Digital marketing like other digital tools and technology is a game-changer. It empowers businesses no matter the size to effectively grow their business and it is affordable to implement as compared to a traditional form of marketing.
Today, I will be taking you on a foundational overview of the buzz world of digital marketing which will cover the definition of digital marketing, the importance of digital marketing, and 10 examples of digital marketing that any business can choose to implement.
What is Digital Marketing?
Digital marketing is also called online marketing. Internet marketing is an umbrella term that encompasses different forms of online marketing strategy such as social media, SEO, content marketing e.t.c. It uses online media and the internet through connected devices such as mobile phones, personal computers, and even the Internet of Things (IoT) to promote brands and connect potential customers to a business.
Unlike the traditional style of marketing such as TV, Radio, billboards e.t.c digital marketing proves to be more effective since it combines data and technology to deliver astounding results for businesses.
Digital Marketing vs Digital Marketing Strategy
Digital marketing is an initiative that utilizes the internet in any form to promote a product, service, or brand. Digital strategy is the plan of action to achieve a specific business objective. A digital marketing strategy is different from a digital marketing campaign, it is the master plan or blueprint to achieve a business long term or short-term goal.
Why is Digital Marketing Important?
According to Statista, As of January 2021, there were 4.66 billion active internet users worldwide – 59.5 percent of the global population. Of this total, 92.6 percent (4.32 billion) accessed the internet via mobile devices. On the other hand, over 30 percent of consumers would rather interact with brands via social channels rather than go physically to a store.
Having established these figures, you can intuitively deduce the enormous potential that is available to digital marketing strategies when done correctly.
Digital marketing has the benefit of:
1. Global Reach:
2. Lower cost of publicity
3. Personalized campaign
4. Measurable results
5. Multiple strategies
6. Increased engagements
Digital marketing is fundamentally important as it connects a business with its ideal customers and much effective in all industries.
Types of Digital Marketing
It is time to take a look at the top 10 types of digital marketing. This will help you with clues on how to get started with implementation for your business:
1. Content marketing
Content marketing is a digital marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable and relevant content (texts, pictures, video, podcasts e.t.c) to attract and retain targeted audiences — and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action. Contents also include all forms of social media posts as they serve as an indirect form of marketing instead of just pitching your products or service directly to customers, you offer them value.
Content marketing can impart you’re your business positively over a long period, especially in ebooks and reports.
2. Search Engine Marketing (SEM):
Search engine marketing is about using paid advertisement (Pay Per Click) advertisements to get your website or mobile app to appear on the top result of the Search Engine Result Page – SERP when people are searching for specific keywords. It requires the use of keyword-optimized placement that will allow the advertiser’s website to appear alongside regular searches.
This form of marketing strategy can also improve a website page ranking over time.
Search Engine Marketing vs Search Engine Optimization
These two terms may sound similar but there is a thin line between them. Why Search Engine Marketing is about paid form of marketing, Search Engine Optimization is focused on improving website pages and content to rank higher on Search Engine Result Page (SERP), creating content that users are searching for.
3. Social Media Marketing (SMM):
The term Social media marketing refers to the use of popular social media networks to market a business. It helps to connect businesses with their audience to build brand awareness, increase sales, and drive website traffic.
Popular sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, are commonly used to implement social media marketing strategies.
4. Email Marketing
Email marketing is a type of direct marketing that uses mass email to promote products or services. An email campaign contacts multiple recipients at once. It leverages list building to help achieve this.
5. Mobile Marketing
Mobile marketing uses mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and other mobile channels to reach the target audience. This form of marketing is as broad as digital marketing itself as there are several routes to take in other to achieve your advertisement objective.
For example, Whatsapp is a very popular and effective way to utilize mobile marketing in your business. Some companies advertise on mobile applications, others use SMS marketing, and push notifications.
6. Display Advertising
This mode of advertisement also known as banners ads use graphical banners and other visual forms to promote products and services unlike prints advertisement that get into magazines and newspapers, this type of marketing is usually done online (website, social media e.t.c).
7. Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing is a type of social media marketing that involved partnering with a person of influence (celebrity, industry expert, authority figure e.t.c) in a particular niche or who has an existing audience to endorse a product or service.
Influencers will often make use of their social media handles to promote a product or service.
8. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing has been a buzz lately though this type of marketing is not new. According to Google, “a marketing arrangement by which an online retailer pays commission to an external website for traffic or sales generated from its referrals”. It involved paying others a commission for every sale they make for helping a business promote a product or service. This is both a marketing strategy for a business and a money-making opportunity for the affiliate.
9. Video Marketing
Video marketing uses video format to promote or sell products or services. It involves storytelling and increases engagement, raises awareness, and drives sales.
10. Audio Marketing
Audio marketing involved using audio content to advance your business. This type of marketing can be broad such as using podcasts, audiobooks, voice assistance e.t.c.
In a nutshell
Digital marketing presents many business opportunities that can be tapped into to grow brands no matter the size, or location. With knowledge, persistence, and skill the reward can be rewarding.
Emmanuel Okaiwele is a Freelance Web Developer with Experience in Front End and Back Website Development, Linux Servers Administration, and Digital Strategy.
