The COVID-19 pandemic hit us hard. Businesses saw a drop in sales and fewer people coming in to visit their stores, due to lockdowns and restrictions.
In response, organisations have been adapting their digital strategies in order to keep their customers updated on their status, maintain communications, and increase their sales.Â
The digital landscape is always changing and evolving, and businesses need to keep up in order to stay competitive. The information that you find online changes every second, so you need to be able to adapt quickly in order to stay on top of things.
What is a digital strategy?
A digital strategy is a company’s plan for how it will use digital technology to achieve its goals. It sets out your company’s vision for the future and helps you make decisions about what you should do, and what technologies are obsolete or need to be updated.
A digital strategy sets guidelines for your business to follow when developing your online presence. It can be defined as your business plan for how it will use digital technology to achieve its goals.Â
The goal of a digital strategy is to help your business attain a competitive advantage or maintain market share in its industry by using the most effective methods possible.
Why does your business need a digital strategy?
A digital strategy is important for any organisation that wants to stay competitive. BCG research shows digital leaders grow revenues faster than their competitors, by 15% over three years. Now more than ever, the need for a digital strategy has become critical in today’s world.
The pandemic has created an environment of uncertainty among the general public. People are feeling uncertain about how their world has changed, and how to adapt.
Businesses have been coping with these uncertainties by adapting their digital strategies to keep their customers informed and maintain connections. A strong online presence, including personalised customer experiences and frequent communication, is vital for building on your marketing goals, converting leads, and maintaining customer rapport.
The digital landscape is ever-changing, so it’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in order to stay ahead of the competition. An outdated digital strategy will be less effective in meeting your business goals.Â
And lastly, the pandemic has transformed the way we live, work, and discover products and services – and your business needs to update to meet these standards.
Benefits of a digital strategy:
- Increase conversions
- Reach new customers
- Attract new traffic
- Obtain better search engine rankings
- Improve customer experience
- Stay ahead of competitors.
Adapting to the digital age
While the pandemic hit us hard, it also presented a great opportunity for businesses to make an important change. The digital age is here, and it has transformed our lives in many ways.Â
A digital strategy can be a plan for your website, social media, apps or any other aspect of your business that exists online. It should be aligned with the overall goals of the company, and it should have a timeline for implementation and measurement.
Our way of communicating has changed drastically, and it has become much more accessible. This means that it is much easier for customers to find out about your store and communicate with you through social media and other channels.
Now more than ever, it is vital for businesses of all sizes to have a strong online presence. Most customers tend to search online for products and services and check out the websites of businesses they potentially will choose to buy from. Maintaining your website – or at the very least, social media – with up-to-date information is key to attracting and maintaining customers.
How to create a digital strategy
To create a digital strategy, you need to think like a customer. What are they looking for when they’re browsing through your website? What do they want to know before they buy from you? Then, you can create a strategy that helps you deliver on those expectations.
Consider:
- Business goals and objectives
- Key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Target audience and market segmentation
- Content marketing strategy, including social media and SEO
- Using data analytics to assess your current website’s performance
- Integrate the digital strategy with your IT strategy
Strategise with the IT experts
Digital strategies are crucial to any business’s long-term success. The need for a digital strategy has become even more critical in a pandemic world. In order to keep up with the needs of your customers, you need to provide them with what they need, when they need it.
The digital strategy specialists at Steadfast Solutions can help bring your business into the digital age and guide you on your journey to maintaining a strong online presence. Talk to them today and discover more.