Both brick-and-mortar and online businesses need an online marketing strategy to increase market penetration, generate leads, and convert them into customers. A digital strategic plan involves thorough planning that leads over time to success (achievement of goals) or significant sales growth for an existing business, especially when viewed from a strategic, medium- or long-term perspective.

If you're ready to start a business or sell a new product, you need to conduct research and develop and implement an online marketing strategy based on several digital marketing tactics.

In this article, you will find concrete steps to develop a successful digital strategy. Stay with us to learn the secrets of a healthy strategy!

What is digital marketing?

Digital marketing comprises a set of effective tools and methodologies used in promoting products or services online. Online marketing includes an even wider range of mechanisms, techniques, and approaches than traditional marketing, thanks to certain channels and mechanisms of promotion and measurement accessible only in the virtual environment. In the digital environment, it is easier to access the results of each online promotion campaign.

Benefits of Online Marketing:

• Increased market coverage potential

• Reduction of promotion expenses (online promotion is much cheaper than a radio or television campaign).

• Improved customer service (by getting as close as possible to the target customer, understanding their way of thinking, and becoming aware of the problems they face)

• Wider analysis of results (using specific audiences and performance metrics such as ROI or Engagement Rate, you can gather critical data about which messages resonate best with your target audience)

• Guerilla Marketing advantage (when with little money, you manage to build strong and effective marketing strategies, you have a chance to outpace the competition quickly).

How to Create Your Online Marketing Strategy

1. Build a Strong Brand

Create a healthy and people-pleasing brand that can compete with the biggest brands through a strong digital presence. Your brand is what makes you known and differentiates you from competitors. Before implementing a strategy, develop a name and only then create a digital strategy for your enterprise.

2. Research Competitors and Digital Marketing Trends

Analyze competitors' websites to learn about their pricing policies and sales methods, including their digital marketing tactics. Determine what marketing strategies they have used in the past and what they are using now. You can even send them a message to understand their sales and follow-up methods. This will help identify the most effective marketing techniques in your industry and the weaknesses of your competitors.

3. Study the Market

Determine the exact niche you want to work in so you can focus on a specific target group. Analyzing your target group allows you to tailor your marketing strategy specifically to these people. Your digital strategic plan should aim to attract and engage the specific consumer you want.

4. Analyze Successful Digital Marketing Strategies of Competitors

Evaluate how many social media followers competitors have, their Engagement Rate, and the number of people interacting with their blogs. Understanding how their marketing strategy resonates with users will help you build your own.

5. Develop a Multi-Directional Marketing Strategy

To enhance brand recognition, run multiple marketing campaigns simultaneously. Consider these strategies:

• Create social media accounts and post regularly.

• Write SEO-optimized content.

• Build an email marketing database for newsletters and promotions.

• Film videos and online lessons to provide value and increase website traffic.

• Purchase advertising space on niche-related sites.

  
  

6. Use Tools to Evaluate Marketing Campaign Effectiveness

Create a Google Analytics account to track campaign effectiveness. Organize separate campaigns for each strategy and measure results over time. Tracking measurable data helps refine and improve strategies.

7. Be Consistent in Digital Marketing Tactics

If your promotional methods involve communicating with customers, be consistent. Fulfill promises quickly and with quality to receive positive feedback. Motivate customers to provide reviews, build a portfolio of successes, and enhance your reputation.

8. Analyze and Repeat Successful Marketing Strategies

Evaluate which methods yield the best results and refine them. The Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule) applies here—20% of your efforts often generate 80% of the results. Identify and double down on the most effective strategies.

Key Elements of an Online Strategy:

• Brand identity

• Market research

• SEO-optimized content

• Social media presence

• Interactive content (videos, images)

• Performance analysis tools (Google Analytics, Search Console, Facebook Insights).

9. BONUS: Key Questions for Choosing the Right Digital Marketing Strategy

• What is your unique selling proposition?

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of your product?

• What solutions does your product offer?

• What are the negative aspects of the product (side effects, shelf life, delivery)?

• Do you have exclusive strategies or know-how that no one else uses?

• What is the market competition level?

• What is your current market position?

• Who are your competitors, and what are their strengths and weaknesses?

• Who is your target audience, and what are their needs and problems?

• Why do customers buy your product?

• What promotion methods work best and worst for your product?

• What tools do you use to communicate with potential customers?

• How do you collect and convert traffic into sales?

• What is your lead processing system?

• What key indicators do you track and analyze?

• How long do you expect to achieve your desired results?

• What are your commercial, brand, and business objectives?

By following these steps and answering these questions, you can develop a strong and effective digital marketing strategy tailored to your business needs