As you probably know, digital marketing became popular in the early 2000’s. One of the reasons it became more widely used in comparison to traditional channels was because it was perceived to deliver instant results. With digital, there was data available to show marketers what worked and what didn’t and give a clearer picture of ROI.
Since then, there have been growing pains and hurdles to overcome. Fast results weren’t actually the truth and cutting through the clutter has become more challenging, requiring additional time and money. The struggle to get desired results lies in focusing on short-term gains instead of long-term goals.
So how should you approach digital marketing?
From my experience, building a digital brand should be a continuous process in which companies invest in daily, weekly and monthly activity. A patient, consistent and process-driven approach is what works best!
How much time should it take to get results from digital campaigns?
Based on industry standards and my own findings from over a decade of work, here are some reasonable benchmarks:
- Advertising campaigns on Facebook, Instagram, and Google will often begin to show results within 30-45 days if processes are correctly implemented. Constant monitoring and analysis of key performance indicators (KPIs) are critical for the success of a campaign.
- Email campaign results can vary based on your marketing audience―B2B or B2C―and the quality of your lead list. You should aim for an open rate of at least 15% and a click rate above 2%. This may take multiple test cases of trial and error with the variables involved. For B2C marketing, you could see results faster. For B2B marketing, you need to nurture leads over time to see real success.
- SEO is a long-term game. But with the right action plan and smart, consistent execution, you should see rankings within a 3–6-month period. After that, it should be a steady monthly progress.
- LinkedIn marketing requires a long-term nurturing approach to build and grow your network. Meaningful conversations and high-quality leads can take up to 2-3 months to gain momentum. So don’t give up hope too soon!
Having realistic expectations and clearly-defined objectives will help you achieve progress each year. Consistent feedback from your digital marketing will allow you to invest in digital channels that align with your business goals. Unrealistic expectations will lead lead to disappointment and distrust in the digital platform. Creating a brand online must be strategic, consistent, and steady in order to see real long-term results for your business.
Reach out to our team to discuss building a long-term digital marketing plan.
