Sales & Marketing Checklist for 2014

(December 11, 2013) – SVG is your one-stop online marketing center.

In order to help you sharpen your marketing tools and strategies for the coming year, we have prepared a short checklist of important items, which we recommend you review, strategize (where to invest time, money and energy and where not to) and implement in the coming year:

1.  Are all social media platforms current and up-to-date? 

What makes social media such a powerful marketing tool is that you can reach millions of people with a click of a button.  However, that can work against you if you are not using the right social media platform for your target audience or not updating your content regularly.

And whatever you do for social media in 2014, do not ignore Google+

2. Is your online video content engaging and relevant?

Since content is king of the Internet, video is the King of all content.  Here are some important questions to ask as you review the video content you have, and consider what video content you want to create in 2014:

1. Does your marketing video reflect you, your product or service, and company ethic succinctly and powerfully?
2. Does your video content showcase your relevance in today’s marketplace?

If your answer is no to any of the questions above, it may be time to revisit your video marketing strategy in 2014.

3. Is your web site up-to-date technically and esthetically?

The design and development of CMS (Content Management System) have advanced in recent years, and it is important that your web site (one of the most important marketing tools you have at your disposal) be up-to-date both aesthetically AND technically.  You need to ask the following questions:

1. Do I have up-to-date content management technology and good copywriting for blogs and videos?
2. Can my site be displayed on smart phones and tablets, as well as computers?
3. Are all my social media accounts integrated within the site?
4. Is our blogging (and larger overall content strategy) mapped and strategic as we go into the new year?

4. Are your SEO (search engine optimization) strategies on target in 2014? 

1. Are keywords, links, and tags drawing people to your site?
2. Is your website correctly targeting the audience and getting the traffic you are after?

SEO, after all, is a blend of both the technical (tagging, linking, and key words) and the creative (photos, copy, video, blogging, etc.)

If your site is to heavily weighted on the technical side while neglecting the aesthetic, you may drive more traffic but convert fewer leads.  Working with an SEO expert will help bring your site to a new level of performance by developing a targeted SEO campaign to both increase traffic and lead conversion.

5. Don’t forget in-person networking!

With everything being so accessible online, it is easy to overlook the value of a face-to-face meeting.  No matter how excellent your online marketing campaign may be, you can never completely erase the human element.  Nothing compares with a face-to-face meeting to get deals done.  In fact, the goal of any good online marketing strategy should be to get you that initial introduction.  So don’t neglect your offline marketing initiatives or your networking events.  Both are excellent ways of garnering new business!