More and more businesses are making the switch to becoming a digital-first entity. What does that mean for your business? It means that you need to start thinking about how you can reach your customers primarily online. So join us today as we outline 8 steps that will help you get started on your journey to becoming a digital-first company.
What Does It Mean To Be a Digital-First Company?
In order to remain competitive, it is important for businesses to have an online presence. But more than just having a website, you need to be thinking about how you can reach your customers where they are spending the majority of their time – online.
Creating a digital-first strategy means that you are focused on reaching and engaging with your target audience online. This could be through social media, email marketing, paid advertising, or other digital channels. “Our first step to explore online marketing was enhancing our email subscriber base. Those conversions made all the difference in our bottom line to move forward,” said Kudos Founder & CEO Amrita Saigal.
It is also important to have a digital-first mindset because it allows you to be agile and adjust your plans quickly as needed. Additionally, by focusing on digital channels, you will be able to track your results and return on investment (ROI) more easily than with traditional marketing.
Why Should You Make the Switch?
There are a number of reasons why you should make the switch to becoming a digital-first company. Here are a few of the most important:
- You’ll Be Able to Reach More People: By focusing your efforts online, you will be able to reach a larger audience than you would if you were relying on traditional marketing methods.
- It’s Cost-Effective: Digital marketing is often more cost-effective than traditional marketing, especially when you consider the ROI.
- It’s Measurable: With digital marketing, it is easy to track your results and adjust your strategy as needed because everything is measurable. You can track website traffic, social media engagement, and conversions easily.
- You Can Be More Agile: As we mentioned before, one of the benefits of having a digital-first mindset is that you can be more agile. This means that if something isn’t working, you can quickly make changes without disrupting your entire marketing strategy.
How to Become a Digital-First Company.
Now that we’ve answered the question, “what does it mean to be a digital-first company?” It’s time to give you the steps you need to take in order to make the switch. Here are eight steps that will help get you started:
Find Your Online Customer Base.
The first step is to identify where your target audience hangs out online. This could be specific social media platforms, forums, or even websites. Once you know where they are spending their time, you can start reaching out and engaging with them. Alan Ahdoot of Adamson Ahdoot Law suggests “Consider having your online website and social media platforms audited. The final report was well worth the cost. Especially as we realized exactly how we could better target our consumers.”
Create or Optimize Your Website.
Your website should be the foundation of your digital strategy. Make sure that it is optimized for search engines and mobile devices so that people can easily find and use it. Additionally, your website should be designed with your customer in mind. Make sure it is easy to navigate and provides the information they are looking for.
“It’s easy to stay in our traditional advertising and marketing routines. But I was really impressed to see how updating our website really optimized our overall sales and engagement.” – Tony Chan, CloudForecast CEO & Founder
Develop a Content Strategy.
In order to attract and engage your target audience, you need to have high-quality content on your website and other digital channels. This could include blog posts, info-graphics, videos, or even eBooks. Once you have developed a library of content, you can start promoting it across social media and other channels.
Start Building Your Email List.
Email marketing is still one of the most effective ways to reach your customers. Start building your list by providing something of value (like a free eBook) in exchange for an email address. Then, you can start sending out regular newsletters and other promotional material.
Invest in Paid Advertising.
While organic reach is important, sometimes you need to give your content a boost with paid advertising. This could include social media ads, Google AdWords, or retargeting ads. Datha Santomieri, Cofounder and Vice President of Steadily Insurance mentions “Once you have identified your ideal consumer, being able to utilize paid advertising to reach them is an essential part of our sales.”
Analytics Are Key.
In order to track your progress and ROI, it is important to set up analytics from the beginning. This way, you can see which marketing efforts are working and adjust your strategy as needed. “Make sure you’ve completed proper A/B testing to know when your customer is online and engaging with you most. Then schedule more content around that if you’re offline during that hour,” says Gigi Ji, Head of Brand and Business Development at Kokolu.
Outsource What You Can’t Handle In-House.
As your digital presence grows, you may find that you need help from experts in order to keep up with the demand. Do not be afraid to outsource tasks like content creation, social media management, or email marketing to those who can do it better than you. “When we want to offer a promotion, it’s more beneficial to outsource our content creation for each project. We have fresh content and we always stay on budget,” states Meredith Kokos, Head of Marketing at Guaranteed Rate.
Remember, You Are Never Done.
The digital landscape is always changing, which means that your digital-first strategy needs to be constantly evolving as well. By following these steps and being mindful of the challenges, you can make the switch to a digital-first company with ease.
Is Your Business Ready To Become a Digital-First Entity?
Not sure if your business is ready to take the plunge into digital-first? Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
- Do you have a customer base that is primarily online?
- Do you have the resources to invest in a digital strategy?
- Are you willing to be agile and make changes as needed?
If you answered yes to all of these questions, then it sounds like your business is ready to become digital-first. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!
What does it mean for your business if you switch over to becoming digital-first? In short, it could mean big things. A recent study showed that businesses who have made the switch saw an increase in website traffic, social media engagement, and even sales. “I was skeptical at first, but when I realized how much our online footprint increased our sales, I’ll never regret making the switch,” confesses Matt Miller, Founder & CEO at Embroker.
So if you’re looking for ways to take your business to the next level, becoming digital-first is a great place to start.
Challenges Associated With Making The Switch.
Making the switch to a digital-first organization can come with its own set of challenges, but luckily there are ways to overcome them. Keep these things in mind and you’ll easily be able to navigate any hardships along the way.
One of the biggest challenges is making sure that all of your employees are on board with the change. This means providing training and resources so that they can learn new skills and understand the digital-first mindset. Additionally, you may need to hire new employees who are more familiar with digital marketing and social media.
Another challenge is staying up-to-date with the latest trends. As we mentioned before, the digital landscape is always changing, which means you need to be constantly evolving as well. The best way to do this is to keep up with industry news and make sure you are using the latest tools and technologies.
Finally, you need to have realistic expectations. Making the switch to a digital-first company takes time and effort, and you won’t see results overnight. Be patient and focus on the long-term goal of building a strong online presence for your business. Thomas Yuan, Head of Partnerships at SaneBox relates “Don’t forget that slow and steady wins the online race. While numbers are exciting, clearly identifying what your ROI is will help you keep perspective,” offers.”
Final Thoughts.
By following these eight steps, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a digital-first company. Just remember that it takes time and effort to build up a strong online presence, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results overnight. Stick with it and you’ll be sure to reach your target audience in no time.
If you need help getting started, or if you want to learn more about digital marketing, be sure to contact our team of experts today. We’d be happy to chat with you about your specific needs and goals.
