Types of Digital Marketing Channels You Must Know About
Digital marketing is the all-encompassing centrepiece of a modern business's success. Companies today have to have a virtual presence to stay competitive and relevant. Putting some promotion online is vitally necessary, even if it is a base-level webpage. Unfortunately, a newly minted business may need help finding the right channels for them. The wide variety of choices and tactics can be quite daunting. Additionally, a smaller business may need more money to utilize all the available marketing types. Therefore, a business using digital marketing needs to plan its specific channels. These channels must convert, attract, and engage customers in a way that suits the company. A statement easier said than done. Virtual marketing channels are a minefield of possibilities. Everything is so bright and inviting companies often want to go with the first thing they see. Despite the glitz, specific channels will better fit specific businesses. Following is a list of eight different digital marketing types that may suit your business.
Search Engine Optimization
Search engine optimization is the science of improving a website to increase its visibility when people search for products or services. The more visibility a website has on search engines, the more likely it is that brand captures business.
Website visibility is commonly measured by the site's placement -- or ranking -- on search engine results pages (SERPs). And companies always vie for the first page, where they are most likely to garner the most attention.
Using Google as an example, SERPs often feature ads at the top of the page. These are positions that businesses are willing to pay for to ensure placement on that first page. The following ads are the regular search listings, which marketers and search engines refer to as organic search results. The SEO process aims to increase a business's organic search results, driving organic traffic to the site. It enables data marketers to distinguish between traffic that comes to a website from other channels -- such as paid search, social media, referrals and direct -- and organic search traffic. Organic search traffic is usually higher-quality traffic because users actively search for a specific topic, product or service for which a site might rank. If a user finds that site through the search engine, it can lead to better brand engagement.
Pay Per Click
PPC stands for pay-per-click, a model of digital advertising where the advertiser pays a fee each time one of their ads is clicked. Essentially, you're paying for targeted visits to your website (or landing page or app). When PPC works correctly, the fee is trivial because the click is worth more than what you pay. For example, if you pay $3 for a click, but the click results in a $300 sale, you've made a hefty profit.
PPC ads come in different shapes and sizes (literally) and can be made up of text, images, videos, or a combination. They can appear on search engines, websites, social media platforms, and more.
Content Marketing
Content writing is professionally engaging write-ups that are featured on the internet. The written pieces can be articles, blogs, website content, newsletters etc.
Content marketing writers are internet savvy. They know how to gauge and write for an online audience. They are aware of the power of the online medium and its presence. With a strong focus on the client or customer, the type of business, and relevant, thematic and appealing content, they help establish an instant connection with the viewer.
When it comes to online content marketing, it is written specifically for a global audience. So the author or writer will specifically research the topic or the related aspects and write and edit the copy so that it is direct, catchy and informative.
Online content writers may be required to develop content for online articles, websites, blogs, press releases, advertisements, newsletters etc.
Website Design
Web design is the visual aesthetics of the design of websites that are displayed on the internet. Web design is the overall look and feels when the user visits a website. It usually refers to the user experience of the website.
Website design is the process of planning, conceptualizing, and arranging content. From structure and layout to images, colours, fonts and graphics. These elements determine how a website looks, feels and works on various devices like desktops, laptops, tablets and mobile. No matter whether you want to make static websites or dynamic websites. Website design is an important part of the process. The design is the first thing users see when they arrive on your website and if it needs to be improved. They'll leave the website, and you lose your possible customer. Modern web design goes beyond how things look to include how things work. One of the biggest current web design trends is web designers using website sections to break out different aspects of company stories. They break out the who, what, why, and how into sections and more of a consistent message flow, which is storytelling in website design.
Website design has numerous components that work together to create the finished experience of a website, including graphic design, user experience design (UX), user interface design (UI), search engine optimization (SEO) and content creation. These elements determine how a website looks, feels and works on various devices.
In simple terms, web design describes the visual appearance of a website.
Social Media Marketing
Process of using online channels like Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media. With the advent of technology, more and more people have a presence on social media. Thus, leveraging this platform for businesses is one of the important cruces. Social Media Marketing Agency aids businesses in creating awareness about their brand and services to the audience. While, as a layman, one may not be able to decipher which is a potential medium, a Social Media Marketing Company understands the very pulse of the customer. Additionally, they would be in a better position to give out ideas by gaining a detailed overview of what the business expects in terms of sales, the demographics they target, and the age group.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a process where publishers earn a commission by promoting a product or service made by another retailer or advertiser using an affiliate link. The affiliate partner has rewarded a payout for providing a specific result to the retailer or advertiser.
Typically, the result is a sale. But some affiliate marketing programs can reward you for leads, a free-trial user clicks to a website, or getting downloads for an app.
Most affiliate programs are usually free to join, so you don't have to worry about high startup costs. An effective affiliate marketing strategy can go from a side hustle to a profitable online business idea by netting you a healthy income.
Email Marketing
The practice of sending emails to your prospects and customers about your company news, product updates, upcoming event notifications, etc., is called Email Marketing. Emails provide a direct connection to your audience (prospects + customers). If you can build good relationships with your contacts via email, you can use this digital marketing strategy to drive profits for your business. Email marketing can be cheap.
Even Mailchimp is free for up to 2000 subscribers. With some planning, we can aim for high-impact ROI at low (or no) cost.