4 Digital Marketing Mistakes That Shouldn’t Be Carried Into 2016

Any time you approach the end of a calendar year it is a good time to spot if you have made any of the 4 Digital Marketing Mistakes. It is important to reflect and project your progress. In terms of reflecting, you should look at your business and consider everything that’s happened over the past year – good and bad. This will ultimately feed your ability to project. There will be things you want to bring to an end, as well as profitable aspects of your business that are worth continuing.  

As a digital marketer, it’s imperative that you’re able to honestly reflect on the past year. There should be no sugar coating or overlooking different aspects of success or failure. If you want to improve upon this year and make 2016 your most successful year in recent history, then it’s time to identify and do away with the following 4 digital  marketing mistakes that far too many brands made this year.

•   Having the Wrong Definition of Digital Marketing

Simply put, it’s amazing how many self-proclaimed digital marketers don’t actually understand the full definition of digital marketing. Unbeknownst to many, there’s a distinction between internet marketing and digital marketing. Internet marketing is a component of digital marketing, but these terms are not interchangeable.

As successful entrepreneur Neil Patel says, “Digital marketing is any form of marketing products or services, which involves electronic devices.” While the growth of the IoT means most modern electronic devices are either directly or indirectly connected to the internet, this isn’t always true. Digital billboards, radio, and TV are all examples of digital marketing mediums that operate independently of the internet.

Keep this in mind as you move into 2016 and don’t be afraid to broaden your horizons beyond your current internet tactics. There’s nothing wrong with sticking to internet marketing, but learn to use the correct term moving forward.

•   Ignoring the Growth of Mobile

In May of this year, it was announced for the first time ever that “more Google searches take place on mobile devices than on computers in 10 countries including the US and Japan.” We’ve seen this trend unfolding for years, but it’s now official. That means you can no longer ignore mobile in lieu of desktop.

Mobile should be the priority in 2016. From web design and paid advertising to content marketing and social, optimizing for mobile is incredibly important moving forward.

•   Not Tracking Your Efforts

A handful of years ago, nobody could fault you for failing to track your digital marketing efforts. There simply weren’t very many tools and resources available to accurately monitor internet marketing campaigns in a cost-effective way. However, those days are long gone.  

In 2016, you’ll have access to hundreds of different budget-friendly tools that can help you achieve clarity and visibility in real-time. From predictive analytics tools to social listening resources, there’s a technology for every need.

•   Failing to Invest in Video

For someone who’s never invested in video, the process can seem intimidating and expensive. However, now’s the time to jump on board. Just scroll through your Facebook newsfeed or head over to YouTube and you’ll see just how prominent video is in today’s internet marketing mix.

Currently, online video accounts for 50 percent of all mobile traffic. That number is expected to grow in the coming months. By 2017, 69 percent of all consumer internet traffic will be video. While you shouldn’t invest in an all-video strategy, it needs to play a role in your digital marketing efforts moving forward.

• Eliminate These 4 Digital Marketing Mistakes Now

As you can see, there’s much room for improvement in the digital marketing industry. While you may not be making all of these mistakes, you’re probably making at least one. By eliminating these faults and correcting them before your enter the new year, you can enhance your efforts and incite growth.