Canadians are the biggest Internet users in the world, both in terms of the percentage of the population that is connected (over 80% online) and the volume of information consumed.
Consumers and businesses come to the Web first to get the information they need and trust that you can provide it to them online, when they need it.
Your competition is online
If you’re not taking care of your online customers, you can be sure your competition will. In fact, 75% of Canadian businesses have an online presence, and nearly half use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
This is why you should view developing a digital strategy as overseas chinese in usa data an investment rather than an expense for your business.
Being strategic will help you make the right decisions, the first time. Should I create a website or a Facebook page, or both? Should I advertise online or send out email newsletters, or both? There are many important decisions to make. Wrong choices can result in wasted time, money, and, worse, missed opportunities.
How to Create an Online Strategy
In order to develop a web marketing strategy for your business, you must first take the time and effort to think about your business goals – what you want to accomplish. Do you want to sell online? Find more potential customers? Improve customer service? All of the above?
After you have determined your goals, you need to formulate a plan of attack that includes, among other things, how you will measure the effectiveness of your tactics. Then comes the time to implement your plan and regularly evaluate how well it is working.
Finally, if you are skillful, you will use the lessons learned from your initial efforts to rework (optimize) your plan and ensure a better return on your investment the second time around. Be careful, this is not done by shouting "scissors"!
Is your business ripe for a digital makeover?
Do a quick test. Go to Google and pretend you're a customer looking for a business that sells the kind of products or services you offer. Type in a typical phrase that potential customers would use. Is your business on the first page of search results? Elsewhere in the search results?
If the answer is yes, you're on the right track. If not, you should start thinking about taking a strategic web approach to making your business findable online.
Other clues that you need a strategy
Here are some other signs that you might want to think strategically about your digital presence.
Your business is not online at all.
It is, but you don't know if your website or social media pages (your digital "assets") are increasing your profits and, if so, how.
Your business is online, but you're not actively using your digital presence to support your strategic business goals.
No room for error
The market demands that you be online. But creating or modernizing your digital assets or investing in ongoing e-marketing tactics is expensive. It should only be done after careful consideration because no business can afford to make a mistake.
Conclusion: Every business needs a digital strategy.
