The “Do’s” of Integrated Marketing
Better understanding the process
In this blog, I am going to focus on the “Do’s” of integrated marketing. Help make sure that you dive deeper into the crucial elements of your business marketing plan and touch on the important components needed to make your business a success.
When it comes to Integrated Marketing, there are a lot of different elements to keep in mind when devising your plan of attack.
- What is your branding message?
- Who is your target audience?
- What medium should you use to reach the audience?
- How do you track ongoing progress?
When thinking about integrated marketing, it is important to focus on a few key factors so that the approach works cohesively and flawlessly. This mindset leads us into the top 5 “Do’s” of Integrated Marketing.
For those of you who can’t handle the “Do’s” without the “Don’ts”…..worry not…I will touch on that aspect in another blog. Let’s focus on one thing at a time.
Do #1- Target your audience
This idea is based on targeting your audience both online and offline to get results. When deciding on your integrated marketing plan, the key is to focus on getting your message out to the right people and to do that, you have to ask the right types of questions:
- Who is your audience?
- What channels do they use to find and gather information?
- What motivates your audience?
- How can you engage your audience?
- How can you improve your current tactics to meet the needs of your audience?
- What new tactics (avenues) can be implemented to reach your audience?
Figuring out your audience is the first thing you have to do when devising an integrated marketing approach. Once the audience is defined, you can move forward with developing your message and setting goals.
Do # 2- Create a unified message and make it clear
The secret behind Integrated Marketing is simple- you have to make sure to create a strong, singular message and maximize your reach across multiple avenues. Consumers want access to a seamless experience when it comes to both online and offline avenues. When thinking about your marketing efforts, you have to take into consideration the same mentality. Your branding message must be 1) clear, 2) consistent, and 3) engaging across multiple platforms. If you think about your marketing strategies in this way, you can create an integrated marketing campaign that is successful and foolproof.
Do #3- Think about the future and set goals
An integrated marketing approach allows you to address your business goals in both the present and future tense. When it comes to growing your audience and client base, you aren’t always able to see the results immediately and that means you need to set well thought out goals that are measurable. With integrated marketing, you need to make sure to set goals that are:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable (don’t go crazy)
- Realistic
To do this, make sure to define your goals (brand and revenue), measure the goals using the right tools, and keep in mind key performance indicators.
Do #4- Use data to make decisions
Do #4 is really an extension of Do #3. The process of setting goals is the easy part when it comes to Integrated Marketing. The idea of quantifying those goals into a measurable data point can be a completely different story. A quality integrated marketing strategy must take into consideration the use of data to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses in the campaign. The data ( higher conversion rates, quality of leads, multiple channel touches, time spent on site, increase ROI) can then be used to refine your current strategies/goals and help to implement tactics that work better when it comes to your target audience and your message.
Do #5-Get help if you need to
The effectiveness of your ad is directly linked to the retention, engagement, understanding, and action of your targeted audience. If you truly grasp the steps need to get your message across multiple avenues and through attainable goals and data collection, then you will be able to tackle most of your integrated marketing goals for your business. Howerever, if all of the “Do’s” of integrated marketing have you overwhelmed and crying into your pillow at night, it might be worth your time to get assistance. At Big Red Dog Marketing, we are happy to answer any of your questions and provide the right information to start your integrated marketing journey. Feel free to contact us and let our team help you create the best integrated marketing plan for your business.
Want to read more about Integrated Marketing?
Take a look at the following blogs for more information about Integrated Marketing
Need help?
If you aren’t quite sure where to start your journey with Integrated Marketing, feel free to give us a call for some advice at 919-926-8727 or email us at hello@bigreddog.marketing.