It’s easy to focus on end results in digital marketing, but they may look different based on industry,goals, or expectations. To find success, it’s critical to have solid building blocks in place.

One such building block is building a foundation for fast responses.The digital marketing space often relies on speed and the ability to respond quickly to anything from a city-wide blackout to a viral trend. For these responses to land, a foundation must be in place. This will require a data-driven marketing strategy for driving awareness and interest in a product or service, with the ultimate goal of developing long-term customer engagement.You will also have to create and distribute consistent content to attract and retain this clearly defined audience. It’s critical to cultivate an audience that will respond – you want to be speaking to people who are listening, not just simply in the same room as you. Keep your brand aligned with your core values and stay engaged to create a better customer experience, and people will listen when it comes time to publish fast responses.

As you build this foundation, you must stay focused on the customer. Think about your audience; who are the people that will listen to you and who are simply nearby?It’s essential that you focus on the people who want to be there. But how can you do this?

• Know Your Customer.     Understand what your customer needs and what outcomes would qualify as     successful in their eyes.
• Understand the Why. Why     is your customer even a customer in the first place? What problem are you     solving for them, and what causes these problems? Why are they looking to     you to solve these problems? How can you help?
• Locate the Gaps. The     worst assumption to make is the assumption that you have all the answers.     Find where you might be making assumptions about the customer and close     any knowledge gaps. Research is your friend.

Remember that you are a customer in parts of your own life. Listen to your customers to better understand their wants and needs and where you fit into that equation.

Successful digital marketing also includes the ability to innovate through networking.You create the most value through your connections to a thriving network.Building this network requires constant cultivation to ensure it’s a place where you and others can grow.

Allow yourself to experiment by jumping in on new projects without the fear of “failing.” Explore areas outside your comfort zone and make new connections with people whose paths might look different from yours. Curiosity is essential, as is collaboration on diverse and multi-functional teams. Be sure to ask for feedback based on your work from others you encounter during your exploration. Actively reach out to others in new ways, through one-on-ones, participating in forums, discussion groups, workshops, or even conferences.

To succeed as a digital marketer, focus on the building blocks.

1.    Build a foundation for fast responses

2.    Stay focused on the customer

3.    Innovate through networking

If you stay focused on these key foundational strategies, you will find yourself setup to succeed in the world of digital marketing.

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