The start of a new year is the ideal time to make resolutions to live a happier, healthier life. But why let your resolutions stop there?

Here are four ways to keep your digital marketing strategy in shape:

1. Lose some (website) weight

With more than 75% of South Africans accessing websites from mobile devices, you should ask how long it takes for your site to load on mobile. Is your site heavy and sluggish with animations and large images? Does it take more than three clicks for visitors to find the information they are looking for?

"People are impatient, and if your site takes more than three seconds to load, 40% of your visitors will abandon your website," says Nicolas Baker, digital account director at Stratitude.

How do you do it? Optimise your site to allow above-the-fold content to load in just one second. Reduce the file size of large images and cut back on animations. Use a responsive design that is simple, uncluttered, and easy to navigate.

2. Get into the SEO dating game

Want more people to love your brand? There are over a billion websites on the Internet today, so if you want to get noticed and drive traffic to your site, you need to implement an SEO optimisation strategy.

"An SEO strategy is like getting your website into the dating scene," adds Baker. "You want to get noticed, and an SEO plan will have visitors flocking to your site,"

How do you do it? Conduct an SEO audit of your website to see if there are pages you need to update, remove, or add. Check that your current keywords are still applicable to your brand or products, and ensure that your content is SEO-friendly.

3. Cut the junk

Do you consciously think about the content you post on your website and social media platforms? Don’t fill it up with long product descriptions, company visions, and goals that are outdated – or videos that are just plain boring. Your visitors will love you for posting regular, unique content that is interesting and shareable.

"First think about topics that your visitors will find insightful or useful, and then think about how you’re going to create it for them," says Baker. "Blogs, videos, case studies, or infographics – whatever content you create must be of the highest quality and must add real value to your customers. This helps you build better relationships and generate more qualified leads." 

How do you do it? Brainstorm topics, and then ask if the content will surprise, delight, or reward your audiences. If not, scrap it. Always create content that goes beyond simply selling your product or service. It must interesting and genuinely useful to your target audience.

4. Take some time out

Everyone wants a little more time to unwind, which is why you need marketing automation. Use technology to streamline your marketing efforts and sit back and relax as you watch your leads come in.

"By integrating your marketing such as emails, social media, and website actions, you will not only market more effectively across multiple channels but you’ll also automate repetitive tasks that make your marketing a lot more streamlined," adds Baker.

How do you do it? Implement an automated marketing process into your digital channels, so you simplify your most time-consuming responsibilities. This improves your operational efficiency, increases your revenue, and just makes life easier.

"Embrace these digital resolutions with the same determination and enthusiasm that you have when you join a gym in January," says Baker. "Make sure your digital strategy aligns with your overall marketing strategy and commit to these four resolutions. This will get your digital strategy fit and into shape, so you have a more productive and successful year." 

For more information, visit www.stratitude.co.za. You can also follow Stratitude on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.