We are truly in the digital era and Digital Marketing is one of the robust things these days. In simple words, Digital Marketing is an umbrella term that refers to any marketing strategy that involves an electronic device irrespective of its connection to an internet source.
With everything maneuvering towards becoming digital- from magazines being read on tablet devices to adverts appearing on social feeds, the traditional ways of marketing are slowly becoming irrelevant and will eventually be obsolete. Unlike non-digital marketing, Digital Marketing is easier to set up, run and the results are trackable which makes it appealing to many businesses.
No two businesses share similar goals and thus choosing a digital marketing platform among the many different types available seems difficult. Asking yourself these questions will help you determine the right strategies to achieve your objectives:
- Why do you want to use digital marketing?
- Who is your target audience?
If you have your answers ready, then let’s get into the details of the different types of digital marketing that you can choose from.
Types of Digital Marketing
- Content Marketing
Content Marketing involves creating enriching and valuable content- texts, images, multimedia- that enhances customer experience rather than just broadcasting an advertising message. The content should be published regularly keeping in mind the potential audience.
Content Marketing produces nearly 3X more leads when compared to other forms of marketing.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
It involves creating content in such a way that your business appears in the higher ranks on a search engine, increasing your brand’s visibility and credibility leading to generate more organic traffic to your website. Irrespective of the business you’re in, everyone needs SEO.
SEO is not a quick fix. To yield more results, you must invest in it for a longer time.
- Pay Per Click (PPC)
PPC is a form of digital marketing that allows you to move up in the search engine rankings by paid means. It is named that way because every time one of your adverts is clicked, you will be charged. And the Cost Per Click (CPC) depends on the competition for the select keyword.
The advert exists only as long as you’re paying.
- Social Media Marketing
This is an umbrella term that includes using social media platforms as digital marketing channels- Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to name a few. The type of social media you want to use depends on your prospective audience.
Research states that Instagram is ideal to reach an audience that is aged between 25 to 29. Whereas, Facebook can be used to reach those that are 65+.
- Email Marketing
It is a form of direct marketing involving emails to send information, offers, blogs, etc. directly to the inbox of your mailing list. Rather than sending unique discount codes that can bring short term boost to your sales, you can make it long-term by sending newsletters or blogs strategically to increases traffic to your website.
- Affiliate and Influencer Marketing
This has garnered huge popularity in recent years through sites like Instagram and YouTube. It involves collaborating with influencers or companies having an existing audience, under an agreement that they promote your product, and in exchange receive a kickback from every sale that can be attributed to their efforts.
This often requires extensive monitoring and tracking since your brand’s reputation is in someone else’s hands.
In Conclusion
When it comes to building an effective digital marketing strategy, no single size fits all. No matter which digital marketing platform you favor over the other, keep in mind that each business has its unique requirements and audiences. With all the aforementioned information, hopefully, you’ll be able to select the right platform for you.
