Five Essential Ways to Build a Digital Strategy in 2022
For many small/medium business (SMB) owners, the word “digital” can be overwhelming. For every big-named social media site that your business should be on, there are some 10+ that your business could be on.
Then, there’s the questions of whether the company is being found across all of the right search engines, and whether the company’s digital capabilities illuminate their clients interactions and create truly delightful experiences.
What about the kids? While most of them are at home playing video games and watching the next YouTube Mr. Beast episode, most beg the same ask — Are they being “Social” enough? That answer is a resounding YES!
They’ve exponentially surpassed us with mobile, app, TikTok and yes - even social skills - however, that differs to the way most of us see it!
Here are five ways you can put together your own digital strategy for your business for 2022.
1. Attracting New Clients
Engaging with your clients comes down to reach. Live video is one of the fastest growing forms of content on social media today. According to Sprout Social, “Tik Tok is the fastest growing social media platform with a staggering 105% user growth rate in the US over the past two years”. Additionally, Instagram Stories (83%) and grid posts (93%) remain the most popular type of content among influencers.
What about the power of AI? Chatbots understand the intent of your customers’ requests, guide them through your website with meticulous manner, and have an ability to capture all of their interactions (and even their entire conversation history) allowing you to offfer up and deliver meaningful interactions.
2. Expand Payment Options
The demand for contactless, online, digital, frictionless and speedier payments continues to increase. In 2021, one of the most effective implementations of this was seen through BOPIS (Buy Online, Pickup in Stores) which made it possible for us to live normally through a pandemic.
The digital customer experience begins with payments. According to GlobalPayments, "People want to have a frictionless commerce experience at the point when they want to transact. And that's not just at the point-of-sale; it's across the entire experience."
3. Self-Service Capabilities
Think Instacart, ...Amazon ...or any of your favorite local restaurants or coffee shops that offer the ability to buy some of your favorite items online. Self service technologies are designed to enable brands/companies with the ability to bring in sales without the typical staffing costs.
4. Remote Work
According to Business Wire, “SMBs main technology priority in 2022, is supportive of remote working". Not only does remote work act as a key for softening the labor shortage, but it also represents the best path for identifying the key digital capabilities needed / required for your business.
5. Task Automation
In the day and age of AI, Automation is king. Email marketing, Content Marketing, Customer Service, Data Processing, and even HR tasks are being automated. For years, many thought Robots Automation would kill our workforce. Undoubtedly the opposite is true. According to McKinsey, "Over the next ten to 15 years, the adoption of automation and AI technologies will transform the workplace as people increasingly interact with ever-smarter machines. These technologies, and that human-machine interaction, will bring numerous benefits in the form of higher productivity, GDP growth, improved corporate performance, and new prosperity, but they will also change the skills required of human workers.” This shift will not only drive more talent into the workforce, but also allow you to create a more culturally appealing workplace for those employees who decide to pick up some of these fresh, new skills.
If all else fails, I suppose you could just bring on the kids to help!
Sources:
https://www.emarketer.com/content/us-social-media-usage-2021
https://www.emarketer.com/content/marketing-with-stories-2021
https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-statistics/
https://www.globalpayments.com/commerce-payment-trends
https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/regions-in-focus/solving-the-productivity-puzzle