10 Steps for Making a Digital Marketing Strategy That Actually Works
A digital marketing strategy is the roadmap that turns business goals into measurable online results. Without one, you’re essentially shooting in the dark—publishing posts randomly, spending on ads without tracking ROI, or emailing prospects without alignment. With a structured strategy, every move has purpose, direction, and impact.
This guide breaks down the 10 digital marketing strategy steps you need to follow. Whether you’re a startup founder, marketing manager, or an experienced digital marketing strategist, these steps provide a repeatable framework to build campaigns that generate long-term growth.
How Inteader Can Help Build Your Digital Marketing Strategy
At Inteader, we help businesses turn their digital goals into measurable growth with a full suite of solutions. From email marketing campaigns that nurture leads, to data-driven PPC services that deliver instant visibility, our strategies are built to convert. Our search engine marketing expertise ensures you dominate search results, while our social media management keeps your brand active and engaging across platforms. To complete the journey, our website development team builds fast, user-friendly websites designed to convert visitors into loyal customers. Every service integrates seamlessly into your overall digital marketing strategy, ensuring your brand grows stronger online.
Step 1: Define Clear Business Objectives
Why it matters
Marketing should never begin with tactics. It must start with clearly defined business objectives. If you don’t know what you’re aiming for, you can’t measure success.
How to do it
Align with the company vision: growth, retention, or authority.
Set measurable KPIs like “generate 500 leads in 6 months” or “increase revenue by 20%.”
Apply the SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).
Example
A SaaS company might focus on trial signups, while a café may prioritize brand awareness and local SEO.
Step 2: Understand Your Target Audience
Why it matters
Your digital marketing and strategy will collapse if you don’t know who you’re speaking to.
How to do it
Research demographics (age, location, income).
Map psychographics (pain points, buying triggers).
Use tools like Google Analytics, surveys, and Facebook Insights.
Build personas like “Tech-savvy Millennial Marketer” or “Cost-conscious HR Director.”
Pro Tip
A digital marketing strategist helps refine personas so campaigns hit the right tone.
Step 3: Analyze Competitors
Competitors provide insight into market gaps and opportunities.
How to do it
Use SEO tools (Ahrefs, SEMrush) for keyword research.
Study competitor blogs, videos, and social media.
Check ad libraries for current campaigns.
Example
If a competitor dominates TikTok but ignores long-form blog SEO, you can claim that space.
Step 4: Conduct a Digital Audit
A digital audit shows what’s already working.
Areas to review
Website UX and conversion flow
SEO: technical, on-page, off-page
Content inventory (blogs, case studies, videos)
Social media engagement
Email open and click-through rates
Example
A retail brand might find that 80% of traffic comes from search, but conversions are low—highlighting a need for CRO.
Step 5: Select the Right Digital Channels
Not all platforms are worth your time. Choose based on your audience.
SEO & blogging → long-term growth
Social media → brand engagement
Email → nurturing
PPC → instant visibility
Video → storytelling
Influencers → credibility
Example
B2B companies focus on LinkedIn & email; e-commerce brands thrive on Instagram & Google Shopping Ads.
Step 6: Develop a Content Strategy
Content powers your digital marketing strategy.
How to do it
Map content to funnel stages (awareness, consideration, decision).
Choose formats: blog posts, podcasts, reels, case studies.
Plan distribution: repurpose blogs into LinkedIn posts or YouTube clips.
Use an editorial calendar to stay consistent.
Step 7: Implement SEO Best Practices
SEO ensures your content gets found.
Core steps
Target your primary keyword (digital marketing strategy) and secondary terms (digital marketing strategist, digital marketing and strategy, digital marketing strategy steps).
Optimize on-page (titles, headers, internal links).
Improve technical SEO (site speed, mobile, crawlability).
Build backlinks for authority.
Example
A blog titled “10 Steps for Making a Digital Marketing Strategy” can rank for multiple variations if structured properly.
Step 8: Plan Paid Media Campaigns
Paid ads provide instant reach while SEO builds long-term growth.
Channels
Google Ads for search intent
Meta Ads (Facebook/Instagram) for audience targeting
LinkedIn Ads for B2B leads
Retargeting for past visitors
Example
A law firm might run Google Ads for “personal injury lawyer” while retargeting visitors with testimonials.
Step 9: Build Measurement and Tracking Systems
Without tracking, you’re guessing.
Tools
Google Analytics 4
Tag Manager
CRM dashboards (HubSpot, Salesforce)
Social insights
Metrics
Sessions, conversions, CAC, ROAS.
Pro Tip
A digital marketing strategist ensures metrics align with business outcomes.
Step 10: Review, Optimize, and Scale
Marketing is never static.
How to do it
Conduct monthly or quarterly reviews
Run A/B tests
Refresh old content for SEO
Double down on high-performing channels
Example
If Instagram reels generate 70% of engagement, prioritize them and amplify with ads.
Why You Need a Digital Marketing Strategist
Executing these steps requires SEO, PPC, content, analytics, and CRO expertise. A strategist ensures nothing is siloed and all efforts align toward ROI.
Think of strategy as building a house—you wouldn’t lay bricks randomly, you’d follow a blueprint. That blueprint is your digital marketing strategy.
Final Thoughts
A winning strategy is not guesswork—it’s research, structure, and execution. By following these digital marketing strategy steps, you create a system that grows and adapts over time.
Want expert help? Check our Digital Marketing Services to see how we can partner with you.