20 Types of Digital Marketing
When I say "digital marketing" what is the top word or phrase that comes to mind? If I asked a room full of people this question, I would bet money that I would get a room full of answers.
There are many kinds of digital marketing. To get some clarity on what we could be using to market our businesses, I gathered a list of 20 types of "digital marketing."
My suggestion: make it useful and print it out like a checklist. This might help you hone in on strategies you have not yet leveraged.
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Search Engine Optimization (SEO):
- SEO can be complex. You may already be using keywords to some extent. Or perhaps you pay someone to do "SEO" but don't really see much for results. SEO is about optimizing your website to rank higher on search engine result pages (SERPs) and increase organic traffic. But it can also include backlink strategies and much more. If you don't like your rank, it may be time to explore other SEO options.
- SEO can be complex. You may already be using keywords to some extent. Or perhaps you pay someone to do "SEO" but don't really see much for results. SEO is about optimizing your website to rank higher on search engine result pages (SERPs) and increase organic traffic. But it can also include backlink strategies and much more. If you don't like your rank, it may be time to explore other SEO options.
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Content Marketing:
- This is often something we take on ourselves. Either because we are a control freak (like me, frankly) or because we don't have budget to hire out for it. Basically, all content creation (cell phone videos, blogs like this one and more) are about enhancing SEO and establishing thought leadership. Content marketing is about creating and distributing valuable, relevant content to attract and engage a target audience.
- This is often something we take on ourselves. Either because we are a control freak (like me, frankly) or because we don't have budget to hire out for it. Basically, all content creation (cell phone videos, blogs like this one and more) are about enhancing SEO and establishing thought leadership. Content marketing is about creating and distributing valuable, relevant content to attract and engage a target audience.
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Social Media Marketing:
- Put simply, social media marketing is about using social media platforms to educate, entertain, build brand awareness, while subliminally promoting your products and services. But what is often neglected in managing your own social media is the engagement component. It's one thing to post content. It's quite another to be sure to engage with others on your chosen platforms.
- Put simply, social media marketing is about using social media platforms to educate, entertain, build brand awareness, while subliminally promoting your products and services. But what is often neglected in managing your own social media is the engagement component. It's one thing to post content. It's quite another to be sure to engage with others on your chosen platforms.
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Email Marketing:
- One of the most powerful strategies around, in my opinion. Why? Directly emailing someone is personal. It's from me, to you. Email marketing is when you send a targeted and personalized email to nurture leads, build relationships (and trust) and promote thereby earn the right to promote your products/services.
- One of the most powerful strategies around, in my opinion. Why? Directly emailing someone is personal. It's from me, to you. Email marketing is when you send a targeted and personalized email to nurture leads, build relationships (and trust) and promote thereby earn the right to promote your products/services.
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Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising:
- Do you have an advertising budget. I'm always saying that advertising is different than marketing but they do work together. You pay a platform, like Google or Facebook, for instance to show up in front of traffic. That's the advertising. But it works in tandem with your marketing. That is, your video, image, or ad itself that includes your brand and messaging (the marketing). PPC is when you run paid advertising campaigns where you pay each time your ad is clicked.
- Do you have an advertising budget. I'm always saying that advertising is different than marketing but they do work together. You pay a platform, like Google or Facebook, for instance to show up in front of traffic. That's the advertising. But it works in tandem with your marketing. That is, your video, image, or ad itself that includes your brand and messaging (the marketing). PPC is when you run paid advertising campaigns where you pay each time your ad is clicked.
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Affiliate Marketing:
- Partnering with affiliates to promote products/services and earning a commission for each sale or lead generated through their efforts. I think of this as very industry specific. Let's say you're an accountant and you want to use affiliate marketing. You might find people who have an audience interested in accounting services. Then develop unique tracking links for them to use to promote your services. If you close leads provided by them, they earn a commission. This is just one small example of how to use affiliates.
- Partnering with affiliates to promote products/services and earning a commission for each sale or lead generated through their efforts. I think of this as very industry specific. Let's say you're an accountant and you want to use affiliate marketing. You might find people who have an audience interested in accounting services. Then develop unique tracking links for them to use to promote your services. If you close leads provided by them, they earn a commission. This is just one small example of how to use affiliates.
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Influencer Marketing:
- With the explosive popularity of social media today it's no longer about paying big bucks to an influencer. But rather collaborating with a "micro influencer." A micro influencer can have anywhere from a few thousand to 100,000 followers but need to have a highly engaged, niche with quality content and expertise. Collaborating with influential individuals in a particular niche can help you reach a targeted audience faster since there has already been trust built.
- With the explosive popularity of social media today it's no longer about paying big bucks to an influencer. But rather collaborating with a "micro influencer." A micro influencer can have anywhere from a few thousand to 100,000 followers but need to have a highly engaged, niche with quality content and expertise. Collaborating with influential individuals in a particular niche can help you reach a targeted audience faster since there has already been trust built.
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Video Marketing:
- Creating and sharing video content to convey messages, showcase products and engage with the audience. Video marketing can take many forms, from educational videos on YouTube to full production documentaries. Video is a very valuable tool because it accelerates the know/like/trust factor. We've had clients that have told us, the professional video we've provided them with has helped their prospects become clients faster!
- Creating and sharing video content to convey messages, showcase products and engage with the audience. Video marketing can take many forms, from educational videos on YouTube to full production documentaries. Video is a very valuable tool because it accelerates the know/like/trust factor. We've had clients that have told us, the professional video we've provided them with has helped their prospects become clients faster!
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Mobile Marketing:
- We are always on the phone, right? Mobile is all about targeting audiences on mobile devices through mobile apps, websites, SMS, and other mobile channels. We recently quoted a project for a client who wanted to use geofencing ads for prospects attending a conference in a niche industry. This is but one example of mobile marketing.
- We are always on the phone, right? Mobile is all about targeting audiences on mobile devices through mobile apps, websites, SMS, and other mobile channels. We recently quoted a project for a client who wanted to use geofencing ads for prospects attending a conference in a niche industry. This is but one example of mobile marketing.
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Local Search Marketing:
- Ever said to your phone while traveling, "restaurants near me"? Then you've benefited from Local Search Marketing which is all about optimizing your online presence for local searches, often essential for businesses with physical locations.
- Ever said to your phone while traveling, "restaurants near me"? Then you've benefited from Local Search Marketing which is all about optimizing your online presence for local searches, often essential for businesses with physical locations.
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Remarketing and Retargeting:
- Displaying targeted ads to users who have previously visited your website but did not make a desired action. If you've ever been reminded of leaving something "in your cart" then you know what we're talking about here!
- Displaying targeted ads to users who have previously visited your website but did not make a desired action. If you've ever been reminded of leaving something "in your cart" then you know what we're talking about here!
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Chatbot Marketing:
- Imagine taking all the knowledge in your head, your FAQs and more and inputting it into an automated virtual assistant that is always on your website. That's what Chatbots can do! Answering FAQs can be a big job. Training people is also time intensive. Using AI-powered chatbots to engage with your prospects on your website can be a game changer for customer support and sales.
- Imagine taking all the knowledge in your head, your FAQs and more and inputting it into an automated virtual assistant that is always on your website. That's what Chatbots can do! Answering FAQs can be a big job. Training people is also time intensive. Using AI-powered chatbots to engage with your prospects on your website can be a game changer for customer support and sales.
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Voice Search Optimization:
- Simply: Optimizing content to appear in voice search results as the use of voice-activated devices increases.
- Simply: Optimizing content to appear in voice search results as the use of voice-activated devices increases.
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Interactive Content Marketing:
- Creating content that actively involves users, such as quizzes, polls and interactive videos. How can you move people into action right away? Make it interactive.
- Creating content that actively involves users, such as quizzes, polls and interactive videos. How can you move people into action right away? Make it interactive.
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Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) Marketing:
- Can you make your business fun? Can you create an experience for clients and prospects? You can if you use AR and VR technologies!
- Can you make your business fun? Can you create an experience for clients and prospects? You can if you use AR and VR technologies!
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User-Generated Content (UGC):
- This is nothing new. I remember using it way back in 2008 when I worked for a newspaper. It's still an effective way to have people engage with your business. Launch a contest. Get a photo for a testimonial. UGC is all about encouraging customers to create and share content related to a brand, product or service.
- This is nothing new. I remember using it way back in 2008 when I worked for a newspaper. It's still an effective way to have people engage with your business. Launch a contest. Get a photo for a testimonial. UGC is all about encouraging customers to create and share content related to a brand, product or service.
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Customer Relationship Management (CRM):
- A necessary marketing component of every business today is a CRM. It's a way to stay in touch, keep valuable data and ultimately use that to nurture relationships with customers through personalized communication.
- A necessary marketing component of every business today is a CRM. It's a way to stay in touch, keep valuable data and ultimately use that to nurture relationships with customers through personalized communication.
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Webinars and Online Events:
- Hosting virtual events to educate, engage, and interact with the audience is so powerful because it creates an experience. If you can do that for people you are helping them have a transformation. One of learning, one of changing for the better. And that can be a very powerful form of marketing.
- Hosting virtual events to educate, engage, and interact with the audience is so powerful because it creates an experience. If you can do that for people you are helping them have a transformation. One of learning, one of changing for the better. And that can be a very powerful form of marketing.
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Gamification in Marketing:
- Introducing game-like elements to marketing campaigns to increase user participation and engagement.
- Introducing game-like elements to marketing campaigns to increase user participation and engagement.
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Social Proof Marketing:
- Showcasing testimonials, reviews, and endorsements to build trust and credibility. As you collect stories and share them, you are informing more people about the products and services you offer.
- Showcasing testimonials, reviews, and endorsements to build trust and credibility. As you collect stories and share them, you are informing more people about the products and services you offer.
Summing up 20 Types of Digital Marketing
Some of these, you may already be doing yourself. Or perhaps you are done with doing it all yourself and ready to enlist some help. If you find yourself needing some expert advice, don't hesitate to reach out. If I can't help you, chances are I know someone who can! And who knows, sometimes just gaining clarity through conversation can be super valuable as well.
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