5 Popular Types Of Digital Marketing Tactics And How To Use Them

Digital marketing is used to describe any kind of marketing done on online platforms. In reality, there are many different types of digital marketing, each unique in its capabilities. As a business owner, you know that digital marketing is essential to your success. But what type of digital marketing should you be doing? And how can you tell if you are heading in the right direction?

Let’s explore 5 types of digital marketing commonly used. This includes a brief overview of how they work, and how you can get started for success in your digital marketing efforts.

 

 

5 Types of Digital Marketing Tactics

 

1. Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing refers to using social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to reach your target audience. This can be done via organic posting or paid social media ads.

 

Considering that the world is now moving increasingly online, social media marketing might be one of the most important types of digital marketing strategy to plan for. Compared to the other types of digital marketing, social media has a whole new dimension of engagement and interaction. Use social media marketing to build relationships with your customers and potential customers, promote your company’s products or services, and even gather feedback.

Why use this type of digital marketing?

• A cost-effective way to reach out to a broad audience 
• Build personal relationships with targeted consumers 
• Quick sharing of content

Things to consider

• Requires consistent and coordinated efforts
• Continuously changing algorithms requires constant monitoring and updating of strategy

Getting started

Consider your ideal audience. Where are they, and what do they want? This will help you zone in on the social media platforms that you will use to amplify your presence. From there, it is important to set some basic objectives, such as improving customer service or increasing brand awareness.

 

2. Email Marketing

It may seem old school, but email marketing is surprisingly one of the most effective methods to nurture prospects and yield significant results. It is cost-effective and conversion rich. In fact, it has one of the highest returns on investments (ROI) — for every $1 spent, you can expect an average return of $42. 

Email marketing refers to the use of email to promote your brand’s products or services. But it is so much more than blasting messages into inboxes. Effective email marketing requires customizing your messages to your audiences accordingly to build a relationship and garner loyalty. For example, many brands may use email marketing to offer exclusive discounts to returning customers, granting them privileges as loyal supporters. 

Why use this type of digital marketing?

• More visibility compared to organic search
• Attracts ready-to-buy audiences
• Flexibility in the payment model 

Things to consider

• Can be pricey, especially if you’re targeting popular keywords 
• As keywords are given on an auction basis, bidding wars can happen with competitors
• Short-term

Getting started: 

Select an email software such as MailChimp, Drip or ConvertKit—these go a long way in managing your database and automating your email processes. Start collecting emails by offering your customers a reason to opt-in, such as free resources, or a discount code. Don’t forget to continue to stay in contact with your database through weekly newsletters packed with valuable information for your audiences to use.

 

3. Content Marketing

Gaining the confidence of your customers requires you to show them how you can solve their problems or fulfil their desires. One of the most effective ways to do this is through content marketing. This refers to the process of creating and distributing valuable, engaging content to attract, engage and retain customers. It’s a strategy used by businesses to craft interesting information that will help them reach their target audience and drive conversions. 

Content marketing can be incredibly versatile as it applies to a variety of platforms. The key is to ensure that your information adds value to your audiences. Crafting strategic content that consistently appeals to your target consumers nurtures their relationships with them. In turn, you also become a brand perceived as a source of guidance and credibility, making them more likely to choose you over competitors. 

Why use this type of digital marketing?

• Builds credibility and loyalty with content that adds value to audiences Increases the chance of your brand going viral, as people start to share what you say
• Attract the right kind of audience 

Things to consider

• Requires consistently high-quality content to stand out
• While it can be rewarding when done right, content marketing can be challenging in the initial stages. Don’t be afraid to test out different angles to hit the right strategy.

Getting started

Content marketing can be challenging to navigate. If you’re doing this without the help of a digital agency, we recommend that you start simple. Focus on two to three core themes that your audiences would want to hear about. From there, think about how these would be presented (e.g. video, blog posts) and the channels to display them.

 

4. Search Engine Marketing (SEM)

When you’re selling a product or service, your target audience needs to find you online easily. Search engine marketing (SEM) is a form of digital marketing that uses search engines to generate traffic to websites—essentially a way to build your website’s presence online. It is often used to generate leads from potential customers who are looking for their products or services. SEM can also be used by large businesses to locate new customers and expand their customer base.

There are two main methods of using search engine marketing: Organic search (through search engine optimization) and paid search.

 

Organic Search

Organic Search (Search Engine Optimization, or SEO) refers to the process of having a website ranked high on search engines such as Google, Yahoo or Bing, based on the quality of its content and not the number of ads that have been placed on it. This requires you to create content that is highly sought after by your audience. On top of that, you have to ensure that it is optimised to enable the respective search engine to rank your page up high. 

Why use this type of digital marketing?

• More credible, as your brand’s online presence is solidified in the eyes of your consumers
• Cost-effective
• Attracts relevant audiences 
• Long-term

Things to consider

• Takes time to deliver results 
• Needs consistent upkeep and maintenance

Getting started

Focus on a few selected keywords that people might search for and associate your brand with. From there, look into building your content strategy to gain credibility and increase your chances of ranking. 

 

Paid Search

Paid search, involves ads that are placed on Google, Yahoo!, or other major search engines. It may look similar to most results, except that it appears alongside a small ‘Ad’ tag. Choose your top position on an auction basis, based on keywords, location and demographics. This form of paid advertising also comes with multiple payment models to fit different budgets and campaign needs. The most common one is Pay-Per-Click advertising, or PPC, where you pay for your ad based on the number of clicks received. You get to choose the budget and set the conditions, and the platform handles the rest. 

Why use this type of digital marketing?

• More visibility compared to organic search
• Attracts ready-to-buy audiences 
• Flexibility in the payment model 

Things to consider

• Can be pricey especially if you’re targeting popular keywords As keywords are given on an auction basis, bidding wars can happen with competitors
• Short-term

Getting started

Again, keyword research is key. Don’t be afraid to play around with different ad combinations and see what works best for you. PPC works best in complementing your organic search efforts, so it’s worth looking into this if you’re looking to boost your SEM marketing strategies on a holistic level.

Read more: How does SEO and PPC work hand in hand?

 

6. Influencer Marketing

This is a type of marketing method in which a company pays an influencer to promote their product or service to their following.  This form of marketing is getting more traction, as 49% of consumers have been found to rely more on influencer recommendations.

 

 

When it comes to influencer marketing, one might naturally consider the Kardashians, or celebrities that are endorsed by brands to promote their products. However, with the boom of social media, the title of ‘influencer’ is now extended to anyone with a dedicated social following and expertise in their niche. This can even include more authoritative figures such as industry experts or leaders. 

Why use this type of digital marketing?

• Increase your visibility by riding on influencer following
• Reach out to audiences relevant to your brand Adds on to user-generated content 

Things to consider

• The reputation of the influencer will be closely tied to your brand as well, so it is important to choose the right influencer for your brand
• Measuring results may not be as straightforward as other forms of digital advertising

Getting started

Think about what you want to get out of your influencer marketing campaigns, and the kind of influencers that may help you get there. From there, start collating a list of influencers that may be suitable, then get in touch and see how you can negotiate.

 

In a nutshell

It is important to understand the different types of digital marketing methods, and how to apply them to your specific business needs. There are many different ways to get online customers for lead generation. By using the right tools and techniques, you can increase your conversion rate, and gain success in your digital marketing campaigns. 

Building a solid digital marketing strategy can be overwhelming. Our experts at Creative For More can help take off the load, boosting your brand’s success while offering you peace of mind. We have helped many businesses to grow their brand and get more leads through our SEO, PPC, Social Media Marketing, Email Marketing and Web Design services. Reach out to us today to find out more about how we can help you build your online presence with ease.