3 Digital Marketing Strategies for 2021

In 2020, small businesses faced more pressure than ever before. With a global pandemic resulting in shutdowns all over the world, many struggled more than ever before. Alternative digital marketing strategies became vital in reaching new audiences and maintaining existing ones. Not all worked and sadly, not all business are still around but those that are have arrived at an interesting crossroads.

Before we plan changes into 2021, it’s important to remember and learn from what did work last year. Some of these digital strategies served small businesses very well over the last twelve months.  We believe and as the referenced links below will attest, these marketing tactics will continue to bear fruit in the months to come.

If you are looking to boost your marketing results in 2021, here are three digital marketing strategies to consider:

 

Virtual Events

One of the biggest ways that small businesses engaged with their audience this past year was through virtual and interactive events. These types of events were a necessity in 2020 as many were staying home and businesses were closed to in-person visits. Once under lockdown, for the vast majority of us, the internet finally became a true lifeline. Who knew?

Virtual events proved to be a huge success because of their personal nature and ease of accessibility. Many had never heard of a Zoom meeting or tried hosting a Facebook or Instagram live, until last year. Now you could almost be forgiven for wondering what life was like before!  Forbes agrees, predicting that these events will continue to be utilized in the future.

 

Focusing on One or Two Social Media Platforms

We’ve all seen it. From Facebook to Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest, small business tries to use every social media platform out there to reach customers. But with so many popular social media outlets, social media marketing strategies are moving to focus more attention on fewer platforms. Unless you’re prepared to hire or outsource a full-time community manager, odds are some are underperforming.  Maybe you’ve wondered what return you’re actually getting from one or two of them. If that sounds like you then the likely answer is simple – not much! 

It’s better to have an effective, consistent & engaged presence on just one or two platforms rather than a weak presence across four. Streamline your approach, focus and win.

 

Machine Learning and AI

No, we’re not touting SkyNet here – sorry!  Many small businesses incorrectly feel that machine learning and AI services are only for big brands. However, these tools can go a long way to help you make informed decisions, create a more professional “face” for your customers, or target your audience more effectively.

The simplest example of this is the “dreaded” chatbot. Truth is, Chatbots are essential for small business digital marketing strategies  This is because they can respond to your customers in real-time at any hour of the day. They will also save you from having to answer every single question that comes through your website or email.

Do some research around the office and define your on-brand approach. Then simply draw up a script of simple, helpful dialogue to answer these queries. This can be as easy as how you would respond to someone over the phone. Then a little minor data entry and voila – you’re now able to respond to prospects genuinely, in real time, anytime.

 

On a scale of… ( Bonus! )

The pandemic has literally affected every small business owners approach to their marketing.  Out of necessity we are all looking for better ways to connect with our customers.  Yes, to a degree pandemic fatigue is very much a real thing. How are your customers handling all of this? What shopping habits have they changed? Maybe a quick survey or poll could help you identify chances to help.  Or reveal new opportunities to tailor your marketing direction.

 

Final Thoughts

These are just three valuable lessons that we’ve learned about digital marketing strategies in 2020.  The bonus is an extra that’s never a bad idea at anytime. Customer trends are your bona fide catalyst for change. All you need do is ask?

Consider these insights to help your marketing initiatives into 2021 so you can stand out from your competition.

Thanks for reading!

 

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