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ARTICLE #58
How to create a digital strategy for your business?
Online Strategy
Digital Transformation
Digital Planning
Marketing Strategy
Content Strategy
Online Strategy
Digital Transformation
Digital Planning
Marketing Strategy
Content Strategy
Written by:
7 min read
Updated on: July 15, 2024
Toni Hukkanen
Head of Design
Creative Direction, Brand Direction
Toni Hukkanen
Head of Design
Creative Direction, Brand Direction
Is your business feeling stuck, and you are itching to figure out why? Look no further than the legendary story of Apple and Steve Jobs. As recently as 1996, the technology behemoth was on the verge of collapse. Flash forward to 2024, and it's reigning supreme at the top of Statista's ranking of global most valuable brands with an astonishing $516.6 billion brand value. That mind-boggling rise did not occur overnight. It was sparked by a digital strategy fixated on simplicity, ushering in new products, streamlined design, and a culture that put user experience front and center.
You don’t have to be on Apple’s level to see the power of a well-crafted digital plan. The good news is, creating a digital strategy for your own business isn’t some arcane art reserved for Silicon Valley icons. Keep reading, and we’ll dig into what exactly a digital strategy is, why your business must survive and thrive, and how you can start building one that actually works.
Is your business feeling stuck, and you are itching to figure out why? Look no further than the legendary story of Apple and Steve Jobs. As recently as 1996, the technology behemoth was on the verge of collapse. Flash forward to 2024, and it's reigning supreme at the top of Statista's ranking of global most valuable brands with an astonishing $516.6 billion brand value. That mind-boggling rise did not occur overnight. It was sparked by a digital strategy fixated on simplicity, ushering in new products, streamlined design, and a culture that put user experience front and center.
You don’t have to be on Apple’s level to see the power of a well-crafted digital plan. The good news is, creating a digital strategy for your own business isn’t some arcane art reserved for Silicon Valley icons. Keep reading, and we’ll dig into what exactly a digital strategy is, why your business must survive and thrive, and how you can start building one that actually works.
What is a digital strategy?
What is a digital strategy?
A digital strategy is a plan detailing your online goals (often involving data science, technology, and analytics) and the paths to achieve them. It pinpoints the audience you’d like to reach, the metrics you’ll measure, and the steps customers take before they complete a desired action—like making a purchase or filling in a form.
A good strategy keeps everyone aligned, so your business stays on course. It usually spans both short- and long-term goals, all managed by a team from various departments—executive leadership, marketing, and IT among them—to ensure a comprehensive approach to success.
A digital strategy is a plan detailing your online goals (often involving data science, technology, and analytics) and the paths to achieve them. It pinpoints the audience you’d like to reach, the metrics you’ll measure, and the steps customers take before they complete a desired action—like making a purchase or filling in a form.
A good strategy keeps everyone aligned, so your business stays on course. It usually spans both short- and long-term goals, all managed by a team from various departments—executive leadership, marketing, and IT among them—to ensure a comprehensive approach to success.
Why is digital strategy important for your business?
Whether you are running a successful business or just starting out with a small team in a co-working environment, a digital strategy gives you a clear roadmap ahead. It's not merely playing around with social media updates or Google advertising; it's about setting concrete objectives, selecting the correct tools, and laying down the precise steps to achieve them. Below, we’ll dig into why a digital strategy isn’t just another buzzword and how it can fast-track your business success.
1. Deep business insight
The first step in building any digital strategy is a thorough discovery phase. Think of it as hitting the “pause” button to see exactly where your business stands. Maybe your brand is known for top-notch customer service, but your website’s layout is a cluttered mess. Or perhaps your marketing team keeps pumping out great blog posts, yet nobody reads them because they’re not optimised for search. This discovery stage sheds light on these gaps.
2. Greater growth potential
A well-created digital strategy can raise your growth game and sharpen your competitive edge. Recent data suggests that 40% of businesses actively investing in digital strategies find themselves in a stronger market position. In practical terms, that might mean rolling out mobile-friendly services or using data analytics to identify which products are flying off the shelves and which ones need a refresh. If you’ve been stuck in “safe mode” for a while, relying on the same old sales channel, an updated digital approach can jolt you out of complacency. Even small tweaks in how you attract or engage customers online can lead to noticeable gains in market share.
3. Fewer missed opportunities
Think of your digital strategy as your roadmap. When you skip a step, be it optimising your e-commerce funnel or rolling out a new email campaign, you risk missing out on opportunities you didn’t even know were there. This is where a SWOT analysis can be a lifesaver. Imagine discovering a niche audience that nobody in your field is targeting—now you have a fresh angle to explore.
Being methodical pays off. If you jump straight into the fun stuff like posting on social media without considering your site’s user experience or SEO, you could lose potential customers at the door. A digital strategy forces you to line up each piece of the puzzle in a way that’s deliberate and effective.
4. Stronger customer interaction
Customers these days expect real-time service, whether they’re scrolling on their phone at midnight or browsing your website on their lunch break. By nailing your digital strategy, you can make sure your online channels are not just open, but intuitive and efficient. That might mean integrating live chat on your website or using targeted push notifications on mobile to highlight seasonal deals.
There’s more to it than good design. A data-driven approach helps you zero in on which features customers crave most. Maybe your audience hates chatbots but loves a dedicated text line. Or they’re cool with AI-driven service, but only if it solves their problem in under 60 seconds. Listening to real-world feedback and adjusting your strategy accordingly can be the difference between “just another brand” and “the brand that really gets me.”
5. Tracking ROI with less hassle
Digital channels make it a snap to measure everything from ad click-through rates to how long people linger on your landing page. If you’ve been winging it with a vague sense of what works and what doesn’t, a digital strategy puts some serious metrics behind your efforts. Think conversion rates, bounce rates, customer acquisition costs—these numbers help you refine what’s making you money and cut out what’s wasting it. No more guessing games. When you know how much each campaign or platform is contributing to your overall revenue, you can reinvest confidently. Over time, this level of detail can elevate your marketing game from “throw money at it and hope” to “scalpel-precise campaigns that deliver.”
6. More revenue
Ultimately, let’s not kid ourselves: most companies want a healthier bottom line. An effective digital strategy can streamline your operations (think automation of repetitive tasks), boost online sales (via optimised funnels or better user experiences), and even introduce new revenue streams you hadn’t considered. Picture launching a subscription service after you spot a gap in the market—those recurring fees can stack up. When your workflows run smoothly, and your team isn’t bogged down with manual tasks, everyone has room to innovate. If you spot a new product angle or a chance to improve your service, you can pivot quickly instead of being stuck in outdated processes.
Whether you are running a successful business or just starting out with a small team in a co-working environment, a digital strategy gives you a clear roadmap ahead. It's not merely playing around with social media updates or Google advertising; it's about setting concrete objectives, selecting the correct tools, and laying down the precise steps to achieve them. Below, we’ll dig into why a digital strategy isn’t just another buzzword and how it can fast-track your business success.
1. Deep business insight
The first step in building any digital strategy is a thorough discovery phase. Think of it as hitting the “pause” button to see exactly where your business stands. Maybe your brand is known for top-notch customer service, but your website’s layout is a cluttered mess. Or perhaps your marketing team keeps pumping out great blog posts, yet nobody reads them because they’re not optimised for search. This discovery stage sheds light on these gaps.
2. Greater growth potential
A well-created digital strategy can raise your growth game and sharpen your competitive edge. Recent data suggests that 40% of businesses actively investing in digital strategies find themselves in a stronger market position. In practical terms, that might mean rolling out mobile-friendly services or using data analytics to identify which products are flying off the shelves and which ones need a refresh. If you’ve been stuck in “safe mode” for a while, relying on the same old sales channel, an updated digital approach can jolt you out of complacency. Even small tweaks in how you attract or engage customers online can lead to noticeable gains in market share.
3. Fewer missed opportunities
Think of your digital strategy as your roadmap. When you skip a step, be it optimising your e-commerce funnel or rolling out a new email campaign, you risk missing out on opportunities you didn’t even know were there. This is where a SWOT analysis can be a lifesaver. Imagine discovering a niche audience that nobody in your field is targeting—now you have a fresh angle to explore.
Being methodical pays off. If you jump straight into the fun stuff like posting on social media without considering your site’s user experience or SEO, you could lose potential customers at the door. A digital strategy forces you to line up each piece of the puzzle in a way that’s deliberate and effective.
4. Stronger customer interaction
Customers these days expect real-time service, whether they’re scrolling on their phone at midnight or browsing your website on their lunch break. By nailing your digital strategy, you can make sure your online channels are not just open, but intuitive and efficient. That might mean integrating live chat on your website or using targeted push notifications on mobile to highlight seasonal deals.
There’s more to it than good design. A data-driven approach helps you zero in on which features customers crave most. Maybe your audience hates chatbots but loves a dedicated text line. Or they’re cool with AI-driven service, but only if it solves their problem in under 60 seconds. Listening to real-world feedback and adjusting your strategy accordingly can be the difference between “just another brand” and “the brand that really gets me.”
5. Tracking ROI with less hassle
Digital channels make it a snap to measure everything from ad click-through rates to how long people linger on your landing page. If you’ve been winging it with a vague sense of what works and what doesn’t, a digital strategy puts some serious metrics behind your efforts. Think conversion rates, bounce rates, customer acquisition costs—these numbers help you refine what’s making you money and cut out what’s wasting it. No more guessing games. When you know how much each campaign or platform is contributing to your overall revenue, you can reinvest confidently. Over time, this level of detail can elevate your marketing game from “throw money at it and hope” to “scalpel-precise campaigns that deliver.”
6. More revenue
Ultimately, let’s not kid ourselves: most companies want a healthier bottom line. An effective digital strategy can streamline your operations (think automation of repetitive tasks), boost online sales (via optimised funnels or better user experiences), and even introduce new revenue streams you hadn’t considered. Picture launching a subscription service after you spot a gap in the market—those recurring fees can stack up. When your workflows run smoothly, and your team isn’t bogged down with manual tasks, everyone has room to innovate. If you spot a new product angle or a chance to improve your service, you can pivot quickly instead of being stuck in outdated processes.
What are the key elements of a digital strategy?
A good digital strategy is more than sharing on social media and crossing your fingers. It is an insightful plan that guides your business's goals with the harsh reality of the Internet. Below are the foundation pieces you can use to construct or develop your digital strategy, starting from defining objectives to measuring performance.
SMART Goals
SMART goals are the backbone of any digital strategy. They keep you from wandering or chasing every new tech fad just because it’s “cool.” Here is how these goals help you:
Get your brand noticed in a crowded marketplace.
Educate prospective clients on your product line.
Boost your website's performance, from load speed improvements to improved conversion rates.
Raise your brand to be among the leading players in your niche.
Boost engagement via blog posts, social media campaigns, or targeted emails.
You can rattle off generic goals all day, “We want more traffic!” but unless they align with your actual business needs, you’ll end up with vanity metrics. A million views mean nothing if no one is buying. Pick goals that genuinely move the needle.
Target audience
Your target audience is your bread-and-butter, individuals who require what you have to offer. But unless you know who they are and how they act, you will find it tough to connect with them. Age, gender, shopping tendencies, name it, it's all important.
Market research: Are they teens living and breathing online on TikTok, or career professionals who favor LinkedIn?
Demographics: Age bracket, typical salary, geographic location.
Psychographics: Values, hobbies, and interests.
Pain points: The problems or frustrations they have that you can help solve.
Don't think you know your audience because you belong to a particular demographic. Rely on actual data from surveys or analytics. The "obvious" group isn't always the one purchasing your product.
Competitor research
It is important to figure out where your competitors shine, where they falter, and how they approach marketing. That knowledge can reveal opportunities you might be missing, along with traps you want to avoid. You could discover that your industry is riding a wave of new consumer interest in eco-friendly products while you’re still offering last season’s standard line. Or perhaps you notice a gap in the market for budget-conscious students or a high-end luxury segment that nobody is catering to. Keeping an eye on your rivals isn’t about simply copying what works for them; it’s about spotting the holes in their approach and sweeping in with your own innovative ideas. If, for instance, everyone else is dominating on Instagram ads but forgetting about Pinterest, that could be your golden opportunity to stand out.
User flows
A user journey describes the path potential buyers go on from the point where they become aware of your brand to the point where they decide to buy or bypass. When you map that out well, it points out bottlenecks that could be eating into your sales, such as a long, frustrating checkout or a failure in social proof. Imagine the path a customer takes: initially, they notice your ad and get to know your brand, then they research further by Googling your name or looking at your reviews on social media, they get into the consideration stage by joining your newsletter or reading a blog post comparing your product to that of a competitor, and ultimately make a purchase decision. If your "Contact Us" page is so hidden that it takes three clicks to access, you may be losing customers who don't have the patience to dig any deeper.
Key Performance Indicators
Blind work is never smart, so you must have a mechanism for measuring progress. KPIs do that by providing you with concrete feedback as to whether your work is making the grade or throwing time and money down a drain. You may want to monitor how many visitors are checking out your site, how many of them actually sign up or purchase, and how much it's costing you to gain each new customer. The amount of qualified leads you bring in every month and the rate of social media engagement you are experiencing can be useful as well. Don't overwhelm yourself with too many numbers at once, so select those that best suit your business needs at the moment. A new company may be more concerned about brand awareness, whereas an existing company may be more concerned about keeping the ones they have.
RACE Planning
Developed by Smart Insights, the RACE model—Reach, Act, Convert, Engage—lays out the complete lifespan of a customer’s interaction with your brand. It helps you address every part of the funnel so you don’t overlook a critical step.
In the Reach stage, you concentrate on building visibility, typically by using advertisements, SEO, or social media to draw attention.
The Act stage asks visitors to make some minor commitment, like subscribing to a newsletter or downloading a white paper.
In Convert, your goal is to turn those more engaged visitors into paying customers.
Engage aims to keep them around for repeat business and brand loyalty. If you spot a big drop at any stage, that signals where you need to refine things.
You might see plenty of traffic (which is great for Reach), but if no one’s signing up for your newsletter, it might be time to rework the layout or add better calls to action. Instead of just looking at the final outcome—like total sales—you should pay attention to each link in the chain.
A good digital strategy is more than sharing on social media and crossing your fingers. It is an insightful plan that guides your business's goals with the harsh reality of the Internet. Below are the foundation pieces you can use to construct or develop your digital strategy, starting from defining objectives to measuring performance.
SMART Goals
SMART goals are the backbone of any digital strategy. They keep you from wandering or chasing every new tech fad just because it’s “cool.” Here is how these goals help you:
Get your brand noticed in a crowded marketplace.
Educate prospective clients on your product line.
Boost your website's performance, from load speed improvements to improved conversion rates.
Raise your brand to be among the leading players in your niche.
Boost engagement via blog posts, social media campaigns, or targeted emails.
You can rattle off generic goals all day, “We want more traffic!” but unless they align with your actual business needs, you’ll end up with vanity metrics. A million views mean nothing if no one is buying. Pick goals that genuinely move the needle.
Target audience
Your target audience is your bread-and-butter, individuals who require what you have to offer. But unless you know who they are and how they act, you will find it tough to connect with them. Age, gender, shopping tendencies, name it, it's all important.
Market research: Are they teens living and breathing online on TikTok, or career professionals who favor LinkedIn?
Demographics: Age bracket, typical salary, geographic location.
Psychographics: Values, hobbies, and interests.
Pain points: The problems or frustrations they have that you can help solve.
Don't think you know your audience because you belong to a particular demographic. Rely on actual data from surveys or analytics. The "obvious" group isn't always the one purchasing your product.
Competitor research
It is important to figure out where your competitors shine, where they falter, and how they approach marketing. That knowledge can reveal opportunities you might be missing, along with traps you want to avoid. You could discover that your industry is riding a wave of new consumer interest in eco-friendly products while you’re still offering last season’s standard line. Or perhaps you notice a gap in the market for budget-conscious students or a high-end luxury segment that nobody is catering to. Keeping an eye on your rivals isn’t about simply copying what works for them; it’s about spotting the holes in their approach and sweeping in with your own innovative ideas. If, for instance, everyone else is dominating on Instagram ads but forgetting about Pinterest, that could be your golden opportunity to stand out.
User flows
A user journey describes the path potential buyers go on from the point where they become aware of your brand to the point where they decide to buy or bypass. When you map that out well, it points out bottlenecks that could be eating into your sales, such as a long, frustrating checkout or a failure in social proof. Imagine the path a customer takes: initially, they notice your ad and get to know your brand, then they research further by Googling your name or looking at your reviews on social media, they get into the consideration stage by joining your newsletter or reading a blog post comparing your product to that of a competitor, and ultimately make a purchase decision. If your "Contact Us" page is so hidden that it takes three clicks to access, you may be losing customers who don't have the patience to dig any deeper.
Key Performance Indicators
Blind work is never smart, so you must have a mechanism for measuring progress. KPIs do that by providing you with concrete feedback as to whether your work is making the grade or throwing time and money down a drain. You may want to monitor how many visitors are checking out your site, how many of them actually sign up or purchase, and how much it's costing you to gain each new customer. The amount of qualified leads you bring in every month and the rate of social media engagement you are experiencing can be useful as well. Don't overwhelm yourself with too many numbers at once, so select those that best suit your business needs at the moment. A new company may be more concerned about brand awareness, whereas an existing company may be more concerned about keeping the ones they have.
RACE Planning
Developed by Smart Insights, the RACE model—Reach, Act, Convert, Engage—lays out the complete lifespan of a customer’s interaction with your brand. It helps you address every part of the funnel so you don’t overlook a critical step.
In the Reach stage, you concentrate on building visibility, typically by using advertisements, SEO, or social media to draw attention.
The Act stage asks visitors to make some minor commitment, like subscribing to a newsletter or downloading a white paper.
In Convert, your goal is to turn those more engaged visitors into paying customers.
Engage aims to keep them around for repeat business and brand loyalty. If you spot a big drop at any stage, that signals where you need to refine things.
You might see plenty of traffic (which is great for Reach), but if no one’s signing up for your newsletter, it might be time to rework the layout or add better calls to action. Instead of just looking at the final outcome—like total sales—you should pay attention to each link in the chain.
Steps to create your digital strategy
There are many ways to create a digital strategy and business goals, a digital action plan and digital audit results are part of it. Your strategy must serve as a blueprint, a roadmap, or a framework. Make sure it is well structured to keep you on the right path.
1. Assess your current situation
Before you can map out where you’re going, you need to figure out where you currently stand. Conduct a SWOT analysis in the digital space. Ask questions like:
“Is my website user-friendly or is it a digital ghost town?”
"Does my brand's social media even get people engaged, or am I just launching memes into the void?"
You'll want to determine your target audience, which is a nice way of saying "the people you want to be buying your stuff." Things like Google Analytics, social media analytics, or old-fashioned surveys can tell you who's listening and who's ghosted. Don't get so caught up in the newest app or marketing fad that you lose sight of your business basics. If your product or service isn't good enough, no digital plan will rescue it. This phase makes you double-check your big picture: are your products relevant, priced correctly, and targeted at the right audience?
2. Define clear goals
Whether you are launching a new product, trying to double your social following, or just hoping to move that dusty inventory, clarity of purpose keeps you on track. Align these goals with your broader company vision. Are you after a 20% boost in online sales? Maybe you want to land in the top five results on Google for a certain keyword. Go ahead and be ambitious—just make sure the targets are realistic enough to avoid self-sabotage. Jot down every possible goal on a piece of paper, then pick your top three. Recite them to your team like a mantra. When you’re inundated with new ideas and distractions, those three become your north star.
3. Pick the right channels
Not every platform is a match for every business. If your audience is mostly professionals in their 40s, maybe a TikTok dance challenge isn’t the place to invest your time (unless you are going for viral irony). Zero in on the channels that make sense: social media, email marketing, SEO-driven blogging, or maybe paid ads if you have a bigger budget. Check your resources, such as time, money, and skill sets, before you decide to jump on every channel at once. A hyper-focused approach often outperforms a scattershot presence. Don’t discount lesser-known channels if your competitors are sleeping on them. Maybe your niche forum or a local community site is exactly where your customers hang out.
4. Develop a product strategy
You can’t create a digital strategy if you are unsure how your product/service fits into the grand scheme. A product strategy clarifies what problems you are solving, why you are solving them, and what impact you expect on both customers and your bottom line. Then, turn that into a product roadmap, plotting out major milestones, from R&D phases to marketing pushes. This serves as a compass for all your teams, including engineering, marketing, and UX, to collaborate smoothly. Having a product manager act as the “glue” can be a lifesaver. They ensure engineering isn’t off building one thing while marketing is planning promotions for something entirely different. The clearer your roadmap, the fewer roadblocks mid-project.
5. Build a content schedule
Your content is what makes your brand human online. It's not merely a matter of pumping out blog posts or social media posts; it is about speaking to your audience's needs in a form that's both informative and entertaining. Choose content types among blog, video, podcast, meme, or infographic and decide how often to post. And then make a content calendar that outlines deadlines, who's doing what, and when it publishes. Remember that "consistency" does not imply five dull posts daily. Look for a realistic stream of nicely written content. A color-coded Google Sheet or a project manager can keep you organized and facilitate everyone seeing what's coming up.
6. Track and analyse
Numbers don’t lie—analytics let you see if your carefully laid plans are actually paying off or just collecting digital dust. Keep tabs on metrics like website traffic, conversion rates, open rates for emails, or social media engagement. The more you measure, the clearer it becomes whether you are hitting your goals or need to pivot. Diving deeper can reveal hidden patterns—maybe your website traffic spikes every Wednesday at noon, or your Facebook ads do way better among a certain demographic. Lean into these insights to refine your strategy, not just admire the pretty graphs.
7. Review and refine
Digital world changes faster than you can say “algorithm update,” so don’t treat your strategy like it’s written in stone. Check in monthly, quarterly, or whenever you notice a big shift—like new competitors popping up or a sudden change in consumer habits. Gather feedback from your team, run user surveys, or revisit that SWOT analysis. The goal is to keep evolving, not to clutch an outdated strategy because “that’s how we’ve always done it.” A living, breathing digital strategy is usually a sign of a brand that’s nimble and future-ready. If everything in your plan still feels fresh a year later, either you’re incredibly lucky or you’ve missed something—so keep an eye out.
There are many ways to create a digital strategy and business goals, a digital action plan and digital audit results are part of it. Your strategy must serve as a blueprint, a roadmap, or a framework. Make sure it is well structured to keep you on the right path.
1. Assess your current situation
Before you can map out where you’re going, you need to figure out where you currently stand. Conduct a SWOT analysis in the digital space. Ask questions like:
“Is my website user-friendly or is it a digital ghost town?”
"Does my brand's social media even get people engaged, or am I just launching memes into the void?"
You'll want to determine your target audience, which is a nice way of saying "the people you want to be buying your stuff." Things like Google Analytics, social media analytics, or old-fashioned surveys can tell you who's listening and who's ghosted. Don't get so caught up in the newest app or marketing fad that you lose sight of your business basics. If your product or service isn't good enough, no digital plan will rescue it. This phase makes you double-check your big picture: are your products relevant, priced correctly, and targeted at the right audience?
2. Define clear goals
Whether you are launching a new product, trying to double your social following, or just hoping to move that dusty inventory, clarity of purpose keeps you on track. Align these goals with your broader company vision. Are you after a 20% boost in online sales? Maybe you want to land in the top five results on Google for a certain keyword. Go ahead and be ambitious—just make sure the targets are realistic enough to avoid self-sabotage. Jot down every possible goal on a piece of paper, then pick your top three. Recite them to your team like a mantra. When you’re inundated with new ideas and distractions, those three become your north star.
3. Pick the right channels
Not every platform is a match for every business. If your audience is mostly professionals in their 40s, maybe a TikTok dance challenge isn’t the place to invest your time (unless you are going for viral irony). Zero in on the channels that make sense: social media, email marketing, SEO-driven blogging, or maybe paid ads if you have a bigger budget. Check your resources, such as time, money, and skill sets, before you decide to jump on every channel at once. A hyper-focused approach often outperforms a scattershot presence. Don’t discount lesser-known channels if your competitors are sleeping on them. Maybe your niche forum or a local community site is exactly where your customers hang out.
4. Develop a product strategy
You can’t create a digital strategy if you are unsure how your product/service fits into the grand scheme. A product strategy clarifies what problems you are solving, why you are solving them, and what impact you expect on both customers and your bottom line. Then, turn that into a product roadmap, plotting out major milestones, from R&D phases to marketing pushes. This serves as a compass for all your teams, including engineering, marketing, and UX, to collaborate smoothly. Having a product manager act as the “glue” can be a lifesaver. They ensure engineering isn’t off building one thing while marketing is planning promotions for something entirely different. The clearer your roadmap, the fewer roadblocks mid-project.
5. Build a content schedule
Your content is what makes your brand human online. It's not merely a matter of pumping out blog posts or social media posts; it is about speaking to your audience's needs in a form that's both informative and entertaining. Choose content types among blog, video, podcast, meme, or infographic and decide how often to post. And then make a content calendar that outlines deadlines, who's doing what, and when it publishes. Remember that "consistency" does not imply five dull posts daily. Look for a realistic stream of nicely written content. A color-coded Google Sheet or a project manager can keep you organized and facilitate everyone seeing what's coming up.
6. Track and analyse
Numbers don’t lie—analytics let you see if your carefully laid plans are actually paying off or just collecting digital dust. Keep tabs on metrics like website traffic, conversion rates, open rates for emails, or social media engagement. The more you measure, the clearer it becomes whether you are hitting your goals or need to pivot. Diving deeper can reveal hidden patterns—maybe your website traffic spikes every Wednesday at noon, or your Facebook ads do way better among a certain demographic. Lean into these insights to refine your strategy, not just admire the pretty graphs.
7. Review and refine
Digital world changes faster than you can say “algorithm update,” so don’t treat your strategy like it’s written in stone. Check in monthly, quarterly, or whenever you notice a big shift—like new competitors popping up or a sudden change in consumer habits. Gather feedback from your team, run user surveys, or revisit that SWOT analysis. The goal is to keep evolving, not to clutch an outdated strategy because “that’s how we’ve always done it.” A living, breathing digital strategy is usually a sign of a brand that’s nimble and future-ready. If everything in your plan still feels fresh a year later, either you’re incredibly lucky or you’ve missed something—so keep an eye out.
Successful digital strategy examples
The best digital strategy is one that keeps on evolving and meets the needs and wants of customers. Below are some of the examples of successful digital strategies.
The New York Times
Their move online in the mid-1990s boosted readership. Various subscription models and digital editions over the years have helped them stay profitable, even when traditional newspapers struggled. As they are continuously upgrading their digital strategy, their revenues are also climbing, reaching $2.43 billion in 2023.
Alibaba
From AI-driven search to automated packaging, this e-commerce giant uses technology at every turn, giving it a major competitive edge in customer experience. Currently, their annual active consumers on online shopping properties in China have reached 903 million in 2022.
Netflix
Shifting from DVD rentals to a global streaming platform was a bold step that paid off. Personalised recommendations and continuous innovation in user interface keep Netflix one step ahead. The total number of paid subscribers of Netflix surpassed 269.6 million in 2024.
The best digital strategy is one that keeps on evolving and meets the needs and wants of customers. Below are some of the examples of successful digital strategies.
The New York Times
Their move online in the mid-1990s boosted readership. Various subscription models and digital editions over the years have helped them stay profitable, even when traditional newspapers struggled. As they are continuously upgrading their digital strategy, their revenues are also climbing, reaching $2.43 billion in 2023.
Alibaba
From AI-driven search to automated packaging, this e-commerce giant uses technology at every turn, giving it a major competitive edge in customer experience. Currently, their annual active consumers on online shopping properties in China have reached 903 million in 2022.
Netflix
Shifting from DVD rentals to a global streaming platform was a bold step that paid off. Personalised recommendations and continuous innovation in user interface keep Netflix one step ahead. The total number of paid subscribers of Netflix surpassed 269.6 million in 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the three main elements of digital strategy?
Data, experience, and innovation. They help your brand stay fresh, relevant, and prepared for changes in the market.
What are the pillars of digital strategy?
Successful plans often rest on organisational flexibility, strong internal alignment, and a reliable tech infrastructure.
What are the five rules of digital strategy?
Aim high, track the wider digital impact, make calculated bets, build the right internal capabilities, and stay hands-on while making changes.
Final Thoughts
So, a digital strategy means weaving digital technology into your company in a way that tackles your unique challenges head-on—while taking advantage of every strength you’ve got. A well-created plan has the power to streamline your day-to-day processes, spark fresh marketing approaches, and ultimately drive your brand where you want it to go. Consider it as your secret sauce for staying relevant, profitable, and one step ahead when the market decides to shift gears.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the three main elements of digital strategy?
Data, experience, and innovation. They help your brand stay fresh, relevant, and prepared for changes in the market.
What are the pillars of digital strategy?
Successful plans often rest on organisational flexibility, strong internal alignment, and a reliable tech infrastructure.
What are the five rules of digital strategy?
Aim high, track the wider digital impact, make calculated bets, build the right internal capabilities, and stay hands-on while making changes.
Final Thoughts
So, a digital strategy means weaving digital technology into your company in a way that tackles your unique challenges head-on—while taking advantage of every strength you’ve got. A well-created plan has the power to streamline your day-to-day processes, spark fresh marketing approaches, and ultimately drive your brand where you want it to go. Consider it as your secret sauce for staying relevant, profitable, and one step ahead when the market decides to shift gears.
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Work with us
Click to copy
work@for.co
- FOR® Brand. FOR® Future.
We’re remote-first — with strategic global hubs
Click to copy
Helsinki, FIN
info@for.fi
Click to copy
New York, NY
ny@for.co
Click to copy
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mia@for.co
Click to copy
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Copyright © 2024 FOR®
Work with us
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We’re remote-first — with strategic global hubs
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uae@for.co
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Copyright © 2024 FOR®