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Digital Marketing

10 Types of Digital Marketing [with Examples]

When it comes to digital marketing, it seems we are all familiar with the term. We probably also feel we should be doing more of it, what with over 4 billion Internet users worldwide.

But how many types of digital marketing are there? Is marketing on social media considered “digital”? What about radio advertising?

If you are not sure what exactly digital marketing is, you are definitely not the only one. The search “digital marketing” on Google returns over 2 billion (!) results.

Google Search

At Convertful, we recognize the need to make this clear, as our product applies only to digital media.

Before trying to apply all types of digital marketing to your business, let’s explore what exactly the term means, what it consists of, and how you can use it to drive your business forward.

What Is Digital Marketing?

Broadly speaking:

Digital marketing are all marketing activities that use an electronic device or the Internet.

Does it mean it’s any form of marketing that exists online?

Yes and no.

Digital marketing certainly encompasses all online marketing activities. However, it might include some offline activities, too.

Here are the main types of digital marketing you should consider for your business.

Content Marketing

Content marketing is a type of digital marketing that focuses on creating and distributing content for a target audience. The content aims at being valuable, relevant, and (ideally) consistent. Its ultimate goal is to drive a profitable customer action.

The crucial part here is “valuable” and “relevant”. This is what tells content marketing apart from traditional spammy advertising. The target audience should want to seek the content out and consume it.

Examples of Traditional Marketing

In the broader sense, content marketing is part of every other digital marketing activity, be it social media marketing, SEO, or email marketing. Quality content should be the core of every other marketing activity you pursue.

Some examples of content marketing include: blog posts, videos, podcasts, infographics, white papers, case studies, ebooks.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the process of getting quality traffic from free, or organic, search results on the search engines (like Google and Bing).

It’s important that the traffic you drive to your website is relevant to your industry. If you manage to attract a high volume of visitors searching for Macintosh computers while what you actually do is selling raincoats, the traffic will do you no good.

Paid and Organic Results SEO is one of the most important types of digital marketing. By optimizing your content for search engines, you can increase a steady stream of relevant traffic that will only grow over time. Without search engine optimization, people simply won’t be able to find you on the Internet.

Some optimization techniques include: researching relevant keywords and including them into your website copy, optimizing your website titles, description and loading speed, building relevant backlinks.

Effective SEO StrategyNotice how Brian Dean of Backlinko optimizes the blog post for the keyword “SEO strategy for 2022″ by including it in the H1 title and the first paragraph.

Search Engine Marketing (SEM)

Initially, the term “search engine marketing” was used as an umbrella term for the process of gaining both paid and free search traffic. Over time, the industry switched to using the term “SEM”, or Search Engine Marketing, solely for paid activities.

So, what does this type of digital marketing mean?

Search engine marketing refers to a form of digital marketing that aims at increasing the visibility of a website in search engines by using paid methods. In other words, it’s the ads you put out there on Google AdWords and Bing Ads.

Google Ads

You can recognize paid search results in Google by the little sign “Ad” at the beginning of the URL. Also, Google puts these pages first in the search results.

By combining SEO and SEM, you can drive quality traffic to your website. With the help of search engine marketing, you can put yourself in front of the audience that is actively searching for services and brands like yours.

Social Media Marketing (SMM)

Simply put, social media marketing refers to the process of using social media platforms to attract traffic and attention. By using social media, you can increase exposure and build meaningful relationships with your customers.

While everybody can benefit from SMM as a type of digital marketing, B2C and SaaS companies tend to get the most out of it. Social media marketing is all about listening to what your customers have to say, engaging in the conversation, and sharing valuable content.

Blogging Tactics

An example of a tweet from Andy Crestodina of Orbitmedia. Notice how he attracts attention by sharing valuable information (infographic), drives traffic to his website by posting the link and evokes discussion (53 comments!)

Together, content marketing, SEO, and social media marketing constitute what is called “inbound marketing”. It is a marketing methodology that aims at attracting, engaging, and delighting leads. Some goals of inbound marketing include attracting users’ attention, driving relevant traffic to the website, and converting it into happy customers.

Pay-Per-Click Advertising (PPC)

Pay-per-click is a model of advertising where marketers pay a fee every time people click on their ad. Basically, it’s the process of buying visits to your site, as opposed to getting them organically via SEO or other types of digital marketing.

PPC is one of the types of paid search. It’s similar to SEM (search engine marketing) but can also include display advertising (cost-per-click based), and affiliate advertising.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is one of the popular ways people make money online these days. If your affiliate program is successful, you might earn quite a decent passive income.

Basically, affiliate marketing is a type of digital marketing where a person partners up with other businesses in order to receive a commission for the traffic s/he generates for this business. Imagine this: you put a link to an external website on your own blog or website. Every time a user proceeds to this external website and makes a purchase, you receive a commission.

Affiliate Links

Example of affiliate link placement from a blogger Donna Moritz of Socially Sorted, with a good explanation, too

This marketing strategy might work especially well for bloggers, since they can write different types of articles on the given topic and naturally include affiliate links.

Email Marketing

Email marketing is one of the most popular types of digital marketing. To put it shortly, it’s the use of email for promoting one’s products or services.

If you go a little deeper, email marketing might also refer to building relationships with your customers. Ideally, emails you send out to your clients should not only speak at them but also encourage meaningful interaction with your brand.

Open To Feedback Notice how the guys from Buffer start a meaningful conversation by asking their readers’ opinion in their emails.

There are many things that contribute to the success of your email marketing strategy, from the content you create to the time you send your emails. One thing is certain, though: email marketing is far from being dead and should definitely be part of your overall digital marketing.

One thing email marketing requires is a lead capture strategy. Lead capture grows your email list by collecting email addresses through techniques that usually involve lead magnets (content or offers that trigger the fear of missing out). The goal of lead capture is to convert visitors into customers.

Lead capture is essential for you to grow your email list. Using Convertful, you can capture leads easily using:

  • Gamification techniques such as spin to win and scratch cards Spin to Win
  • Welcome discounts Welcome Coupon

And many more options. Check out Convertful to find out how you can improve your lead capture easily on your website.

Instant Messaging Marketing

Instant messengers are the latest communication trend. There are 1.5 billion people globally using WhatsApp on a monthly basis, followed by Facebook Messenger and WeChat. If you want to be where your audience is, enter instant messaging marketing.

Popular Instant Messaging

Most popular global messenger apps, based on the number of monthly users. Source: Statista

This type of digital marketing exploded over the last couple of years. People are much more likely to trust the information sent via a messenger (as if it comes from a good friend) than email or SMS that are vulnerable to spam.

SMS messages An example of messages from a marketing consultant Matthew Barby, sent via a Facebook bot

There are different ways how you can proceed with instant messaging marketing, from using them for customer support to updating your users about new posts on your blog. But just like with any other digital marketing type, before diving right in, I’d recommend that you develop a strategy first.

Radio Advertising

While considered “old-fashioned” by some, radio advertising might still be a powerful medium, especially for B2C companies and local businesses. In the US alone, radio advertisements account for 7.8% of total media expenditures (source).

Radio advertising is also relatively cheap, as you don’t need to produce fancy visuals: you solely rely on your customers’ imagination.

Pizza Hut Radio Ad

Just like with any other type of digital marketing, to create successful radio advertising strategy, you have to know your target audience. In addition to that, create a great script, hire a professional voice talent for the job, and get your timing right.

Television Advertising

Last but not least, our list of digital marketing types wouldn’t be complete without television advertising. With the general population spending over 4.5 hours a day in from of the TV, it’s still one of the most popular medium types. It reaches people faster than, say, newspapers or radio. Due to the powerful effect video has on humans, it might also be very effective.

Television Advertising

Television advertising is expensive, and coming up with a great and engaging ad might be a daunting task, too. TV ads work great for FMCG products, clothing brands, cars, medicine, and food.

Conclusion

There are more types of digital marketing but these 10 give you a solid starting point. You don’t necessarily have to start with all ten at the same time. Choose a few you think might suit your business best, experiment, and measure the results.

What digital marketing types are you already using? Share in the comments below!

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