I’m not always one for resolutions, but this year sees more reasons for change.  In 2012, we saw what a major role social media and digital strategy played in the presidential election – many people have gone on the record to say that one of the primary reasons for Romney’s defeat was the lack of an integrated digital campaign strategy.  Regardless of whether that’s true, it speaks to the profound implications that an effective social media strategy might have on your business.

So this year, I’ve decided to make it my personal resolution to help impress the importance of a digital strategy on our Orlando ad agency clients, as well as all of our friends in the advertising and marketing world.  It can be difficult to keep up with all of the new trends and ideas.  Two years ago, daily deals were the future of Internet marketing, while today, businesses like LivingSocial and Groupon are tanking.

This is why we consider it essential for businesses of all sizes to reassess their digital strategy to help grow their businesses through marketing in 2013.  Our Orlando marketing agency strives to provide our clients with successful digital marketing strategies on budgets of any size.

Our first tip is to remember to invest in marketing, but know how to do so wisely.  Generating a flashy marketing campaign won’t be worth the effort if the product can’t stand on its own.  We encourage you to work with a strategist or consultant who truly understands the intricacies of successful digital media.  Companies that have taken the plunge to invest a few dollars in professional marketing typically see high returns for the money spent.

Next, companies should invest resources in learning how to leverage social media.  As we’ve noted in the past, a college student might not be the best person to run your social media platform.  Smaller companies can resolve to use social media to their advantage, encouraging people to Tweet at them for the opportunity to win new products or encouraging them to share information in order to receive discount promo codes.

Finally, and most importantly, we urge you to resolve to continue to consider the end user.  Sure, you want to sell products, but think of the ways that your company might alienate users when you constantly send emails, overselling them on products or services that they might otherwise love.  While we’re not telling you to that marketing strategy is completely organic and reliant upon word-of-mouth, we do encourage you to carefully seed your strategy, and to allow it to take off from there.  Carefully review customer data to find out what people love about your brand, and use that information to develop plans that speak directly to your customer.

Above all, resolve to create a brand strategy that puts your customer first, thereby empowering you to extend your company’s resources to create the solid foundation for an invigorating digital strategy in the new year.

Check out some of the digital marketing and engagement campaigns we’ve done for our clients. We’re pretty satisfied with our work, no bragging needed.