random from the comments. Other types of contests include social media contests (where people have to follow you or like your post to enter), photo contests (where people have to send in a photo or vote for a photo), and more.
- Competitions – This involves giving away an item to one or more people based on skill. The simplest type is a “Like and Win” competition, where people have to like your post to enter and the winner is chosen at random from the people who liked that post. Other types include photo competitions (where people have to send in a photo), quote competitions (where people have to send in a quote), and more.
The next way to get customers is to reach out to your local community. This can be done in person or online, depending on your business. The goal is to let people know that you exist and that you’re ready to sell to them!
Some ways to do this include:
- Setting up a table at a local event and handing out flyers
- Posting on community boards and forums
- Setting up an information booth in a busy area
The last way to get customers is to contact businesses that might be interested in what you’re selling. For example, if you’re selling t-shirts online, then you might want to approach a sports team and offer to be their merchandise provider.
How do you find these businesses? It really depends on your industry and what you’re selling, but some places to start looking include:
- The yellow pages
- A local business directory
- Your local chamber of commerce
The next step is to contact these businesses and try to get them to work with you! This is often easier said than done, but if you can manage to get a few of these partnerships set up then it should lead to more sales and more customers.
Once you’ve got a few customers through these methods, you’ll want to continue using them to grow your business. The more customers you get, the more money you’ll make, and the easier it will be to reach your financial goals.
The next step is to keep growing your business! Once you’ve reached your first goal, then you can move on to the second, and so on. It’s important to set goals that are challenging, but achievable. If you don’t set goals, then you won’t have anywhere to go. The key to success is to keep growing and adapting as you go. There will be obstacles that get in your way, but as long as you stay focused, you’ll be able to overcome them. Good luck, and most of all, have fun!
