If I have to pick 5 things to build a digital strategy…

Xiangning Chen
Marketing in the Age of Digital
4 min readApr 15, 2024

Hey there! Since I kicked off this blog series in January 2024, we’ve explored some fantastic digital marketing tactics — from Taco Bell’s email marketing, to Chipotle’s social media crisis management, to Ele.me’s Christmas digital campaign, and more…. It’s been a remarkable journey, and along the way, I’ve distilled five key aspects that are critical for any digital strategy. I’ve also paired each with compelling real-world examples to guide you. Ready to dive in? Let’s get started!

1. Compelling Content: The king that reigns 👑

Does Bill Gates’s 1996 mantra, “Content is king,” sound a bit cliché today? This concept is old, but its crown hasn’t slipped yet. High-quality content remains the lifeblood of any digital marketing strategy. Why? Because search engines thrive on fresh, relevant content, boosting your site’s visibility and ranking. But it’s not just about satisfying the algorithms; it’s about crafting stories that resonate with humans, not just bots. Engaging content can attract your audience, build trust, and establish your brand as an authority. Remember, people don’t return to a website for its clever keywords — they come back for compelling content.

GoPro’s video content marketing is so engaging! I would love to take a similar video when I go skiing.

2. If content is fire, social media is the gasoline 🔥

Yes, I’m quoting again — this time from Jay Baer. Blame those geniuses whose words encapsulate big ideas so perfectly that I can’t help but share them. Social media is a must-remember aspect for it allows your brand to shout its message to the public while also whispering directly to your target audience 🔊. Beyond just reach, social media can profoundly impact your brand through consistent engagement. By responding to comments, sparking conversations, and asking questions, you foster an active online community. It’s all about making sure your message doesn’t just reach your audience but truly connects with them, building lasting relationships.

Barbie’s selfie went viral on social media in 2023. It caught my attention, the first since my childhood. And yes, I even went to watch the Barbie movie.

3. Search: All about being found 🔍

Can you believe that many brands don’t show up as the first result, even when you search their names directly? 👀 Don’t let your digital content get buried! We must aim to be at the top, or at least on the first page — after all, being on the second page of Google is practically invisible. Search Engine Optimization is crucial to ensure your digital efforts are easily found. Here’s how I approach : I pinpoint what the audience is searching for and ensure I’m there with an answer. Effective SEO increases traffic, improves conversion rates, and builds long-term brand visibility and trust. I consider it ✨the foundation for sustained digital success✨. What do you think?

Starbucks nails SEO by planting relevant keywords into their website and social media, and it optimized for location-based keywords for better searchability.

4. Email Marketing: Not dead yet! 📨

Challenge me with data if you don’t believe in this 😆. In this digital age, email is for sure a powerhouse in direct marketing. Like many, I check my emails daily, and I definitely become more aware of brands that appear frequently. Email marketing is direct and cost-effective, and personalization takes the game to the next level. Based on an audience’s historical data, personalized emails can be incredibly relevant and engaging. A well-crafted email strategy ensures that the right messages reach the right people at the right time. Plus, there’s a unique satisfaction in seeing high open rates after you’ve nailed the perfect subject line. For a practical example of effective email marketing, check the following link to see why I stay subscribed to Taco Bell’s email list:

5. UX: Create silent success ⭐

I view UX as the secret recipe for digital success. An easy-to-navigate, quick-loading, and visually appealing website encourages users to stay longer and explore more. As you can imagine, poor UX can drive visitors away faster than you can say “bounce rate.”🏃🏼 It’s essential to ensure your website is accessible and responsive — no one enjoys waiting or struggling to zoom just to access content. Superior UX not only enhances customer satisfaction and increases engagement but also boosts conversions by simplifying the process for users to take desired actions, which directly improves your marketing results 👍🏼. Effective UX sets you apart from competitors and fosters long-term loyalty among your customers. If you’d like a deeper dive into UX, check out my blog post from last week:

Conclusion

It took some time to select the most impactful elements among all the digital marketing strategies, but I’m pleased with the insights I’ve shared. I hope these five must-remember aspects will help enhance your digital strategy and lead to great success!

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Xiangning Chen
Marketing in the Age of Digital

Digital Marketing | Content Creator | Explorer | Grad Student@NYU Integrated Marketing