The 10 Traits You Need for Success with Digital Marketing

We all want instantaneous results from our marketing efforts.? And we want it with the least amount of time and financial investment.? It’s a normal desire, but not necessarily realistic.? I have been at this digital marketing game for quite a few years now, and I’ve learned a few things about what works and what doesn’t.? Marketing has stretched me in ways I never thought possible.? If I’m completely honest, I am still growing and developing the traits that are required for success with digital marketing.

When I’m working with my clients, the most important thing I can do is set proper expectations about how digital marketing works.? It’s not always what my clients want to hear.? Social media has inflated these expectations, leading coaches and online business owners to believe that digital marketing is magic and will produce instant results.? The lucky few may have this level of success with digital marketing, but the majority need to buckle up and prepare themselves for the long game.

So what traits do you need to have success with digital marketing in this day and age?

PATIENCE

Ah yes, patience is a virtue.? And I’m admittedly one of the most impatient people when it comes to business growth for me (and my clients).? I want to grow and I want to grow fast.? But digital marketing just doesn’t work that way.? There are a lot of people that want to grow quickly and they are all vying for attention from the same customers.? Success with digital marketing requires you to be slow and steady to win the race.? And that requires patience my dear.

CONSISTENCY

Speaking of steady, there is nothing more important than consistency when marketing your services.? One of my LinkedIn connections admitted that she posted over 100 videos before she began to gain any traction.? Sometimes business owners will try something for a couple of months and then fall off when they don’t receive the traction they desire.? You can’t do that.? Just the other day, I was feeling deflated and wondering if anyone ever read my social media posts (I’ve been consistently posting for years).? Then in one day, I received two leads - one from Instagram and one from Facebook.? Consistency builds trust and tells the Universe that you are serious about your business.

Success with digital marketing requires more than just patience and consistency.? It requires…

AUTHENTICITY

There is no room for fakeness in today’s marketplace.? People want the “real” you and the more personal you are, the more they like (or dislike) you.? Your ideal clients are craving a genuine connection with you.? There is no room for surface talk, or cold and unengaging content.? Recently, I made a post on LinkedIn about my dream to have an executive desk in a loft office.? I posted a photo of my new desk and gave kudos to my spouse for building it for me.? That post got way more engagement than any “marketing tip” post I have ever done.? Don’t be afraid to let your true colors shine through.? Even if you turn people off, that’s okay.? They weren’t your ideal client.

PROBLEM SOLVING

Success with digital marketing will need a little detective work.? Some things you will try simply will not work.? Rather than throwing in the towel and completely giving up, you will need to do a little problem-solving.? What specifically isn’t working?? Is your messaging unclear?? Are you targeting the wrong audience?? Does your landing page need revamping?? Are you not solving the right problems for your clients?? If you don’t have the fortitude to hang in and keep testing and solving problems, then your digital marketing will likely never work.

CREATIVITY

Somehow you need to find a way to stand out in the noisy digital space.? So the more creative you can be with your offers, your copywriting, your strategy, your design, etc., the more chances you have to compete.? People are attracted to “different”.? I know this can be hard because there aren’t a lot of new ideas.? But if you can put your own creative spin on an old idea and create something fresh and innovative, then that works too.? I recently met a business coach that I believe can attribute much of her success to her creativity.? There are so many business coaches to choose from but her offers and her copy are so compelling that she consistently fills her programs.

You even need a few left-brained skills to have success with digital marketing.

STRATEGIC

Success with digital marketing needs a well-thought-out strategy and plan.? It’s not likely to work if you start trying random things or jumping around from one activity to another.? Then you never know what works and what doesn’t.? I always recommend a 90-day marketing plan to start with.? During those 90 days, there should be very specific strategies that you are going to try and test. At the end of the 90 days, you can evaluate what’s next.? Should you continue on the same path or it is time to tweak and try something new?

NUMBERS SAVVY

Yes, digital marketing has a lot of numbers involved.? There are metrics you need to track to test effectiveness.? There are financial budgets that need to be decided so you know where to invest properly.? Growth in marketing always requires us to track numbers.? Truthfully, it’s one of the least attractive and fun things (for me) to mess with, but it’s a necessary evil.? Numbers don’t lie.? So make sure you don’t ignore this piece of your digital marketing strategy.

ORGANIZATION

Yep, success with your digital marketing will require you to be uber-organized.? Spreadsheets, project management tools, checklists, and more.? Anything that will keep you on track and organized with your content, metrics, ad data, team responsibilities, due dates, etc.? Because you have to be so consistent and stick to your detailed plan, organization is key so you don’t drop any balls.

To round out your success with digital marketing, adopt these final two traits.

FLEXIBILITY

With digital marketing, there is no room for rigidity.? Don’t get yourself so locked into a particular outcome, strategy or activity because digital marketing can be both predictable and unpredictable.? What works for one person may not work for another.? You may think something is a great idea but quickly learn that it isn’t producing the results you want.? If you can truly determine why something isn’t working, then it’s okay to chuck the idea mid-stream and try something new.? But always make sure you are giving it some time and effort before changing course.

REALISM

As I have mentioned throughout this article, we don’t know what works until we test it.? If you are launching for the first time, for instance, don’t set unrealistic expectations about how many sales you will receive.? Be realistic with your digital marketing goals.? Be realistic about the results you want to achieve.? Be realistic with the team members you hire.? Avoid getting sucked into the idealistic social media posts that promise instantaneous success with digital marketing.

BONUS TRAIT FOR GOOD MEASURE…

TEAM PLAYER

Digital marketing can be complicated.? And it is changing rapidly every day.? It is highly likely you will need people other than yourself to carry out your digital marketing strategy.? Experts that may know more than you.? Team players that are savvy with copy, building funnels , social media engagement , launching , etc.? Respect their knowledge.? Collaborate with them as if they are valuable members of your team.? Together you will position your company for growth!

Ready to get your digital marketing game on?? We’d love to partner with you and be the experts you need on your team to experience your next level of business growth.? Contact us today for a free consultation .