Marketing Automation: The Way of the Future
Marketing automation is the way of the future and in the coming years, it could determine the success or failure of many businesses. Those that adapt and streamline their automation processes will be able to save money, conserve resources, innovate, and scale. It's important to start thinking about how you can automate different facets of your business.
Perhaps the easiest place to start experimenting with automation is marketing. There are a number of relatively simple tools for marketing automation that allow business owners to get a feel for the process and instantly improve their day-to-day operations. Let’s take a look at a few automation tips and tricks across different marketing mediums.
Email Automation
Chances are, your business sends marketing emails regularly — be it a newsletter, sales email, receipt of purchase, or something else. If you’re still manually sending emails, this is the first place you should think about automating. Email platforms like MailChimp, Constant Contact, HubSpot, and others come equipped with automation scripts built in, allowing you to cut down on the effort you put into sending an email. For example, it’s possible to create a month’s worth of emails ahead of time, schedule them for a specific audience, and automate their dissemination throughout the month. For a more advanced automation example, consider the possibility of using variable data in emails. You can set up triggers that automatically take a customer’s name from a form submission, insert it into an email, and then send that email — all without you ever having to touch it!
Social Media Scheduling
Businesses that can succeed on social media are brands that flourish. If you’re putting in a ton of time on social media but seeing very little in the way of returns, it’s a sign that automation might be in order. Use platforms like HootSuite, Sprout Social, or Marketing 360 to schedule social media posts throughout the month, so you’re not spending countless hours per day investigating news feeds. These platforms also offer insights, like what times of day your posts perform best and how consumers engage with your posts. To take things up a notch, consider using a program like IFTTT (If This, Then That) in conjunction with your social posts. This program allows you to create “recipes” for your social channels — for example, “if someone posts a picture to your Facebook wall, download that picture automatically.”
Print Marketing Automation
If you print business cards, flyers, letterhead, or other marketing materials, the opportunity for print marketing automation is within your grasp! Work with AlphaGraphics to open your own agOnline web-to-print portal. A print portal stores your files and templates online, allowing you to automate the order and re-order of your most essential printed materials. It’s a quick, efficient, and effortless way to keep your tasks in line, while maintaining a hands-off approach.
Seek Out Time Savers!
These are just a few examples of how you can automate your marketing with relative ease. Once you become comfortable with basic automation, look for other ways to streamline your marketing initiatives. Then, investigate opportunities for automation in other aspects of your business. Digital marketing is all about experimentation, looking at the results your efforts, and trying new things. To get help with your business's automation, get in touch with your local AlphaGraphics today!