Marketing has drastically changed throughout the last few decades. Guerilla marketing used to be the only way to market your product or service. Today, there are many more options to reach your customers. Television, radio, podcasts, social media platforms, websites, blogs, and other tried-and-true marketing methods get the job done.
Digital media is the latest, and some would argue greatest way to market. It offers the opportunity for constant connection, real-time updates, customer engagement and feedback.
Digital marketing can greatly assist you in your launch. If you market correctly, you can reap high rewards with minimal expense. It doesn’t take much cash flow to post a tweet.
So how do you build a positive plan for digital media and grow your customer engagement? Here are five tips to get you started:
1. Learn your customer.
Whether it’s a survey, poll, or talking, however you can, get to know your customers. You can learn details like average age, gender, marital status, and location. As you learn this information, use it to understand how your solution (idea) will meet your customers where they are. The more you know and understand them, the better you will be able to provide them with a life-changing product or service.
This brings us to the next point.
2. Learn what type of media your customers use. Generally speaking, if you know the generation of your consumers, you can predict what type of media or social media platforms they use. However, you should still poll and see what the consensus is for your customers.
Once you know their platform preference, learn all you can about it. Don’t neglect the other options, though. As you build a larger customer base, it may change. Focus most of your knowledge and efforts into what you know your customers are using and adjust if/when necessary.
3. Engage your customer (even if you don’t have a product yet).
People like to feel like they’re apart of something, so bring them along on your journey via digital media. Create energy surrounding your product/service and company early. Show them how it’s being made, growing, and improving. What is working and what isn’t working? Customers will buy into you first, then they will buy into your product.
Related: Here are 3 great tips on connecting with your audience.
4. Prototype along the way.
Leverage social media for your customer to discover you and you to discover your customer. When you have a new idea, don’t be afraid to share it. It may succeed or it may fail. When you make a mistake, own that you messed up and move on. The only way you will know what fails or succeeds is if you listen and respond to what your customers are saying.
5. Look at what other successful people are doing.
You can always learn from those who have gone before you, especially those who have done it well. But that doesn’t mean you can’t push beyond the status quo. Don’t always mimic their ideas. If you have a new and great idea, try it. You never know when a new idea can change the projection of your launch.