Marketing Checklist: 5 Things You Need to Do Before 2019

The PALO Creative office is looking festive nowadays with wreaths, garland and no holiday decoration is complete without lights (Thanks Linda!). Sure, we’re in the holly jolly spirit, but we can’t help but think about 2019. That’s because now’s actually the best time to review all of the data you’ve covered over the past year and start planning a fresh marketing strategy for the new year. 2019 brings new aspirations, new ideas and new goals for your business. Taking a fresh approach with your business strategy can be of great benefit and ensure your reputation is even more trusted in the eyes of consumers.

In addition to planning new and improved marketing tactics for 2019, there are a few steps that involve analyzing, planning and strategizing, of course. So, where do you begin? We’re glad you asked. At PALO, we’ve taken the guesswork out of strategizing with our end-of-year checklist that’s sure to deliver success in the new year.

1. Review what worked and what didn’t

End-of-year is the best time to review what tactics crushed it and others that may need a little work. Analyze each campaign and revisit the goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) that helped measure success. Remember, consider soft KPIs that include an increase in brand awareness, traffic to your website and social media engagement. The tools that measure KPIs are Google Analytics, HubSpot and Moz. Each of these provide really valuable insights such as website traffic from month-to-month, rankings on Google SERP (Search Engine Results Pages), and even offer comparison tools for the marketing channels utilized during your campaigns.

Other Questions to Ask During the Review Process of Campaigns

• Did our ideal target audience engage with the content offer?
• Did the campaign improve brand image and awareness?
• How can we build off of the campaigns that we’ve had the most success with for the upcoming year?
  

2. Follow Up With Lost Prospects

Time heals everything as the saying goes and the same holds true with lost prospects. It’s always worth reaching out again to individuals who weren’t interested in your product or service at the time, but they may have a change of heart now. Give them a call or email and let them know you were thinking about them. Sharing a special holiday offer can be a great way to close deals and build new relationships before the end of the year.

3. Draft Next Year’s Campaign Calendar Now

After reviewing the performance of your past marketing campaigns, start creating a rough draft of the campaigns you’d like to focus on for the upcoming year. After identifying what was successful and what wasn’t, you can make improvements to help maximize your investment for the next year.

4. Try Something Different For 2019

We see it all the time. Marketing insanity – businesses doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. With a new plan and routine, you can expect new results with powerful insight leading to long-term growth.

5. Schedule a 30-minute call with Jim Komara, Digital Media Director at PALO Creative

It’s the holidays. You’re busy, we get it! Trying to shop for Aunt Sue while preparing for 2019 can be overwhelming. That’s why, in addition to this checklist, we’re offering you the opportunity to chat with one of our valued team members for tips and insights on getting a new plan together for 2019. Digital Media Director of PALO Creative, Jim Komara, is an expert in driving long-term growth for businesses while utilizing the inbound and digital marketing approach. Schedule your free, no obligations call with Jim today!