![\"tips-to-plan-an-online-marketing-strategy\"](\"http:\/\/socialmediaoutcomes.com\/go\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/tips-to-plan-an-online-marketing-strategy.png\")
\nOne of the mistakes small business owners often make is to hesitate before taking action on online marketing strategies.<\/p>\n
\nOne of the mistakes small business owners often make is to hesitate before taking action on online marketing strategies.<\/p>\n
Why do they hesitate?<\/p>\n
They want to develop a comprehensive online marketing strategy that will work for now and years to come.<\/p>\n
Yes, there is a value to doing long-term planning. The challenge is that new business owners often plan in a vacuum. They do not have a basis of understanding what will work for them. They can come up with a grand plan, take years to implement it and still get zero to no results.<\/p>\n
One simple way to get started is to identify one strategy to work on and then start it.<\/p>\n
Confusion comes when you try to implement too many strategies at once.<\/p>\n
You will certainly fail if you attempt to launch a blog, publish videos on YouTube, begin email marketing and start a social media marketing campaign. Unless you have help from someone who has been there and done that, attempting too much will cause you to crash and burn.<\/p>\n
And for someone with a limited budget, help is usually not an option.<\/p>\n
So, what does that leave?<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take a quick example. Let\u2019s say that you decide you want to launch an email marketing promotion. What are the steps?<\/p>\n
First, before using email to promote a product, service or program, I would recommend making a commitment to email marketing that includes adding value by sending nurturing messages that also build trust and rapport.<\/p>\n
Second, decide how many email messages to send out per week. I do recommend emailing your list consistently over time. That requires thought, planning and follow through.<\/p>\n
Notice, by selecting one online marketing strategy, email marketing, things begin to fall in place. And notice the amount of time and effort that will be required to support that strategy.<\/p>\n
When you make a commitment, be prepared to follow through over time. Each strategy adds a new layer of effort in your business.<\/p>\n
Once you are writing and sending value added messages each week, now it\u2019s time to plan an email marketing campaign.<\/p>\n
Identify your goals, select a specific product, service or program to offer and then begin the process to write copy for the emails.<\/p>\n
Are there any drawbacks to this method? I think the biggest downside is that marketing often works best when you are reaching people across multiple channels of communication.<\/p>\n
In an ideal world, you would launch a marketing campaign and reach people through email, social media, direct mail, online advertising and even by phone. Plus, you could also add in a live event for good measure.<\/p>\n
For many small business owners this would be very overwhelming. Even if they had a plan, it would be difficult to execute it.<\/p>\n
So, I want to encourage you that it is important to simply do what you can. Don\u2019t feel you have to create the best marketing campaign ever. Marketing planning and execution is a skillset.<\/p>\n
You can learn as you go. Try something. Measure your results. And then try something else.<\/p>\n
Give it a shot.<\/p>\n