In today’s business landscape, the use of big data and marketing technologies is essential for success. More importantly, it helps keep your business competitive and resilient amid changes. Like what the COVID-19 pandemic has proved, businesses with a digital-first strategy are more agile and adaptive.
But one quick Google search, and you’ll find a long list of technologies available, and choosing what’s best for your business could be overwhelming. Familiarizing yourself with the basics is the best place to start.
1. Voice-of-the-Customer Collection
Getting the pulse of your customers should be your priority, especially now that consumers are increasingly more demanding. Consumer sentiments are also ever-changing, which is why you should always stay on top of their desires and needs. To get essential consumer data, you can read through reviews, ratings, and testimonials, or use voice-of-the-customer (VOC) collection tools to launch targeted surveys. After gathering useful insights, make sure to address your customer’s concerns and feedback.
2. Marketing Automation
If you’re managing multiple inbound marketing campaigns and marketing processes, keeping track of their performance can be hard without automation tools. Powerhouse tools like HubSpot and Marketo help you create personalized campaigns at scale. With these tools, you can manage social media, SEO, email marketing, paid advertising, and other channels all in one place. Put simply, these tools take care of the grunt work for you so you can focus instead on strategizing and planning the next step.
3. Competitor Analysis
To stay ahead of the competition, you need to be aware of how they’re doing at all times. You should be aware of what strategies they’re using and if they’re working. If you’re starting, building on what your competitors have started could also be a good strategy to accelerate faster. If you an in-depth scoop on your competitors, invest in tools like SpyFu, SEMRush, and Quick Search. These tools will let you in on your competitor’s secrets to success. This saves you time, effort, and money on experimenting on strategies that might not even work.
4. Content Management
Content marketing is an all-encompassing technique that serves a wide range of purposes, from spreading brand awareness and attracting traffic to inspiring action and brand loyalty. There are plenty of systems to choose from, depending on what platform you’re publishing content on. If you’re looking to build your blog, WordPress is a powerful and user-friendly content management system (CMS) that can turn into a full-blown website. If you’re looking to automate your email newsletters, consider using MailChimp. If you’re building complete digital experiences using multiple platforms, Contentful is a great option.
5. Landing Page Building
A great landing page design could significantly increase your lead conversation rates, and therefore, your bottom line. To make sure you’re making landing pages that captivate your customers and inspire action, use tools like Unbounce. The tool gives you access to beautiful and proven templates, making it a useful tool for people with minimal to no design know-how. Plus, the tool has an A/B testing functionality, allowing you to test different landing page variants and find the best ones that deliver results.
6. Social Media Management
Social media marketing (SMM) can help you engage with customers personally and build loyalty. On top of that, advertising on social media can significantly grow your leads and revenue. To manage your SMM strategy in one place, you’ll need tools like Sprout Social and Hootsuite. These tools give you full control and visibility of your campaigns, from scheduling and monitoring to analytics. Coupled with audience insights, you can hit important metrics month on month and keep building on the momentum.
7. Keyword Research
Search engine marketing continues to be one of the best and most cost-effective online marketing techniques. Its outcomes are far-reaching, from expanding your reach and reaching local customers to attracting leads and repeat purchases. If you’re looking to use both SEO and paid search, you should first invest in a top-notch keyword research tool like SEMRush and Ahrefs. These tools allow you to benchmark competitor keywords and identify search terms and phrases relevant to your business.
Innovation in marketing technology is endless, with so many specialized and all-around tools springing up to help businesses reach their goals. If you’re just getting started, try out the tools first and thoroughly research your options before buying memberships. Some of these tools would have some learning curve, while others might take some time to master. Explore one tool at a time so that you don’t get overwhelmed and take advantage of tutorials and demos.