If you're new to promoting your business online and are looking for an understanding of what encompasses digital marketing, this blog runs through the different types of digital marketing to help you improve your online branding.
Underneath the overarching digital marketing umbrella, there are specialized types of digital marketing that each can have their own strategies. Outlined below breaks down the several types of digital marketing in the order of the digital journey a customer takes when interacting with a brand.
Paid Advertising
Paid Advertising refers to generating leads through a paid method typically called pay-per-click (PPC) and is done by advertising locally through Google advertising. There are other types of advertising such as geo-targeting, re-targeting, display ads, Google shopping, local service ads, and more. Paid advertising is typically a short-term goal to generate leads effectively or generate brand awareness. As long as you’re running a paid campaign, you will have results if tackled appropriately; however, as soon as you halt your paid media budget, the impact of paid advertising typically subsides which is why it is a short-term means of digital marketing.
Content Marketing
This refers to marketing your brand through quality content in places like Google, your website, and social media. Content marketing can drive more visitors to your website, create more engagement keeping visitors on your site longer, and is a great informational tool to keep new and existing customers engaged through social media outlets as well as through email marketing. Having quality, educational content not only builds brand credibility and builds trust with customers, it also is what helps index your website based on what people are searching on Google and other search platforms.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is merely a tool within online marketing that enables you to optimize your brand and get it in front of more potential customers through your written content, your website and blog. Content marketing is typically the foundation of your brand online and is a longer-term goal of generating quality leads over time. High-quality content is one of the most important things Google uses to rank your website for search according to Impact Plus.
Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing focuses on promoting your brand through a social media outlet such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, TikTok, etc. Organic social media marketing refers to any content you’re posting to your social accounts by a simple post and pertains to any engagement you have on those platforms with your customers. Paid social media advertising means that you pay to target a specific audience and set a specific goal such as generating leads or spreading brand awareness. Having a social media presence and strategy is an integral part of online marketing because so much of the population online, is on social media.
Email Marketing
Email marketing helps brands to nurture and retain customers through informational, valued content. Emails typically contain a call-to-action for customers to purchase, sign-up, or simply a way for your business to stay connecting with customers by providing relevant, helpful news. Strategies include creating customer journey series, segmented email lists of customers, promotions, and blog articles that all help to entice a customer to purchase from your brand.
Text/SMS Marketing
Those texts you now receive from your favorite clothing line is now a means of communicating with your potential customers as well and is considered online marketing. Text marketing can be used for your promotional periods to connect with previous customers for repeat business as well as a way to get feedback for a review.
Start Evaluating your Online Strategies!
Now that you're an expert on all the branches of digital marketing, it's time start to formulating a strategy and implementing or improving your existing techniques. Book a free consultation today to learn how Ashley O'Brien Marketing can help your business grow online.