To know how well you have done, you must reflect and see what worked and what did not. Reflection is an important aspect of moving forward; it is not a waste of time. You need to spend time reflecting so that you do not waste time as you plan for the future.

As a brand approaching the New Year, one of the things you can do for your brand is to take stock of your digital marketing activities in the current year.

If you started the year 2023 with a digital marketing strategy, then it is important to check the success rate of such a strategy. If you have a strategy and can clearly articulate it, that is a great step in the right direction because research by Smart Insights (2023) shows that just 17% of businesses can articulate their digital marketing strategy with clarity.

And so, while performing your year-end digital marketing review, you need your strategy handy if you have one.

Conducting Your Your-End Digital Marketing Review

Here are 5 things to consider when conducting your your-end digital marketing review:

Your digital marketing goals

Every brand wanting to leverage digital marketing must set its goals. Without clear-cut SMART goals, it is impossible to achieve success. Just as you have long-term goals for your brand, you must have goals for your digital marketing efforts. What were your digital marketing goals this year?

Your brand message

Can you confidently say that your brand message was clearly and consistently communicated this year? What did you do to ensure so, or what did you not do that can be done better in the coming year?

Your engagement rate

Has your engagement rate increased on your online platforms? What kind of content did you put out that increased engagement? What can you do better in those areas? How can you improve your engagement in the coming year?

The quality and quantity of leads generated

It is important to not just keep records of the number of leads you got, but you must know the number of qualifying leads you got. The more qualifying leads you receive, the better for your brand.

The kind of inquiries received

What kind of inquiries do you receive, and how often do you receive them? You also need to measure the impact of the inquiries on what you do as a brand.

After reviewing your digital marketing efforts for the year, you must also equip yourself for a better strategy in the coming year. 

Here are some things to keep in mind as you plan:

1. Have a solid strategy in place to help you get started on the right foot in the new year. Don’t start your digital marketing efforts in the new year without a plan.
2. Create SMART goals for your digital marketing: Ensure the goals you want to achieve are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Bound.
3. Invest in your digital marketing activities: Did you know that 2022 saw a 16.2 percent increase in digital advertising spending from $491.70 billion in 2021?
4. Be in it for the long haul and be consistent: Consistency is key when it comes to achieving your goals online as a brand.
5. Measure what is working and what is not at set intervals: Set out time to see how your brand is doing, what you can do better, and what you need to continue doing.

How are you preparing for your year-end digital marketing review and preparing for the new year? Drop your comments below, and let us discuss!