You’re a SEM professional with a problem. How can you work collaboratively to solve it?

1 Identify the problem

The first step to solving any problem is to define it clearly and accurately. You need to use data and analytics to identify the root cause of the problem, not just the symptoms. For example, if your landing page has a high bounce rate, you need to find out why visitors are leaving without taking any action. Is it because of the page design, the content, the offer, the loading speed, or something else? You can use tools like Google Analytics, Google Optimize, or heatmaps to track and analyze user behavior and feedback on your landing page.

2 Communicate the problem

The next step is to communicate the problem to the relevant stakeholders, such as your team members, your manager, your client, or your vendor. You need to explain the problem in a clear and concise way, using facts and evidence to support your claims. You also need to listen to their perspectives, opinions, and suggestions, and be open to feedback and criticism. Communication is key to building trust and rapport with your collaborators, and to finding the best possible solution.

3 Brainstorm solutions

Once you have communicated the problem, you can start brainstorming possible solutions with your collaborators. You can use different techniques, such as mind mapping, SWOT analysis, or the 5 Whys method, to generate and evaluate ideas. You should aim for quantity and diversity of ideas, and avoid judging or dismissing any idea prematurely. You should also consider the feasibility, effectiveness, and impact of each solution, and how it aligns with your goals and objectives.

4 Test solutions

After you have brainstormed solutions, you need to test them to see which ones work best for your problem. You can use tools like Google Ads, Google Tag Manager, or Google Data Studio to set up, run, and monitor experiments and tests for your SEM campaigns. You should follow the scientific method of hypothesis, experiment, observation, and conclusion, and use metrics and KPIs to measure and compare the results. You should also document and report your findings and insights to your collaborators.