Digital Marketing Analysis of HMV: Strategies and Recommendations

This report provides a digital marketing analysis of HMV, a UK-based entertainment retailer. It explores the importance of investing in digital marketing, including measurable results and flexibility, and examines strategies to improve website visibility through search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns. The report details the steps involved in designing effective PPC, SEO, and video advertising campaigns, and discusses ways to target key audiences through search engine marketing. Furthermore, it covers the use of content marketing, email marketing, and social media marketing for attracting and retaining customers. It also addresses website optimization techniques, the use of analytics to measure the success of digital strategies, and key activities for an effective digital marketing strategy, offering recommendations for HMV to compete with rivals like Amazon and enhance its overall business performance.

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Digital Marketing Analysis of HMV
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1DIGITAL MARKETING ANALYSIS OF HMV
Executive Summary:
In order to improve its business stability and diversification programs, the report explained
the significance of investing in digital marketing capabilities for the organisation. In addition,
it also explained the ways of improving website visibility with the help of search engine
strategies, while keeping in mind the laws and guidelines prevailing in the operating nation. It
was gathered from the paper that there is absence of any means to identify the number of
individuals visiting the billboard or flyer rather than recycling the same. Digital marketing
would provide HMC with valuable and reliable reports by depicting the number of
individuals opening business website generated e-mail or click the website link. Considering
the situation of HMV Company, use of analytics for measuring the success of HMV’s digital
marketing tools and strategy can be considered for an effective monitoring process and for
attaining competitive edge over its business rivals such as Amazon.

2DIGITAL MARKETING ANALYSIS OF HMV
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
1. Importance of investing in digital marketing capabilities for HMV......................................3
2. Use of search engine tactics to improve website visibility for HMV....................................4
2.1 Steps to be undertaken to design and effective PPC, SEO and online display and video
advertising campaign.............................................................................................................4
2.2 Ways of targeting key audience through search engine marketing:................................8
2.3 Use of content marketing to attract customers:................................................................8
2.4 Laws and guidelines to be considered for search engine marketing:...............................9
3. Use of e-mail marketing and social media marketing for attracting, retaining and engaging
with the new and existing customers for HMV and the most effective channel......................10
3.1. E-mail Marketing for Retaining and Engaging New and Existing Consumers for HMV
..............................................................................................................................................10
3.2. Social Media Marketing for Retaining and Engaging New and Existing Consumers for
HMV....................................................................................................................................12
3.3. Most Suitable Marketing Channel................................................................................13
4. Utilisation of website optimisation techniques for improving website performance:.........14
5. Use of analytics to measure the success of HMV’s digital strategy and tools to be used for
the monitoring process:............................................................................................................15
6. Key tasks and activities to be incorporated into an effective digital marketing strategy for
HMV:.......................................................................................................................................18
Conclusion:..............................................................................................................................18

3DIGITAL MARKETING ANALYSIS OF HMV
References:...............................................................................................................................20
Introduction
The current report is based on the investigation of few new strategies for
strengthening and reinforcing the digital marketing capabilities and expertise in the context of
HMV. HMV is an entertainment retailing organisation operating in UK. HMV has nearly 125
stores in the nation and it operates under the name of the Fopp brand (Hmv.com 2018). The
main products of the organisation include books, audio, Blu-ray discs, DVDs, CDs, video
games along with growing range of television, movie and music. However, it was forced to
shut down majority of its stores in Ireland for saving £7.8 million on wage budget.
In order to improve its business stability and diversification programs, the report
highlights the significance of investing in digital marketing capabilities for the organisation.
In addition, it would cover the ways of improving website visibility with the help of search
engine strategies, while keeping in mind the laws and guidelines prevailing in the operating
nation. The use of digital marketing tools like e-mail marketing and social media marketing
for attracting the attention of the customers have been demonstrated as well (Leeflang et al.
2014). Finally, the report would shed light on the use of website optimisation techniques,
analytics and key activities to be considered for designing an effective digital marketing
strategy.
1. Importance of investing in digital marketing capabilities for HMV
There are certain benefits that HMV could obtain by investing in digital marketing
capabilities and they are enumerated briefly as follows:
Measurable results:

4DIGITAL MARKETING ANALYSIS OF HMV
There is absence of any means to identify the number of individuals visiting the
billboard or flyer rather than recycling the same (Armstrong et al. 2015). Digital marketing
would provide HMC with valuable and reliable reports by depicting the number of
individuals opening business website generated e-mail or click the website link.
Flexibility:
In the current era, traditional marketing fails to provide customised and personalised
customer journey due to its generic nature (Baltes 2015). With the help of digital marketing,
HMV would be able to use the preferences and interests of the individuals for tailoring
messages and thus, personalisation is ensured as well.
Minimised barriers to entry:
It is often costly for an organisation to use traditional marketing tools, as television
commercials, billboards and radio advertisements are not cheap certainly (Benz and Tanner
2017). As digital marketing tools come in scalable sizes, HMV could utilise all these products
for reaching its target audiences.
2. Use of search engine tactics to improve website visibility for HMV
2.1 Steps to be undertaken to design and effective PPC, SEO and online display and
video advertising campaign
Pay-per-click (PPC):
For developing an effective PPC strategy, it is necessary for HMV to carry out the
three-step process, which is depicted as follows:
Conducting situational assessment:

5DIGITAL MARKETING ANALYSIS OF HMV
In order to carry out the situational assessment, HMV needs to arrange a business
download meeting with the main stakeholders to gain an overview of the business and the
entertainment retailing industry of UK. The intention would be to examine the existing PPC
performance goals regarding whether they are achievable and realistic. After completing such
examination, it would be necessary for the organisation to conduct a thorough account audit
and gap analysis for ascertaining the underlying performance drivers. In addition, it would
help the organisation to determine if the accounting work is in line with the business goals
(Bosomworth 2015). As a result, HMV could develop the guiding principle for account
management. Finally, competitive evaluation needs to be made for identifying the success of
the rivals in terms of bidding, creative messaging and keyword targeting. Accordingly, HMV
could modify its account management policies for staying competitive in the market.
Development of account management policy:
After careful assessment of the overall situation, HMV could develop its account
management policy, which would be written down for all stakeholders and they need to abide
by the same (Leeflang et al. 2014). The policy could look like the following:
 PPC would be used in the form of growth driver, which would help in effective
account management.
 Paid search would be considered as the profit driver.
 Paid search would be a touch point resulting in conversions via other channels.
Development of an action plan:
As the PPC account of HMV would be managed for entertainment retailing products,
the focus would be to draw maximum number of consumers possible. Depending on this
information, the initial challenge would be to find additional potential customers (Chaffey

6DIGITAL MARKETING ANALYSIS OF HMV
and Ellis-Chadwick 2016). Hence, the policy for HMV would be to use paid search in the
form of lead growth driver. The action plan supporting the policy would focus on
remarketing and expansion plan.
Search engine optimisation (SEO):
The SEO strategy could be developed on the part of HMV by following the six-step
strategy elaborated as follows:
Forming keyword list:
HMV needs to compile a list of minimum ten keywords related to its products. These
keywords could then be plugged into the keyword tool of Google for determining variations
to make business sense. This would enable the organisation to remain in keyword search
mode along with keeping the keyword list spreading with search and industrial trends
(Confos and Davis 2016).
Building keyword-focused pages:
The keyword list could be used for ascertaining the number of various web pages to
be created (Chaffey 2016). The number of web pages created would coincide with the various
products, offerings and locations of HMV. As a result, the customers and prospects would
find it easier in the search engines irrespective of the keywords used.
Setting up a blog:
HMV could set up a blog, in which it needs to publish one blog at least once in a
week. It needs to write interesting stuffs for its targeted audience along with inclusion of the
pertinent keywords where appropriate for better search for the audience (Crittenden and
Crittenden 2015).

7DIGITAL MARKETING ANALYSIS OF HMV
Creating a link-building plan:
HMV could publish some blog posts, which could be shared on Facebook, Twitter,
Linkedin and Google +. The other bloggers could be approached for guest blogging
opportunities through which HMV could link back its website. Another method of attracting
inbound links is using the blog for posting articles associated with current events or news
(Charlesworth 2014).
Remaining current on SEO news and practices:
HMV needs to stay updated on SEO news and changes, which might influence its
website and SEO strategy. The resources that could be used for staying updated include
SEOmoz, SEObook, search engine roundtable and search engine (land De Pelsmacker, Van
Tilburg and Holthof 2018).
Measuring and tracking SEO success:
HMV could create a monthly dashboard using the package of web analytics or Excel
for monitoring the volume of traffic in the website from organic search (Leeflang et al.
2014).
Video Advertising Campaign
HMV can consider employing effective view of video advertising campaign that
includes capitalising on you tube through product demo videos, webinars, company’s event
videos and getting started videos (Dhar 2018). The company can also consider pushing out
the sponsored video ads within the social platforms along with sending short and personalised
videos to the followers.

8DIGITAL MARKETING ANALYSIS OF HMV
2.2 Ways of targeting key audience through search engine marketing:
Highly effective search engine marketing strategies can be developed by HMV in
order to increase its brand awareness and demand. These strategies involve paid search ads to
attain high web traffic by desktop or cell phone web search. SEM strategy of the company
can also consider advertising with Bing or Google that also drives search advertising for
Yahoo (Heinze et al. 2016). Both the “pay-per-click” and “cost-per-click” can be explained
as bidding model, which can charge the company when any individual clicks on the ad. The
company can easily target its major audiences through developing a clear design, an
innovative headline and a compelling call to action that will be easy to spot and can be
optimised (Jackson and Ahuja 2016). Moreover, following certain SEO best practices along
with optimising the lead capture form through signing up website review and service
woorank form can attain the company with high quality leads and increased responses.
Moreover, LinkedIn ads can also offer several targeting options along with cost efficient
innovative manners for attaining consumer attention. Along with that the company is
recommended to optimise all its website content to attain advantages of increased consumer
visibility.
2.3 Use of content marketing to attract customers:
Content marketing strategy can be used effectively by HMV Company to attract huge
consumer base. To provide tough competition to its major business rival, Amazon, it can
develop a simple website having accurate content that is required by its prospects (James,
Zhang and Williams 2017). The company must consider employing an excerpt and them
associating with the original content. HMV Company can curate blog posts, articles,
interviews, and info graphics along with individual perspective of the company (James,
Zhang and Williams 2017). To grab consumer attention an innovative content marketing

9DIGITAL MARKETING ANALYSIS OF HMV
strategy can be implemented by HMV that considers publishing an eBook that provides
assistance and advice to the audience the company is trying to reach.
HMV must also attempt to convert new consumers from social media through
generating and distributing content which offers proof points to the sale (Järvinen and
Karjaluoto 2015). In attaining such objective an extremely effective piece of content can be a
demo video or explainer video. A social media tool named “Little Bird” can offer a demo
video within the home page that explains the tool in action which can be employed by this
company.
2.4 Laws and guidelines to be considered for search engine marketing:
Certain SEO quality guidelines must be followed by the company that has basic
principles to support the steer site owners attain the suitable path (Kannan 2017). The laws
and guidelines that can be considered for the search engine marketing by the HMV Company
are explained below:
 Webmaster guidelines developed by Google can serve as an effective source for the
company for the reason that it clearly explains the aspects that are easily acceptable to
the search engine optimization.
 Hidden texts and links must be avoided by HMV and to ensure the same, the company
must check whether the font colour is different enough from the background
(Karjaluoto and Ulkuniemi 2015).
 Use of cloaking or sneaky redirects must be avoided by the company as cloaking
takes place at the time distinct URLs or content are presented to all its visitors.
Moreover. Sneaky redirect must also be avoided to attract more consumer base as this
practice is deceptive as it displays distinct content to its users.

10DIGITAL MARKETING ANALYSIS OF HMV
 HMV must be careful regarding loading of pages with certain irrelevant keywords. It
does not matter how many searches a keyword attains within a month if it does not
properly indicate the contents of the company’s page (Kaufman and Horton 2014).
The content posted within the website must be effective and the flow of such content
must be natural for the readers.
 Another guideline that must be followed by HMV to increase consumer traffic in the
website is through avoiding doorway pages generated just for search engines. Cookie
cutter strategy like affiliate programs with no or little original content must be
avoided by this company (Larson and Draper 2015). In case the site of the company
participates within an affiliate program that makes sure the site of the company adds
enough value. Offering exceptional and important content that offers users with a
reason to visit the site first.
3. Use of e-mail marketing and social media marketing for attracting, retaining and
engaging with the new and existing customers for HMV and the most effective channel
3.1. E-mail Marketing for Retaining and Engaging New and Existing Consumers for
HMV
Consumer retention needs complex understanding regarding the ways in which HMV can
use e-mail marketing for increasing consumer retention leading to direct increase in amount
of money attained from consumers (James, Zhang and Williams 2017). There are certain e-
mail marketing strategies that can retain all its target consumers and can increase their
engagement with the company’s brands. These are explained under:
 Installing drop box with its activation email can serve as an effective e-mail
marketing strategy for HMV Company. The company can send an activation email to
its consumers in case they have not accepted its core activation action. HMV needs to

11DIGITAL MARKETING ANALYSIS OF HMV
find its core activation metric (James, Zhang and Williams 2017). For the company it
is getting consumers to send their first e-mail and in case they are not signing up for
the company’s business within three days then e-mail can be sent to them.
 Weekly webinars can also serve as an effective e-mail marketing strategy for HMV
Company as this tool can facilitate the company in automating its support through
making their knowledge base highly effective (Karjaluoto and Ulkuniemi 2015). Emil
can be employed by the company in order to send number of emails to free trail users
of the company’s product but the most effective email.