How to Stay Competitive in an Evolving Digital World

Today, going digital is no longer a concept or a pipe dream. It’s a full-blown reality acknowledged across the globe. The internet provides an audience of over 3.9 billion people worldwide, which you can leverage through a strategic online transformation or representation.

Unfortunately, for all the opportunity the internet promises, only a small percentage of companies have managed to reap the benefits. For example, there are over 1.6 billion websites registered currently, but from these, roughly 85% of websites are inactive.

The surge in website production is the result of everyone wanting a piece of the metaphorical pie. To be successful, you need to learn how to wield this tool in a competitive field to stay ahead or make a dent in the market.

How to do it right!

To set up an optimized online strategy for visibility and the conversions, Staples’ digital marketing experts have broken down the constituents of a successful digital presence into four broad categories. Under each one, we’ve explained what your potential clients are looking for online and how you can exploit these digital aspects to stay in focus.

1. Website

With the availability of different tools on the internet, anyone can build a website. However, you don’t want an unprofessional website with your business name on it. You want one with a modern, interactive design, and relevant content that loads quickly, attracts clients, and encourages them to try your services, or buy your products. To design a website akin to this, you need to understand:

a. Which web designs people consider reliable as 75% of judgments on website credibility are based on its overall aesthetics.

b. What are relevant search placement strategies as search placement makes websites searchable on Google, the number one search engine on the internet.

c. How website speed can be enhanced as 88% of online consumers are less likely to return to a site that loads slowly.

2. Social media

An active and engaging presence on social mediums like Facebook and Twitter is another must to survive in the digital world. That’s because the average adult spends approximately two hours and twenty-two minutes a day on social network platforms. To see effective results from this avenue, you need to take the time to understand how social media marketing works for your specific business. Based on this information, you need to consistently post helpful information or content that’s unique, relevant, impactful, and related to your business to boost your online presence.

3. Email marketing

99% of people check their email every day. Some even check their mail, twenty times a day given the rise of mobile phone usage. Also, have you ever considered that almost every social media user, has at least one email address? The relevance of email to internet users makes it an extremely vital marketing channel for you to tap into. In addition, emails give you the ability to personalize your services, promotions, and information for each of your clients. Email marketing is cost-effective too! It generates the highest return on investment (ROI) compared to other marketing channels, as it offers your clients interactive options to visit your website, blog, social media account, make a purchase, and even rate your services.

4. Blogging

Blogging is a highly effective way to make your business a front runner in your industry. It allows you to talk about hot topics pertinent to your products or services and important to your clients.

Blogging offers you a chance to gain traction and build your brand as:

a. 70% of internet users learn about companies through blogs and articles rather than ads.

b. Companies that blog regularly receive 55% more website visitors.

c. Businesses that post relevant blogs with sufficient search placement value can rank better on Google.

Before you jump into writing a blog, you need to research topics and keywords that influence your clients or relate to your business. You then need to create an article that connects with your audience on an emotional level and promote it through the right channels to produce the desired effect.

A common error businesses make with digital transformations

Once you go digital, the biggest mistake you can make is being rigid with your marketing strategy. The digital world runs on fresh, trendy concepts that are relatable, true, and substantial. Regularly updated information currently makes a significant impact on your visibility online, but it isn’t the only factor that will bring you success. Similarly, some marketers claim that email marketing is forty times more effective than social media marketing, but the results may differ from industry to industry. For this reason, it is vital to spread your marketing efforts over multiple online channels.

Unfortunately, juggling between multiple marketing approaches, recording and comparing marketing data, then making coherent tweaks to your strategy can be time-consuming, stressful, and expensive. Not to mention, it could keep you away from progressing with your business goals of profit and growth.

To prevent your online marketing efforts from getting in the way of your actual business, Staples’ digital marketing team, Staples Powered By Webware takes care of your marketing for you.

Staples Powered By Webware offers a complete digital marketing tool kit and services that go beyond the basics. That way, we can provide you with custom solutions that suit your needs and launch you to the top. Staples Powered By Webware’s technology platform excels in designing and building websites and online stores, search placement marketing, and creating loyalty programs. Through our array of digital marketing services, your online presence is well-marketed and leveraged to find customers, keep them, and earn referrals.

To learn more about our services, please click here, or get in touch with our experts here!